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1983 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
SIUSALUKIS.COM
15
2013 SALUKI FOOTBALL
streak in school history.
The Salukis were ranked No. 1 by
The Sports Network for three weeks and
entered the2009NCAADivision I playoffs,
the school’s seventh-consecutive playoff
appearance, as the No. 3 overall seed.
Lennon guided SIU to the quarterfinals
of the playoffs by posting a win over No.
17 Eastern Illinois, before falling to No. 6
William & Mary.
During Lennon’s tenure, the
program has won 10 games against
ranked opponents. Lennon’s success at
SIU and previously at North Dakota have
made him one of the winningest active
coaches in the country. In 16 seasons
as a head coach, Lennon has compiled
a 137-56 (.710) record. He has been to
either the Division I or II playoffs in 10
seasons. Lennon also owns a national
championship ring, which he captured in
2001 when he was the head coach at his
alma mater, North Dakota.
Lennon stands as the winningest
coach in UND history with a 90-24 record
in nine seasons. In addition to leading
North Dakota to a national championship,
Lennon’s teams made seven playoff
appearances, played in two national
championship games and won five North
Central Conference Championships.
Lennon graduated from Rugby High
School in Rugby, N.D., a town of less than
3,000 residents near the Canadian border.
Lennon vs. Opponents
Opponent
All
H
A Post
Augustana
7-2
4-1
3-1
—
Central Washington
6-1
3-1
3-0
—
Delta State
1-0
1-0
—
—
Eastern Illinois
2-1
2-0
0-1 1-0
Ferris State
2-0
2-0
—
—
Grand Valley State
2-4
1-0
0-3 2-4
Hampton
1-0
1-0
—
—
Humboldt State
1-0
1-0
—
—
Illinois
0-1
—
0-1
—
Illinois State
4-1
1-1 3-0
—
Indiana State
4-1
2-0 2-1
—
Marshall
0-1
0-1
—
—
Mesa State
2-1
2-0
0-1
—
Miami (Ohio)
0-1
—
0-1
—
Michigan Tech
1-0
—
— 1-0
Minn.-Crookston
4-0
4-0
—
—
Minnesota Duluth
5-0
2-0
2-0 1-0
Minnesota State
5-0
2-0
3-0
—
Mississippi
0-1
—
0-1
—
Missouri State
4-1
2-0
2-1
—
Morningside
2-0
1-0
1-0
—
MSU Mankato
3-1
1-1
2-0
—
Nebraska-Omaha
3-7
2-3
0-4 1-0
Newberry
1-0 1-0
—
—
New Hampshire
0-1
0-1
— 0-1
New Haven
1-0
1-0
—
—
North Alabama
1-0
1-0
— 1-0
North Dakota
1-0
1-0
—
—
North Dakota State
5-5
4-1
1-4
—
Northern Colorado
3-1
2-0
1-1
—
Northern Iowa
5-1
3-0
2-1
—
Northern Michigan
1-0
1-0
—
—
Northwestern
0-1
—
0-1
—
NW Missouri State
0-1
—
0-1 0-1
Pittsburg State
2-1
2-0
0-1 2-1
Quincy
1-0
1-0
—
—
SEMO
3-1
1-1
2-0
—
Southern Utah
1-0
—
1-0
—
Southwest Baptist
1-0
1-0
—
—
South Dakota
8-1
4-0
4-1
—
South Dakota State
6-4
3-2
3-2
—
St. Cloud State
8-2
4-1
3-1 1-0
UC Davis
1-0
1-0
— 1-0
West Chester
1-0
1-0
—
—
Western Illinois
4-1
3-0
1-1
—
Western Washington 3-0
2-0
1-0
—
William & Mary
0-1
0-1
— 0-1
Winona State
6-0
1-0
1-0 4-0
Youngstown State
3-2
1-1
2-1
—
He went on to play fullback from 1979-
83 for the University of North Dakota and
was a team captain.
