STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
- Individual/small group on floor skill sessions
- Practice time dedicated to skill/shooting work
- Team/individual video sessions (Hudl and JustPlay player access)
- Strength/Conditioning program
"Our job as strength and conditioning professionals is to prepare our athletes for the physical demands of their sport. We do this by taking a principled approach to our training with the purpose of improving as many athletic qualities as we can, including but not limited to strength, speed, and power” – Will Ratelle, Strength and Conditioning Coach
The training room, located in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, offers the best in recovery options.
"The Department of Sports Medicine at UND strives to be at the forefront of injury prevention and care. We have athletic trainers, physical therapists, physicians, mental health professionals and dieticians on campus to help the athletes prepare for the rigors of the athletic season. We want to make the athletes prepared on a daily basis from the physical aspects like taping, stretching, and rehabilitation to the mental aspects of the sport they are participating in." – Travis Shock, MS, ATC, CES
HEAD COACH PAUL SATHER
- Fifth year as head coach at UND
- Took his team to the Summit League championship game in his first year as head coach, which was only two years after UND joined the Summit
- Grabbed his first win over a Big Ten Conference opponent when North Dakota beat Nebraska, December 2019
- Five national tournament appearances
- Four conference titles
- Two Final Four appearances
- Single season wins record holder at both previous stops (36, NSU and 30, BHSU)
- 100% student athlete graduation rate at both NSU and UND
"Growing up in Minnesota and competing as a player and coach in the Dakotas for over 20 years has made me very familiar with UND basketball and the strong history and tradition of winning championships. It’s the state's flagship university with tremendous academic programs, beautiful athletic facilities, and most importantly, a passionate community that supports UND basketball. I can’t wait to work with the players and start our pursuit of building Fighting Hawks basketball into champions again.”
JAMIE STEVENS
- Fifth year at North Dakota
- Works with UND guards
- Former head coach at Montana State Billings for 7 years
- All-time assist leader at MSUB
RANDALL HERBST
- Third year on staff since returning to UND
- Over 25 years of coaching experience
- Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at North Dakota from 2000-06
- Associate head coach at UND from 2004-06
- Coached three NCC Players of the Year, three All-Americans, and Jerome Beasley (drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft)
ESTEVAN SANDOVAL
- Third year at North Dakota, second as Assistant Coach
- Former Director of Operations
- One year at Western Texas
- One year at Gillette College
- Six years with New Mexico
BENTIU PANOAM
- Current, Director of Operations
- •2018-22 University of North Dakota (Player)
- •2017-18 Northwest Kansas Technical College (Player)
- •2016-2017 Impact Academy Las Vegas (Player)
ALEX MCKEE-CROW
- From Kalona, Iowa
- Master’s of Science: Human Performance (UW- La Crosse)
- Bachelor of Arts: Fitness Development- Strength and Conditioning (Coe College)
- Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (CSCCa)
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA)
- Level- 1 Sports Performance Coach (USAW)
- Completed Internships at the University of Iowa, and Coe College
- Graduate Assistant at the University of Wisconsin- Lacrosse
- Former NCAA Athlete
TRAVIS SHOCK
- MS, ATC, CES
- Athletic trainer for UND Men's Basketball
- Leads all rehab and injury prevention for the team
NCAA TOURNAMENT RUN
North Dakota made its 20th NCAA Tournament appearance, first in the Division I era in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Hawks (15 seed) took on the Wildcats of Arizona (2 seed). The Wildcats put an end to a magical season, defeating the Fighting Hawks 100-82 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in the first round. Quinton Hooker scored 25 in his final collegiate game and junior Drick Bernstine added 20 with a season-high 15 rebounds in front of 16,341 fans on the first full day of March Madness.
