SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor
Chad Koenen (1998-2002) was four-year letter winner for the men’s basketball team and was one of the most dominate post players, not only in school history, but in the NSIC as well.
A native of Clara City, Minn., Koenen was named the 1998-99 NSIC Newcomer of the Year during his rookie season and was able to play with his older brothers, Mike and Scott, in leading SMSU to 16 victories and just the eighth winning season in program history.
Koenen would later help SMSU to the top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings, helping the Mustangs win their first-ever league title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in team history in 2001. Koenen averaged 17 points, 8.3 rebounds and shot 62 percent from the field, in earning Most Valuable Player accolades at the 2001 NCAA North Central Region Tournament and helping lead the team to the region championship and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif.
Koenen twice was named first team All-NSIC honoree (1999, 2001) and was also a two-time honorable mention All-NSIC in both 2000 and 2002.
Named to the NSIC All-Tournament team in both 2001 and 2002, as he help lead the Mustangs to a pair of NSIC Tournament championship games, Koenen closed career ranking first in team history in blocked shots (105), third in points (1,471), third in field goals made (595), third free throws made (279), fourth in field goal percentage (53.6) and fifth in rebounds (582). SMSU won 83 games during his four seasons with two 20-plus win seasons.
