Bob Pagel tabbed Carleton's interim Head Football Coach for 2012

Bob Pagel, who completed his seventh season on Knights staff this past fall, was named the 17th head coach in Carleton football history on Jan. 6 following the resignation of Kurt Ramler, who guided the program for six seasons.

Pagel served as the Knights’ special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach during the 2004, 2006 and 2007 campaigns, then was promoted to defensive coordinator in Spring 2008, and that fall the Knights posted a 7-3 record, their most successful season in 16 years. He added associate head coach duties for the 2010 campaign.

Prior to joining the staff at Carleton, Pagel spent five years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD), serving as the Bulldogs’ recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach. He helped orchestrate UMD’s nationally-ranked defense as the team garnered their only bowl game bid in 2001 and earned their first berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2002. Pagel also served stints on the coaching staffs at Wartburg College (Iowa), the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and St. Cloud State University.

UST baseball ranked; former coach Denning honored
St. Thomas baseball is ranked 29th in the 2012 Division III poll by Collegiate Baseball News. The Toms won 20 of their last 25 games last season to share the MIAC title and close 28-18. They are scheduled to play 11 games in the Metrodome. Former UST coach Dennis Denning was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in ceremonies Jan. 6 in Anaheim. Denning is among approximately 30 Division III coaches to get this honor, including past MIAC recipients Max Molock of St. Mary's (1981) and Jim Dimick of St. Olaf (1995). The highly-respected Dimick was instrumental in lobbying his fellow Hall of Famers to support Denning.

Gustavus women's basketball set for 1,000th game in program history
Saturday afternoon’s women’s basketball game on Jan. 14th against Macalester will mark a significant moment for the women's basketball team, as the will be the 1,000th in program history. The Gustie women cagers sport an all-time record of 592-406 to begin the week. On Wednesday, the Gustie women will travel to face the College of Saint Benedict to play game No. 999 and then it will be back home for No. 1,000. The game will also mark the 300th played by the Gustie women on Gus Young Court. Head Coach Mickey Haller's squad is on a six-game win streak and haven’t loss in over a month.

Macalester men get first MIAC win at the Leonard Center

Now in its fourth season in the Leonard Center, Macalester finally claimed its first men’s basketball home conference victory last Monday (Jan. 2) when it beat Carleton 61-59. Justin Wasik (So., Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) drove the lane and scored the game-winning basket with :06 to play. Pierce Peters (Jr., Glenwood, Minn. / Minnewaska Area) had his third straight game with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds, finishing with 26 points, 10 boards, three blocked shots, three assists and three steals to lead the way for the Scots.

Saint Mary's men's hockey: beating the best
Saturday’s 3-2 win over sixth-ranked and defending national champion St. Norbert was the Cardinals’ second win over a nationally ranked team this season. SMU downed then-eighth ranked Milwaukee School of Engineering 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 22. With Saturday’s win over St. Norbert, the Cardinals improved to 3-1 in their last four games and have now played eight one-goal games in their first 13 contests this season.

This year, the MIAC enters its second season with weekly television exposure in the Twin Cities and beyond thanks to GameON! The weekly sports show features "The MIAC Minute" each week, where host/producer Rod Simons sits down for an interview with a coach, student-athlete or administrator from the conference.

Tune in to GameON! every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on MY29 in the Twin Cities. For MIAC fans outsite the metro area, visit the show's home page to watch full archived episodes. Fans are also invited to attend the weekly tapings, which are Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Seven Steakhouse/Sushi/Ultralounge & Skybar on the corner of Hennepin and 7th in downtown Minneapolis.

In addition to the MIAC home page, stay connected to the conference through its various social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.