SUMMIT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
North Dakota moves to Summit League Semifinals with an opening round win over South Dakota, 74-71. March 8, 2020
SUMMIT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
Fighting Hawks roll Mastodons, 73-56, in Summit League Semifinals. Coach Sather led a Fighting Hawks team to new heights in his first year behind the bench in 2019-20, becoming only the third coach in Summit League history to reach the tournament title game in their first year as head coach. March 9, 2020
MATT NORMAN | PLAYER 2021-23
- Hit 42.4% of his three point shots, making 81 total threes his junior season on the season
- Named Summit League Sixth Man of the Year
- Plays professionally for BC Iverioni in the Georgian Superliga
MARLON STEWART | PLAYER 2016-20
- First player to earn First Team All-Conference after joining the Summit League (2020)
- Holds UND career records in scoring average (10th), 3-pt FGs attempted (10th), and assists (9th)
- Holds single-season records in free throws made (6th), free throws attempted (6th), 3-pt FGs attempted (10th), and assists (6th)
- Plays professionally for AB Contern in Contern, Luxembourg of the Total League
KIENAN WALTER | PLAYER 2016-2020
- Plays professionally for Depant Giessen 46ers Rackelos
GENO CRANDALL | PLAYER 2015-18
- Big Sky All Conference 2017, 2018
- Holds UND career records for steals (4th) and assists (7th)
- Holds UND single season records for steals: 59 in 2015-16 (9th); 64 in 2016-17 (7th); 67 in 2017-18 (5th)
- Member of the 40-point game club (scored 41 pts in UND 83, Troy 80 | 11-10-2017)
- Plays professionally for DB Gottingen, Basketball Bundesliga
QUINTON HOOKER | PLAYER 2013-17
- Big Sky All Conference 2016, 2017
- Holds UND career records in games played (5th), field goals made (10th), field goals attempted (5th), free throws made (7th), free throws attempted (10th), free throw percentage (7th), 3-pt FGS made (7th), 3-pt FGS attempted (7th), assists (4th), and steals (3rd)
- Holds UND single-season records in free throws made (7th), free throw percentage (3rd and 5th), 3-pt FGS made (4th), 3-pt FGS attempted (7th), 3-pt FG percentage (8th) and steals (8th)
- Plays professionally for SIG Strasbourg, French LNB Pro A
JEROME BEASLEY | PLAYER 2001-03
- Drafted by Miami in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2003 NBA draft
- Opened the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons on Miami's roster
- Finished the 2004-05 season with Sioux Falls of the CBA
- Signed with Ulkerspor of the Euroleague prior to 2005-06 season and played seven seasons professionally overseas
PHIL JACKSON | PLAYER 1964-67
- 1,640-1,115 (.704) in 20 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls
- Highest winning percentage in NBA history
- Won 10 NBA titles as head coach and coached six NBA MVPs
- Named to "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History" list (1996-97)
- Played 13 seasons with New York and New Jersey
- Drafted by the Knicks in the second round (1967)
- Won NBA championships in 1972-73
MEDIA COVERAGE
- All home games broadcast on regional network MidcoSN since 2012-13
- Road games featured on ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, Big Ten Network and SEC Network
- All games broadcast on the Home of Economy Radio Network since 2012-13
- Dedicated beat reporter and coverage through local newspaper the Grand Forks Herald
When talking about North Dakota Men’s Basketball and the enjoyment that I and so many fans have found in it for so many decades, where do I start? For me, it’s those electric moments inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, where a run, win, or play elicits a roar that can only be described as providing a euphoria and smile that says 'wow, this is wild.' In all my travels covering this team, I’ve only encountered a few places that can rival it. What’s truly remarkable is the student athletes who’ve decided to make North Dakota their home, and I realize how fortunate I’ve been as a broadcaster and fan to have been witness to so many players who have walked through those doors of The Betty, and have continued adding to the legacy that is UND Basketball. These individuals have provided these unforgettable moments, all while growing as players, leaders, and most importantly, people.”
– Paul Ralston, voice of UND Men’s Basketball
A DAY IN THE LIFE
- 8:30am | Individual Skill Workout
- 9am | Weights
- 10am | Practice
- 12-4pm | Class
- 4:30-5:30pm | Optional Workout
- Gym open remainder of night
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
- 24-hour swipe card access to the facility
- Four shooting guns
- Weighted basketballs
- Individual position coach
- Skill workouts to develop weaknesses and enhance strengths
- Film study
- Identify personal goals and align those with our team goals
- Improved by 12 overall wins since the 2021-22 season.
STUDENT ATHLETE SUPPORT SERVICES
- One-on-one academic advising
- Supervised study hall and academic tutoring
- Objective-based learning with a Learning Specialist
- Priority registration ensures enrollment in all desired classes
- Freshman Athlete Transition Course (UNIV 101)
The men's basketball team at the University of North Dakota boasts a 100% player graduation rate. We are committed to our athlete's success and provide many resources to help athletes manage their time, choose classes and succeed at the DI level both within the classroom and on the court.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Our team has consistently played an important role in the community of Grand Forks, leading the way with volunteer activities such as Special Olympics and Samaritan's Feet. In 2021-22, our team was in the top 5 in the nation for DI men's basketball teams using the Helper Helper app to track volunteer hours.
GRAND FORKS
Grand Forks is North Dakota’s third-largest city with a population of just over 55,000 and is home to the University of North Dakota.
- Grand Forks is rated as the top town for its overall quality of life
- UND ranks in the top 2% of the United States for campus safety
- Endless restaurants and entertainment
- Bowling alley, two movie theaters and two malls