For Immediate Release
Friday, April 12, 2024
NSIC Media Relations

BURNSVILLE, Minn.- Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Commissioner Erin Lind is excited to announce the hiring of Taytum Rhoades as NSIC Assistant Commissioner for Operations.  Rhoades will officially begin her duties on June 24.

“Taytum rose to the top of an extremely competitive applicant pool,” stated Lind. “As a former NSIC intern, we were able to see firsthand the skills Taytum has developed as an NSIC Division II student-athlete. Her success in the classroom, grit on the court, and engagement with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, at both a campus and conference level, shined brightly during her collegiate career. I am confident that her success will transition seamlessly to her role serving our membership.”

Rhoades is completing her bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in psychology at the University of Minnesota Duluth where she was a standout on the women’s basketball team, including being named All-NSIC first team this past season.  Rhoades has served as a marketing intern for the UMD athletic department for the past year, coordinating game-day activities.  She served as the NSIC summer intern in 2022 assisting with championship preparation and worked closely with internal and external constituents along with the leagues coaching groups. In 2023, she served in the recruiting internship program at Dexian, where she participated in a training program that interacted with senior level leadership and support mentors.  In the summer of 2020, she was a lead teacher at the Nativity of Mary Church in Bloomington, Minnesota. There she worked with children ages 5-9, making weekly plans and incorporating activities that engaged all age ranges. 

“I am beyond grateful and excited to serve as the NSIC Assistant Commissioner for Operations. I’m truly thankful that Commissioner Lind and her staff have given me an opportunity to work alongside them. I look forward to taking on this role and positively impacting the student-athlete experience while I continue representing the Northern Sun, now from a new perspective,” said Rhoades.

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Rhoades is a 2019 graduate from Minnehaha Academy where she was named state tournament MVP in 2019 after leading the Redhawks to the state title.  At UMD she scored 966 points over 142 games, with 522 rebounds and 363 assists.  A starter the final two years of her career, Rhoades was part of three NSIC regular season championship teams, four North Division championship teams, and three NSIC Tournament Championships. She was also a key member of the 2023 NCAA Division II National Finalist team.  

What others are saying about Rhoades
Forrest Karr, Director of Athletics, University of Minnesota Duluth
“Taytum is a leader on and off the court. She had an important role in starting the UMD department of athletics diversity, equity and inclusion council, and has been an exceptional intern in our department. Taytum is a kind and dependable person and a thoughtful communicator. She will be a great addition to the talented and hard-working NSIC staff.”  

Mandy Pearson, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, University of Minnesota Duluth
“The Northern Sun is adding an absolutely amazing person to their staff! Taytum has been instrumental in our success as a program for the last five years. I could not be more proud of the way she has conducted herself, the way she helped lead our team and the way she treated those around her. She is a wonderful human being and has an incredible work ethic! Our league is very lucky that we get to keep her involved in athletics; she will continue to represent the NSIC in the utmost professional way! Congrats Northern Sun and Taytum Rhoades!“

Karen Stromme, Senior Associate Athletic Director(Retired), University of Minnesota Duluth
“From the moment Taytum arrived on our campus, she carried herself with confidence and commitment.  She has the unique ability to be a team player while also presenting her unique and personal style.  I know she will bring her passion for athletics to the next chapter with the NSIC.  She is a great hire!”

Fr. Nathan LaLiberte, Pastor at Nativity of Mary Catholic Church
“Taytum is an extremely energetic and inspiring woman. When present at Nativity of Mary School and Parish she was consistently found to be a great resource of support as well as independent initiative.  I am so incredibly excited to hear of her hiring at the NSIC as I have no doubt that she will be an immense asset to their work environment and overall mission.”

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 15-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 113 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.