Coach Moves Up

Matt Murken must enjoy the North Dakota cold weather. The basketball coach landed his first ever head job at Jamestown College. And now Murken is moving to another North Dakota school.

The Iowa native was name head coach at Minot State University last week. Murken will guide the Beavers into their first season of Division II basketball in the Northern Sun Conference.

Murken has risen in the coaching profession quickly. He coached at Jamestown College—an NAIA school—only two years. He led the Jimmies to a 46-16 overall mark. Murken helped Jamestown to a NAIA national tournament appearance last season and was named Dakota Athletic Conference Coach-of-the-Year.

I had the privilege of serving with Murken on an Athletes in Action basketball project to East Africa in 2010. He is a good guy that cares about his players. Murken will do an excellent job with the Beavers.

Just keep the parka and snow boots handy, Matt. You never know when you will need them in North Dakota.

Don't Schedule North Dakota State in Football

You would think Division I athletic directors would learn. If North Dakota State isn't on the do not call list, please quickly put them on it. Warning: this team is lethal. The Bison can wreck a football season.

North Dakota State traveled to Lawrence, Kansas over the weekend and defeated the Kansas Jayhawks in a baseball score, 6-3.

Most people would call the result a shocker. But really it wasn't. Ask the Minnesota Golden Gophers if the Bison are on their schedule anymore. NDSU has also won at Minnesota.

Yes, this is the same Bison team that plays in the FCS Division (1-AA). They formerly competed in Division II. Imagine the Bison lockerroom before they battle a larger school. The coach tells them the team can win the game (coach speak) and the players actually believe it.

This football program is putting Fargo, North Dakota on the map. Fargo is more than computers, wheat fields and cold, cold weather. It's top-notch football too. Just don't remind Kansas or Minnesota.