[2][3] Tauer played collegiately under Steve Fritz at St. Thomas, where he was an all-MIAC selection his senior year, and part of the Tommies 1994 NCAA Division III Final Four team.
[2] After earning his doctorate in social psychology the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Tauer returned to St. Thomas as a professor and assistant men's basketball coach under Fritz.
[4] Upon Fritz's retirement in 2011 after the Tommies' 2011 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament title win, Tauer was elevated to head coach on an interim basis before earning the job permanently.
[5][6] As a member of the Tommies staff as an assistant or head coach, Tauer has guided the team to 12-straight MIAC championships from 2005 to 2017, and won a share of 14 of the last 15 MIAC regular season titles along with 14 NCAA tournament appearances, including a national title in 2016.
[2][7] Tauer lead the Tommies into the Division I ranks as St. Thomas joined the Summit League for the 2021–22 season.