Lennon’s coaching tenure with the
Fighting Sioux began on the defensive
side of the ball. He was North Dakota’s
defensive line coach for two seasons
(1988-89) before being promoted to
defensive coordinator (1990-96).
The Fighting Sioux made four-
straight playoff appearances from 1992-
95, which ultimately led to Lennon’s hiring
as head coach of the University of Mary in
Bismarck, N.D. in 1997. There he reversed
the fortunes of the program and led it to an
NAIA playoff appearance in 1998.
Lennon returned to his alma mater
as head coach in 1999, and the program
flourished under his direction. He reached
the pinnacle of success in 2001, guiding
his team to the NCAA Division II National
Championship and earning AFCA Coach
of the Year honors. He won the NCC
Coach of the Year laurels three times.
Lennon began his coaching career
as the defensive backs coach for Valley
City (N.D.) State in 1986. He then
coached linebackers at Dickinson (N.D.)
State in 1987, helping the team to a 9-1
record and an NAIA playoff appearance
before joining the North Dakota coaching
staff the following season. Lennon and his
wife, Chris, have three adult sons, Jared,
Trevor and Cody.
Dale Lennon’s Year-By-Year Record
Year School
Assignment
Overall Conference
Postseason
1986 Valley City State
Defensive Backs
7-3
—
—
1987 Dickinson State
Linebackers
9-1
—
NAIA Playoffs
1988 North Dakota
Defensive Line
7-4
5-4 (t-4th)
—
1989 North Dakota
Defensive Line
3-7-1
2-6-1 (9th)
—
1990 North Dakota
Def. Coordinator
7-3
7-2 (2nd)
—
1991 North Dakota
Def. Coordinator
7-2
6-2 (t-2nd)
—
1992 North Dakota
Def. Coordinator
6-4-1 6-2-1 (2nd)
NCAA Playoffs 1st Round
1993 North Dakota
Def. Coordinator
10-3
7-1 (t-1st)
NCAA Semifinals
1994 North Dakota
Def. Coordinator
10-3
7-2 (t-1st)
NCAA Semifinals
1995 North Dakota
Def. Coordinator
9-2
8-1 (1st)
NCAA playoffs 1st Round
1996 North Dakota
Def. Coordinator
7-3
6-3 (t-2nd)
—
1997 Mary
Head Coach
4-6
1-5 (6th)
—
1998 Mary
Head Coach
8-3
5-1 (t-1st)
NAIA Playoffs 1st Round
1999 North Dakota
Head Coach
9-2
8-1 (t-1st)
NCAA Playoffs 1st Round
2000 North Dakota
Head Coach
8-3
6-3 (t-3rd)
—
2001 North Dakota
Head Coach
14-1
7-1 (1st)
NCAA DII Champions
2002 North Dakota
Head Coach
5-6
3-5 (7th)
—
2003 North Dakota
Head Coach
12-2
7-0 (1st)
NCAA Runner-Up
2004 North Dakota
Head Coach
11-3
4-2 (t-2nd)
NCAA Semifinals
2005 North Dakota
Head Coach
10-3
4-2 (t-1st)
NCAA Playoffs 2nd Round
2006 North Dakota
Head Coach
11-2
7-1 (1st)
NCAA Quarterfinals
2007 North Dakota
Head Coach
10-2
7-1 (2nd)
NCAA Playoffs 2nd Round
2008 Southern Illinois
Head Coach
9-3
7-1 (t-1st)
NCAA Playoffs 1st Round
2009 Southern Illinois
Head Coach
11-2
8-0 (1st)
NCAA Quarterfinals
2010 Southern Illinois
Head Coach
5-6
4-4 (t-3rd)
—
2011 Southern Illinois
Head Coach
4-7
2-6 (t-7th)
—
2012 Southern Illinois
Head Coach
6-5
5-3 (t-3rd)
—
As Head Coach at SIU: 35-23 (5 years), As Head Coach Overall: 137-56 (16 years)