Strong, noble, fierce and smart, the bear is universally feared and respected. That's why a bear was the right choice when Concordia University, St. Paul adopted the "Golden Bears" as the new athletics nickname as part of its move to NCAA Division II.

Chosen from more than 100 nicknames submitted by students, faculty & staff and alumni, Golden Bears was chosen for its associations with our school and the state of Minnesota. Golden symbolizes excellence and relates to Concordia's school colors (navy blue and Vegas gold). The bear itself is an awe-inspiring creature, powerful and intelligent with a keen ability to learn and adapt. Thus the Golden Bear is the ideal mascot for a university striving for academic and athletic excellence.

While it was exciting for the University to welcome the furry new mascot to campus, we would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge 75 years of proud competition under the "Concordia Comets" nickname. Although the nickname has been retired, the light of the Comets and 75 years of athletic achievement still shines brightly, and lives on as the official mascot's name. "Comet the Golden Bear" can be seen at various athletic and campus functions throughout the year, energizing the students, faculty & staff, alumni and fans/supporters of Golden Bear athletics.

The Comet history and tradition will always be a valuable part of Concordia athletics as we strive for continued academic and athletic excellence at the Division II level.

Below is a breakdown of Concordia's achievements, listing team accomplishments on and off the court/field along with academic and athletic all-Americans.

TEAM HONORS
NCAA Division II National Championships
2007 - Volleyball
2008 - Volleyball
2009 - Volleyball

NCAA Division II National Runners-Up
2003 - Volleyball

NCAA Elite Eight appearances (Regional Champions; by year)
2003 - Volleyball
2005 - Softball
2005 - Volleyball
2007 - Volleyball
2008 - Volleyball
2008-09 - Women's Golf (DII Championships, 12 teams)
2009 - Volleyball

NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances (Regional Championship game/match; by year)
2003 - Volleyball
2004 - Volleyball
2004 - Softball
2004-05 - Women's Basketball
2005 - Softball
2005 - Volleyball
2006 - Softball
2006 - Volleyball
2007 - Volleyball
2008 - Volleyball
2009 - Volleyball
2009-10 - Women's Basketball

NCAA Tournament Appearances (by year)
2002-03 - Women's Basketball
2003 - Volleyball (region host)
2003-04 - Women's Basketball (region host)
2004 - Softball
2004 - Volleyball (region host)
2004-05 - Women's Basketball
2005 - Softball
2005 - Volleyball (region host)
2005-06 - Women's Basketball
2006 - Softball
2006 - Volleyball (region host)
2006-07 - Women's Basketball
2007 - Volleyball
2007-08 - Women's Basketball
2008 - Baseball
2008 - Volleyball (region host, Nationals host)
2008-09 - Women's Golf
2009 - Volleyball (region host, Nationals host)
2009-10 - Women's Basketball
2009-10 - Women's Golf
2009-10 - Men's Golf
2010 - Softball

NSIC Championships (Regular Season; by sport)
Fall Season
Football - 2003, 2005
Volleyball - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Winter Season
Women's Basketball - 2003-04, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10
Spring Season
Softball - 2001
Women's Golf - 2008-09

NSIC Tournament Championships (by sport)
Fall Season
Volleyball - 2004, 2005, 2006
Winter Season
Women's Basketball - 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08
Spring Season
Baseball - 2003*, 2008
Softball - 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006
* - Tournament Champion determined league champion in baseball from 2002-06

Team Academic Honors (by sport)
Fall Season
Cross Country: (men's and women's)
2005 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team (women #8)
2006 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team (men #1, women #39)
2007 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team (men #9, women #35)
2008 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team (women)
Volleyball:
2003-04 Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award
2004-05 Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award
2005-06 Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award
2006-07 Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award - top-ranked team GPA in Division II (3.69)
2007-08 AVCA Team Academic Award
2009-10 AVCA Team Academic Award
Women's Soccer:
2002 NSCAA Silver Team Ethics Award
2003 NSCAA Team Academic Award
2004 NSCAA Team Academic Award
2004 NSCAA Silver Team Ethics Award
2005 NSCAA Silver Team Ethics Award
2009 NSCAA Team Academic Award

Winter Season
Women's Basketball:
2005-06 WBCA Division II Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll (#11)

