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52-783: Minnesota State University Moorhead plays in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference as one of the charter members. The conference was founded as the Northern Teachers Athletic Conference in 1932, when MSUM was Moorhead State Teachers College. For decades, the NSIC competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics . In 1964, MSUM won the NAIA national championship in wrestling. The NSIC entered

104-472: A Norwegian pastor, raised funds to build a male dormitory on campus grounds. His efforts led to the construction of Academy Hall. In 1893, Grose resigned and recently hired business professor Hans Aaker took his place. Aaker became mayor of Moorhead in 1900 and left two years later when that job compromised his dedication to the school. Bogstad was appointed Concordia's next president and established its liberal tradition. Under Bogstad, Concordia constructed

156-455: A baseball club was organized in 1903 and a basketball team was formed after the construction of a gymnasium in 1907. Football emerged in 1916 and Concordia joined the MIAC in 1920. Soon after, teams for tennis, golf, wrestling, softball, volleyball, track, cross country running and others were formed. Athletics grew further when Jake Christiansen , brother of conductor Paul J. Christiansen,

208-659: A group of approximately one dozen Norwegian pastors and laymen who had recently settled in the Red River Valley . The school was founded on the property of the former Episcopalian Bishop Whipple School, which had closed in 1887. English professor Ingebrikt Grose of St. Olaf College was asked to preside over the academy, which at that time offered mixed-sex education in English literature, natural sciences, mathematics, piano, and organ. The school opened with three faculty and twelve students. In 1892, Rasmus Bogstad,

260-529: A music department of 45 faculty that offers five Bachelor of Music degrees and two Bachelor of Arts degrees. The Concordia Choir is a 78-member mixed choir that travels internationally and has performed at major performance venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center . The choir was founded in 1919 by the college's voice instructor and began touring in 1923 under the direction of Herman Monson. The choir grew to national prominence in

312-406: A new academic building, now called Old Main. Henry O. Shurson held the presidency after Bogstad resigned in 1910 until Johan A. Aasgaard was appointed in 1911. Under Aasgaard, the nearby Park Region College and Bruflat Academy were merged with Concordia, and a new library was built in what is now called Grose Hall. In 1925, John N. Brown became president and oversaw Concordia's accreditation by

364-604: A new campus center; in 2004 Pamela M. Jolicoeur, who established plans for the college's Offutt School of Business, was appointed the first female President. Construction on the Offutt School of Business was completed in late 2012, and hosted students in the fall semester of 2013. William Craft began as president in 2011 and served until June 30, 2023. In 2018, the college's ministry became a member of Reconciling in Christ , affirming its support of LGBTQIA+ people . Today,

416-624: A part of any of these conferences play in the Continental Athletic Conference , formerly the Association of Independent Institutions. *- Denotes that the conference sponsors football. †- Denotes a football-only conference. Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota)#Athletics Concordia College is a private liberal arts college in Moorhead, Minnesota . Founded by Norwegian settlers in 1891,

468-499: A series of do-it-yourself home improvement videos, became the first college student-athlete known to have profited from an endorsement under the current rules. The NAIA sponsors 16 sports in which it conducts 28 annual championships (13 for men, 13 for women, 2 co-ed). The NAIA recognizes three levels of competitions: "emerging" (15 or more institutions sponsoring as varsity and declared), "invitational" (25 or more institutions sponsoring as varsity and declared for postseason, Approval of

520-545: A tradition of the local community. From its inception, it has featured the music department's choirs and orchestra. In 1940, Christianson began working with painter Cyrus M. Running to incorporate murals with the concert to reflect the music's themes. Running completed the designs until 1978, when their development was taken over by David J. Hetland , whose murals have traditionally extended 56 by 20 feet (17.1 m × 6.1 m). After Hetland's 2006 death, mural designs were taken over by artist Paul Johnson. The concert

572-654: A women's division in the spring of 1975 and held the first women's national championship volleyball tournament that fall. In 1997, Liz Heaston became the first female college athlete to play and score in a college football game when she kicked two extra points during the 1997 Linfield vs. Willamette football game . Launched in 2000 by the NAIA, the Champions of Character program promotes character and sportsmanship through athletics. The Champions of Character conducts clinics and has developed an online training course to educate athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators with

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624-605: Is awarded to student athletes annually. For the 2023–24 season, it had 241 member institutions , of which two are in British Columbia , one in the U.S. Virgin Islands , and the rest in the continental United States , with over 83,000 student-athletes participating. The NAIA, whose headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri , sponsors 28 national championships. CBS Sports Network , formerly called CSTV, serves as

