UMC Head Tennis Coach Resigns

CROOKSTON, Minn. – University of Minnesota Crookston tennis coach Ryan McGuigan has resigned his position after two seasons leading the Golden Eagle program. McGuigan will move to Dayton, Ohio to train under and learn from tennis pro Anirban “Tutu” Baruah.

“We are very thankful for the two seasons Ryan gave us as head coach of the women’s tennis program.” Said Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson. “Ryan was a pleasure to work with and did a good job helping to put our program in a good trajectory heading into the future. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

When McGuigan inherited the team in 2014 he had just two members on the roster. He did a great job of recruiting and building a team the last two years. This season he helped lead senior Catherine Brown (Powell Butte, Ore.) to an All-NSIC Honorable Mention accolade, the honor was the first-ever All-Conference honor for the UMC women’s tennis program.

The Golden Eagles will begin a search for a Head Women’s Tennis Coach immediately. Further details will be posted to goldeneaglesports.com 

NDSU Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Resigns

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University head men’s basketball coach David Richman announced Friday, Apr. 8, that assistant coach Freddy Coleman has resigned to pursue further opportunities outside of coaching.

Coleman had been a part of the Bison men’s basketball coaching staff for three years, starting prior to the 2013-14 season.

“We are extremely appreciative of Freddy’s time and efforts toward our success here at NDSU, as a player and most recently as a member of our coaching staff,” said Richman. “The impact Coach Coleman has had on our program, and specifically on a number of our student-athletes, is what makes him such a special person. Freddy is and always will be a member of our Bison Family.  We wish him nothing but the best.”

“I would like to thank Coach Richman and the administration for allowing me to be a part of something extremely special here,” Coleman said. “NDSU will always have a special place in my heart. As an alum, wearing the Green and Gold and ‘NDSU’ on my chest for a number of years is something I can be proud of for the rest of my life. Once a Bison, always a Bison.”

A national search to fill the assistant coach position will begin immediately.

UMC's Anderson Steps Down as Head Women’s Tennis Coach

CROOKSTON, Minn. - University of Minnesota Crookston Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson has 

announced that Head Tennis Coach Kyle Anderson has stepped down from his position at UMC.  Anderson has taken a job as the assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach at the University of North Dakota. 

Anderson served as head tennis coach for the Golden Eagles for the 2014 season and helped UMC post a 4-12 mark with wins over University of Minnesota Duluth, Bethany Lutheran College, Concordia College Moorhead and University of Minnesota Morris.

“We thank Kyle for his time as head coach of the UMC tennis program,” Helgeson said. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The Golden Eagles will begin a search immediately for Anderson’s replacement.

Reierson Steps Down as Assistant Athletic Director at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn.- University of Minnesota Crookston Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson announced the resignation of Natasha Reierson as Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Women’s Administrator Tuesday. Reierson, who has spent the last seven years in the post, will leave to take a position as the Executive Director of the Thief River Falls Education Foundation in Thief River Falls, Minn., where she lives with her husband Jarod and her daughter Rylie.

Reierson will remain in her post at Minnesota Crookston until August 5. A search for a new Assistant Athletic Director will begin immediately. Reierson’s duties at UMC included overseeing UMC’s Student Athlete Advistory Committee (SAAC) and it’s NCAA Champs/Life Skills program. She also headed up the
Golden Eagles Marketing and Promotions efforts and assisted the Director of Athletics in day-to-day operations of the Athletic Department.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities Stephanie Helgeson and the University of Minnesota Crookston have given me over the past several years,” Reierson said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of the Student-Athletes at UMC and others within the NCAA. I will miss Steph, our athletic staff, and our
student-athletes but look forward to attending UMC athletic events as a fan and plan to stay in touch with the staff and current and former student-athletes.”

“We would like to thank Natasha for everything she has done for UMC,” Helgeson said. “She has been
 instrumental in establishing numerous community engagement events for UMC. In addition, Natasha has also established various promotions to help successfully market UMC athletics. She has been very dedicated in her role as Assistant Athletic Director and she has also worked closely with the NCAA and NSIC. I wish Natasha and her family the very best and I am grateful for her leadership and contributions to UMC.”

