Roger Thomas Named Comissioner of North Central Conference

1/19/2005

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Roger Thomas, a 1972 graduate of The University of South Dakota, has been named the commissioner of the North Central Conference in an announcement today by search committee chair Dr. Roy Saigo, president of St. Cloud State University. Thomas replaces Michael Marcil, who served as commissioner of the NCC for nearly eight years and left the NCC to become commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenges of this position,” said Thomas. “It is an exciting time with a lot of issues in NCAA Division II. In the NCC we have to look at expansion and stability in our schedules. I have been associated with this conference for a long time as an assistant coach, head coach and an athletic director and I’m excited to lead the league as the commissioner.”

President Saigo led the search committee that included chief executive officers, institutional representatives, athletic directors and senior women’s administrators. Each institution had one representative on the committee.

“We are pleased that our search for the new commissioner resulted in the hiring of Roger Thomas,” said Dr. Saigo. “Roger has extensive experience in the North Central Conference and brings hands-on knowledge of the league and region. This experience will help us achieve our dual goals of high academic standards and excellence in athletic competition. In addition, as a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council, he has a pivotal role in formulating the NCAA policies that will guide the organization for many years to come.”

Thomas has been the Director of Athletics at the University of North Dakota since July 1999 and currently serves on the NCAA Division II Management Council. Prior to becoming athletic director, Thomas served as the UND’s head football coach for 13 seasons, leaving with more wins than any other UND coach and a record of 90-49-2.

North Dakota won NCAA championships in men’s hockey in 2000 and football in 2001. He has also been instrumental in the opening of three new athletic facilities, which combine to give UND some of the best arenas in the nation. Ralph Engelstad Arena, the home for men’s and women’s hockey and NCC home basketball games opened in the fall of 2001 as did the Alerus Center, the home of the football team. Just last fall the doors opened on the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, a multiuse facility that is the primary home of the basketball and volleyball teams.

During his coaching career Thomas led UND to five NCAA postseason appearances. He also was named North Central Conference Coach of the Year three times (1990, 1994 and 1995).

Thomas was born August 19, 1947, in Chicago, Ill. He played runningback and quarterback at Augustana College (Ill.), earning a bachelor degrees in physical education and history in 1969. He earned a master’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 1972.

His coaching career began at Augustana College (S.D.), where he served as part-time assistant coach for the defensive secondary, as well as being head scout.

In 1976, Thomas was named head football coach at University of Sioux Falls. He inherited a struggling program and steered it in the right direction before leaving to join the University of North Dakota staff for the first time in April 1978.

After the 1979 season, Thomas left and held assistant coaching positions at California State University-Fullerton, University of Minnesota and with the Toronto Argonauts before returning to North Dakota to become the 23rd head football coach in 1986.

The North Central Conference comprises seven institutions in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The member institutions are Augustana (S.D.), Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and South Dakota.

Melanie Nelson will continue to serve as interim commissioner until Thomas assumes his position in February. Thomas will be the sixth full-time commissioner to lead the league.