Spring Season
Track & Field: (men's & women's, indoor/outdoor)
2006 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team
2007 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team (men #14, women #31)
2008 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team (women #57)
2009 USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team (women #64)
Women's Golf:
2008-09 NGCA All-Scholar Team GPA Award (#6)
2009-10 NGCA All-Scholar Team GPA Award (#12)

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
NCAA Individual Participants (by year)
2002-03
Janet Brownawell, Outdoor Track & Field, 3000m Steeplechase

2003-04
Emily Shoop, Outdoor Track & Field, 1500m Run

2004-05
Jennie Eyberg, Women's Golf

2005-06
Kyle Warren, Outdoor Track & Field, 800m Run

2006-07
Kelly Godwin, Women's Golf*
Kawaskii Bacon, Outdoor Track & Field, 100m Dash, 200m Dash

2007-08
Kyle Lewis, Men's Golf
Jacquelyn Hauser, Women's Golf

2008-09
Kawaskii Bacon, Indoor Track & Field, 60m Dash
Diahn Zeon, Indoor Track & Field, Long Jump

2009-10
John Pimental, Indoor Track & Field, Pentathlon
* - advanced to Nationals

All-Americans (by year)
2003-04
Tia Lindberg, AVCA Second Team, Volleyball

2004-05
Joy Wubben, AVCA First Team, Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Tia Lindberg, AVCA Second Team, Volleyball
Cailin Terhaar, AVCA Third Team, Volleyball
Kristen Schmidt, NFCA Second Team, Softball

2005-06
Jessica Lucia, AVCA First Team, Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Cailin Terhaar, AVCA First Team, Daktronics Second Team, Volleyball
Kelsey Kyro, AVCA Third Team, Volleyball
Eric Power, Don Hansen's Football Gazette, Second Team, Football

2006-07
Kelsey Kyro, AVCA First Team, Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Jessica Lucia, AVCA First Team, Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Maggie McNamara, AVCA National Freshman of the Year, AVCA Second Team, Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Matt Borman, Daktronics First Team; NBCWA Second Team, Baseball

2007-08
Maggie McNamara, AVCA First Team; Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Maria Steinhagen, AVCA Third Team, Volleyball
Brady Starkey, AVCA Division II Coach of the Year, Volleyball
Emily Palkert, AVCA National Freshman of the Year, Volleyball
Amanda Behnke, Women's Division II Bulletin, Fourth Team, Women's Basketball

2008-09
Maggie McNamara, AVCA National Player of the Year, AVCA & Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Emily Palkert, AVCA First Team, Daktronics Second Team, Volleyball
Maria Steinhagen, AVCA Second Team, Volleyball
Whitney Meierotto, AVCA Second Team, Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Mary Slinger, AVCA Second Team, Volleyball
Jake Schmidt, ABCA Third Team, Baseball

2009-10
Maggie McNamara, AVCA & Daktronics National Player of the Year, AVCA & Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Emily Palkert, AVCA First Team, Daktronics First Team, Volleyball
Mary Slinger, AVCA First Team, Daktronics Second Team, Volleyball
Sadie Kessler, AVCA Second Team, Daktronics Second Team, Volleyball
Megan Carlson, AVCA Second Team, Daktronics Third Team, Volleyball
Brenden Furrow, Daktronics First Team, Baseball
Anna Bjorlin, NFCA Third Team, Softball

Academic All-Americans
ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA All-Americans
2004-05
Emily Shoop, Second Team, Track & Field/Cross Country

2005-06
Lindsay Hartleben, Second Team, Women's Soccer
Jessica Lucia, Second Team, Volleyball
Kristen Schmidt, Second Team, Softball

2006-07
Brad Scherer, Second Team, Football
Jessica Lucia, First Team, Volleyball
Ashley Olson, Second Team, Volleyball
Kelsey Kyro, Third Team, Volleyball
Katie LaViolette, Third Team, Women's Basketball
Kyle Warren, First Team, Track & Field
Kyle Warren, First Team, Cross Country

2007-08
Katie LaViolette, Second Team, Women's Basketball

2008-09
Maria Steinhagen, First Team, Volleyball
Mary Slinger, Third Team, Volleyball

2009-10
Mary Slinger, First Team, Volleyball
Maggie McNamara, Second Team, Volleyball
Anna Bjorlin, Third Team, Softball

USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic
2006
Kyle Warren (Track & Field/Cross Country)
2007
Kyle Warren (Track & Field/Cross Country)
2008
Katie Johnson (Track & Field)
2009
Adam LeMay (Track & Field)
John Pimental (Track & Field)