Sauter played college football at the University of Minnesota from 1994 to 1997. Sauter finished his career as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten award winner and two-time GTE Academic All-America District V selection. He was a three-year letter winner and started the final 34 games of his collegiate career and played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic following his senior season. He still holds the all-time career school records with 539 pass completions, 945 pass attempts and 6,834 passing yards. His 40 career touchdown passes and .570 completion percentage also rank second all-time.
On July 7, 2008, it was announced that Sauter was hired as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Southwest Minnesota State University, an NCAA Division II football program in Marshall, Minnesota. His coaching responsibilities began on July 1. He was promoted to the position of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2009. In February 2010, Sauter was promoted once again, to interim head coach of the Mustangs after former coach Eric Eidsness decided to leave the team to join Division I South Dakota State University as their quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator of the Jackrabbits.
On March 29, 2010, the interim tag was removed from Sauter's title and he was officially named the Mustangs head football coach.
Personal life
Sauter lives in Phoenix, AZ, with his wife Amy and their daughters Berlin and Estella. Sauter is a 1997 University of Minnesota graduate with a degree in kinesiology. He earned his Master’s in sports management from the University of Minnesota in 2003.