Organized sports at Northern began with football in 1904 and men’s basketball in 1906. Northern’s athletic programs during the early years were run by coaches who were also faculty members and taught courses. In 1922, Charles B. "C.B." Hedgcock was hired to coach all sports and teach classes and became Northern’s first athletic director in 1947. In 1952, Northern awarded the first athletically-related scholarships to football players known as Barracks Boys who were living in Vetville Baracks on campus.
Northern became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1956 and men’s basketball made it to the 1961 NAIA final four. In 1967, Northern became a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). Women’s field hockey was added in 1968 as the first women's varsity team sponsored by Northern, and the number of women's teams expanded throughout the 1970s.
Below are some of the most significant team accomplishments in the history of Northern Michigan athletics.
NCAA National Championships:
1975 – Football (NCAA Division II)
1991 – Men's Ice Hockey (NCAA Division I)
1993 – Women's Volleyball (NCAA Division II)
1994 – Women's Volleyball (NCAA Division II)
In addition, Northern finished the 2001 and 2007 NCAA Skiing Championships with the top Women’s Nordic Ski Team and finished the 2016 NCAA Skiing Championships with the top Men’s Nordic Ski Team. In 1969, the NMU intramural bowling club won the National Collegiate Bowling Championships.
NCAA National Runners-up:
1980 – Men's Ice Hockey (NCAA Division I)
1992 – Women's Swimming & Diving (NCAA Division II)
1992 – Women's Volleyball (NCAA Division II)
1995 – Women's Volleyball (NCAA Division II)
Today, Northern Michigan University sponsors 18 NCAA sports and competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA).
| Women's Sports |
Men's Sports |
| Basketball |
Basketball |
| Cross Country |
Football |
| Golf |
Golf |
| Lacrosse |
Ice Hockey |
| Nordic Skiing |
Nordic Skiing |
| Soccer |
Soccer |
| Swimming & Diving |
Swimming & Diving |
| Indoor Track & Field |
|
| Outdoor Track & Field |
|
| Volleyball |
|
| Wrestling |
|
Below is the list of NMU Athletic Directors.
 |
Richard B. "Rick" Comley
Director of Athletics (1987-2000, 2022-current)
Hockey Coach (1976-2002) |
 |
Forrest L. Karr, J.D.
Director of Athletics (2012-2022) | Head of the U.S. Olympic Education Center / National Training Site | Adjunct Professor for the College of Business |
 |
Kenneth B. "Ken" Godfrey
Director of Athletics (2003-12) | Head of the Department of Recreational Services (1979-2000) | Special Assistant to the President (2000-12) |
 |
Daniel J. "Dan" Spielmann, J.D.
Director of Athletics (2000-03) |
 |
Richard B. "Rick" Comley
Director of Athletics (1987-2000) | Hockey Coach (1976-2002) |
 |
Jack Taylor
Athletic Director (1985-87) |
 |
Gildo A. Canale
Athletic Director (1971-85) | Athletic Trainer, Director of Intramurals, Golf Coach, Assitant Athletic Director and Instructor (1959-71 and 1985-93) |
 |
Roland D. "Rollie" Dotsch
Athletic Director (1969-71) | Football Coach (1966-70) |
 |
Rico N. Zenti, Ph.D.
Athletic Director (1966-69) | Head of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (1966-75) |
 |
Faust L. "Frosty" Ferzacca
Athletic Director (1957-66) | Football Coach (1957-65) |
 |
Cloyd V. "Red" Money
Athletic Director (1956-57) | Head of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (1956-65) | Football Coach (1947-55) and Basketball Coach (1947-56) |
 |
Charles B. "C.B." Hedgcock
Athletic Director (1947-56) | Head of the Physical Education Department (1922-56) | Football Coach (1922-33, 1936-37), Basketball Coach (1922-42, 1945-47) and Track and Field Coach |