676-617: Is currently performed four times annually on Concordia's campus and twice annually at Orchestra Hall . Over 450 students perform for an audience of twenty thousand, and the concert is broadcast on radio and television. The 2009 concert, Journey to Bethlehem , was recorded by Twin Cities Public Television and won a regional Emmy . It was broadcast nationally by members of the Public Broadcasting Service . Concordia–Moorhead athletic teams are

728-530: Is offered for motivated students. Concordia is included in the Open Doors survey of the top twenty baccalaureate institutions that send students abroad. The college offers four global education programs and offers instruction in nine languages. Moreover, students are permitted to study at two neighboring universities, Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University , for course credit to their degrees. In July 2023, Concordia opened

780-519: The 1947 tournament because the NAIB would not allow Walker to play. The association furthered its commitment to African-American athletes when, in 1953, it became the first collegiate association to invite historically black colleges and universities into its membership. In 1957, Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) became the first historically Black institution to win a collegiate basketball national championship. In 1959, Southern University became

832-725: The 2018–2019 season. The team is part of the American Club Hockey Association , participating at the Division II level. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to their student athletes. Around $ 1.3 billion in athletic scholarship financial aid

884-751: The Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player award since 1939, as well as the Charles Stevenson Hustle Award ("Charlie Hustle"), which was the basis for Pete Rose 's nickname, given to him by Whitey Ford . From 1992 to 2020, basketball was the only NAIA sport in which the organization's member institutions were aligned into divisions. Effective with the 2020–21 academic year, the NAIA returned to a single division for both men's and women's basketball. The NAIA has 21 member conferences, including 9 that sponsor football. Member institutions that are not

936-757: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , Concordia practices the liberal arts from the Lutheran theological tradition. Faculty are encouraged to retain Becoming Responsibly Engaged in the World (BREW) as a thematic focus in their instructions. The college operates by a semester calendar and first-year students are required to take courses in health , communication , religion , and culture . An honors program

988-587: The National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1992 and by 1995 full members at the Division II level. In total, the Dragons have won 101 conference championships, with 77 in men's sports and 24 in women's The Dragons football team plays at Alex Nemzek Stadium, a 6,000 seat facility. The stadium is named after the school's athletic director from 1923–1941. In 2015,

1040-559: The North Central Association in 1927. Eleven years later, a female dormitory was built, named Fjelstad Hall, and in 1947, a male dormitory was built, later called Brown Hall. Joseph "Prexy Joe" Knutson became president in 1951, and presided over the construction of 16 buildings and the increase in enrollment to 1592 students. Under his leadership, the Concordia Annual Fund, which continues today,

1092-511: The Axe vs Bemidji State University . MSUM leads 38–34–3 in the series for the trophy which dates back to 1948. The axe originated in the village of Mount Hagon, New Guinea. The series as a whole dates back to 1929, with MSUM holding a 47–40–3 series lead in total. The Dragons also had a cross-town rivalry with Concordia College in Moorhead . Concordia leads the now defunct rivalry 49–25–12, winning

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1144-888: The Cobbers. The college is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) since the 1921–22 academic year. Concordia–Moorhead competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports, in which more than 800 students participate. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, tennis, track & field, and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Athletics began when

1196-477: The Dragons on six trips to the NCAA Division II tournament. She's earned coach of the year honors from the NSIC four times. MSUM has a wide variety of intramural sports including flag football, softball, and soccer. Club teams are also available for men's and women's rugby, men's and women's lacrosse, and baseball which compete nationally. MSU Moorhead also has a club ice hockey team, which began play in

1248-479: The Dragons' 17th football coach, was hired in spring 2011 after helming the Fargo Shanley High School program. In 2015, after defeating Minnesota Crookston 59–21, the Dragons earned their first winning season since 2006 with a 6–5 record. The next year, Laqua's team increased its win total to 7–4. While the Dragons finished with a losing 5–6 record in 2017, the 18 wins over those three years were

1300-464: The Dragons' first ever win against the University of Sioux Falls after losing the previous five games. They followed up with another winning season in 2024, finishing 6-5, including a victory of the University of Minnesota Duluth Bullodgs . It was their first victory against UMD since 1999. Rivalries The Red River Valley Showdown vs the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles for

1352-551: The Heimarck Center, an experiential learning facility for the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions. The college maintains three choirs, four bands, two orchestras, three jazz ensembles, two percussion ensembles, and two handbell choirs. Music education began with the college's 1891 formation, when piano and organ lessons were taught by one instructor. The college has since expanded to include

