HAPPY 4th OF JULY FROM THE NSIC
Manganro Steps Down as WSC Baseball Coach
Brian Disch Named Interim Head Coach
July 1, 2009 | WSC Release 
Wayne, Neb.--- Wayne State College Director of Athletics Eric Schoh announced today that John Manganaro has stepped down as the head baseball coach of the Wildcats to become President of the Ultimate Baseball Academy in Omaha and has promoted assistant coach and former Wildcat player Brian Disch to interim head coach of the Wildcat baseball program effective immediately.
Disch takes over a Wayne State program that was 45-15 this past season and set a new record for wins by a Northern Sun Conference team in league play, going 27-4, to capture a sixth straight NSIC regular season title. The Wildcats reached the title game of the NCAA Central Regional before falling to Mesa State 8-2. Disch, a Norfolk High School graduate, has served as the team’s hitting coach and third base coach for the last five seasons. WSC ranked fifth in NCAA Division II this season in runs scored per game (9.5) while also ranking fifth in home runs (93), a new school record, and seventh in slugging percentage (.569). Disch played at Wayne State under Manganaro from 1999-2004, earning First Team All-NSIC honors as a senior in 2004 after hitting .301 that season with 11 homers and 38 RBI’s. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 NSIC Tournament, helping the Wildcats to the tournament title.
The 55-year-old Manganaro served 20 seasons as a coach with the Wildcat baseball program, including the last 17 (1993-2009) as head coach. He built Wayne State into one of the top programs in NCAA Division II, winning the last six Northern Sun Conference regular season titles while guiding the Wildcats to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances and seven trips to the NCAA Tournament in the last nine seasons. Manganaro accumulated a 506-309-1 record (.620) and was 198-54 (.785) in Northern Sun Conference games. Wayne State is the 12th winningest team of the 2000’s in NCAA Division II baseball under Manganaro, going 368-157-1 (.701).
Manganaro is a four-time NSIC Coach of the Year Award recipient (2001), 2006, 2007, 2009) and led the Wildcats to five NSIC Tournament titles (2001, co-2003, 2004, 2005, 2006). He coached the Wildcats to a pair of NCAA Regional championship games, falling to Central Missouri in 2004 and Mesa State this season. Wayne State has produced All-Americans in six of the last seven seasons under Manganaro, including junior outfielder Joe Wendte (Sioux City Heelan) this season. The Wildcats have also had two players drafted in the last three years under Manganaro with pitcher Travis Mortimore selected in the 21st round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners and pitcher Nick Schumacher being drafted in the 28th round of the 2008 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres. (Read More)
NSU's Don Meyer to Receive Prestigious ESPY Award
June 25, 2009 | ESPY Release
LOS ANGELES – Northern State University men’s basketball coach Don Meyer will be awarded the prestigious Jimmy V Perseverance Award next month during ESPN’s annual ESPY Awards. The awards will be presented on Wednesday, July 15 at the Nokia Theatre, while the taped show will air on ESPN on Sunday, July 19. Actor Samuel L. Jackson will serve as the 2009 awards show host.
Meyer’s award comes following his remarkable recovery from a Sept. 5 car accident that resulted in the amputation of part of his left leg. However, neither the accident nor the subsequent cancer diagnosis were able to stop him from returning to the sidelines for the 2008-09 season, which saw him become the winningest men’s basketball coach in NCAA history. Meyer led the Wolves to victory on Jan. 10 to record his 903rd career win, breaking the previous record held by Bobby Knight. Meyer finished the season with 910 career wins.
The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance is named for the late Jimmy Valvano, who coached at North Carolina State and later was an ESPN commentator before passing away from cancer. The award is presented to a deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through physical determination and perseverance.
Meyer becomes the third recipient of the award, which was first awarded to Kay Yow, women’s basketball coach at North Carolina State, in 2007. Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett was the 2008 recipient.
For more on the 2009 ESPY Awards, click here.
