GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota President Dr. Andy Armacost announced on Monday, June 29, 2026 that Director of Athletics Bill Chaves has received a contract extension through the 2028-29 season.
 
"I am proud to announce that Bill Chaves will continue to serve as our UND Director of Athletics for at least three more years," said Armacost. "Even with the extraordinary change happening in NCAA sports, Bill has maintained his fundamental commitment to our student-athletes and their development in their sports, in the classroom, and in the community. He has been an important strategic voice both on our campus and across the NCAA and our three conferences. I am proud to have him as a trusted colleague and as a critical leader for our great university."
 
The 2026-27 season will be his ninth full season at North Dakota. In his 19th consecutive year as a Division I athletic director, Chaves is one of the longest continuous tenured AD's in the country and is the longest-tenured AD in the FCS. 
 
"My family and I are incredibly grateful to President Armacost and the University of North Dakota community for their trust and support to continue as the Director of Athletics," said Chaves. "Serving UND over the past eight years has been one of the greatest privileges of our lives. During that time, we have navigated unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and currently what has arguably been the most transformative and tumultuous period in Division I athletics history. Through it all, the resilience, commitment and pride of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and supporters have inspired us every day. UND is a special place, and we are proud to call Grand Forks home. Together, we have achieved significant milestones while continuing to position Fighting Hawks Athletics and UND for long-term success in an ever-changing collegiate landscape. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to continue this work and remain committed to advancing our mission of excellence in competition, the classroom and the community."
 
Since arriving in Grand Forks, Chaves has put his distinct stamp on the present and the future of UND Athletics both on-and-off the field. Chaves has overseen the transition from the Big Sky Conference to the Summit League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, watching the Fighting Hawks capture a conference football title in their first year in the MVFC as well as the men's basketball program reaching the Summit League title game in 2020 and 2025. 
 
The hockey program has captured five NCHC regular season titles since Chaves' arrival and reached the NCAA Frozen Four in 2026 -- snapping a decade-long drought. Most recently, the women's cross country team became the first UND program to win a Summit League Championship in 2025. 
 
Chaves has worked closely with the Alerus Center and Ralph Engelstad Arena to further enhance two of the top facilities in the nation for athletics, inking a new usage agreement through 2030 for both buildings and continually making upgrades towards both student-athlete and fan experiences. 
 
Other facilities have sprung to life under Chaves' tenure, with the construction and opening of The Hyslop at Memorial Village, The Fieldhouse at Memorial Village, the Nodak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center and Albrecht Field as well as upgrades to Bronson Field and Ray Richards Golf Course through a facilities master plan that was launched in 2022. In addition to the facilities master plan, the department also launched a strategic plan in 2019 and released an updated version in 2024 called "UND Athletics LEADS" to align with the vision across the entire campus. 
 
The classroom has shined under Chaves as well, with the department posting a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average in each semester since his arrival and multiple programs continually setting records for GPA. Despite a world-stopping global pandemic in 2020, UND teams continued to thrive in the classroom with the highest departmental GPA since moving to Division I for both the semester (3.520) and academic year (3.474) before shattering those records again (3.540 - semester, 3.528 - academic year) in the 2022-23 year. 
 
In addition to the classroom, community service continues to be a point of pride for UND under Chaves' leadership.  UND has had multiple top-10 finishes in all of Division I including back-to-back (2021-22, 2022-23) first place honors as recorded by Helper Helper.
 
For more information on North Dakota Athletics, follow on social media @UNDsports or visit FightingHawks.com.