Duluth, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Duluth announced today that the press box at AMSOIL Arena will be named after former Bulldog Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Bob Nygaard. UMD will honor Nygaard on Saturday, January 7th prior to the men's hockey game vs. Bemidji State with a pregame ceremony in the press box with family and friends.
"Having something named after you is an ultimate honor and I am deeply touched by this," said Nygaard. "The AMSOIL Arena press box will always have a special place in my heart -- it was my home away from home for so many winter weekends. I can't thank UMD athletics enough for this extremely kind gesture."
One of the longest serving members in Bulldog athletic staff history, Nygaard oversaw all media and public relations efforts for UMD athletics. That included the day-to-day production and operations of the Bulldogs' website (umdbulldogs.com), as well as social media strategy and historical statistics. Nygaard also coordinated promotional campaigns that culminated in a NCAA-record six Bulldogs (Scott Perunovich in 2020, Jack Connolly in 2012, Junior Lessard in 2004, Chris Marinuci in 1994, Bill Watson in 1985 and Tom Kurvers in 1984) winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's most outstanding players. He joined the Bulldog staff as an assistant sports information director in September 1983 and assumed the sports information director post later that year. He was promoted to assistant athletic director for communications in January 2014 until May of 2020.
"Bob's imprint on Bulldog athletics can be seen each and every day," said Brian Nystrom, deputy director of athletics. "His impact was seen not only within the department and its student-athletes, but as well as in the local community. This is a well deserved honor."
A native of Duluth, Nygaard was instrumental in community service-related activities during his nearly four decades at UMD. In 2003, he founded the Shjon Podein Community Award which is presented each year to a UMD student-athlete who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the field of play and has made noteworthy humanitarian contributions to the Duluth and university communities. In addition, Nygaard was the initiator of the UMD Team Impact Award (given annually since 2016-17 to the Bulldog team that averages the most community service hours per player). He also spearheaded the school's Adopt-A-Highway, "Bulldogs Not Bullies" (with the tennis Bulldogs), "Reading with Champions", "Adopt-A-School" programs and the annual UMD men's hockey Mentor Duluth Appreciation Night for 21 years.
In 2004, he received the Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award from CoSIDA for his civic involvement and accomplishments outside the sports information office. Nygaard was also the recipient of a UMD Outstanding Service Award in both 2003-04 (for his exemplary work with the 2003 NCAA Women's Hockey Frozen Four event) and 2004-05 (for his service to the university). In the summer of 2015, he was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame at its annual convention in Orlando, Fla.
Nygaard, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism, spent two years working in the UMD sports information office as a student assistant before transferring to UWEC. He currently serves as the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association's executive director, a position he's held since July 2020.
A permanent plaque and signage will be installed outside the press box, located on the main concourse of AMSOIL Arena.
