Dale Lennon

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 of North Dakota Foundation.^[2]

Dale Lennon

Lennon coaching for UND in 2001
Biographical details
Born	(1960-12-13) December 13, 1960 (age 63) Knox, North Dakota, U.S.
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

Dale 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

Year	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

1. "The University of Mary Names Dale Lennon New Athletic Director". News Room - University of Mary. May 31, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
2. Timmerman, Lee (April 18, 2022). "Marauders Athletic Director Dale Lennon leaving U-Mary". Bismarck, North Dakota: KFYR-TV. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
3. 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.
4. "North Dakota Athletics announces 2023 Hall of Fame Class". University of North Dakota Athletics. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.