North Dakota Fighting Hawks

Athletic teams representing University of North Dakota

North Dakota Fighting Hawks

University| University of North Dakota
Conference| Summit League (primary)
Missouri Valley (football)
NCHC (Men's hockey)
NCAA| Division I (FCS)
Athletic director| Bill Chaves
Location| Grand Forks, North Dakota
Varsity teams| 17
Football stadium| Alerus Center
Basketball arena| Betty Engelstad Sioux Center
Ice hockey arena| Ralph Engelstad Arena
Golf course| Ray Richards Golf Course
Indoor track and field venue| Fritz Pollard Athletic Center
Other venues| Bronson Field
Memorial Stadium
Hyslop Sports Center
Choice Health & Fitness
Oxford Softball Complex
Mascot| The Fighting Hawk
Nickname| Fighting Hawks
Fighting Sioux (1930–2012)
Fight song| It's For You, North Dakota U
Stand Up and Cheer
Colors| Kelly green and white[1]

Website| www.fightinghawks.com
Team NCAA championships
Division I Ice Hockey
1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016
Division II Football
2001
Division II Woman's Basketball
1997, 1998, 1999

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks (formerly known as the Flickertails and the Fighting Sioux) are the athletic teams that represent the University of North Dakota (UND), located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level as a member of the Summit League. With 17 varsity teams, North Dakota is best known for its Ice Hockey team and American Football team. North Dakota's main rivalries are with the North Dakota State Bison and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.[2][3]

Originally in the Division II North Central Conference, UND began transitioning to NCAA's Division I in 2008 with the football program participating in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). North Dakota is a member of the Summit League for most sports, the Missouri Valley Football Conference in football, and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference for men's hockey. The Fighting Hawks competed in the Western Athletic Conference in baseball, plus men's and women's swimming and diving, before dropping all three sports. Baseball was dropped after the 2016 season, and the swimming and diving teams were dropped after the 2016–17 season.[4] Women's ice hockey competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association before also being dropped after the 2016–17 season.[4]

On January 24, 2017, reports stated that North Dakota would leave the Big Sky Conference to join the Summit League in all sports but football beginning in 2019.[5] The school would join the Missouri Valley Football Conference for football in 2020.[6] The rumored changes became official on January 26, when UND, the Summit League, and the MVFC announced the Fighting Hawks' move to the Summit in 2018 (instead of 2019)[7] and the MVFC at the reported 2020 date. During UND's transition to the MVFC, it will continue to play a full Big Sky football schedule due to contractual commitments; while the Fighting Hawks will not be eligible for the Big Sky title, games against them will count in the Big Sky football standings.[8]

## Sports sponsored

[edit]

Men's sports  | Women's sports

|

Basketball | Basketball
Cross country | Cross country
Football | Golf
Golf | Soccer
Ice hockey | Softball
Tennis | Tennis
Track and field† | Track and field†
| Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

### Ice hockey (men's)

[edit]

Main article: North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey

Having won eight national championships, the men's hockey team is easily the most recognized of UND teams. A charter member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, the Fighting Hawks play in the $100+ million Ralph Engelstad Arena.

### Football

[edit]

Main article: North Dakota Fighting Hawks football

The men's football home games are held in the Alerus Center. The team competes at the FCS Level in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Prior to Joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the team competed in the Big Sky Conference.

### Volleyball

[edit]

Main article: North Dakota Fighting Hawks volleyball

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks volleyball are members of the NCAA Division I Summit League. The program only includes a women's team.

### Men's basketball

[edit]

Main article: North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's basketball

The Fighting Hawks Basketball team has appeared in the Division 1 tournament 1 time. The most famous athlete to come from the program is Coach and basketball player Phil Jackson.

## Rivalries

[edit]

### Hockey

[edit]

* Gophers
* Pioneers

### Football

[edit]

* Bison
* Coyotes

### All

[edit]

* North Dakota State Bison
* South Dakota State Jackrabbits
* South Dakota Coyotes

## Former sports

[edit]

The wrestling program was discontinued in 1998.[9] The baseball program dating to 1889 was cancelled at the conclusion of the 2016 season.[10] The women's hockey program was cancelled at the conclusion of the 2016–17 season.[11]

* Baseball
* Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving
* Women's Golf
* Wrestling
* Women's Hockey

## Athletics hall of fame

[edit]

The Letterwinners Hall of Fame recognizes the efforts and achievements of former UND student-athletes, coaches, and other supporters of UND athletics. Inductees are selected by the UND Letterwinners Association and representatives of the UND athletic department. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony, sponsored by the UND Letterwinners Association, is held each fall in conjunction with a football game. The Hall of Fame is located on the upper concourse at the south end of the Ralph Engelstad Arena.[12]

## Nickname

[edit]

