Dale Lennon (born December 13, 1960) is an American former college football coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota from 1997 to 1998, the University of North Dakota from 1999 to 2007, and the Southern Illinois University Carbondale from 2007 to 2015, compiling a career record of 153–75. Lennon led the 2001 North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team to an NCAA Division II Football Championship. His record was 90–24 in nine seasons as the head coach of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and he is the program's all-time winningest coach. In May 2017, Lennon returned to the University of Mary as the school's athletic director.[1] He left University of Mary in 2022 to become the executive director of the State Historical Society Foundation of North Dakota.[2]
![]() Lennon in 2007 | |
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Knox, North Dakota, U.S. | December 13, 1960
Playing career | |
1980, 1982–1983 | North Dakota |
Position(s) | Running back |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1985 | Northern State (GA) |
1986 | Valley City State (assistant) |
1987 | Dickinson State (assistant) |
1988–1989 | North Dakota (DL) |
1990–1996 | North Dakota (DC) |
1997–1998 | Mary |
1999–2007 | North Dakota |
2008–2015 | Southern Illinois |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
2017–2022 | Mary |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 153–75 |
Tournaments | 0–1 (NAIA playoffs) 14–6 (NCAA D-II playoffs) 1–2 (NCAA D-I playoffs) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 NCAA Division II (2001) 1 NDCAC (1998) 5 NCC (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005–2006) 2 MVFC (2008–2009) | |
UND Hall of Fame Induction
editDale Lennon was inducted into the University of North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame on October 12, 2023, at the Alerus Center.[3] Lennon was head coach for nine seasons.
Lennon's connection to North Dakota extends to his playing days in the early 1980s, where he served as team captain in 1983.[4]
Head coaching record
editYear | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mary Marauders (North Dakota College Athletic Conference) (1997–1998) | |||||||||
1997 | Mary | 4–6 | 1–5 | 6th | |||||
1998 | Mary | 8–3 | 5–1 | T–1st | L NAIA First Round | ||||
Mary: | 12–9 | 6–6 | |||||||
North Dakota Fighting Sioux (North Central Conference) (1999–2007) | |||||||||
1999 | North Dakota | 9–2 | 8–1 | T–1st | L NCAA Division II First Round | ||||
2000 | North Dakota | 8–3 | 6–3 | T–3rd | |||||
2001 | North Dakota | 14–1 | 7–1 | 1st | W NCAA Division II Championship | ||||
2002 | North Dakota | 5–6 | 3–5 | 7th | |||||
2003 | North Dakota | 12–2 | 7–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Championship | ||||
2004 | North Dakota | 11–3 | 4–2 | T–2nd | L NCAA Division II Semifinal | ||||
2005 | North Dakota | 10–3 | 4–2 | T–1st | L NCAA Division II Second Round | ||||
2006 | North Dakota | 11–2 | 7–1 | T–1st | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | ||||
2007 | North Dakota | 10–2 | 7–1 | 2nd | L NCAA Division II Second Round | ||||
North Dakota: | 90–24 | 53–16 | |||||||
Southern Illinois Salukis (Missouri Valley Football Conference) (2008–2015) | |||||||||
2008 | Southern Illinois | 9–3 | 7–1 | T–1st | L NCAA Division I First Round | ||||
2009 | Southern Illinois | 11–2 | 8–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal | ||||
2010 | Southern Illinois | 5–6 | 4–4 | T–3rd | |||||
2011 | Southern Illinois | 4–7 | 2–6 | T–7th | |||||
2012 | Southern Illinois | 6–5 | 5–3 | T–4th | |||||
2013 | Southern Illinois | 7–5 | 5–3 | T–2nd | |||||
2014 | Southern Illinois | 6–6 | 3–5 | T–7th | |||||
2015 | Southern Illinois | 3–8 | 2–6 | 9th | |||||
Southern Illinois: | 51–42 | 36–28 | |||||||
Total: | 153–75 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth |
References
edit- ^ "The University of Mary Names Dale Lennon New Athletic Director". News Room - University of Mary. May 31, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
- ^ Timmerman, Lee (April 18, 2022). "Marauders Athletic Director Dale Lennon leaving U-Mary". Bismarck, North Dakota: KFYR-TV. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ Sweeney, Pat (May 1, 2023). "UND announces Hall of Fame Class of 2023". KNOX News Radio, Local News, Weather and Sports. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ "North Dakota Athletics announces 2023 Hall of Fame Class". University of North Dakota Athletics. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.