NDSU Names Hank Jacobs Director of Football Recruiting

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State University has named Hank Jacobs director of football recruiting, a new full-time position that will be responsible for coordinating campus visits and other recruiting activities for the Bison football program.

Klieman said the position will allow NDSU’s coaches to further concentrate on their coaching duties while ensuring that prospective student-athletes are still able to tour campus and have meetings with coaches and professors.

“It’s so critical for us to have that position so we don’t have to pull staff members out,” said NDSU head coach Chris Klieman.  “Recruiting is changing so much.  I know we have a number of commitments already for the 2016 class, and all those guys visited this summer.”

Jacobs was an offensive lineman on the NDSU football team from 2009 to 2011 before spending two years as an undergraduate assistant.  He was named offensive intern in 2014 and assisted the Bison staff in many of the same recruiting duties he has assumed in the new position.

The offensive intern position Jacobs vacated was filled by Josh Kittell, who came to NDSU in July after one season as the offensive coordinator at the University of Jamestown.  He was a three-year starting quarterback at Jamestown before coaching at Minot State from 2010 to 2013.

Gophers Non-Conference Schedule Announced

The full 2015-16 Minnesota men’s basketball schedule is set, as head coach Richard Pitino and the Gophers announced their upcoming non-conference slate on Monday. It features eight home games at Williams Arena along with strong neutral site competition leading up to the 18-game Big Ten regular season.

Game times and television information will be announced at a later date.

“We believe that this year’s non-conference schedule will be an excellent test for our young team,” said Pitino. “In putting together the schedule, we wanted to ensure quality competition in order to prepare the team for the rigors of Big Ten play, while also providing a chance for our team to grow and improve.”

The Gophers will play two exhibition games in early November, hosting Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 1) and Southwest Minnesota State (Nov. 6) at Williams Arena. On Friday, November 13, the season officially opens as Minnesota welcomes Missouri-Kansas City, then hosts Louisiana-Monroe two days later (Nov. 15).

Next up is a return to Puerto Rico for the second straight year, where the Gophers will take part in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Playing three games in four days beginning with the Temple Owls (Nov. 19), the Maroon and Gold will also compete on Friday, November 20 and Sunday, November 22 in San Juan.

After Thanksgiving, the Gophers open a four-game homestand beginning with Nebraska Omaha (Nov. 27). That game is followed by the 2015 Big Ten/ACC Challenge, in which Minnesota will host Clemson on Monday, November 30.  Home games follow against South Dakota (December 5) and South Dakota State (December 8).

In their final contest away from home before starting conference play, the Gophers will make the short trip to Sioux Falls, S.D., to square off against Oklahoma State at the Sanford Pentagon on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Minnesota rounds out its non-conference schedule at home, hosting Chicago State (Dec. 16) and Milwaukee (Dec. 23) on back-to-back Wednesdays.

Minnesota will begin conference play on the road at Ohio State on Wednesday, December 30, before its home B1G opener on Saturday, January 2 against 2015 Final Four participant Michigan State, who the Gophers defeated in East Lansing last season in their lone matchup. The Gophers alternate home-and-away for their next six games, with midweek road trips to Penn State (Jan. 5), Nebraska (Jan. 12) and Michigan (Jan. 20) each followed by Saturday home games against Northwestern (Jan. 9), Indiana (Jan. 16) and Illinois (Jan. 23). The following Wednesday, the Gophers host Purdue (Jan. 27) in their first two-game B1G homestand, before closing out January at Indiana (Jan. 30).

The only two-game road trip of the conference season, the Maroon and Gold remain on the road traveling to Northwestern on Thursday, February 4 before their first bye comes on the first weekend of the month. A home game against Michigan (Feb. 10) is followed by a Valentine’s Day trip to rival Iowa (Feb. 14), and back-to-back home games against Maryland (Feb. 18) and Rutgers (Feb. 23). The two contests against the conference’s new members are split up by Minnesota’s second bye of the season, also coming on a weekend.

Two of the Gophers’ final three games come on the road, as Minnesota travels to Illinois (Feb. 28) for the first time in three years. The final home game of the year comes on Wednesday, March 2 against rival Wisconsin, before closing out the regular season at Rutgers three days later (Mar. 5).

