General News

Jun 2, 2008
Sixty Six To Receive NCC Legacy Award

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The North Central Conference will bestow the North Central Conference Legacy Award on sixty-six coaches, administrators and staff during the NCC Celebration Dinner Saturday, June 21 at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The NCC Legacy Award was created in the league's final year to honor NCC personnel who achieved a long-term and successful record of service to the North Central Conference. Each campus submitted nominees to the NCC selection committee. Selections were made from administrators, coaches and staff that were employed by their respective campuses at the beginning of the school year.

Tickets to the NCC Celebration Dinner are available until June 11th for $50 each by contacting the North Central Conference office (605-338-0907) by Wednesday, June 11 or online at www.northcentralconference.org and clicking on the Celebration Dinner banner at the top of the page. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express are accepted.

Here is a look at each of the honorees by school:

Augustana College (13)

Tom Billeter - Has revitalized the Augustana men's basketball program in his five seasons at the school, culminating with an appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2008. He also spent five seasons as the head coach at North Dakota State, leading the Bison to four regional tournaments.

Bruce Conley - Joined the Augustana administration in November, 1990, as director of news information. In this role he helped the athletic department by writing press releases and by serving as a valuable member of the stat crew. Before coming to Augustana, he spent 28 years as a sportswriter/reporter with the Argus Leader.

Brian Gerry - Has been associated with Augustana Athletics for 17 years. In 2001, he joined Augustana full time as the program director of the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) as well as serving as the head athletic trainer for the football team. Prior to that, he spent nine years working with Augustana as the coordinator of the SPORTS 1 Outreach Program for Sioux Valley Hospital.

Bill Gross - Has spent the past 29 seasons at Augustana in various roles. He has been the school's athletic director for 20 years. In addition, he has also been an assistant basketball coach and the head men's basketball coach for nine seasons. As head coach, he led the Vikings to one NCC title and three appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament. 

Bob Hall - Has often been referred to as the CEO of Augustana football. Bob is the equipment manager for the football program. In September, 2007, Bob and his wife, Kari, presented the College with a gift of $6.1 million for the construction of Kirkeby-Over Stadium. The facility is named in honor of Kari Hall's parents, Percy Kirkeby and Elizabeth Markley Kirkeby Over.

Jeff Holm - Was Augustana's head baseball coach from 2002 until 2006 when he was elevated to assistant athletic director. As baseball coach he guided the Vikings to their only NCC title in 2003. Prior to arriving at Augustana, he was an assistant coach at Minnesota State University and South Dakota State University.

Dave Krauth - Has more wins than any other women's basketball coach in Augustana history with 377 career victories. In 19 seasons, he has guided his teams to nine berths in the NCAA Regional Tournament. Twice under Krauth's guidance the Vikings led the nation in scoring offense.

Kevin Ludwig - Was named Augustana's first full-time sports information director in 2003. He also served as the assistant sports information director at Northern Colorado during the mid-1990's.

Karen Madsen - Spent 25 years at Augustana before announcing her retirement this season. During her time at Augustana, Madsen served several roles including compliance coordinator, sports information director and most recently assistant athletic director. As assistant athletic director she helped start the highly successful Augustana Women's Walk.

Don Pierson - Has been a fixture on the Viking football coaching staff for over 20 years. During his tenure he has been defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator. In addition he is an event coordinator for Augustana's home games.

Jason Reitmeier - Helped solidify Augustana as one of the top wrestling programs in the nation. He has served as Augustana's head coach for the past five seasons, leading the Vikings to a national runner-up finish in 2005. A former national champion for the Vikings, Reitmeier spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Vikings before becoming head coach.

Kim Sudbeck - Took Augustana's strong volleyball program to even greater heights in her 13 seasons as head coach. She led the Vikings to 11 NCAA Regional Tournaments, including a national runner-up finish in 2000. She also was an assistant coach at Morningside and South Dakota State.

Carol Weisz - Received the Augie Pride award in 2007 for exceptional service by an Augustana employee. As the administrative assistant in Athletic Development for 23 years, she coordinates Booster Club tailgate parties, the Augustana-Sam Milanovich Golf Tournament, The Auction, Hall of Fame Banquet, and other events. 

