BURNSVILLE, MN –Legendary University of Mary track & field coach Mike Thorson will be enshrined in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Hall of Fame as a member of the NSIC's Class of 2026.
 
Thorson is one of eight former coaches and scholar-athletes set for induction into the Northern Sun Hall of Fame on Tuesday, July 7. Others in the NSIC 2026 Hall of Fame class include: Sheena Devine, Bemidji State University; Kayla Koenecke, Concordia University, St. Paul; Kevin Mulder, Minnesota State University Moorhead; Michelle (Bruns) Kirk, Southwest Minnesota State University; Heather Miller-Koch, St. Cloud State University; Troy Pribnow, Wayne State College; and Tom Sawyer, Winona State University.
Thorson built one of the premier track and field programs in the NSIC, leading UMary to sustained conference and national success during his tenure as head coach of both the men's and women's programs.
 
During his time in the NSIC from 2006 to 2017, Thorson guided the Marauders to 14 conference team championships and earned 14 NSIC Coach of the Year honors. His teams produced more than 130 NCAA Division II All-Americans and seven national champions, while also claiming 139 individual and relay conference titles. Under his leadership, University of Mary student-athletes earned 10 NSIC Athlete of the Year honors and more than 200 NSIC All-Academic selections.
 
Thorson's impact extended beyond the NSIC, as he previously built nationally competitive programs at the NAIA level. Over his career, he coached 17 individual national champions and more than 160 NAIA All-Americans, earning NAIA National Coach of the Year honors three times. His teams consistently competed at the highest level, with multiple top-five national finishes.
 
Thorson began his career at the University of Mary in 1994 and helped elevate the program into a conference, regional and national contender. His teams were also active in campus and community service, reflecting his commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the track.
 
Mike is retired and he and his wife, Ann, reside in Bismarck, North Dakota. They have five children and 12 grandchildren.
 
Thorson will become the third NSIC Hall of Fame member from UMary. National champions Jennifer (Agnew) Keller and Melissa (Agnew) Blanchard were inducted in 2025 and both competed for Thorson.
 
The 2026 Northern Sun Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Tuesday, July 7, will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington-Minneapolis South as part of the annual NSIC Summer Kickoff event. A social will begin at 5:30 pm with the ceremony to follow at 6:00 pm. Reserve your tickets for the banquet by visiting https://northernsun.org/HOFBanquet and filling out the online Hall of Fame Banquet Registration Form. Registrations are due no later than July 1, as space is limited for this event.
 
Founded in 1986, the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC - the former men's conference) Hall of Fame was established to recognize and honor those who made significant contributions to the conference, to create favorable publicity and public relations for the league and to help preserve the history of the NIC, its member institutions, student-athletes, and other significant individuals affiliated with the league. For the first two inductions (1986 and 1990) each selection hailed from the NIC. In 1992, the Northern Sun Conference (NSC - the former women's conference) and the NIC merged, creating the current Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). After annual inductions since 2000, the NSIC Hall of Fame will now boast over 238 members and three teams.
 
Each NSIC institution (who has been a league member for at least ten years) is asked to submit one candidate for consideration for induction into the Hall of Fame. Each of the candidates are derived from individuals who have been affiliated with the NSIC, NIC, NSC and their member institutions.
 
In order to be eligible for the NSIC Hall of Fame, candidates must have made their contributions in one of the following areas: 1) former student-athletes, 2) administrator/coach, 3) official/supervisor/coordinator, 4) contributor/supporter, or 5) team. The conference provides two plaques; one of which will go to the inductee and one to the institution represented.  A history of each inductee will be kept in the NSIC Office and each institution will prominently display the plaques of their respective NSIC Hall of Fame inductees.
 
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