December 15, 2024
Northland Community & Technical College will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its women’s athletic programs on Saturday, January 25, at the Thief River Falls campus. The event will honor the legacy of Deb Jacobson, a former head coach and athletic director for the Pioneers. Attendees can look forward to a variety of activities throughout the day, including opportunities to reconnect with former teammates, meet current teams and coaches, and support future generations of female student-athletes at Northland.
“I am excited to be at Northland at a time when we are celebrating the rich history of women’s athletics,” said Northland Interim President Shari Olson. “We are very proud of everyone who has contributed to this past half-century, and we cannot wait to see how our current and future student-athletes will continue to add to that legacy.”
Day of Celebration
The day’s activities will begin at 1 p.m. when the Northland Women’s Basketball Team takes on their MCAC North rival, Central Lakes. Jacobson and all women’s athletics alumni will be honored at halftime of the women’s game.
The men’s game between Northland and Central Lakes will follow the women’s game at 3 p.m., and the men’s athletic program alumni will be recognized at halftime.
The celebration continues with a social in the cafeteria from 5 to 6 p.m. Appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be available. The 50th Anniversary program will follow at 6 p.m.
50 Years of Success
Since the inception of women’s varsity sports in the 1973-74 academic year, Northland’s female athletes have achieved remarkable success. The basketball, volleyball, and softball teams have collectively won 16 MCCC/MCAC Northern Division championships and 14 Region XIII championships. They have also placed in the top six at the national tournament eight times, and the 2013-14 women’s basketball team won the NJCAA National Championship.
Notably, Northland has produced numerous NJCAA All-American selections, along with many individual awards from Region XIII and the MCAC. In the early years, state championships were regarded as the highest achievement in various sports. The 1998 women’s softball team made history by winning the first-ever state title for a women’s athletic program at Northland. Additionally, in the fall of 2023, Northland introduced women’s wrestling as its fourth intercollegiate sport.
A True Pioneer
Jacobson served as Northland’s head volleyball coach from its inaugural season in 1974 until the end of the 1994 season. In addition to volleyball, she coached the women’s basketball and softball teams from 1974 to 1985. She held several administrative roles in the athletic department, including women’s athletic director from 1974 to 1984, assistant athletic director from 1985 to 2000, and athletic director from 2001 to 2007. Deb was inducted into the Northland Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
RSVP
All alumni of Pioneers Athletics are invited to RSVP for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Women’s Athletics. To learn more and RSVP for the event, visit northlandcollege.edu/50th.