Reierson arrived at UMC in 2007 after serving as the Director of Marketing for the Athletic Department at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City, S.D. While there, Reierson worked with businesses and schools to promote relationships through athletics, working with booster clubs and fundraising programs and working with corporate sponsorships.

Prior to her move to South Dakota School of Mines, Reierson worked as a Graduate Assistant at her alma mater, Southwest Minnesota State University. programs and working with corporate sponsorships. For the Mustangs, she assisted in day-to-day operation of a Division II Athletic program, was an advisor for SAAC and an events coordinator for Schwan’s Food Company 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Reierson graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2003 with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Finance and Marketing. She pursued and received her Master’s of Science Degree in Educational Leadership from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2005.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

NDSU Assistant Wrestling Coach Bret Maughan Steps Down

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State assistant wrestling coach Bret Maughan has announced that he will not be returning as a member of the NDSU coaching staff for the 2014-15 season.

Maughan recently completed his 13th season as an assistant coach for the Bison, capped by back-to-back seasons with NDSU wrestlers earning NCAA All-American honors.

As a team, Maughan helped guide NDSU into the top 30 at the NCAA Championships in each of the last two seasons, including an all-time high finish of 21st in 2014. The Bison won a Western Wrestling Conference regular season title in 2012-13 and the NCAA West Regional title in 2014.

“This decision was not an easy one, as Bison Wrestling has always been a huge part of my life,” said Maughan. “I have had the privilege of working with many great wrestlers over the years, and I am still very fortunate to be a part of their lives.”

Maughan coached numerous Division I and Division II national qualifiers and All-Americans, including Todd Fuller, Nick Severson, Paul Carlson, Thad Pike, Nick Magee, Eric Hoffman, Ryan Adams, Jacob Bryce, Vince Salminen, Trent Sprenkle and Steven Monk.

“In my role as an assistant coach, a big part of the job is being on the mat and wrestling collegiate athletes,” said Maughan. “In the last few years, that has become more of a physical challenge for me to maintain. The time demands of coaching Division I wrestling have also continually increased over the years, to the point where the time away from my children was the tipping point.”

“I have been privileged to work with a great staff, a supportive administration and for this university as a whole. I want to thank Gene Taylor for the opportunity to work for my alma mater. I’m looking forward to staying in the Fargo-Moorhead community, continuing my professional career in education, and having more freedom to spend time with my children,” said Maughan.

NDSU won two North Central Conference titles and two Western Wrestling Conference titles during Maughan’s time on the coaching staff.

“Bret has been a crucial part of the overall success and growth of our program, especially through the years of transition to Division I,” said NDSU head coach Roger Kish. “Bison wrestling has grown tremendously during his time here. We’re very grateful for the years of hard work and dedication that Bret has given to the program.”

Maughan is the son of Hall of Fame coach Bucky Maughan, who coached NDSU from 1964-2011. Next season will be the first since 1963 without a member of the Maughan family on the NDSU coaching staff.

Maughan is a distinguished member of the Fargo North Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Fargo North High School Hall of Fame and the North Dakota High School Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was most recently inducted into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013 as a member of the 1988 national championship team.

NDSU Women’s Basketball Coach Carolyn DeHoff Resigns

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University director of women’s athletics Lynn Dorn announced today head women’s basketball coach Carolyn DeHoff has resigned effective April 15.

“Carolyn DeHoff is a person of great character and integrity,” Dorn said.  “Her commitment to our student-athletes is commendable. However, after a discussion with Carolyn regarding the program, I have accepted her resignation as head women’s basketball coach.”

Dorn said a national search will begin shortly.  DeHoff is in her sixth year at North Dakota State with a 72-101 record.  The Bison have three regular-season games remaining at South Dakota State, South Dakota and Denver before playing in the Summit League tournament March 8-11 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

                “I want to personally thank NDSU for giving me the opportunity to serve as its head women’s basketball coach over the past six seasons,“ DeHoff said. “I grew tremendously in the profession and want to wish the program and Bison athletics the very best.”

