University of Sioux Falls Cougars
Encyclopedia
University of Sioux Falls
athletic teams are known as the Cougars. They currently compete in NCAA Division II after participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
through 2011. They were formally members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference
from 2000-2011 and the South Dakota Interstate Conference (SDIC) until the year 2000. They will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
in the 2012-2013 school year.
Division II. For two years, USF remained a member of the NAIA and Great Plains Athletic Conference. In 2011-2012, the school is a provisional member of the NCAA, playing an NCAA schedule but ineligible for post-season events and be required to operate under NCAA Division II regulations. The fourth year, 2012–2013, the NCAA will vote to make University of Sioux Falls an active member. USF will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
at that time.
Men's intercollegiate athletic teams
Women's intercollegiate athletic teams
Wrestling
and men's tennis
were dropped once USF moved to NCAA Division II in 2011. The tennis team had made five trips to the NAIA Championships in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2010.
in 1996, and the NAIA National Football Championship
in 2006, 2008 and 2009. All four of USF's national championships have been undefeated seasons. The football program has had four NAIA Players of the Year Award winners
, running back Nick Kortan in 2002, quarterback Chad Cavender in 2007, quarterback Lorenzo Brown in 2009 and receiver Jon Ryan in 2010. The progam has won 19 conference titles, including 10 in the SDIC (1981, 1984, 1988-1989, 1994-1999) and 9 in the GPAC (2001-2004, 2006-2010). From 2008-2010 the team sported a 42 game winning streak which tied an NAIA record.
The current head coach is Jed Stugart
who replaced alum Kalen DeBoer
in 2010. DeBoer led USF to a 67-3 record in his five years with 3 national titles as head coach. Legendary coach Bob Young
led the Cougars from 1983-2004 guiding them to their first national championship in 1996.
University of Sioux Falls
The University of Sioux Falls is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. It is also commonly called USF.-History:...
athletic teams are known as the Cougars. They currently compete in NCAA Division II after participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
through 2011. They were formally members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference
Great Plains Athletic Conference
The Great Plains Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota...
from 2000-2011 and the South Dakota Interstate Conference (SDIC) until the year 2000. They will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. Nine of its members are in Minnesota, with two members in South Dakota and one member each in the states of Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota. It participates in the NCAA's...
in the 2012-2013 school year.
Move to NCAA
On April 28, 2009 the University board of Trustees voted to leave the NAIA and apply to join the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division II. For two years, USF remained a member of the NAIA and Great Plains Athletic Conference. In 2011-2012, the school is a provisional member of the NCAA, playing an NCAA schedule but ineligible for post-season events and be required to operate under NCAA Division II regulations. The fourth year, 2012–2013, the NCAA will vote to make University of Sioux Falls an active member. USF will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. Nine of its members are in Minnesota, with two members in South Dakota and one member each in the states of Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota. It participates in the NCAA's...
at that time.
Sports
The USF Athletic Department sponsors the following sports:Men's intercollegiate athletic teams
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- CheerleadingCheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
- Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
- GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- Soccer
- Track & Field
Women's intercollegiate athletic teams
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- CheerleadingCheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
- Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- Soccer
- SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- Track & Field
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
Wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and men's tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
were dropped once USF moved to NCAA Division II in 2011. The tennis team had made five trips to the NAIA Championships in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2010.
Football
The University of Sioux Falls Cougars football team won the NAIA Division II National ChampionshipNAIA national football championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football National Championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the championship game has...
in 1996, and the NAIA National Football Championship
NAIA national football championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football National Championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the championship game has...
in 2006, 2008 and 2009. All four of USF's national championships have been undefeated seasons. The football program has had four NAIA Players of the Year Award winners
NAIA Football Player of the Year Award
Rawlings-NAIA Football Player of the Year is award sponsor by Rawlings that is awarded to the best college football player in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.-Winners:-Winners By School:-External links:...
, running back Nick Kortan in 2002, quarterback Chad Cavender in 2007, quarterback Lorenzo Brown in 2009 and receiver Jon Ryan in 2010. The progam has won 19 conference titles, including 10 in the SDIC (1981, 1984, 1988-1989, 1994-1999) and 9 in the GPAC (2001-2004, 2006-2010). From 2008-2010 the team sported a 42 game winning streak which tied an NAIA record.
