- Northern Kentucky Norse
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Northern Kentucky Norse 
University Northern Kentucky University Conference(s) Great Lakes Valley Conference NCAA Division II Athletics director Scott Eaton Location Highland Heights, KY Varsity teams 13 Basketball arena The Bank of Kentucky Center Baseball stadium Bill Aker Baseball Complex Soccer stadium NKU Soccer Stadium Mascot Victor E. Viking Nickname Norse Fight song Colors Gold, White, and Black Homepage NKU Athletics The Northern Kentucky Norse are the athletic teams of Northern Kentucky University, located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States. NKU is a NCAA Division II school that is part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The university's teams for both men and women are nicknamed "Norse."
Contents
Move to Division I
Over the past few years the university has upgraded many of the athletic facilities on campus fueling rumors that the university was a strong candidate to move to Division I after the NCAA's moratorium on Division I reclassificiation ends in the summer of 2011.[1] In April 2011 university president, Dr. James Votruba, announced that he will recommend the move to the board of regents.[2]
Sports
Men's sports
Women's sports
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball
Men's basketball
The men's basketball team was the NCAA Division II national runner-up during the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons.
Women's basketball
In 2000, the NKU women's basketball team became NKU's first national championship team by winning the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship in overtime 71–62 over North Dakota State, ending their season with a 32–2 record. The 2002–03 team was the NCAA Women's Division II national runner-up.[3]
The team won their second national championship in 2008 by a score of 63–58 over South Dakota, becoming one of only five schools to win more than one NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship, as well as the only two-time NCAA national champions in the state of Kentucky.[4][5] One of the top coaches in NCAA Division II women's basketball, Nancy Winstel, has been head coach of the team since 1983.[3]
Men's soccer
In 2010, the NKU men's soccer team won the NCAA Division II national championship by defeating Rollins 3-2 in a driving snowstorm in Louisville.[6] The team was led by senior Steven Beattie, who was named Ron Lenz National Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2010.[7]
Women's soccer
The women's soccer team was the NCAA Division II runner-up in 2000 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four in 1999 and 2001.
Softball
The Norse softball began in 1985 and is currently coached by Kathy Stewart, the fourth coach in program history.[8] NKU made their first ever NCAA Women's College World Series Tournament in 2002 before falling in the opening game.[8] The following season, in 2003, the Norse won the program's first NCAA Tournament win. The Norse hold the NCAA record for most consecutive wins in a season with 55, set in the 2005 season. The Norse concluded the season going 55-2.[8] In the program history the team holds an overall record of 621-445-1 (.583).[8]
Spirit squad
In 2006, the Norse cheerleading squad won the Universal Cheerleading Association's national title in the small unit coed category of competition, and also won the national title again in 2007 and 2009.
Championships
Over the forty years Northern Kentucky has sponsored intercollegiate athletics the university has won three NCAA DII national championships, 33 GLVC championships, and seven GLVC All-Sport Awards[9]
National Championships
Basketball (W) 2000, 2008 Soccer (M) 2010 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships
Baseball 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 Basketball (M) 2003, 2009 Basketball (W) 1999, 2000, 2006, 2009 Golf (M) 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007 Golf (W) 2003, 2005, 2008 Soccer (M) 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2010 Soccer (W) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009 Softball 2005, 2009 Tennis (M) 1986, 1987, 1990, 2003, 2004 Tennis (W) 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 Volleyball (W) 1985, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 NKU has claimed the GLVC All-Sports Trophy seven times in the last 11 seasons in: 1999-2000, 2000–02, 2004–06, 2008–10.[9]
Club sports
Students have also organized club teams in ice hockey, taekwondo, fencing, boxing, lacrosse, rugby, kickball, skeet & trap, and Brazilian jiujitsu. These clubs are primarily organized through the Sport Club program.
