University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

Responsibilities:
- Athletic Development
- Oversees all department staff and 12 NCAA teams, along with two club teams
- Partnerships with local businesses
- Monitoring Title IX and gender equity issues within the department
- Internal affairs within Minnesota Crookston athletics
- Marketing and promotion of UMN Crookston's athletic programs
 

Biography:

 Stephanie Helgeson is in her 22nd year as Director of Athletics for the University of Minnesota Crookston. She assumed the role in October of 2003 after serving as Interim Director of Athletics from June to October of 2003. Helgeson has been a leader in NCAA Division II during her time at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She is one of the longest-serving current female collegiate administrators in the NCAA and the NSIC. She has been instrumental in the increase of athletic scholarships during her time at UMN Crookston, working with the UMN Crookston chancellor's and development team. In addition, she has helped improve athletic facilities including major projects with Lysaker Gymnasium, the Golf Performance Center, and the UMN Crookston Baseball Field. She has also helped in the process of naming and dedicating the court at Lysaker Gymnasium for long-time men's basketball Head Coach Gary Senske and the arena at UTOC for Chancellor Emeritus Charles H. Casey. In addition, during her time as Director of Athletics the Golden Eagles have added men's and women's cross country, and club hockey, and club trap shooting. 

A former student-athlete herself at Minnesota Crookston as a volleyball player from 1990-91, Helgeson has devoted the past 30 years to the U of M Crookston athletic department. She started her career as the office specialist in 1995 and moved to sports information director in 1997. Helgeson was named as assistant athletic director in charge of Marketing and Promotions from 2000-03 and would also serve as the school’s senior women’s administrator from 1999-03.

Helgeson oversees the U of M Crookston’s 12 intercollegiate athletic programs, two club programs, the head coaches and the support staff and assistant coaches that make a thriving Division II athletic program in the Red River Valley. 

The Minnesota Crookston athletic programs have continued to climb in the conference standings under her watch. The women’s basketball team has been a part of three NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament quarterfinal appearances, following victories in the school’s first two home playoff games at Lysaker Gymnasium in 2015 and 2016. In addition, the Golden Eagle baseball program made their first NSIC tournament appearance since 2001 during the 2016 season, while the volleyball program made the conference tournament in 2013. The baseball program has gone on to four NSIC tournament appearances in the last seven seasons, including making it one game shy of the NSIC Championship game during the 2021 season. The Golden Eagle baseball team won 26 games in 2021, and was on the verge of making the Golden Eagles second ever NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagle baseball program has made the tournament in three straight seasons.

Helgeson also oversaw historic seasons for the men's basketball program in 2018-19 that made their first ever NSIC/Sanford Health Quarterfinal game led by the NSIC's all-time leading scorer Harrison Cleary. The Golden Eagles have seen Reed Hjelle (baseball) and Cleary earn All-American honors during Helgeson's time as Director of Athletics. Hjelle also became the second ever Golden Eagle to be named the All-Region player of the year in 2023, joining his brother, Reed, who did so in 2018.  In addition, at the club level, Casey Kallock (hockey), also earned All-American accolades during the 2021 season. 

All of the athletic programs have continued to see competitive gains on their respective fields of play during Helgeson’s time leading the athletic department. They will look to continue to improve as the program heads into the future with an eye on continual increases in scholarship and athletic facilities.

UMN Crookston athletics has also had a high standard of excellence in the classroom during Helgeson's time as Director of Athletics. The department currently maintains over a 3.2 grade point average overall. Individuals have also had recent academic successes with Katrina Nordick (women's basketball) earning CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2016 and Matt Borowicz (football) and Jesse Jennings (baseball) earning CoSIDA Academic All-America in 2014 and 2015 respectively. In addition, the UMC softball and soccer teams have recently earned Team Academic awards for their accomplishments in the classroom. Additionally, Ben Thoma (baseball) became the first Golden Eagle in any sport to earn the NSIC Elite 18 award, presented to the top scholar-athlete in each sport. 

Under her leadership the Minnesota Crookston athletic department earned the 2014-15 NSIC Sportsmanship Award. The U of M Crookston was voted as the school that best displayed respect, civility, fairness, honesty and responsibility during the calendar year.

Helgeson works in conjunction with UMC Teambackers and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to increase scholarships and fundraising of the athletic department, while also maintaining connections with alumni and donors of the university. She has also worked to establish partnerships with local businesses and Minnesota Crookston athletics.

A native of Erskine, Minn., she received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota in 1995. Stephanie received her Master’s Degree in educational leadership from the University of North Dakota in the summer of 2009. 

She is currently a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Development Directors and NCAA Division II Athletic Administrators and successfully completed the University of Minnesota President’s Emerging Leaders Program in June of 2006.

Helgeson also owns and operates the Ness Cafe in her hometown of Erskine, Minn.
 

Educational Background:

• B.A. in Business Administration with a major in Information  Management from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
• M.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Dakota, 2009