1404-576: The NAIA, in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), announced the addition of flag football as a varsity sport for female student-athletes. The NAIA became the first collegiate governing body to sanction the sport at the varsity level. Women's flag began during the 2021 season as an emerging sport with about 15 teams. Name, image, and likeness reform — In October 2020, the NAIA passed legislation that allows student-athletes at its member institutions to be compensated for

1456-581: The NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament six times, with the final berth in 2022 via the NSIC tournament title. In the 2015 tournament , the Dragons reached the Division II Elite Eight. That season, he was named conference, Central Region and National coach of the year. In March 2022, Walthall retired from the head coaching position. Walthall's successor is Tim Bergstraser . In his first season at

1508-660: The NSIC Tournament Final, winning the title in 2022 and 2023. Minnesota State University Moorhead was coached by Chad Walthall from 2010–2022. In his second season, he led the team back to the post season for the first time since 1965 and the first 20 win season since 1982. In an exhibition game to start his second season, Walthall's team earned a 90–84 win in double overtime against the Division I North Dakota State University Bison , located in Moorhead's neighboring city of Fargo. Walthall's Dragon teams have made

1560-516: The National Administrative Council), and "championship" (40 or more institutions sponsoring as varsity, Minimum of two Invitationals held, Approval of the National Administrative Council). The association conducts, or has conducted in the past, championship tournaments in the following sports (year established). The NAIA men's basketball championship is the longest-running collegiate national championship of any sport in

1612-674: The State Farm Traveling Trophy. MSUM leads the series 14–7. The series ended in 2020 when UMC cut its football program. The Battle for the Paddle Trophy vs the University of Mary (Bismarck) . MSUM leads the series 10-8. The Paddle was developed by the student governments, as both schools are located near a river. UMary is located on the Missouri River and MSUM is near the Red River . The Battle for

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1664-597: The United States. The tournament was the brainchild of Dr. James Naismith , creator of the game of basketball; Emil Liston , athletic director at Baker University ; and Frank Cramer, founder of Cramer Athletic Products. The event began in 1937 with the inaugural tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2017 men's championship marked the 80th edition of what has been tabbed College Basketball's Toughest Tournament. The tournament has awarded

1716-556: The college is led by President Colin Irvine. Concordia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission . It enrolls over 1,800 students and offers 61 majors and 12 pre-professional programs. Master of Education degrees are offered, and the most popular majors are business, education, and communication. The college upholds a curriculum that centers on a Christian and global perspective. Affiliated with

1768-429: The conference in 1932, 1934, 1935, 1947, 1952, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1995. Nine of those conference championships were won by MSUM’s winningest coach Ross Fortier , who helmed the program from 1970-1992. During his tenure, the Dragons went 152-80-4, earning 10 playoff berths. He was succeeded by Ralph Micheli who coached from 1993-2004, winning the NSIC in 1995. Steve Laqua ,

1820-502: The final game in a 34–32 thriller. Today Concordia plays at the NCAA Division III level in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference . The two schools still play in other sports, such as basketball. MSUM has won four division titles and six conference titles in the NSIC. The Dragons won conference titles in 1964–1965, 1970–1971, 1980–1981, 1981–1982, 2014–2015 and 2016–2017. The Dragons have also earned seven trips to

1872-489: The first NCAA tournament . The goal of the tournament was to establish a forum for small colleges and universities to determine a national basketball champion. The original eight-team tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1938. On March 10, 1940, the National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1952 , the NAIB was transformed into the NAIA, and with that came

1924-716: The first HBCU to win the NAIA Baseball championship. In 2024, NAIA instituted a ban on those transgender men who have begun transgender hormone therapy and all transgender women from competing in women’s sports, with the exception of cheerleading and dance. The NAIA began sponsoring intercollegiate championships for women in 1980 , the second coed national athletics association to do so, offering collegiate athletics championships to women in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball. The National Junior College Athletic Association had established

1976-479: The first association to admit colleges and universities from outside the United States. The NAIA began admitting Canadian members in 1967. Football – The NAIA was the first association to send a football team to Europe to play. In the summer of 1976, the NAIA sent Henderson State and Texas A&I to play 5 exhibition games in West Berlin, Vienna, Nuremberg, Mannheim and Paris. Flag football – In May 2020,

2028-460: The following decades when Paul J. Christiansen became the director. Christiansen remained in the position for 49 years until composer René Clausen took over in 1986. Under Clausen, The Concordia Choir has released numerous recordings and has performed with the King's Singers . He was succeeded in 2020 by Michael Culloton. The college has put on an annual Christmas concert since 1927 that remains