The current head coach is Jed Stugart
Jed Stugart
-External links:*...
who replaced alum Kalen DeBoer
Kalen DeBoer
Kalen DeBoer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a position he has held since the 2010 season. From 2005 to 2009, DeBoer served as the head coach at the University of Sioux Falls, compiling a record...
in 2010. DeBoer led USF to a 67-3 record in his five years with 3 national titles as head coach. Legendary coach Bob Young
Bob Young (American football coach)
Bob Young is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Sioux Falls from 1983 to 2004, compiling a record of 172–69–3. His 1996 Sioux Falls Cougars team won the NAIA Football Championship...
led the Cougars from 1983-2004 guiding them to their first national championship in 1996.
| Year | Coach | Record | Championship Game Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 1996 Sioux Falls Cougars football team The 1996 Sioux Falls Cougars football team represented the University of Sioux Falls in the 1996 football season. The Cougars won their first NAIA football championship with a 47-25 victory over the Western Washington Vikings. The team was also the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference champions... |
Bob Young Bob Young (American football coach) Bob Young is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Sioux Falls from 1983 to 2004, compiling a record of 172–69–3. His 1996 Sioux Falls Cougars team won the NAIA Football Championship... |
14-0 | Western Washington Western Washington University Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:... |
47-25 1996 NAIA Football National Championship The 1996 NAIA Division I Football Championship Series concluded with the championship game played at Milam Stadium in Weatherford, Oklahoma. The game was won by the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs over the Montana Tech Orediggers by a score of 33–31.... |
| 2006 2006 Sioux Falls Cougars football team The 2006 Sioux Falls Cougars football team represented the University of Sioux Falls in the 2006 football season. The Cougars won the NAIA football championship with a 23-19 victory over the #1 ranked . The team also won the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship with a perfect 10-0 record.... |
Kalen DeBoer Kalen DeBoer Kalen DeBoer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a position he has held since the 2010 season. From 2005 to 2009, DeBoer served as the head coach at the University of Sioux Falls, compiling a record... |
14-0 | St. Francis (Ind) University of Saint Francis (Indiana) The University of Saint Francis is a liberal arts university located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the university promotes Catholic and Franciscan values... |
23-19 2006 NAIA Football National Championship The 2006 NAIA Football Championship Series concluded on December 16, 2006 with the championship game played at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tennessee... |
| 2008 2008 Sioux Falls Cougars football team The 2008 Sioux Falls Cougars football team represented the University of Sioux Falls in the 2008 football season. The Cougars captured the NAIA football championship with a 23-7 victory over the #1 ranked Carroll Fighting Saints. The team also won the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship... |
Kalen DeBoer Kalen DeBoer Kalen DeBoer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a position he has held since the 2010 season. From 2005 to 2009, DeBoer served as the head coach at the University of Sioux Falls, compiling a record... |
14-0 | Carroll Carroll College Carroll College can refer to:*Carroll College *Carroll University... |
23-7 2008 NAIA Football National Championship The 2008 NAIA Football Championship Series concluded on December 20, 2008 with the championship game played at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia. The championship was won by the Sioux Falls Cougars over the Carroll Fighting Saints by a score of 23–7.... |
| 2009 2009 Sioux Falls Cougars football team The 2009 Sioux Falls Cougars football team represented the University of Sioux Falls in the 2009 football season. The Cougars won the NAIA football championship with a 25-22 victory over the #3 ranked Lindenwood Lions. The team also won the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship with a... |
Kalen DeBoer Kalen DeBoer Kalen DeBoer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a position he has held since the 2010 season. From 2005 to 2009, DeBoer served as the head coach at the University of Sioux Falls, compiling a record... |
15-0 | Lindenwood Lindenwood University Lindenwood University, often referred to as Lindenwood or LU, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Saint Charles, Missouri, United States... |
25-22 2009 NAIA Football National Championship The 2009 NAIA Football National Championship was played on December 19, 2009 at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia. The championship was won by the Sioux Falls Cougars over the Lindenwood Lions by a score of 25–22.* * denotes OT.-See also:... |
| Total national championships – 4 | ||||