2009 NSIC Summer Kickoff Information
July 31, 2009
St. Cloud, Minn. — The NSIC will be conducting several summer festivities on Friday, July 31, at the Best Western Kelly Inn St. Cloud and St. Cloud Convention Center. The weekend will be highlighted by the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Friday, July 31. The evening begins with social hour at 6:00 p.m. followed by the induction ceremony at 7:00 p.m. We are proud to announce that seven individuals will be inducted this year. Since the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (former men’s) and the Northern Sun Conference (former women’s) in the spring of 1992, this will be the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s tenth Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The NSIC Hall of Fame has enshrined 135 individuals and one team in its brief history.
All inductees and guests are also invited to participate in the tenth-annual NSIC Golf Tournament. The four person best ball tournament will take place on Friday, July 31st with registration and lunch at 11:30 a.m. and tee time at 12:30 p.m. Cost for golf is $75.
Lodging Information | Golf Registration | Hall of Fame Banquet Registration
Haug, Jasinski, Ierino Named Noel Olson Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients
June 16, 2009 | PDF Release
St. Paul, Minn. — Roger Haug, Rocco Ierino and Dr. Harry Jasinski will be honored with the NSIC’s Noel Olson Volunteer of the Year award during the tenth annual NSIC Hall of Fame Banquet Friday, July 31 at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Cloud, Minn.
The Noel Olson Volunteer of the Year Award, which was given out by the North Central Conference for the past ten years, has been adopted by the NSIC. The award recognizes the singular commitment of former NSIC coach and Athletic Administrator Noel Olson to the advancement of NSIC visibility, credibility, and excellence throughout the nation during his tenure in the office. The award intended to honor individuals who, as volunteers, have made significant contributions to the NSIC as a whole. On a periodic basis, one or more of the individuals shall receive the awarded in appreciation of efforts to support the NSIC activities and/or athletic programs within any NSIC member institution(s) or the NSIC conference office. The award recipients are nominated by each of the NSIC’s 14 institutions and selected by the NSIC Hall of Fame Committee.
To attend the NSIC Hall of Fame Banquet go to www.NorthernSun.org and click on the “Hall of Fame Banquet Registration”, fill out the form and mail or fax it to the NSIC Office. The price to attend the banquet (including meal) is $25.00 - register by July 17th as space is limited.
2009 Noel Olson Award Recipients
Roger Haug - University of Mary
Haug came to the University of Mary in 1986 after a very successful coaching career at St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck, N.D. He joined the University of Mary coaching staff as an associate head football coach and mathematics instructor. Haug spent 12 years with the Marauder football program. He first served as the defensive coordinator for the University of Mary’s first football coach, Bill Connor. Haug’s role changed to offensive coordinator under the Marauders’ second head coach, Jim Driscoll. Haug also served as a defensive line coach under Tom Shea and Dale Lennon.
In 1988-89 Haug resigned his football position to become involved with the basketball program at the University of Mary. He served as the number one assistant coach to men’s basketball head coach, Al Bortke.
In 1990, Haug was named head coach of the Lady Marauder basketball program. Under his leadership, the Lady Marauders won numerous NAIA, NDCA and DAC conference titles. His great successes brought the University of Mary its first National Championship in 2000.
Health issues forced Mr. Haug to leave the coaching field, but it still is his desire to teach his usual four math classes each semester. In 1989 and 1996, Roger received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the University of Mary. In 1999, he was honored with the Regent’s Award for teaching faculty. He also has been the recipient of the Dickinson State Booster Club’s annual Achievement Award and has received the University of North Dakota’s Football Award of Merit. Roger was inducted into the University of Mary Hall of Fame in 1999. Throughout his coaching and teaching careers, Roger has also found the time for his family. He and his wife, Sue, have four married children: Todd, Craig, Pat and Michelle.
Although Roger is no longer a member of the University of Mary athletic staff he continues to keep the scorebook at all the Lady Marauder basketball games. There are very few Marauder athletic events missed by Coach Haug.