2080-636: The helm, 2022-2023, Bergstraser led the Dragons to another NSIC Tournament Championship and national tournament berth . The following season, Bergstraser's team earned a No. 1 ranking in the polls and later returned to the national tournament . After defeating Pittsburg State in the first round, they fell to eventual National Champion Minnesota State-Mankato . MSUM has earned six conference titles, with championship seasons in 1981–1982, 1984–1985, 2004–2005, 2016–2017, 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. The team has also won four division titles. Current Head Coach Karla Nelson has been with MSUM since 2000. Nelson has led

2132-499: The most victories since the 1995–1997 seasons. The 2018 campaign proved to be Laqua's best season so far with the Dragons, earning an 8–4 record and a trip to the Mineral Water Bowl . In the regular season finale, the Dragons defeated St. Cloud State University to earn their eighth win, their most victories since 1991. The Mineral Water Bowl, which the Dragons lost 51–16 to Missouri University of Science and Technology ,

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2184-516: The national media outlet for the NAIA. In 2014, ESPNU began carrying the NAIA Football National Championship . In 1937, James Naismith and local leaders, including George Goldman and Emil Liston, staged the first National College Basketball Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri , of which Goldman was director, one year before the first National Invitation Tournament and two years before

2236-670: The school is associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is unrelated to the Concordia University System operated by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod . Concordia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has a total student enrollment of 1,800. It offers Bachelor of Arts , Bachelor of Music , Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Education , and Master of Science, and Master of Music Education degrees. Since Concordia

2288-478: The skills necessary to promote character development in the context of sport. In 2010, the association opened the NAIA Eligibility Center, where prospective student-athletes are evaluated for academic and athletic eligibility. It delivers on the NAIA's promise of integrity by leveling the playing field, guiding student-athlete success, and ensuring fair competition. Membership – The NAIA was

2340-460: The sponsorship of additional sports such as men's golf, tennis and outdoor track and field. Football in the NAIA was split into two divisions in 1970, based on enrollment (Divisions I and II); it was consolidated back into a single division in 1997. The 1948 NAIB national tournament was the first intercollegiate postseason to feature a Black student-athlete, Clarence Walker of Indiana State under coach John Wooden . Wooden had withdrawn from

2392-447: The stadium received a renovation, with the added title of Scheels Field. Nemzek's name is also on the 3,500 seat fieldhouse and basketball arena. In 2012, Nemzek Fieldhouse was renovated, with new sound systems, scoreboards and a 144-square foot video board installed. The next year, a new basketball court was installed in the arena. The school's soccer and softball fields are also named after Nemzek. MSUM has 16 NSIC titles. They won

2444-487: The use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). According to an NAIA press release, student-athletes can now "receive compensation for promoting any commercial product, enterprise, or for any public or media appearance", and can also "reference their intercollegiate athletic participation in such promotions or appearances." The NAIA had allowed student-athletes to receive NIL compensation since 2014, but had not previously allowed them to reference their status as such. The NAIA

2496-449: Was appointed physical education director in 1941. He coached the football team to five conference championships over his 28-year career. In 1952, Christiansen designed a new athletic facility that promoted the college's reputation in the region. One of Christiansen's former students, Jim Christopherson , took over coaching in 1969 and led the team to nine conference titles and two national championships. Both coaches have been inducted in

2548-461: Was established to raise money for the college's interests. Paul J. Dovre took the presidency in 1975 and oversaw new college programs and articulated Concordia's Lutheran mission. In 1991, Concordia's Speech Team placed 4th in the nation at the AFA-NIET, beating schools with twenty times their enrolment. In 1999, the college welcomed President Thomas W. Thomsen, who implemented the design for

2600-400: Was founded, it has articulated a Christian and global curriculum. Students are required to take courses in health, communication, religion, and culture. The college maintains athletic teams in 22 sports and carries 20 music ensembles, including The Concordia Orchestra, The Concordia Band, and The Concordia Choir . Concordia College was dedicated as a private academy on October 31, 1891, by

2652-499: Was several years ahead of the NCAA in NIL reform; the NCAA did not adopt NIL reform until 2021, after its hand was forced by multiple states passing legislation to allow student-athletes to receive such compensation, most notably California . In December 2020, Chloe Mitchell, a volleyball player at NAIA member Aquinas College who at the time had more than 2 million followers on TikTok with

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2704-464: Was the first postseason game for MSUM since 1994. After a 6–5 campaign in 2019 where they finished the season by defeating St. Cloud State University, the Dragons did not play in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, the team returned to action, finishing 5–6. The following season, MSUM would go 4-7, losing the finale against Wayne State College . The team bounced back with a winning record in 2023, finishing 7-4. The 2023 campaign included

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