Minnesota will compete for the Big Ten Tournament title from March 9-13 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

2015-16 Gopher Men’s Basketball Schedule (game times TBA)

Date	Day	Opponent
11/1/15	Sun.	Minnesota Crookston (Exhibition)
11/6/15	Fri.	Southwest Minnesota State (Exhibition)
11/13/15	Fri.	Missouri-Kansas City
11/15/15	Sun.	Louisiana-Monroe
Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan)
11/19/15	Thu.	Temple
11/20/15	Fri.	Butler/Missouri State
11/22/15	Sun.	TBD
11/27/15	Fri.	Nebraska Omaha
11/30/15	Mon.	Clemson
12/5/15	Sat.	South Dakota
12/8/15	Tue.	South Dakota State
12/12/15	Sat.	vs. Oklahoma State (at Sioux Falls, S.D.)
12/16/15	Wed.	Chicago State
12/23/15	Wed.	Wisconsin-Milwaukee
12/30/15	Wed.	at Ohio State
1/2/16	Sat.	Michigan State
1/5/16	Tue.	at Penn State
1/9/16	Sat.	Northwestern
1/12/16	Tue.	at Nebraska
1/16/16	Sat.	Indiana
1/20/16	Wed.	at Michigan
1/23/16	Sat.	Illinois
1/27/16	Wed.	Purdue
1/30/16	Sat.	at Indiana
2/4/16	Thu.	at Northwestern
2/10/16	Wed.	Michigan
2/14/16	Sun.	at Iowa
2/18/16	Thu.	Maryland
2/23/16	Tue.	Rutgers
2/28/16	Sun.	at Illinois
3/2/16	Wed.	Wisconsin
3/5/16	Sat.	at Rutgers
3/9/15-   3/13/15	Wed.-Sun.	Big Ten Tournament (Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)

MN Lynx to Host “Girls and Women in Sports” Night Sunday, August 30

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – In celebration of girls and women in sports, the Minnesota Lynx will host a “Girls and Women in Sports” night presented by Dove’s #SpeakBeautiful campaign as the Lynx take on the Phoenix Mercury at Target Center on August 30. 

Prior to the game, the first 1,500 fans will receive an exclusive Cheryl Reeve bobblehead. Now in her sixth season as the Lynx’ head coach, Reeve holds a 19-9 record thus far in the 2015 season and a 137-60 record in her career with the Minnesota Lynx. Under Reeve’s tutelage, the Lynx will make their fifth consecutive postseason appearance in September. Selected by USA Basketball as an assistant coach for the 2014 FIBA World Championship team in Turkey, Reeve will head the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2016 Rio Games.

Also prior to tipoff, former WNBA player and current ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo will be speaking to a group of fans as a part of Dove’s #SpeakBeautiful campaign.

There will also be in-game recognition for a group of University of Minnesota students and Somali teenagers who created special uniforms for Muslim girls to be able to play basketball. With help from the University of Minnesota College of Design and the Tucker Center for Girls & Women in Sport, the GIRLS program from Cedar Riverside Community designed their own culturally appropriate basketball uniforms and active wear. These outfits allow them to stay active while honoring their cultural and religious beliefs. 

Following the game, Gopher basketball alum Lindsay Whalen will be speaking to the crowd in a Q&A that is open to all fans.

Fans interested in attending the pregame presentation with Rebecca Lobo can contact Emma Sandstrom at (612) 673-8433 or at emma.sandstrom@lynxbasketball.com.

Administrative staffing changes for athletics department at UND

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – With the new academic year underway at the University of North Dakota, athletics director Brian Faison made official today several additions and promotions within the athletics department.

Faison announced the hirings of business operations assistant Cathy Anderson, student life assistant Joey Garcia, licensing coordinator Breanna Linert, assistant marketing director Lance Moser, and compliance coordinator Holly Wojtylko. Garcia, Linert and Moser fill new positions within the department, while Anderson replaces Erik Martinson in the business office and Wojtylko fills a vacant position.

Martinson has been elevated from business operations assistant to director of facilities and game operations. A 2011 graduate of UND, Martinson’s new responsibilities will include scheduling and management of the new UND Athletics High Performance Center.

Additionally, Jason Namanny has been elevated from associate marketing director to assistant athletics director for marketing and Matt Schill has been elevated from director of new media to assistant athletics director for digital media and video production.

“We continue to build what we feel is the best in staff support for UND Athletics. We have restructured the department to provide the best opportunities for success for our coaches and student-athletes.”

The 2015-16 year will mark Faison’s eighth as athletics director of the University of North Dakota.

Big Ten Announces Men’s Basketball Schedule

The Big Ten Conference announced Thursday evening the full men’s basketball conference schedule, including the Gophers’ 18-game slate. Game times and television broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

Minnesota will begin conference play on the road at Ohio State on Wednesday, December 30, before its home B1G opener on Saturday, January 2 against 2015 Final Four participant Michigan State, who the Gophers defeated in East Lansing last season in their lone matchup.  The Gophers alternate home-and-away for their next six games, with midweek road trips to Penn State (Jan. 5), Nebraska (Jan. 12) and Michigan (Jan. 20) each followed by Saturday home games against Northwestern (Jan. 9), Indiana (Jan. 16) and Illinois (Jan. 23). The following Wednesday, the Gophers host Purdue (Jan. 27) in their first two-game B1G homestand, before closing out January at Indiana (Jan. 30).