Further information: North Dakota Fighting Sioux controversy

UND's nickname was originally The Flickertails, but was unofficially changed to "The Sioux" in 1930. UND's former athletic logo, revealed in 1999, a Native American figure, was designed by Bennett Brien, a local artist and UND graduate of Ojibwa ethnicity. After more than a decade of controversy, the name and logo were retired in 2012. On November 18, 2015, it was revealed at a press conference held by President Robert Kelley that Fighting Hawks, with 57.24% of the vote, would become the new university nickname.[13][14]

## Notable Athletes

[edit]

* Murray Baron – former NHL defenseman
* Ryan Bayda – former player in the NHL Carolina Hurricanes
* Ed Belfour – former NHL goaltender and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
* Jason Blake – former NHL player
* Brock Boeser – current NHL player with the Vancouver Canucks
* Drake Caggiula – current NHL player with the Edmonton Oilers
* Taylor Chorney – former NHL player
* Dave Christian – member of the 1980 Olympic ice hockey team that beat the USSR in the "Miracle on Ice" game
* Mike Commodore – former NHL player
* Geno Crandall \- basketball player with Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Aaron Dell – current NHL player with the San Jose Sharks
* Ryan Duncan – winner of the 2007 Hobey Baker Award
* Derek Forbort – current NHL player with the Boston Bruins
* Rhett Gardner – current NHL player with the Philadelphia Flyers
* Pablo Garza – basketball player; professional mixed martial artist; former UFC Featherweight[15]
* Matt Greene – former NHL player
* Rocco Grimaldi – current AHL player with the Chicago Wolves
* David Hale – former Phoenix Coyotes player in the NHL
* Dave Hakstol – current head coach of the Seattle Kraken
* Quinton Hooker (born 1995) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Tony Hrkac – former NHL player and 1987 Hobey Baker Award winner
* Phil Jackson – former NBA player and coach
* Ben Jacobson – head men's basketball coach at the University of Northern Iowa
* Greg Johnson – former player in the NHL
* Luke Johnson (ice hockey) – current KHL player with Magnitogorsk Metallurg
* Ryan Johnson – former player in the NHL
* Milson Jones – former CFL running back
* Tyson Jost – current NHL player with the Buffalo Sabres
* Jim Kleinsasser – former Minnesota Vikings NFL player
* Chris Kuper – former Denver Broncos NFL player and current coach
* Paul LaDue – current NHL player with the New York Islanders
* Jocelyne Lamoureux – women's hockey gold medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics
* Monique Lamoureux – women's hockey gold medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics
* Jim LeClair – former Cincinnati Bengals NFL player
* Brian Lee – former Ottawa Senators player in the NHL
* Brad Malone – current NHL player with the Edmonton Oilers
* Errol Mann – former Detroit Lions NFL player
* Gene Murphy – North Dakota football player and head coach
* Chad Mustard – former Denver Broncos NFL player
* Brock Nelson – current NHL player for the New York Islanders
* Travis O'Neel – UND football captain of 2001 National Championship Team
* Dave Osborn – former Minnesota Vikings NFL player
* T. J. Oshie – current Washington Capitals player in the NHL
* Zach Parise – current Colorado Avalanche player in the NHL
* Joe Polo – Olympic gold medalist in curling at the 2018 Winter Olympics
* Tucker Poolman – current NHL player with the Vancouver Canucks
* Pete Retzlaff – former Philadelphia Eagles NFL player
* Nick Schmaltz – current NHL player with the Arizona Coyotes
* Lawrie Skolrood – former CFL player
* Craig Smith (basketball, born 1972) – men's basketball coach at Utah State Aggies men's basketball
* Monte Smith – former Denver Broncos NFL player
* Drew Stafford – former NHL player
* Troy Stecher – current NHL player with the Arizona Coyotes
* Dave Tippett – former NHL player and coach
* Jonathan Toews – former Chicago Blackhawks player in the NHL
* Landon Wilson – former Dallas Stars player in the NHL
* Travis Zajac – former New York Islanders player in the NHL

## See also

[edit]

* University of North Dakota Sports Network
* North Dakota Fighting Hawks baseball

## References

[edit]

1. ^ UND Athletics Brand 22 Media (PDF). April 10, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
2. ^ "'U' Renews Rivalry at UND for Weekend Series".
3. ^ Wells, Nathan. "Gophers' return to North Dakota mixes old and new for college hockey's best rivalry".
4. ^ a b "Deep budget cuts force UND to eliminate three varsity sports" (Press release). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. March 29, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
5. ^ "North Dakota to Join Summit League, Missouri Valley Football Conference". ESPN 99.1 – Sioux Falls Sports Leader – Sioux Falls Sports. Archived from the original on 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
6. ^ KSFY. "Sources: UND Set to Join Summit League and MVFC". Retrieved 2017-01-25.
7. ^ "The Summit League Adds The University of North Dakota" (Press release). The Summit League. January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
8. ^ "UND to Join Missouri Valley Football Conference" (Press release). Missouri Valley Football Conference. January 26, 2017. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
9. ^ "College Programs Dropped Nationally". USA Wrestling-Kansas. February 22, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
10. ^ "North Dakota baseball team being cut plays final home game". USA Today. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
11. ^ Cimini, Kate (5 April 2017). "After program cut, North Dakota women's hockey left reeling". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
12. ^ "Hall of Fame Home". fightinghawks.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
13. ^ "Fighting Hawks selected as new nickname for the University of North Dakota". University of North Dakota. November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
14. ^ "Fighting Hawks selected as new nickname for the University of North Dakota". North Dakota Fighting Hawks. November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
15. ^ "Pablo Garza UFC Bio". Retrieved August 8, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Academics|

