Latest news with #NorthParkUniversity
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former North Park Coach Inducted into SCB Hall of Fame
CHICAGO, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 31, former North Park University Head Men's Basketball Coach Dan McCarrell will be inducted into the Small College Basketball (SCB) Hall of Fame. McCarrell, a three-time National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year (1978–80), will be honored in Lakeland, Florida, alongside 11 other members of the class of 2025. "Dan McCarrell's legacy in basketball is one of excellence, leadership, and unwavering dedication," said John Born, North Park's athletics director. "His impact on the game and the players he has mentored is immeasurable. Being inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame is a well-deserved honor recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the sport." McCarrell led then-North Park College to three consecutive national championships from 1978–80. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1985 and North Park's Viking Hall of Fame in 1988. He was also named the NCAA Division III Coach of the Decade for the 1970s at the national tournament banquet in 1980. He coached nine All-Americans, and four of his players were selected in the National Basketball Association draft. "Coach McCarrell being inducted to the SCB Hall of Fame is another testament to what he's built at North Park," said current Head Men's Basketball Coach Edwind McGhee. "Anytime we talk about the history and tradition of this program, Coach McCarell and his teams are our gold standard. This is a well-deserved honor for him and his family." As a North Park student-athlete, McCarrell was a men's basketball team captain during the 1960–61 season. In 17 seasons coaching the Vikings, his teams compiled a 295–159 record and played in six NCAA tournaments, boasting a tournament record of 17–4. North Park's three consecutive titles are matched only by the University of California, Los Angeles. They remain the only teams to win three consecutive national titles at any level of college basketball. McCarrell's 1979 team was the first Division III basketball team to win back-to-back national titles. This marks the ninth class inducted into the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at Florida Southern College. North Park University is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st-century America. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE North Park University Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
North Park Dance Team Takes Top Prize at National Championship
CHICAGO, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In April, North Park University's (NPU) dance team won the NCAA Division III Team Performance category for the first time in program history at the College Classic National Championship in Orlando, Florida. Thirteen North Park student-athletes attended the competition and master classes, eight of whom were in the group that competed in the Division III Team Performance category. Twelve team members competed and placed ninth in the Division III Pom category. North Park attended the event for the first time in 2024, taking sixth place in Division III Pom and eleventh in Division III Jazz. "Winning the national championship title this year meant everything to us," said Head Coach Kim Maljak. "We worked hard, committed lots of time to practicing, and were dedicated to perfecting our last-minute changes to the routine. Because of that dedication, we became North Park's first-ever national champion dance team!" As champions, North Park brought home a trophy, custom jackets, rings, and a banner, which will hang from the balcony in NPU's Helwig Recreation Center. The College Classic National Championship, according to organizer Dance Team Union, emphasizes the athletic and creative aspects of dance, recognizing each team's unique qualities and individuality. Teams from across the county competed for titles in various dance styles, with the winners of the preliminary rounds advancing to the final and battle rounds. North Park University is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st-century America. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE North Park University
Malaysian Reserve
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Malaysian Reserve
North Park to Launch Women's Flag Football Team in Spring 2026
CHICAGO, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In response to the growing national popularity of women's no-tackle football programs, North Park University will start its own 25-player team to begin competing next year. North Park alumnus Ramon Palma BS '22 MBA '24, a former four-year football player at North Park, has been named the team's head coach. He has begun recruiting students with plans to hold practices in the fall 2025 semester before finalizing a schedule of games to be played in spring 2026. 'Flag football is an exciting opportunity for both me as a coach and for North Park,' Palma said. 'I'm extremely thankful for the belief that the leadership team here at North Park have put in my ability to recruit and develop athletes. Being inaugural head coach of this program is proving to be one of my most exciting endeavors at North Park.' Flag football will become North Park's 20th varsity sport, with the team expected to join 20 other NCAA institutions in competition. Play consists of seven players from each side vying to score a six-point touchdown, with the opportunity to add one or two extra points with set plays. The sport has become increasingly popular in recent years, with the number of participants at the high school level doubling to 42,955 students from 2023–24. John Born, assistant vice president for athletics and sport management, said Palma was a natural choice to coach the team. 'Ramon brings a wealth of experience, an unmatched work ethic, and an entrepreneurial spirit. We could not have picked a better person for this position,' Born said. After Graduating in 2022, Palma began working at North Park in the admissions department, while continuing to be a part of NPU football as an assistant coach and the team's social media manager. He worked with both offensive and defensive lines as well as curated content in various formats across NPU football's ever-growing social media pages. For more information about the women's flag football team, go to North Park University is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st century America.