University of Minnesota Duluth (1)

Jim Boos - Guided the Bulldog volleyball team to a 45-3 NCC mark and four NCC championships in the four years that Minnesota Duluth was a member of the league including undefeated 12-0 marks the final two seasons. The Bulldogs finished third in NCAA Division II competition twice in the four years. Boos coached two-time AVCA Division II and NCC Player of the Year Vicky Braegelmann. The Bulldogs overall record in the four years was 114-19.

Minnesota State University (10)

Paul Allan - MSU's Assistant Athletic Director/Communications since 1985 and CoSIDA's Warren Berg Award recipient in 2007, Allan has worked two Olympic Games and more than 20 of his former staffers are working in sports public relations around the country.

Dean Bowyer - An 11-time NCC Baseball Coach of the Year, Bowyer led the Mavericks to 17 NCC crowns and 21 NCAA postseason appearances in 32 seasons. Inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2006, Bowyer had 46 of his players sign professional contracts and completes his 36-year collegiate coaching run with a record of 1064-538-7.

Nick Campa - Over the course of his 17 seasons as head coach of the MSU women's golf team, Campa has led the Mavericks to 11 appearances at the NCAA Division II postseason tournament and six North Central Conference titles. He mentored eight All-American performers in that span and is a three-time North Central Conference Coach of the Year.

Lori Fish - Women's basketball head coach Lori Fish guided the Mavericks to its first NCAA postseason appearance since 1985-86 and its second-highest win total in the program's history in 2007-08 with a 23-9 record. Fish was four-year letterwinner at South Dakota State and was an assistant coach at SDSU and St. Cloud State prior to becoming MSU's head coach in 2004.

Jim Makovsky - In 15 seasons in charge of the MSU wrestling program, Makovsky has led the Mavericks to two second-place finishes at the NCAA Division II championship, a third-place finish, a fourth-place finish and a trio of sixth-place finishes. He owns a 215-84-5 career dual record, nine of his MSU wrestlers have captured national individual crowns and 69 have earned All-America honors. 

Matt Margenthaler - In seven seasons with the men's basketball program Margenthaler has led MSU to a 140-67 won-loss record. MSU has racked up three NCC titles and four NCAA postseason invitations during that time. A two-time NCC Coach of the Year, Margenthaler's 2006-07 team has a school-record 28 wins and advanced to the regional championship game.

Lori Meyer - A seven-time NCC Softball Coach of the Year, Lori Meyer has led the Mavericks to four league titles and six NCAA postseason appearances. The MSU softball team has won gone 749-519-3 in 24 seasons under Meyer and 12 players have been accorded All-America honors.

Chris Miskec - Named North Central Soccer Coach of the Year four times in her 12 seasons with the Mavericks, Miskec was a two-time region coach of the year. MSU went 143-77-9, captured five NCC titles and made three NCAA postseason appearances under Miskec's guidance.

Jeff Pribyl - Named MSU's faculty athletic representative to the North Central Conference in 2000, Pribyl has been a full-time member of MSU's faculty since 1989. Pribyl serves as the chair of MSU's Department of Chemistry and Geology.

Mark Schuck - Schuck is a four-time NCC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, a three-time NCC men's indoor TF Coach of the Year and a three-time NCC Men's Outdoor TF Coach of the Year. He was named 1988 NCAA Division II Men's CC Coach of the Year in 1988 and 2006 NCAA Men's Indoor TF Coach of the Year. 

University of Nebraska at Omaha (9)

Gary Anderson - The sports information director for 29 years, he and his staff have won numerous publication awards. He also has served as the school's interim athletic director in 1988-89 and briefly in 1994 and 1995. He was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame in 2005.

Pat Behrns - His 105-53 record over 14 years includes 12 straight winning football seasons and seven NCC titles. His teams have made seven NCAA II playoff appearances and have produced 13 first-team All-Americans. He is the winningest football coach in school history.

Mike Denney - He has led the wrestling program to eight NCC championships and four NCAA Division II titles in his 29 years as the head coach, compiling a 276-109-5 dual meet record. He has also coached 28 national champion wrestlers and was named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year twice.

Tom Frette - The senior associate athletic director since 2007, he has been a part of the athletic staff since 1987. He served as an associate head athletic trainer before becoming the head trainer in 1997. He was the interim athletic director for seven months before moving into his current position.

