2014 in sports

By The Associated Press
     Notable developments in 2014 for North Dakota athletic teams:
 
     -The North Dakota State University football team won its third consecutive Football Championship Subdivision title and is on the brink of its fourth straight crown. The Bison in January beat Towson 35-7 in the FCS title game, and in December they were preparing for this season’s championship game next month against Illinois State.
 
     -The NDSU men’s basketball team made its second trip to the NCAA Tournament, upsetting Oklahoma before losing to San Diego State. Coach Saul Phillips in April resigned to take a job at Ohio University.
 
     -The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team made it to the NCAA Frozen Four but lost to Minnesota in the semifinals as it sought its eighth national title.
 
     -The Williston State College hockey team in February won its second straight National Junior College Athletic Association championship. Coach Seamus Gregory resigned in June to take a job at Northland College in Wisconsin.
 
     -Fired Minnesota State, Mankato football coach Todd Hoffner was hired in January as head football coach at Minot State University, then decided in April to return to Mankato after an arbitrator ruled he was wrongfully terminated.