Athletics
Intercollegiate Athletics
North Park University is a member of Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) and adheres to the philosophy and regulations of those bodies. The CCIW is recognized as the premier private college conference in the NCAA Division III with 58 national championships. North Park teams regularly produce All-American and all-conference athletes and compete in post-season play. The University has won five NCAA Division III national championships in men’s basketball.
Intercollegiate athletics fulfill several important functions at North Park. It enables individuals to develop a personal self-discipline toward the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of training. It emphasizes the value of teamwork in working toward common goals. In this light, the experiences of team sports are considered an important training area for the teamwork required in the business and professional world.
On the personal level, varsity athletics give individuals the chance to realize their own potential within the framework of a competitive athletics program. On the campus-wide level, intercollegiate athletics have been a major focal point for unifying the campus community.
Men compete in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, soccer, and volleyball. Women compete in basketball, cross-country, golf, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.
Club Sports
Ultimate Frisbee is the most popular club sport at North Park. Men’s and women’s teams compete on the local, regional, and national levels. Club sport offerings also include a dance team and cheerleading team, all of which are open to both women and men.
Intramural Sports
Competition in intramural sports is open to the entire University community. Competition in badminton, basketball, dodgeball, flag football, indoor soccer, ping-pong, esports, and innebandy (a variation of Swedish floor hockey) is available to both men and women. The coed volleyball program is one of the most popular activities on campus.