University of North Dakota Athletics

Erik Martinson was named UND's Deputy Director of Athletics/COO in the summer of 2022 after spending the previous three years as the Associate AD for operations. Prior to that, Martinson served five years as in the UND Athletics business office.

In his current role, Martinson oversees internal and external facility management and capital projects for the athletics department, game operations for all home competitions, serves on senior staff and is the sport administrator for men’s hockey, men’s golf and men's and women's track & field./cross country.

Martinson has also served on various committees during his time, including most recently being named as the NCHC's representative to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Rules Subcommittee in 2025. He was also on the Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee from September 2020 through August 2024, serving as the chair in his final year.

As director of facilities and game operations, Martinson was involved in the building, opening and management of the $19.5 million, 150,000 square foot Frederick "Fritz" Pollard Jr. Athletic Center, along with overseeing all home event operations. He has also served as the lead administrator in hosting five NCAA men’s ice hockey regionals in Fargo (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023) as well as Sioux Falls in 2018.

During his time in the business office, Martinson was directly involved with day-to-day business operations, including maintaining budgets and financials for athletics teams and accompanying administration, sport oversight of creating and monitoring budgets and financial operations, accounts payable and accounts receivable and cash functions, as well as team trip travel and reconciliation with credit cards for travel and supplies.

Martinson began his tenure as undergraduate intern in the fall 2005 and was promoted to full time as an accounting technician in the spring of 2009. He is a 2011 graduate of UND.

Martinson graduated from Roseau (Minn.) High School, where he lettered in football, hockey and baseball. His wife, Natalie, is the former head women's golf coach at UND. Their family includes their two daughters, Blair and Ellie