Facilities
- The Bank of Kentucky Center is a 9,400-seat multi-purpose arena located on the NKU campus. It was completed in 2008[10] and is the home to men's and women's basketball teams, as well as graduation ceremonies. The arena is also home and other non-university entertainment and sporting events[11] and the Kentucky Monsters of the Ultimate Indoor Football League.[12]
- NKU Soccer Stadium is the home of Norse soccer. The $6.5 Million, 1,000-seat facility was completed in the Fall of 2009 and is located next to The Bank of Kentucky Center.[13] Stadium amenities include: seating for 1,000 spectators plus 1,000 sq ft (93 m2) "Founders' Suite" luxury box, night lighting, a World Cup style 120-yard by 80-yard playing surface, concessions, coaches’ offices, four locker rooms, athletic training facilities, and press box and media areas.[14]
- Regents Hall is the home court for NKU volleyball and the practice facility for NKU men's and women's basketball. The gym seats about 1,800. The facility, along with the adjacent Albright Health Center houses most of the coaches within the department along with locker room facilities for the baseball, softball and cross country teams.
- The Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field is the home field for NKU baseball. It has a seating capacity of about 500.
- The Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field is the home field for NKU softball. It has a seating capacity of about 500.
- The Joyce Yeager Tennis Complex is the home court for NKU tennis. The six-court facility is used as a competition venue as well as general use by the university community. There is seating available for about 200 spectators.
- The NKU cross country teams host the Queen City Invitational every third year at A.J. Jolly Park in Alexandria, Kentucky in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.
References
- ^ Peloquin, Matt (April 8, 2011). "Northern Kentucky University Plans Division 1 Upgrade". collegesport.com. http://collegesportsinfo.com/2011/04/08/northern-kentucky-university-plans-division-1-upgrade/. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ Staff (April 6, 2011). "NKU Plans Move To NCAA's Division I Athletics". WLWT. http://www.wlwt.com/sports/27453444/detail.html. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ a b "NKU Norse: Head Coach Nancy Winstel". Northern Kentucky University. http://www.nku.edu/~athletics/WBasketball/Coaches/Winstel.html. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ^ Staff (April 2008). "Northern Kentucky downs South Daktoa 63-58 For 2008 Division II Title". smallcollegehoops.com Women's Division II Bulletin: p. 1. http://www.cugoldenbears.com/_Images/PDFs/BasketballW/Releases/2007-08_Releases/D2Bulletin_All_Ameri.pdf. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ^ "Governor meets with Lady Norse". The Northerner. April 16, 2008. http://media.www.thenortherner.com/media/storage/paper527/news/2008/04/16/Sports/Governor.Meets.With.Lady.Norse-3327415.shtml. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ^ Skinner, Richard (December 4, 2010). "Northern Kentucky University wins men's NCAA Division II soccer title". The Cincinnati Enquirer. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101204/SPT01/312040007/Northern-Kentucky-University-wins-men-s-NCAA-Division-II-soccer-title. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ "NKU's Beattie named Ron Lenz National Player of the Year for men's soccer". Northern Kentucky University. December 1, 2010. http://www.nkunorse.com/news/2010/12/1/MSOC_1201105524.aspx. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Softball Records". Northern Kentucky University. http://www.nku.edu/~athletics/WSoftball/Records/All-Time.html. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ a b "NKU Athletics celebrates 40-year anniversary". The Northerner. March 2, 2011. http://www.thenortherner.com/?p=8851. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ Staff (Feb 14, 2005). "Bank of Kentucky buys NKU events center naming rights". Cincinnati Business Courier. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2005/02/14/daily7.html. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ^ "Bank of Kentucky Center". Cincinnati Metromix. http://cincinnati.metromix.com/music/childrens/bank-of-kentucky-center-highland-heights-nku/627634/content. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ^ "Northern Kentucky River Monsters Introduced". UIFL. November 26, 2010. http://theuifl.com/archives/190. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ Jones, Nick (September 22, 2010). "Soccer stadium dedicated". The Northerner. http://www.thenortherner.com/?p=6676. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ "NKU Soccer Stadium". Northern Kentucky University. http://nkunorse.com/sports/2009/8/5/GEN_0805092809.aspx?tab=nkusoccerstadium. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
External links
Great Lakes Valley Conference Bellarmine • Drury • Illinois-Springfield • Indianapolis • Kentucky Wesleyan • Lewis • Maryville University • Missouri S&T • Missouri–St. Louis • Northern Kentucky • Quincy • Rockhurst • Saint Joseph's • Southern Indiana • Wisconsin–Parkside • William JewellCategories:- College sports teams in Kentucky
- College sports teams in the United States by team
- Northern Kentucky University
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