The Vikings won their first-ever CCIW Tournament Championship.
The North Park University men’s basketball team experienced a stunning transformation this season. While the Vikings finished seventh in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) standings last season, the 2023 edition told a radically different story, with the team winning their first-ever CCIW Tournament Championship, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1987, and breaking numerous records along the way. At the helm of this transformation is Head Coach Sean Smith, who was named the D3Hoops.com National Coach of the Year and an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in just his first season as a collegiate head coach.
“I am beyond humbled and grateful to be named the National Coach of the Year,” said Smith. “I consider this a staff award and I would not be in this position without (fellow coaches) Ed McGhee, Lou Griffith, and Mark Smith. Also, a big thanks to our team who bought in from day one and led North Park to a historic season!”
Gaining the trust of many returning players alongside an influx of talent from newcomers and transfers, Smith and his staff wasted no time. Under his leadership, the Vikings won 24 games (the most since the 1986–87 season) made 223 three-pointers (4th best in NPU history) and established new records in rebounds, steals, blocks, and turnover margin.
North Park also had plenty of leadership from its established senior class, made up of Jalen and Jordan Boyd, Adam Bulwa, Karl Polk, Jr., and Jacob Williams. This group was further bolstered by three transfer guards who became All-CCIW picks: Shamar Pumphrey, Kolden Vanlandingham, and Marquise Jackson. Vanlandingham secured D3Hoops.com First Team Region 8 honors after averaging 15.9 points per game, including a 24-point performance in the Vikings’ come-from-behind NCAA playoff win at Washington University in St. Louis.
After earning a second-place finish in the CCIW league, North Park beat Carthage College and Elmhurst University in the CCIW Tournament before earning first and second round NCAA Tournament wins over Sewanee University and Washington University in St. Louis, respectively. North Park concluded its storied season in the Sweet Sixteen with a loss against the University of Mount Union.
North Park’s five national championships in men’s basketball (1978, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’87) represent the most among Division III schools. Once more, that championship spirit has been reinvigorated in the Viking faithful.