Minot State hires Robin Ersland as head wrestling coach
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by Minot State
In line with Minot State University's transition to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II, two new coaches are onboard to lead new teams: wrestling and women's soccer.
MSU Athletics Director Rick Hedberg announced today the hiring of Robin Ersland, from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, to re-establish the wrestling program and Jason Spain, from Yuba College, Calif. to begin the new women's soccer program.
For the past 15 years, Ersland has been the head wrestling coach and strength coordinator for the UCM Mules. While there, he was responsible for all aspects of the Division II program including initiating a wrestling hall of fame, leading 10 teams to top-20 national team finishes and coaching 30 All-Americans, including one individual national champion. During his almost 30 years of coaching, Ersland has participated at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels. Ersland also served as a coach on various national and international teams. Hedberg says the Minot State Athletics Department is fortunate to receive a coach of this caliber to reinstitute wrestling.
"Robin will do a great job of building our wrestling program," Hedberg said. "He has more than 15 years of NCAA Division II head coaching experience, and he's been successful at the DII level. Robin is well connected in the wrestling community, and I look forward to working with him."
Both Ersland and Spain have experience as instructors within their respective university and college. In the upcoming months, both coaches will start to recruit student athletes and begin to set a schedule for play to begin in both programs starting fall of 2010.
Minot State begins membership process into NCAA Division II
On July 10, Minot State University began the three-year process of becoming a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The NCAA Membership Committee informed MSU we would be entering year-one candidacy for NCAA Division II for the 2009-2010 season.
"We're very pleased that the NCAA has chosen Minot State as a university that it would like to have as part of Division II. The change for athletics, the university and the community is an important one and fits best for the present and future of Minot State," said Rick Hedberg, athletic director at MSU. "Minot State University's Vision 2013 calls for the university to become one of the premier public, regional universities in the Great Plains. It is our belief that a transition to NCAA Division II is one large step toward realizing that goal."
"Minot State University is interested in becoming a strong and viable member of NCAA Division II," MSU President David Fuller said. "The Division II mission of integrating intercollegiate athletics into higher education for the benefit of students and student-athletes is consistent with the mission and goals of our institution and athletic department."
After applying at the end of May, Minot State was one of more than a dozen colleges and universities attempting the jump to NCAA Division II. The decision to apply for Division II membership comes at the end of nearly four years of research by committees from Minot State, the athletics department, administrators, the community and Beaver Booster Club members.
Applying for membership in NCAA Division II did not guarantee Minot State would be accepted. The competitive process to review applications started after June 1 and culminated in the middle of July. The past four years of work preceding an application for membership is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to becoming an NCAA Division II athletic program.
"There is a candidacy period. We have two years with our current association, the NAIA. Certain benchmarks need to be reached during the process," said Hedberg. "The third year you're considered 'provisional status,' and you are with your new affiliation, in this case NCAA Division II. In the fourth year, you can become a full-fledged member."
MSU Athletics Director Rick Hedberg announced today the hiring of Robin Ersland, from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, to re-establish the wrestling program and Jason Spain, from Yuba College, Calif. to begin the new women's soccer program.
For the past 15 years, Ersland has been the head wrestling coach and strength coordinator for the UCM Mules. While there, he was responsible for all aspects of the Division II program including initiating a wrestling hall of fame, leading 10 teams to top-20 national team finishes and coaching 30 All-Americans, including one individual national champion. During his almost 30 years of coaching, Ersland has participated at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels. Ersland also served as a coach on various national and international teams. Hedberg says the Minot State Athletics Department is fortunate to receive a coach of this caliber to reinstitute wrestling.
"Robin will do a great job of building our wrestling program," Hedberg said. "He has more than 15 years of NCAA Division II head coaching experience, and he's been successful at the DII level. Robin is well connected in the wrestling community, and I look forward to working with him."
Both Ersland and Spain have experience as instructors within their respective university and college. In the upcoming months, both coaches will start to recruit student athletes and begin to set a schedule for play to begin in both programs starting fall of 2010.
Minot State begins membership process into NCAA Division II
On July 10, Minot State University began the three-year process of becoming a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The NCAA Membership Committee informed MSU we would be entering year-one candidacy for NCAA Division II for the 2009-2010 season.
"We're very pleased that the NCAA has chosen Minot State as a university that it would like to have as part of Division II. The change for athletics, the university and the community is an important one and fits best for the present and future of Minot State," said Rick Hedberg, athletic director at MSU. "Minot State University's Vision 2013 calls for the university to become one of the premier public, regional universities in the Great Plains. It is our belief that a transition to NCAA Division II is one large step toward realizing that goal."
"Minot State University is interested in becoming a strong and viable member of NCAA Division II," MSU President David Fuller said. "The Division II mission of integrating intercollegiate athletics into higher education for the benefit of students and student-athletes is consistent with the mission and goals of our institution and athletic department."
After applying at the end of May, Minot State was one of more than a dozen colleges and universities attempting the jump to NCAA Division II. The decision to apply for Division II membership comes at the end of nearly four years of research by committees from Minot State, the athletics department, administrators, the community and Beaver Booster Club members.
Applying for membership in NCAA Division II did not guarantee Minot State would be accepted. The competitive process to review applications started after June 1 and culminated in the middle of July. The past four years of work preceding an application for membership is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to becoming an NCAA Division II athletic program.
"There is a candidacy period. We have two years with our current association, the NAIA. Certain benchmarks need to be reached during the process," said Hedberg. "The third year you're considered 'provisional status,' and you are with your new affiliation, in this case NCAA Division II. In the fourth year, you can become a full-fledged member."
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