NSIC Mission

The Mission of the NSIC is to promote, conduct and regulate competitive sports programs which will assist student-athletes in their successful athletic, academic and personal development.

NSIC Headquarters

NSIC Address

161 St. Anthony Ave., Suite 920
St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-288-4015
Fax: 651-224-8583

Administration Directory

Butch Raymond - NSIC CommissionerButch Raymond

NSIC Commissioner

Contact Butch
Work: (651) 288-4015
Fax: (651) 224-8583
raymond@northernsun.org

Butch Raymond, the fourth full-time commissioner in the history of the league, begins his fifth year at the NSIC.

Raymond came to the NSIC from Southwest Minnesota State University, where he served as director of athletics and associate director of development since 1997. While at Southwest Minnesota State, Raymond was responsible for all activities, budgeting, fund raising, marketing and promotions, compliance and day-to-day operations of 10 varsity sports as well as the overall athletics department. Raymond was also chair of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee.

During Raymond’s time at Southwest Minnesota State, the Mustang athletics department enjoyed prosperity on and off the playing field. SMSU athletic teams won 11 Northern Sun Conference Championships, with 10 of the championships coming in the last four years. Seven SMSU athletic teams qualified for NCAA post-season play in the last four years, including the 2001 SMSU men’s basketball team which captured the North Central Region title and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. In the classroom, SMSU student-athletes recorded program-high grade point averages during Raymond’s tenure.

Prior to his stay at Southwest Minnesota State, Raymond was the men’s basketball coach at St. Cloud State University. In addition to managing the operations of the men’s basketball program, Raymond served as an associate professor in the school of health, physical education and recreation. The all-time winningest coach in St. Cloud State history (231-141), Raymond led his team to the North Central Conference Championship in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He was inducted into the St. Cloud State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Raymond also served as men’s basketball coach and coordinator of intercollegiate athletics at Mankato State University. He coached the basketball team from 1973-84, earning one North Central Conference and one Northern Intercollegiate Conference title. From 1978-82, Raymond coordinated all efforts for the men’s and women’s athletics departments. In addition, he was an associate professor in the school of health, physical education and recreation.

A graduate of Augsburg College, Raymond served as men’s basketball coach and assistant professor at his Alma Mater from 1969-1973. He also held the position of boys basketball coach at Fairmont and Minneapolis Southwest high schools. Raymond earned his master’s degree from Mankato State. Raymond and wife, Linnea, reside in Eagan, Minn.

Erin Lind - NSIC Associate CommissionerErin Lind

NSIC Associate Commissioner / SWA

Contact Erin
Work: (651) 288-4016
Fax: (651) 224-8583
lind@northernsun.org

Erin Lind enters her eighth year with the NSIC as Associate Commissioner/SWA. Lind also assumed NSIC Interim Commissioner duties during the 2003-04 season.

A 2001 graduate of Southwest State University in Marshall, Minn., Lind earned her bachelor’s degree in sports management with minors in business management and coaching. She completed her master’s of education in sports management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2003.

Lind’s duties include assisting with the day-to-day operations of the conference office, including emphasis on the conference’s budget, coaches’ certification, student-athlete medical hardships and the National Letter of Intent program. Lind also assists the conference’s Coordinators of Officials and serves as the liaison to the NSIC Student Athlete Advisory Committee. During her tenure at the NSIC Lind has served on the Local Organizing Committee for the 2002 NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four, the 2003 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional Championship and 2004 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball First and Second Rounds. She is also active on the national scene as a member of the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Advisory Committees for women’s basketball, volleyball and softball. She also as served on men’s and women’s tennis in the past.

Known as Erin Frye in her playing days, Lind is very familiar with the NSIC. A starter on Southwest State’s women’s basketball team from 1998 to 2001, Lind was a first-team All-NSIC selection and a member of the NSIC All-Tournament Team as a junior (1999-00) as was honorable mention all-conference as a senior (2000-01). She ended her career as the school’s seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,380 points. Lind helped lead the Mustangs to the 2000-01 conference championship and a first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. During the 2000-01 season, SMSU rolled off 20 consecutive victories and achieved 17-1 and 25-5 conference and overall records, respectively. Erin and her husband, Matt, have a son Jacob and reside in Prior Lake, Minn.

Nick Kornder - NSIC Assistant CommissionerNick Kornder

Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations

Contact Nick
Work/Cell: (651) 288-4017
Fax: (651) 224-8583
Kornder@northernsun.org

Nick Kornder was hired as the NSIC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations in June of 2006. Kornder manages the conference media and sports information functions including compiling statistical data, developing media guides and publications, maintaining the conference web site, and producing radio and television programming.

A native of Belle Plaine, Minn., Kornder joins the NSIC staff following two years as the media relations director at Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen, S.D. Prior to NSU, Kornder was the sports information director at the University of Minnesota, Crookston for two and a half years. Kornder is a 2001 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Crookston where he played football for the Golden Eagles while earning his degree in Sports Recreation Management. Kornder was also an intern for the NSIC in the summer of 2001. Kornder resides in Apple Valley, Minn.

