Outstanding Alumni - 2007
Dan Ninham
Bemidji State University Graduate 1983 & 1992
Dan Ninham earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Bemidji State University in 1983 and returned for his Masters degree in physical education, which he completed in 1992. Dan has spent his career in education, first at Wingate High School in New Mexico, followed by eight years at Oneida Tribal School in Wisconsin. After completing his Masters, Dan stayed in Bemidji and began his tenure at Bemidji Middle School, where he continues to teach physical education. Recognizing the importance of continuing education, Dan spent two years in the early 2000's working on his Ph.D. at the University of Northern Colorado, where he is ABD. While Dan has excelled as a classroom instructor, some of his greatest accomplishments have come on the basketball court, where he has coached high school basketball for 13 years. He has been honored as Minnesota Basketball Class A Coach of the year the past three years. In 2005, he also was honored as the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Class A Coach of the Year, the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Class A Coach of the Year and the Minnesota Breakdown Magazine State Coach of the Year. He received the Native American Student Services Achievement in Excellence award from the University of Colorado in both 2001 and 2002 and was a Bush Leadership Fellow in 2000. In 1998 he received the Minnesota Middle Level Physical Education Teacher of the Year and was named Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Dan serves as a member of numerous professional and coaching organizations, is a member of the Bemidji State University American Indian Alumni Chapter, and has served as the State Coordinator of the Minnesota Hoops for Heart with the American Heart Association. He currently serves as a volunteer for the Leech Lake Area Boys and Girls Club. Dan and his wife, Susan '00, live in Bemidji and have three children Byron, Lydia and Simone.