GRAND FORKS, N.D. - University of North Dakota President Dr. Robert Kelley announced today that athletics director Brian Faison has received a two-year contract extension. Faison, whose contract now runs to June 2017, was named UND's 15th athletics director on April 17, 2008.
"Brian has done an exceptional job in guiding UND Athletics to full membership in NCAA Division I, at the same time providing stability and growth for the program. I am enormously proud of our student-athletes, who excel in the classroom as well as their chosen arena. Brian continues to represent UND Athletics at the highest level," said Kelley.
The 2012-13 season will mark Faison's fifth at the helm of UND Athletics. In leading UND Athletics through the Division I transition, alumni and fan support have continued to grow: Champions Club and endowment giving have enjoyed a sixth straight record year; volleyball had a third consecutive record-breaking season at the turnstile, while women's and men's hockey both finished second in the nation in home average attendance last year.
Competitively, last year's teams again enjoyed outstanding seasons resulting in two conference regular season championships, four conference postseason tournaments championships, three All-Americans, a national coach of the year, a record third consecutive Broadmoor Trophy, a national player of the year finalist and a second-place finish in the all-sports standings of the Great West Conference.
In the classroom, student-athletes continued their tradition of academic excellence: UND's 377 student-athletes achieved a school-record 3.173 grade point average during the 2011-12 year; a record number of student-athletes were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for the fall and spring semesters; 115 student-athletes earned academic all-conference honors, another school record; women's basketball, women's swimming and diving, women's golf and men's and women's track and field all were recognized nationally for their academic performance, two student-athletes were named Academic All-Americans and one student-athlete received a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the program's 34th recipient.
Faison helped secure membership in the Big Sky Conference for 14 of UND's sports, with membership beginning this season. He also played a leadership role in the formation of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), joining Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State, Western Michigan and Nebraska Omaha. Conference play begins in 2013-14.
Prior to joining UND, Faison served as special assistant to the president (2004-08) and director of athletics (1999-04) at New Mexico State University. Before that, he served as the national director of development for the National Children's Cancer Society (1995-1999). Faison gained experience in Division I administration as the director of athletics at Indiana State University (1988-1995), assistant athletics director for development at the University of Louisville (1984-1988) and assistant athletics director for promotions and fund raising at Illinois State University (1979-1984).
He also had stints as the assistant manager for athletic public relations at the University of Missouri (1978-1979) and assistant director for alumni activities at the University of Missouri (1974-1978).
"Brian has done an exceptional job in guiding UND Athletics to full membership in NCAA Division I, at the same time providing stability and growth for the program. I am enormously proud of our student-athletes, who excel in the classroom as well as their chosen arena. Brian continues to represent UND Athletics at the highest level," said Kelley.
The 2012-13 season will mark Faison's fifth at the helm of UND Athletics. In leading UND Athletics through the Division I transition, alumni and fan support have continued to grow: Champions Club and endowment giving have enjoyed a sixth straight record year; volleyball had a third consecutive record-breaking season at the turnstile, while women's and men's hockey both finished second in the nation in home average attendance last year.
Competitively, last year's teams again enjoyed outstanding seasons resulting in two conference regular season championships, four conference postseason tournaments championships, three All-Americans, a national coach of the year, a record third consecutive Broadmoor Trophy, a national player of the year finalist and a second-place finish in the all-sports standings of the Great West Conference.
In the classroom, student-athletes continued their tradition of academic excellence: UND's 377 student-athletes achieved a school-record 3.173 grade point average during the 2011-12 year; a record number of student-athletes were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for the fall and spring semesters; 115 student-athletes earned academic all-conference honors, another school record; women's basketball, women's swimming and diving, women's golf and men's and women's track and field all were recognized nationally for their academic performance, two student-athletes were named Academic All-Americans and one student-athlete received a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the program's 34th recipient.
Faison helped secure membership in the Big Sky Conference for 14 of UND's sports, with membership beginning this season. He also played a leadership role in the formation of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), joining Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State, Western Michigan and Nebraska Omaha. Conference play begins in 2013-14.
Prior to joining UND, Faison served as special assistant to the president (2004-08) and director of athletics (1999-04) at New Mexico State University. Before that, he served as the national director of development for the National Children's Cancer Society (1995-1999). Faison gained experience in Division I administration as the director of athletics at Indiana State University (1988-1995), assistant athletics director for development at the University of Louisville (1984-1988) and assistant athletics director for promotions and fund raising at Illinois State University (1979-1984).
He also had stints as the assistant manager for athletic public relations at the University of Missouri (1978-1979) and assistant director for alumni activities at the University of Missouri (1974-1978).
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