Athletics
UND's athletic teams currently bear the name of the Fighting Sioux. The NCAA has demanded that the name be changed claiming it is insensitive to native Americans. Although the official school colors of UND are green and pink, this color combination is rarely employed outside of official or ceremonial applications. The colors are representative of North Dakota's state flower, the Wild Prairie Rose. The official athletic teams colors of UND are Green and White adopted in the 1920s.
UND is currently in Division I. The hockey teams play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and all other teams currently play in the Big Sky Conference.
The men's ice hockey team has won seven national championships and has been runner-up five times. Both the men's and women's ice hockey teams play at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. The football team won the Division II national championship in 2001 and was the runner-up in 2003, and play at the Alerus Center. The basketball teams play in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The women's team has won three national championships in 1997, 1998, and 1999 and was runner-up in 2001. A notable UND athletic alumnus is NBA coach and former player Phil Jackson. Many UND alumni have played in the NHL including: New Jersey Devils winger Zach Parise and center Travis Zajac, Los Angeles Kings defensemen Matt Greene and Mike Commodore, Chicago Blackhawks forward and captain Jonathan Toews, former NHL goalie Ed Belfour, and St. Louis Blues center TJ Oshie.
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