                DeHoff came to NDSU prior to the 2008-09 season after coaching at the University of Utah (2003-08), Weber State University (1998-03), the University of Wyoming (1991-98) and Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. (1990-91).

                “Carolyn has worked tirelessly to move the program forward,” Dorn said.  “The student-athletes have always been her priority and they too have worked hard to achieve progress. I thank Carolyn and wish her well in the future.”

                DeHoff said, “Thank you to the players, coaches and administration and support staff for your efforts. The impact you have had on me will forever be remembered. To the Bison fans and the Fargo-Moorhead community, thank you for your continued support of our players and program.”

                A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., DeHoff was a standout high school player at Cheyenne East and played at Arizona State University from 1987-90, where she was a team captain.

                “We are grateful that North Dakota State University women’s basketball is important to our students, faculty, alumni and fans.  We will aggressively pursue a coach who shares our passion for women’s basketball and the high expectations for its success,” Dorn said.

Carolyn DeHoff Year-by-Year

Season                 School                                  Overall                 Summit                                Postseason

2008-09                 North Dakota State         16-13                     12-6 (3rd)            Summit Semifinals

2009-10                 North Dakota State         16-13                     11-7 (5th)            Summit Quarterfinals

2010-11                 North Dakota State         13-16                     9-9 (6th, tie)       Summit Quarterfinals

2011-12                 North Dakota State         11-20                     8-10 (5th)            Summit Quarterfinals

2012-13                 North Dakota State         10-19                     6-10 (7th)            Summit Quarterfinals

2013-14                 North Dakota State         6-20                       2-9

Totals                   6th Season                          72-101                   48-51                     1-5

NDSU Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Jason Kemp Resigns

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University head men’s basketball coach Saul Phillips announced Tuesday, May 7, that assistant coach Jason Kemp has resigned to pursue further opportunities in coaching.

Kemp had been a part of the Bison men’s basketball coaching staff for eight years, starting as a graduate assistant in 2005 and serving six seasons as an assistant coach from 2007-13.

“Jason’s contributions in his eight years at North Dakota State have been immeasurable,” said Phillips. “The work he’s done on the court and behind the scenes has earned him a chance at a new opportunity. Jason has an unbelievably bright future ahead of him, and he will always be a friend to the NDSU athletic department and the people in it.”

The NDSU basketball four-coach staff had remained unchanged since the start of the 2007-08 season.

“My eight years at North Dakota State have been a privilege that I will treasure forever,” said Kemp. “Under the direction of Saul Phillips and Gene Taylor, this program has reached unprecedented heights, and I have enjoyed being a part of something so special. Our players’ hard work and dedication have allowed me a new opportunity, and I can’t thank them enough.”

NDSU posted a 24-10 record for the 2012-13 season, advancing to the championship game of the Summit League tournament. The Bison went 108-77 for a .584 winning percentage in Kemp’s tenure as an assistant coach.

UMC SID/SB coach resigns

 (Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston Athletic Department announced today that Sports Information Director and Head Women’s Softball Coach Mitch Bakken has resigned his position to pursue other opportunities.   “I would like to thank the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Athletic Director Stephanie Helgeson and the entire Golden Eagle family for an amazing eight years,” says Bakken. “I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of outstanding student-athletes and coaches. The softball program is in a great place right now with no seniors this year and an outstanding recruiting class coming in,” states Bakken.   “The timing just seemed right as this opportunity came up after most of the sports seasons and recruiting were done as I didn’t want to leave any loose-ends out there. I plan to continue being a huge supporter of Golden Eagle Athletics and help out in any way that I can if an opportunity is presented,” adds Bakken.   ““I would like to thank Mitch for his service and dedication to the athletic program. We appreciate all that he has done in the eight years he has been Head Softball Coach and Sports Information Director and we wish him the best,” says Athletic Director Stephanie Helgeson.   A search for a new SID and Head Softball Coach will begin immediately.   For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at: www.goldeneaglesports.com.      Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at #UMCAthletics.   The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).