GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota head football coach Bubba Schweigert announced Tuesday morning that Danny Freund has been elevated to associate head coach. Freund just completed his 12th season at his alma mater and his fourth season as offensive coordinator.

"Danny has contributed a great deal to the University of North Dakota football program as both a former player and the past 12 seasons as a member of the coaching staff," said Coach Schweigert. "His positive attitude and enthusiasm lives on infectiously throughout the UND football family. We are very excited to expand his role within the program as associate head coach, this is a well-deserved promotion that will help us continue to elevate Fighting Hawk football."
 
Coach Freund has a wide range of experience, not only serving as the offensive coordinator the past four seasons but also spending time with the wide receivers (2014-18), quarterbacks (2013) and running backs (2011-12). During his time as the offensive coordinator, the Fighting Hawks have reached the FCS Playoffs three out of the last four seasons.

"I am really thankful to Coach Schweigert for this opportunity," Coach Freund said. "It is a credit to our student-athletes, staff and foundation we have set to keep elevating the program. We are eager to open the 2023 season in front of a packed Alerus Center."
 
During his time on staff, Freund has coached seven players that have reached All-America status and three players that have earned MVFC First-Team selections. He has also helped three players (Travis Toivonen, Matt Waletzko and Tyler Hoosman) reach the NFL.

Last season, Freund's offense ranked No. 11 nationally and No. 2 in the MVFC in completion percentage, with UND QB's completing 67.1 percent of their passes. The Hawks were also efficient in the red zone, scoring 91.5 percent of the time when in the red zone, a mark which ranked No. 6 in the country. The Fighting Hawks also chewed up the clock in 2022, averaging 33:23 minutes of offense per game to lead the MVFC and rank No. 8 in the FCS.

Freund coached his first 1,000-yard rusher in a single season last year in Hoosman, who piled up 1,023 yards to rank No. 3 in UND's Division I history. The Northern Iowa transfer had six 100-yard rushing games in 2022, including a season-high 147 yards rushing in the 48-31 win over Missouri State.

Under Freund's direction, quarterback Tommy Schuster has already cemented his place in North Dakota history as the all-time record holder for passing yards in a career (6,819), all-time completions (635) and Division I touchdown passes thrown (44). Schuster is 15 touchdown passes away from breaking the all-time record. His career completion percentage of 66.3 sits No. 3 all-time and he has averaged 20-or-more completions per game in each of the last two seasons.

Prior to his coaching career, Freund went 16-6 as a two-year starter for the Fighting Sioux, finishing his career as the program's most accurate passer. His 68.9 career completion percentage still tops the charts, and he owns the top single-season completion mark of 71.9, which he set as a senior in 2008. He threw for 5,239 yards and 47 touchdowns in his career, which rank No. 5 and No. 3, respectively, on the all-time career lists at UND.

North Dakota will begin the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2, hosting Drake at 3 p.m. inside the Alerus Center.

FREUND FILE
2023 – North Dakota Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
2022 – North Dakota Offensive Coordinator
2021 – North Dakota Offensive Coordinator
2020-21 – North Dakota Offensive Coordinator
2019 – North Dakota Offensive Coordinator
2018 – North Dakota Wide Receivers Coach
2017 – North Dakota Wide Receivers Coach
2016 – North Dakota Wide Receivers Coach
2015 – North Dakota Wide Receivers Coach
2014 – North Dakota Wide Receivers Coach
2013 – North Dakota Quarterbacks Coach
2012 – North Dakota Running Backs Coach
2011 – North Dakota Running Backs Coach