* School of Aerospace Sciences
* School of Law
* School of Medicine

Athletics|

* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Football
* Men's ice hockey
* Women's ice hockey
* Women's soccer
* Softball
* Women's volleyball
* Nickname controversy

Campus|

* Alerus Center
* Betty Engelstad Sioux Center
* Chester Fritz Auditorium
* Chester Fritz Library
* Energy and Environmental Research Center
* Memorial Stadium
* National Center for Hydrogen Technology
* North Dakota Museum of Art
* Ralph Engelstad Arena (old)
* Ralph Engelstad Arena (new)
* University Village

Media|

* North Dakota Quarterly
* Dakota Student
* UND Sports Network

School songs|

* "UND Alma Mater"
* "It's For You, North Dakota U"
* "Fight On Sioux"
* "Stand Up and Cheer"

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Summit League

Full members|

* Denver Pioneers
* Kansas City Roos
* North Dakota Fighting Hawks
* North Dakota State Bison
* Omaha Mavericks
* Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
* St. Thomas Tommies
* South Dakota Coyotes
* South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Baseball affiliate|

* Northern Colorado Bears

Men's soccer affiliate|

* Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (joining in 2025)

Men's tennis affiliates|

* Drake Bulldogs
* Illinois State Redbirds

Men's golf affiliates|

* Northern Colorado Bears
* Weber State Wildcats

Swimming & diving affiliates|

* Eastern Illinois Panthers
* Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles

Championships and awards|

* Conference championships

* v
* t
* e

Missouri Valley Football Conference

Teams|

* Illinois State Redbirds
* Indiana State Sycamores
* Missouri State Bears (leaving in 2025)
* Murray State Racers
* North Dakota Fighting Hawks
* North Dakota State Bison
* Northern Iowa Panthers
* South Dakota Coyotes
* South Dakota State Jackrabbits
* Southern Illinois Salukis
* Youngstown State Penguins

Championships & awards|

* All-time standings
* Conference champions

Seasons|

* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

National Collegiate Hockey Conference

Current teams|

* Arizona State Sun Devils
* Colorado College Tigers
* Denver Pioneers
* Miami RedHawks
* Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
* North Dakota Fighting Hawks
* Omaha Mavericks
* St. Cloud State Huskies
* Western Michigan Broncos

Future teams|

* St. Thomas Tommies (joining in 2026)

Venues|

* Mullett Arena (Arizona State)
* Ed Robson Arena (Colorado College)
* Magness Arena (Denver)
* Steve Cady Arena (Miami)
* AMSOIL Arena (Minnesota Duluth)
* Ralph Engelstad Arena (North Dakota)
* Baxter Arena (Omaha)
* Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (St. Cloud State)
* Lawson Arena (Western Michigan)

Future venues|

* Lee and Penny Anderson Arena (St. Thomas)

Seasons|

* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Awards|

* Player of the Year
* Rookie of the Year
* Goaltender of the Year
* Herb Brooks Coach of the Year
* Forward of the Year
* Defensive Forward of the Year
* Defensive Defenseman of the Year
* Offensive Defenseman of the Year
* Scholar-Athlete of the Year
* Sportsmanship Award
* All-NCHC Teams

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in the Dakotas

Baseball|

* AA: Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
* Sioux Falls Canaries
* NwL: Bismarck Larks
* Minot Hot Tots
* IndL: Badlands Big Sticks, Spearfish Sasquatch

Basketball|

* NBA G League: Sioux Falls Skyforce

Football|

AFL
Rapid City Marshals
IFL
Sioux Falls Storm

Hockey|

* ECHL: Rapid City Rush
* USHL: Fargo Force
* Sioux Falls Stampede
* NAHL: Aberdeen Wings
* Bismarck Bobcats
* Minot Minotauros
* Watertown Shamrocks

Roller derby|

* WFTDA: Fargo Moorhead Derby Girls
* Sioux Falls Roller Dollz

Soccer|

* NPSL: Dakota Fusion FC
* Sioux Falls Thunder FC

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

North Dakota Fighting Hawks
North Dakota State Bison
South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota State Jackrabbits

|

NCAA
Division II|

Augustana Vikings
Black Hills State Yellow Jackets
Mary Marauders
Minot State Beavers
Northern State Wolves
Sioux Falls Cougars
South Dakota Mines Hardrockers

NAIA|

Dakota State Trojans
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