Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Commissioner Erin Lind presented Minnesota State University Moorhead Director of Athletics Chad Markuson with the league’s 2025-26 Sportsmanship Award during the NSIC Hall of Fame banquet Tuesday evening. This marks the second time that the Dragons have earned the honor, also taking it home in 2022-23 academic year.
The NSIC Sportsmanship Award is voted on by the NSIC head coaches and a Student Athlete Advisory Committee member based on the sportsmanship of players, fans, staff and coaches at each opposing NSIC institution. Sportsmanship is defined as: “A set of behaviors to be exhibited by student-athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and fans in athletic competition. These behaviors are based on values including respect, civility, fairness, honesty and responsibility.”
Concordia-St. Paul and Bemidji State are the only three-time winner of the NSIC Sportsmanship award, while MSU Moorhead, Southwest Minnesota State, and Upper Iowa have earned it twice. Since its inception in 2007-08, the University of Mary, Minnesota Crookston, Minnesota Duluth, and Wayne State are the only other schools to have earned the award.
Past NSIC Sportsmanship Award Winners
2025-26 MSU Moorhead
2024-25 Concordia-St. Paul
2023-24 Minnesota Duluth
2022-23 MSU Moorhead
2021-22 Concordia-St. Paul
2020-21 Not Awarded
2019-20 Not Awarded
2018-19 Southwest Minnesota State
2017-18 Concordia-St. Paul
2016-17 Upper Iowa
2015-16 Upper Iowa
2014-15 Minnesota Crookston
2013-14 Bemidji State
2012-13 Southwest Minnesota State
2011-12 Wayne State
2010-11 Bemidji State
2009-10 University of Mary
2008-09 Bemidji State
2007-08 Northern State
(info courtesy of NSIC)