The only two-game road trip of the conference season, the Maroon and Gold remain on the road traveling to Northwestern on Thursday, February 4 before their first bye comes on the first weekend of the month. A home game against Michigan (Feb. 10) is followed by a Valentine’s Day trip to rival Iowa (Feb. 14), and back-to-back home games against Maryland (Feb. 18) and Rutgers (Feb. 23). The two contests against the conference’s new members are split up by Minnesota’s second bye of the season, also coming on a weekend.

Two of the Gophers’ final three games come on the road, as Minnesota travels to Illinois (Feb. 28) for the first time in three years. The final home game of the year comes on Wednesday, March 2 against rival Wisconsin, before closing out the regular season at Rutgers three days later (Mar. 5).

Minnesota will compete for the Big Ten Tournament title from March 9-13 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

2015-16 Minnesota Men's Basketball Big Ten Conference Schedule (all game times TBA)

12/30/15	Wed.	at Ohio State
1/2/16	Sat.	Michigan State
1/5/16	Tue.	at Penn State
1/9/16	Sat.	Northwestern
1/12/16	Tue.	at Nebraska
1/16/16	Sat.	Indiana
1/20/16	Wed.	at Michigan
1/23/16	Sat.	Illinois
1/27/16	Wed.	Purdue
1/30/16	Sat.	at Indiana
2/4/16	Thu.	at Northwestern
2/10/16	Wed.	Michigan
2/14/16	Sun.	at Iowa
2/18/16	Thu.	Maryland
2/23/16	Tue.	Rutgers
2/28/16	Sun.	at Illinois
3/2/16	Wed.	Wisconsin
3/5/16	Sat.	at Rutgers
3/9/15-	Wed.-Sun.	Big Ten Tournament
3/13/15		(Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)

Warren Named to Inaugural Hall of Fame Class at Itasca Community College

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. - University of Minnesota Crookston Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities & Operations Gary Warren became part of the inaugural Itasca Community College Sports Hall of Fame class Thurs., Aug. 20, 2015. Warren was one of seven individuals and two teams who were honored by the college for their athletic excellence and their representation of Itasca Community College well after their athletic careers were completed.

Warren has been an Assistant Athletic Director at UMC for the past seven years, prior to that he was head men’s hockey coach for the Golden Eagles from 2001-09.

A native of Munger, Minn., Warren attended high school at Proctor H.S. prior to moving on to then Itasca State Junior college. At Proctor, Warren was named a 1971 Honor Athlete after serving as captain for three sports. At Itasca, he competed in both football and hockey. In 1971, he helped the football team to a North Division Runner-Up finish, playing both offense and defense. As a member of the hockey team, Warren helped lead the 1972 Viking squad to a Minnesota Junior College Athletic Association (MJCAA) State Hockey Championship manning the net as goalkeeper for the squad. The Vikings would go on to win the 1972 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Hockey Championship. For his contributions in net, Warren earned NJCAA All-American honors in 1972. He also earned All0-Tournament honors.

Warren would graduate from Itasca Junior College in 1973, later joining the Bemidji State hockey program and also having a stint with the BSU football team before graduating from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1977.

After his very successful playing career, Warren would go on to a highly illustrious coaching career. He would get his start in the high school ranks coaching in Eveleth, Minn., Minot, N.D. and Austin, Minn. before getting his first collegiate coaching job at the United States Air Force Academy, where he would serve as assistant coach from 1980-83.

Warren would earn his first head coaching job in 1984, taking over at Dakota College at Bottineau, which was then North Dakota State University-Bottineau and would also be known as Minot State University-Bottineau before becoming Dakota College at Bottineau. Warren would mold the Lumberjacks into a nationally respected powerhouse, coaching the school to three NJCAA National Championships in 1986, 1991 and 1998. His squads would also with nine North Central Region XIII titles. Warren would earned ten Coach of the Year accolades while in Bottineau. During his time in Bottineau, he also served as President of the National Junior College Hockey Coaches Association and produced a North Dakota Colleeg Athlete of the Year and a two-time National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Champion in Dustin Penner, who earned the Cup with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings and played 11 seasons in the league. At Bottineau, he would coach many NJCAA All-Americans. Warren entered the North Dakota Hall of Honor in 1998.

He would take over the Golden Eagle hockey program in 2001, where he led the team to two Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Championships. He was a finalist for the NCAA Division III Eddie Jeremiah Award for coaching in 2003 and 2005. Warren would conclude his hockey career in 2009, earning 11 Coach of the Year honors and achieving 437 career wins.

In his role as Assistant Athletic Director, Warren has been an integral part of the department, heading up the games management for all 11 intercollegiate athletic programs at the school.