History of the Fighting Hawks
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks have a long and proud history of sports excellence. For over 100 years, the University of North Dakota has produced some of the best athletes in all collegiate sports, including football, basketball, hockey, and more. The Fighting Hawks have achieved numerous championships throughout their storied past—from NCAA Division I titles to conference championships—and continue striving for greatness today.
The Football program at UND began in 1894 when it was known as Grand Forks College. Through its rich history on the gridiron, UND has seen many great players come through its ranks, such as legendary NFL quarterback Joe Montana, who played two seasons with them before transferring to Notre Dame, where he became one of college football’s greatest quarterbacks ever. Other notable alumni include current Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and former Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who had successful careers playing for UND before moving on to professional teams in the NFL after graduating from college.
In addition, the Basketball program at North Dakota is also quite impressive, having won five regular season conference titles since joining Division I play during the 2004-05 season. Furthermore, this year's team featured future NBA draft pick Geno Crandall, who led his team into the March Madness tournament but unfortunately fell short against Texas A&M Aggies. Despite that, the men's basketball squad still managed an incredible 20 -11 record, which included big wins against top-ranked opponents like Gonzaga Bulldogs & Saint Mary’s Gaels, showing just how much potential they possess going forward into next season under new head coach Paul Sather.
Last but not least are Hockey programs, arguably the most popular sport among fans due mainly to the success that comes with it (over 10 National Championships). From the 1960-80 period alone, Fighting Hawks won 5 national champions while making 15 appearances in the Frozen Four Tournament, cementing themselves as one of the premier powerhouses in the ice hockey world! Moreover, recent years saw even more significant successes, such as Johnathan Toews winning Stanley Cup twice with Chicago Blackhawks 2010 & 2015, plus Brock Boeser being selected 23rd overall Vancouver Canucks 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
All these accomplishments show why so many people love rooting for ND teams! With a passionate fanbase behind them every step of the way, no matter what sport you may be playing, you can always expect outstanding performances by our beloved fighting hawks!
Fighting Hawks Products
College Sports Established
1883
Location
Grand Forks, North Dakota
College Name
University of North Dakota
Collegiate History
2018 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2018 - Present / Summit League
Nickname
Fighting Hawks - Sports fans of all ages have long been fascinated by the origins of team nicknames. One such nickname with a particularly interesting story is the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, the mascot for the University of North Dakota athletics teams.
The nickname was chosen in 2015 after a two-year process to find an appropriate replacement for its controversial former moniker, “Fighting Sioux.” The school had used this name since 1930 and became closely associated with UND and its sports teams. However, due to complaints from Native American groups about cultural appropriation issues surrounding using their tribal names as mascots or logos, UND eventually decided to retire “Fighting Sioux” in 2012 and began looking into potential replacements shortly after that.
After much deliberation among students, alumni members, and other stakeholders involved in university life at UND, the final choice was made: "North Dakota Fighting Hawks." This new name pays homage to state pride (as evidenced by including "North Dakota" in the title) and honors Native American culture through its reference to hawks - birds are often seen as symbols of strength amongst many tribes across America. The word 'fighting' was included simply because it seemed like a fitting adjective given that most people associate competitive spirit with collegiate sports programs like those found at universities around North America today.
It's easy to see why so many folks are proud when they hear someone mention 'The Fighting Hawks.' It's not just another generic animal mascot but one that has deep roots within both local history & culture alike - something that can't be said too often these days!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
