His 69 career winds at UND rank third on the school's all-time list, trailing only C.A. "Jack" West (89) and his former mentor, Roger Thomas (90).

Last year Lennon guided the Sioux to a 10-3 record and a third consecutive berth in the NCAA playoffs.

A former defensive coordinator for the Fighting Sioux from 1990-96, Lennon became the 24th head coach in UND football history when he was hired on March 29, 1999.

It did not take Lennon long to continue UND's winning tradition. In his first season (1999) as head coach, the Sioux finished 9-2, won a share of the North Central Conference title and advanced to the first round of the NCAA playoffs.

In 2000 Lennon and the Sioux went 8-3 and narrowly missed out on another NCAA berth.

The 2001 season proved to be a watershed year for the UND football program. Lennon guided the team into a new era that year as the Sioux began play in the 13,500-seat Alerus Center, an indoor facility that has become one of the most exciting places to play in all of Division II football.

The new home helped propel the Sioux on a memorable post-season run that culminated with the first national championship in program history, a 17-14 win over Grand Valley State.

As a result, Lennon was name 2001 American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, also a first in program history. The award earned the University of North Dakota a $10,000 academic scholarship from the AFCA to benefit the athletic department and its student-athletes.

In addition to the AFCA coaching honor, Lennon was recognized as the 2001 AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year and the 2001 NCAA Coach of the Year, the first time he received either honor. He was also named Division II National Coach of the Year by Don Hansen's Weekly Football Gazette.

In 2003 Lennon led the Fighting Sioux to a 12-2 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II championship game fo the second time in three years. The Sioux finished a perfect 7-0 in NCC play and captured the program's 22nd conference title (15th outright).

Lennon capped the 2003 season by being named North Central Conference Football Coach of the Year, Minnesota Vikings' College Coach of the Year and the D2Football.com Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

In 2004 the Fighting Sioux went 11-3 and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinal round. Last year Lennon guided the Sioux to a fourth NCC crown during his tenure and another NCAA postseason berth.

Lennon's Fighting Sioux teams have matched their on-field success with success in the classroom, exceeding a 3.0 grade point average (out of 4.0) in each of his six season. In all, 38 Sioux have earned academic all-conference honors during Lennon's tenure.

Prior to returning to UND, Lennon was the head coach for two seasons (1997-98) at the University of Mary, where he posted a 12-9 record. In 1998, the Marauders were 8-3, won the league champi- onship, made the NAIA playoffs and Lennon was named the North Dakota Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

A native of Knox, N.D., Lennon graduated from Rugby High School before starting his athletic career with the University of North Dakota. A former Sioux running back, he served as team captain in 1983 and was named the team's most valuable offensive back. A three-year letterwinner, Lennon earned All-NCC honorable mention honors as a senior.

After graduating from North Dakota in 1985, he earned a mas- ter's degree from Northern State (S.D.) in 1986 while serving as a graduate assistant football coach. Lennon also spent seasons at Valley City State (1986) and Dickinson State (1987) before returning to UND for the 1988 season as a defensive line coach.

He was appointed defensive coordinator at UND in 1990 and began transforming the Fighting Sioux defense into one of the top squads in the league as well as the nation. UND led the NCC in scoring defense in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996 as well as total defense in 1994 and 1996. UND appeared in the NCAA postseason four straight years during Lennon's tenure as defensive coordinator.

Lennon and his wife, Chris, have three sons, Jared, Trevor and Cody. They live in Grand Forks.