Bob Herold - Over his nine seasons as the head baseball coach, he has guided the team to a 300-183-2 overall record. The team has won two NCC titles and advanced to make five NCAA II regional tournament appearances and, in 2007, the school's first-ever Division II College World Series berth.

Don Klosterman - The only head coach UNO has had in its nine seasons of women's soccer, Don Klosterman has compiled a 157-33-7 record. His teams have captured six NCC titles and the 2005 national championship. He has been named the national coach of the year twice.

Jeanne Scarpello - She has posted a 397-122-1 record over her nine seasons as the head softball coach. Under her guidance, the team has won six NCC titles and four tournament crowns and made nine straight Division II tournament appearances. Her staff was named the Division II coaching staff of the year in 2001 when the Mavericks won the national championship.

Rose Shires - With her 371-199 record over her 18 seasons, she is the school's all-time leader in wins in volleyball. She has coached the team to three NCC titles and nine NCAA II tournament appearances. Her 1996 team captured the national championship and earned her Division II coach of the year honors.

Todd Samland - He has served as the head coach of the women's swimming and diving team since its inception in 1996. He has led the team to two NCC titles and top 10 finishes in the NCAA II meet six times.

University of North Dakota (11)

Dan Benson - UND's director of media relations since 2000-01. Was the primary football contact for UND's 2001 football national championship. During his tenure, UND's media guides and game programs have garnered 36 CoSIDA publication awards, including eight ‘Best in the Nation' honors. Has also served in the U.S. Army Reserve for more than 20 years and served overseas in Kuwait and Iraq from April to October 2003.

Dick Clay - UND's women's track and field/cross country coach for the past 22 seasons and has mentored more than 80 All-Americans. Has won five NCC cross country championships and is a four-time NCC Cross Country Coach of the Year. Has been named regional coach of the year three times. The 2000 NCAA DII National Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, this past season he coached the national women's champion in the 1,500 meters. As a student-athlete, was a four-year letterwinner and three-time NCAA participant in cross country at St. Cloud State.

Michael Grandall - The longest-tenured current member of the UND coaching staff, recently completed his 26th season as men's track and field/cross country coach. Has coached eight individual national champions, including the 2008 national champion in the javelin, and 25 different All-Americans. Also coached UND's women's cross country team from 1980-84.

Jayson Hajdu - Has spent 13 years on the media relations staff, including the last six as a full-time assistant. Has won 19 CoSIDA publication awards, including seven Best in the Nation honors. Media coordinator for three NCC championships and three NCAA postseason tournaments.

Dale Lennon - Served three decades with the UND football team as a player, assistant coach and head coach. As head coach, he guided the Fighting Sioux to a national championship in 2001 and a runner-up showing in 2003. A three-time NCC Coach of the Year and the 2001 Division II Coach of the Year, Lennon led UND to five NCC championships and seven postseason appearances in nine seasons.

Gene Roebuck - Has the highest winning percentage in Division II women's basketball history (.852 win pct.), Roebuck is 557-97 in 21 seasons as UND head coach. Led UND to three straight NCAA championships (1997, 1998, 1999) and 20 NCAA postseason appearances. A 10-time NCC Coach of the Year who won 11 NCC regular season titles and seven NCC postseason titles. Produced four WBCA Players of the Year, 19 All-Americans and eight NCC MVPs. Also coached UND's baseball team from 1990 to 1993 (99-61-1) and took the Sioux to the DII College World Series for the first time in school history in 1993.

Jim Rudd - A veteran of 30 years in sports medicine and athletic training at the collegiate and professional levels, Rudd served as UND's director of sports medicine from 1989 to 1993. He was UND's head football trainer from 1990 to 1998 and also spent time as an assistant trainer at UND from 1974 to 1976. Remains an assistant professor within UND's Division of Sports Medicine. 

Maviael Sampaio - Has coached UND's men's and women's swimming teams for the past seven years after serving one season as an assistant with the program. Has produced 28 national champions and six national records while leading the men's team to six top-five NCAA finishes and the women's team to five top-five national showings. A three-time NCC Coach of the Year, has won the NCC men's championship in each of his seven seasons, while claiming five NCC women's titles. 