Rocco Ierino - University of Minnesota Duluth
Ierino has been the Minnesota Duluth equipment manager for Health, Physical Education and Recreation as well as athletics for over 30 years. He is the first person on campus, arriving by 4:30 am, to ensure that every athlete will have clean, soft clothes to work out in. Ierino takes great pride in his job. It is what he does beyond his designated work hours, however, that makes him one of this year’s recipients. Ierino came up with the idea of “Bulldog for a Day” program at our volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball home games. For each sport, Ierino sets up a table where kids from age 8-12 can sign up to have their name drawn to be a “Bulldog for a Day”. He secured a sponsor for a t-shirt for each person chosen and also includes a signed program (which has the bulldog for a day name printed in it) and certificate from Champ, the UMD mascot. The "Bulldog for a Day" gets to present the game ball to the officials at the beginning of each game, as well as to sit on the team bench and, depending on the game outcome, even get a trip to the team locker room after the game.
Dr. Harry Jasinski - Northern State University
Jasinski has dedicated his time and talents to the betterment of Northern State University for over 40 years as the Dean of the School of Business, Voice of the Wolves and as an instrumental Fundraiser for the NSU Foundation.
Jasinski has been announcing Northern State football and basketball games since 1966. He established the NSU School of Business that same year, has worked at the Dean of the School of Business and has help raise scholarship funds for student athletes and business students.
Jasinski retired in 1992 but he continues to announce sporting events and is active in the NSU Foundation as a “Consultant”, helping secure NSU’s largest ever athletic gift of $2.5 million. The local businesses in Aberdeen established an endowment in his name and annually gives out the Harry Jasinski Business Scholarship. Jasinski was also the Honorary Chair of NSU’s Century of Leadership Capital Campaign 1998-2003 and the Media campaign soliciting funds for the University.
Northern Sun Showcase #5
End of Era as U-Mary Athletic Architect Al Bortke Set to Retire
June 30, 2009 | U-Mary Story
Bismarck, ND — After 36 years, longtime University of Mary athletic director, men’s basketball coach and hall of famer Al Bortke will officially grace the halls and playing floors of the McDowell Activity Center for the final time on June 30 as Bortke begins his retirement.
Unofficially, Bortke will continue to be visible at Marauders athletic events. In fact, the U-Mary basketball court will be renamed “Bortke Court” during an all-school reunion in July to honor the architect of an athletics program that grew from one sport to 19 during his tenure and also coached the Marauders to over 300 victories on the hard court.
MSUM Sports Information Director of 40 Years to Retire
May 21, 2009 | Forum Story
Minnesota State Moorhead Sports Information Director Larry Scott has been with the university for 40 years. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
Moorhead, Minn. (By: Eric Peterson, INFORUM) – The Larry Scott era will soon be over at Minnesota State Moorhead. The school’s longtime sports information director is set to officially retire at the end of June after 40 years on the job. “I’m convinced that I owe MSU Moorhead much more than they would ever owe me,” said Scott, who is 63 years old. Scott, who was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors Association Hall of Fame in 1991, said he hasn’t missed a day of work in that time and has attended the last 427 Dragons football games.
“So the emotions that come with that are sad to see him go … he’s been a great representative of the athletic department,” said MSUM Athletic Director Doug Peters. “He bleeds Dragon red. The guy is a walking history book of Dragon athletics.”
“I knew that time was coming,” Scott said. Scott said he accepted an early retirement incentive package offered through the school and his union.
Scott informed Peters of his decision in early May. “I firmly believe he is going to be a Dragon for life and he is going to be around,” Peters said. “He is not going to disappear on us.”
Scott said he plans to stay active with the athletic department and the school in a limited role in the coming years. “I won’t have to go cold turkey for too long,” said Scott, who lives near his Alex Nemzek Hall office. “It would be very difficult for me to close the door, get in the car and take off somewhere.”
Scott said he was hired as the first full-time SID for the Dragons in 1969 after President Roland Dille created the position and offered it to him.
Scott was ready to take an assistant SID job at the University of Minnesota that summer. “My heart was still here so I thought, ‘Well, maybe I’ll stay with the Dragons a little while and then head down the road,’ ” Scott said. “That was kind of neat. It was kind of like a laboratory experiment. I got to learn on the job.”
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