The University of North Dakota competes in the Summit League and transitioned to Division I in 2012. The Fighting Hawks have been building their basketball program at the Division I level after decades of success in Division II.
The Fighting Hawks name was adopted in 2015 after the university retired the controversial "Fighting Sioux" nickname. Students voted to embrace the hawk, a bird of prey common in North Dakota.
The transition to full Division I status and eligibility for the NCAA Tournament, marking a new era for the Grand Forks program.
The debate over retiring the "Fighting Sioux" nickname lasted over a decade and involved the NCAA, the North Dakota legislature, and local tribal nations before "Fighting Hawks" was adopted in 2015.
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks compete in the Summit League and hold an all-time record of 389–349 (.527 winning percentage) across 34 recorded seasons dating back to 1904-05.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 18-17 | 10-6 (Summit) | Paul Sather | |
| 2024-25 | 12-21 | 5-11 (Summit) | Paul Sather | |
| 2023-24 | 18-14 | 10-6 (Summit) | Paul Sather | |
| 2022-23 | 13-20 | 6-12 (Summit) | Paul Sather | |
| 2021-22 | 6-25 | 2-16 (Summit) | Paul Sather | |
| 2020-21 | 9-17 | 8-8 (Summit) | Paul Sather | |
| 2019-20 | 15-18 | 7-9 (Summit) | Paul Sather | |
| 2018-19 | 12-18 | 6-10 (Summit) | Brian Jones | |
| 2017-18 | 12-20 | 6-12 (Big Sky) | Brian Jones | |
| 2016-17 | 22-10 | 14-4 (Big Sky) | Brian Jones | |
| 2015-16 | 17-16 | 10-8 (Big Sky) | Brian Jones | |
| 2014-15 | 8-22 | 4-14 (Big Sky) | Brian Jones | |
| 2013-14 | 17-17 | 12-8 (Big Sky) | Brian Jones | |
| 2012-13 | 16-17 | 12-8 (Big Sky) | Brian Jones | |
| 2011-12 | 17-15 | 6-4 (GWC) | Brian Jones | |
| 2010-11 | 19-15 | 8-4 (GWC) | Brian Jones | |
| 2009-10 | 8-23 | 5-7 (GWC) | Brian Jones | |
| 1920-21 | 14-1 | Ind | Paul Davis | |
| 1919-20 | 16-0 | Ind | Paul Davis | |
| 1918-19 | 6-2 | Ind | Harry Caldwell | |
| 1917-18 | 15-0 | Ind | Thomas Gill | |
| 1916-17 | 8-1 | Ind | Thomas Gill | |
| 1915-16 | 6-5 | Ind | Thomas Gill | |
| 1914-15 | 7-4 | Ind | Thomas Gill | |
| 1913-14 | 10-7 | Ind | Fred Archer | |
| 1912-13 | 6-4 | Ind | Charles Armstrong | |
| 1911-12 | 13-2 | Ind | David Dunlap | |
| 1910-11 | 6-7 | Ind | David Dunlap | |
| 1909-10 | 4-6 | Ind | David Dunlap | |
| 1908-09 | 10-2 | Ind | David Dunlap | |
| 1907-08 | 7-0 | Ind | George Sweetland | |
| 1906-07 | 7-0 | Ind | George Sweetland | |
| 1905-06 | 8-1 | Ind | George Sweetland | |
| 1904-05 | 7-2 | Ind | George Sweetland |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|