Rob Stiles - The longest-tenured coach in the history of UND athletics, retiring this year after a 38-year coaching career at UND. Spent the last 21 seasons as the head men's golf coach (he also doubled as women's golf coach in 1990-91) and led the Fighting Sioux to four straight (1996 to 1999) NCC men's golf championships. Also coached UND's wrestling team from 1970-71 to 1984-85 and tutored 15 All-Americans. 

Brian Strom - UND's men's and women's diving coach since 1990-91, Strom is a 10-time NCC Diving Coach of the Year while helping lead the Sioux to 16 men's and 16 women's conference titles in his 19 years. His divers have amassed more than 70 All-America honors and a pair of individual national championships. The 2003 N.D. Associated Press Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association Female Team Coach of the Year.

Steve Westereng - A 1994 graduate of UND, Westereng will be entering his 10th season as a member of the UND training staff and division of sports medicine, and his fifth year as UND's Director of Sports Medicine. Works primarily with UND football team.

St. Cloud State University (12)

Anne Abicht - St. Cloud State Athletic Media Relations Director since January of 1985. Prior to that served as the women's sports information director at North Dakota State University from the fall of 1981 and as the women's sports publicist for the NCC.

Julie Alexander - Joined the St. Cloud State Sports Medicine staff in 1989 and became the head athletic trainer in 1999. She has overseen the growth of the sports medicine staff to include four full-time staff members, graduate assistants and student assistants.

Jerry Anderson - Has been the St. Cloud State men's tennis coach for 11 seasons and the women's for three. The men's team has won nine North Central Conference Championships, including the last seven straight titles. Anderson played for the Huskies from 1982 to 1984.

Sue Becker - Began her association with the NCC as the head women's softball coach at St. Cloud State in 1985, compiling a 241-162 overall record and two NCAA playoff appearances. Was named the St. Cloud State compliance officer in 1997 until becoming the Associate Athletic Director in 2005.

Tracy Dill - Has served in several capacities in the St. Cloud State athletic department. Dill joined the staff as an assistant football coach in 1985 and added coaching duties as the head men's track and field coach in 1988. In 1995 he became the head men's and women's track and field coach, resigning his football position. In 1999 he became an Association Athletic Director for Marketing, Promotions and Fundraising.

Bill Hudson - Faculty Athletic Representative to the NCC. 2005-06 NCC Chair. Member of the Steering committee for the Division II FAR Institute in 2004-05. FARA Division II Board Vice-President 2005-06. FARA Board member from 2003 to 2005.

Morris Kurtz - Joined St. Cloud State as the men's athletic director in 1984 and became the Director of Athletics for the combined men's and women's department in 1996. Has overseen the growth of the program to 21 sports and an enhanced fundraising initiative.

Judi Larkin - In eight seasons as the head men's and women's golf coach at St. Cloud State, Larkin has led the men's team to three NCC Championships in 2004, 2005, and 2007. Named NCC Coach of the Year all three years. Both the men's and women's teams participated in the 2004 NCAA Division II Golf Championships, and the men made a return appearance in 2006.

Denny Lorsung - Compiled a 546-563-4 record in 29 seasons as head baseball coach at St. Cloud State. The Huskies won two NCC North Division titles and the 1991 North Central Conference championship. He was twice named the NCC Coach of the Year. Also played for the Huskies in 1969 and 1970 and was an assistant coach before taking over as head coach.

Kevin Schlagel - Has an association with St. Cloud State men's basketball that began as a player in 1972. From 1980 to 1997 was the assistant coach to the Huskies and in 1997 became the head coach. As an assistant, SCSU won three straight NCC titles in the 1980's. As a head coach, SCSU has won one NCC title and two NCC Wells Fargo Finals Championships. Has recorded a 215-103 won loss record in 11 seasons.

Lori Ulferts - Has compiled a 219-178 won/loss record in 14 seasons as the head women's basketball coach at St. Cloud State. She led the Huskies to back to back NCAA Division II Elite Eight Championships in 2005 and 2006, winning the North Central Region Tournament in both seasons. Advanced to the semifinals of the 2006 national tournament. Coached the NCAA Division II Player of the Year Erika Quigley.

