Longtime football assistant, UND letterwinner Mannausau to lead Champions Club

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota Athletics Department and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation announced today that Mike Mannausau has been hired as Assistant Athletics Director/Champions Club Executive Director.

Mannausau, who begins his new duties on Monday, Feb. 18, recently completed his ninth season on the North Dakota football coaching staff and his seventh as defensive coordinator. Prior to the 2008 season, he was elevated to assistant head coach and last season he was named associate head coach.

"Since I arrived at the University of North Dakota, I have been impressed with the great ambassador that Mike is for UND Athletics," said UND Director of Athletics Brian Faison. "We are excited that he will be bringing his passion for North Dakota and his unique combination of skill sets to this critical position for UND Athletics."

The North Dakota Champions Club is a primary source of private support for UND Athletics. The membership club, operated by the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, raises funds for scholarships and program support for UND's Athletics. The Champions Club raised $2.23 million in cash gifts and commitments from 2,360 members in 2011-12, marking the sixth consecutive annual fundraising record for the club.

“We are thrilled to have Mike join our team,” said DeAnna Carlson Zink, associate executive vice president and chief development officer for the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. “His connections to UND Athletics and UND alumni and friends will serve him well in this vital role. We are at a critical point in the fundraising efforts to not only support Impact Scholarships for student-athletes at the Division I level, but also to proceed with the UND Athletics Complex.”

A standout linebacker for North Dakota from 1994 to 1998, Mannausau lettered four times and was a 1998 Football Gazette All-America honorable mention honoree, while serving as a team captain. He received a bachelor's degree from UND in May 1999, majoring in education/physical education and minoring in special education and coaching. In June of 2003, he received a master's degree in kinesiology from UND.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our family,” said Mannausau. “Tiffany and I are so fortunate to be able to continue to be a part of this great University and community. I am so grateful to have been a part of something as special as the University of North Dakota football program for 16 years. I can't thank coach (Chris) Mussman enough for allowing me and my family to share so many wonderful memories. I am so excited to share my passion for UND, our student-athletes and teams with our great alumni and fans. I really feel I can make a bigger impact on UND in this new role and I am excited to get started.”

Mannausau, originally from International Falls, Minn., is married to former UND women's basketball standout and UND Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Tiffany Pudenz. They have two children, daughter Mya and son Max.

In addition to managing the efforts of the Champions Club, Mannausau will work with major donors and prospects to obtain funds for athletic facilities, Impact Scholarships, and endowments for UND Athletics. Mannausau joins a staff that includes Steve Brekke, associate athletics director for development, and Katie Horob, Champions Club Associate Director.