The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), formerly known as the North Central Conference, is an NCAA Division II athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in Minnesota and North Dakota. The NSIC is one of the largest Division II conferences in the United States, with 16 full-time members and two affiliate schools. The NSIC was founded in 1932 and since then, it has grown to become one of the most successful college athletic conferences in the country.
History of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
The original seven members of the North Central Conference founded the conference in 1932. The first members were Minot State University, University of Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State University, Northern State University, University of Minnesota Morris, Valley City State University, and Moorhead State University. Over the years, the conference has experienced a number of alignments and expansions. Starting in 1990, the conference split into two divisions, North and South, and then in 1996 the two divisions were recombined into one. This marked the beginning of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
In the years that followed, the conference grew to sixteen full-time members. In 2014, The conference welcomed Augustana University as an affiliate member; in 2017 Minnesota State University, Mankato became an affiliate member; and in 2019, the conference added University of Sioux Falls as an affiliate member. The NSIC strives to bring together institutions to promote and enhance academic and athletic excellence.
Member Institutions, Sports Competed, and Notable Achievements
The member institutions of the NSIC compete in a total of eighteen sports: men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, football, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball; and men’s baseball, golf, and wrestling. Throughout the organization’s history, its member institutions have worked together to promote excellence in athletic programs, resulting in numerous individual and team awards and awards.
The University of Minnesota Duluth has won the most NSIC titles, with 21 championships in football, men’s ice hockey, softball, men’s cross country, men’s track & field, and men’s and women’s basketball.
The University of Sioux Falls is the defending champion in the men’s basketball and football divisions and Minnesota Duluth is the reigning champion in women’s basketball. Minot State University has been the most dominant force in men’s ice hockey, winning fourteen consecutive conference championships from 2006 to 2019.
The NSIC also promotes individual excellence through the Academic All-NSIC Team, which honors student-athletes who have distinguished themselves academically. Recently, the University of Minnesota Morris was the first institution in the conference to receive the NCAA Academic Achievement Award for having the highest team grade point averages (GPA) in the nation among Division II men’s and women’s track and field teams.
Rivalries Within the Conference
The NSIC has no official rivalries, however there is no denying the intensity of competition between the member universities. University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC), and Minot State University are considered to be some of the biggest rivals in the conference. UMD and UMC have faced off in numerous sporting events throughout the years, and Minot State and UMD’s rivalry reached a fever pitch in 2011 when they played to a 0-0 tie in the championship game of the NSIC tournament.
Conference Governance, Scheduling, and Championship Events
The NSIC’s Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the affairs of the conference, including scheduling, regulations, and championship events. The conference also has a Commissioner, who is in charge of administering and managing the conference’s day to day operations. The Commissioner is also responsible for interpreting, implementing, and enforcing the conference’s rules and regulations.
The conference operates on a round-robin schedule in which each member institution plays every other member institution twice a year. The top six teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season participate in the conference tournament, with the champion receiving the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship. The conference also holds a variety of championship events in the fall, winter, and spring seasons.
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the Local, National Sports Scene
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is considered to be one of the best Division II conferences in the nation. Its member institutions have produced some of the most successful Division II athletes, including NFL Pro Bowl players and Olympians. The NSIC is always looking towards the future and has embraced new technology and strategies to ensure that its member institutions are always competitive.
The NSIC’s presence in local and national sports is felt everywhere. Its teams have been featured on SportsCenter, and its athletes have been represented on the highest levels of college athletic competition. The success and recognition that the NSIC has achieved is a testament to the quality of athletes, coaches, and schools that make up the conference.
Future Prospects of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is projected to become even more successful in the years ahead. Currently, there is a strong emphasis on academic achievement as well as athletic excellence at the member institutions, and this focus is expected to lead to a greater number of NCAA Division II championship titles for the conference. Competition within the conference will continue to improve, with annual recruiting battles for the top high school talent and greater resources being dedicated to the athletic programs of the member schools.
The NSIC is also actively seeking new and innovative ways to advance its conference, with initiatives such as an expanded digital presence, new broadcast and streaming deals, and enhanced safety protocols for the student-athletes being some of the ideas being discussed. The conference will also continue to work to ensure that all of its members remain competitive and that its student-athletes receive the best possible educational opportunities.
The future for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference looks very bright and exciting. The conference continues to prove why it is one of the top NCAA Division II conferences in the country, and its member institutions are committed to providing the best possible experience for athletes, coaches, and fans.The NSIC’s commitment to excellence, competitive balance, and athlete development position it to remain a leading conference in college athletics for many years to come.