Paula U'Ren - Has had a memorable career in the NCC, first as a three-time All-NCC softball player at Augustana College in 1993, 94, 95. Has compiled a 426-197 won/loss record as head softball coach at St. Cloud State. The Huskies have won three NCC titles and finished third at the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship.

University of South Dakota (6)

Dave Boots - Head coach of the USD men's basketball team since 1988-89 and is school's all-time leader in wins with a 423-163 record in 20 seasons at South Dakota, 538-226 overall. Has been named NCC Coach of the Year six times and coached seven NCC Championship teams. Boots has guided USD to 10 trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament and twice took the team to the Elite Eight. He has recorded 18 20-win seasons and coached a national player of the year and five All-Americans.

Chad Lavin - Head coach of the USD women's basketball team for 14 seasons and is school's all-time leader in wins with a 273-140 record at USD, 448-301 overall. Named the Russell Athletic/WBCA NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Coach of the Year in 2007-08 and has been the NCC Coach of the Year four times. Lavin guided the Coyotes to their only appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship game. Coached Mandy Koupal who was a two-time Division II National Player of the Year and coached four All-Americans while guiding USD to seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

Lucky Huber - Named 2008 U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association National Outdoor Coach of the Year for the second time (2004). Huber has led Coyote women's program to 13 NCC titles (seven indoor, six outdoor) and been named NCC Women's Coach of the Year 12 times. He has directed the Coyotes to a second-place finish at the 1998 NCAA Indoor nationals, a fifth-place finish at the 1998 indoor nationals and a sixth place finish at the 2008 indoor nationals. Huber has coached nine individuals who won national titles and 152 All-Americans.

Rob Kinnunen - Has been a cross country coach at The University of South Dakota and Augustana College. Directed the USD women's team to four North Central Conference Championships and three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships while having 14 men's or women's teams qualify for the NCAA championships. Has coached eight individual NCC cross country champions, 85 cross country or track & field All Americans, and five national champions. He has been honored five times as NCC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year and as NCAA regional men's coach of the Year in 1991. Kinnunen was a cross country All-American at South Dakota in 1979, 12-time All-NCC performer while competing at The U and qualified for the 1984 Olympic marathon trials.

Dave Gottsleben - Twice named U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Coach of the Year (2006, outdoor; 1997, indoor). Has led USD to 14 NCC titles (seven indoor, seven outdoor and coached 152 All-Americans and five national champions. Gottsleben has led his squads to eight top-10 finishes at nationals. He has received 11 North Central Conference Coach of the Year honors (combined indoor and outdoor honors) while also selected the North Central Region Coach of the Year six times. Gottsleben has received the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Track and Field Coaches Association Award for Distinguished Service and serves on the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Committee.

Bruce Fischbach - Fischbach has served 21 years at the Director of Sports Medicine at South Dakota and managed the expansion of the sports medicine area in 2008. He has developed a student athlete training program and annually cares to more than 300 student-athletes and 17 varsity sports programs at USD. Fischbach assisted in the development of the Athletic Training Center with Sanford Sports Medicine and received service award from National Athetic Trainers Association in 2005 and his department received an excellence award in 1991 from the College Athletic Management organization. 

North Central Conference (4)

Colin Kapitan - Spent 30 years as a basketball and football official in the NCC. Became the league's coordinator of officials in 1999 following his retirement from as an active official.

Jon Martin - Joined the conference office in 1998 as the first full-time Director of Media Relations and was later elevated to Assistant Commissioner. Served as a student assistant in the North Dakota State sports information office and as a graduate assistant in the athletic communications office at Minnesota State bringing Martin's years of service in the league to 18 years. Martin has also been on the staff of several national and international sporting events, including two Olympic games.

Melanie Nelson - Began as an intern in the conference office before 16 years first as the assistant and then associate commissioner of the league. Served as interim commissioner in the fall of 2004. During her tenure Nelson served on the NCAA Division II Championships Committee and as chair of the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee as well as several NCAA regional committees.

Roger Thomas - Named the commissioner of the NCC in February 2005 after nearly six years as the Director of Athletics at the University of North Dakota. Prior to his appointment as athletic director, Thomas was the head football coach at UND where he posted a record of 90-42-2. Thomas' NCC experiences date back to 1969 when he began as an assistant football coach at Augustana. He was a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council.

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