Melissa Braaten - NSIC InternMelissa Braaten

NSIC Assistant Commissioner for Complaince

Contact Mel
Work: (651) 222-0092
Fax: (651) 224-8583
Braaten@northernsun.org

Melissa Braaten joined the NSIC Office in the spring of 2007 and work as the office's full-time intern before being hired on April 11, 2008 as the Assistant Commissioner for Complaince. Her duties include overseeing NSIC Compliance, the NSIC Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and administrating NSIC Championship events. Braaten, a native of Stillwater, Minn., attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. where she played basketball for legendary coach Curt Fredrickson and graduated with a degree in Fitness Management and Sports Marketing with a minor in Coaching. Braaten, a 2002 graduate of Stillwater High School, currently reside in Vadnais Heights, Minn.

Mike NevinMike Nevin

Football Officials Coordinator

Contact Mike
Home: (952) 445-4869
Cell: (612) 730-9431
Address: 922 Minnesota Street, Shakopee, Minnesota 55379
MNevin_FB@yahoo.com

Entering his tenth year as coordinator of NSIC football officiating, Nevin brings substantial college football officiating experience to the NSIC. He worked as a football official for 35 years serving in the Big Ten, World Football League, NSIC, North Central Conference, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Minnesota State High School League. Nevin also worked several Division I bowl games including the 1983 Rose Bowl. Nevin, a graduate of the University of Minnesota and Shakopee High School, is a retired airline captain for Northwest Airlines where he flew for 33 years (1967-2000).

 

Roy G WardRoy G. Ward

Basketball Officials Coordinator

Contact Roy
Home: (651) 777-3973
Home Fax: (651) 777-2591
Address: 2172 Buhl Avenue, North Saint Paul, Minnesota 55109
roygward4@msn.com

The senior member of the officials coordinating staff, Ward is in his 14th year as coordinator of men’s basketball officials and 11th as coordinator of NSIC women’s basketball officiating. He taught health and physical education in North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale School District 622 for 28 years. He also served as District 622 Athletic Director for both North St. Paul High School and Tartan High School for 12 years (1987-00), earning Region 4AA Athletic Director of the Year. Ward ended his 38 years of service in the St. Paul School District, retiring in 2000 from his position as director of athletics at Tartan.

Ward worked as a college basketball official for 28 years in the North Central Conference (NCC) and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and spent 20 years in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC), NSIC and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). In addition, he worked many NAIA national championship tournaments. He retired from gridiron as the longest tenured NCC football official after a 30-year career.

Additionally, Ward is an assigner and evaluator of basketball officials for the Minnesota State High School League Tournament. Active as a coach as well, Ward’s men’s and women’s softball teams have been nationally ranked and competed in many national tournaments.

In 2003, Ward was inducted into the NSIC Hall of Fame. Ward is also a member of the Minnesota Amateur Softball Association (1993) and MSHSL (2001) Halls of Fame. Roy and his wife, Catherine, reside in North St. Paul. They have two children, Keri and Troy, and six grandsons.

Colin KapitanColin Kapitan

Basketball Officials Coordinator

Contact Colin
Home: 605-665-3462       
Cell Phone: 605-661-1729    
Home Fax: 605-665-3462 
Address: 613 Maple, Yankton SD 57078
kapitan@iw.net

Kapitan begins his first season with the NSIC in the 2008-09 academic year. He will work with Roy G. Ward in scheduling men's and women's basketball officials. Kapitan was the Coordinator of Basketball and Football Officials for the North Central Conference for five seasons before joining the NSIC. Kapitan brings a wealth of officiating experience from 40 years of officiating football and basketball.

 

Jose JonesJose Jones

Volleyball Officials Coordinator

Contact Jose
Home Phone (612) 721-6676
jonesjj@isd.net

Jones is in his fifth year as the NSIC Coordinator of Volleyball Officials. Involved in officiating the sport of volleyball for over 20 years, Jones has coached and played on club teams throughout the United States. As an official, he currently works in seven conferences and officiates all levels of volleyball. Working NCAA tournaments since 1987, Jones has had the opportunity to officiate three NCAA Championships and has worked over 15 regional assignments. Additionally, Jones has officiated many international matches and officiates in the US Volleyball Association. He holds National and Jr. National officiating certifications. When he is not officiating, Jones can usually be found teaching volleyball techniques and procedures at officiating clinics or scheduling officials for the annual NIRSA collegiate club volleyball championships.

Shawn VellekShawn Vellek

Baseball Officials Coordinator

Contact Shawn
Work: (612) 928-1764
Home: (651) 298-8446
Address: 8868 Brunell Way, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
s.vellek@comcast.net

Vellek begins his fourth year as the NSIC Coordinator of Baseball Officials. Involved in officiating college baseball for over 20 years, he has umpired in more than 26 states throughout the country. As an official, he worked 12 years on the Big Ten Umpire Staff, and is currently in his third year as a Big Ten Conference Observer. Working Collegiate Post Season Tournaments since 1988, Shawn has umpired 18 Conference and 16 Regional Assignments at the NAIA, DIII, DII and DI Level. Vellek also worked 5 National Championships at the NAIA, DIII and DII National Tournaments. Shawn has coordinated Collegiate Umpire Clinics throughout the 5 state area over the years, and currently is the Committee Chair for the NWU Inc. Collegiate Umpires Association. Shawn and his wife Cindy currently reside in Inver Grove Heights, Minn.