University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Athletics Timeline (1990-1999)
1990
A year after playing into the Sweet Sixteen, Minnesota’s men’s basketball squad returns and advances to the Elite Eight in NCAA action.
1990
As they had twice in the 1940s, the men’s gymnastics team is runner-up at the NCAA Championships.
1990
Marie Roethlisberger wins the Minnesota women’s gymnastics program’s only national title, in uneven bars.
1990
University Aquatic Center opens on campus, built on the site of Memorial Stadium. The facility has hosted eight NCAA Championships and 10 Big Ten Championships.
1991
Marty Morgan becomes the first Gopher NCAA wrestling champion in 14 years, winning the 177-pound title. Morgan is also the first national champ for head coach J Robinson, who would go on to coach three national teams and 14 individual NCAA titlists.
1993
Mariucci Arena is built, named for Minnesota hockey star and hockey coach John Mariucci. At the same time, the old hockey arena is converted into the Sports Pavilion, a multi-sport venue that will house volleyball, women's and men's gymnastics and wrestling.
Women’s soccer becomes a varsity intercollegiate sport.
1993
The men’s basketball team wins the NIT Tournament.
1993
John Roethlisberger (left) wins a third straight NCAA men’s gymnastics all-around title.
1994
Carol Ann Shudlick (right) wins the Wade Trophy as the nation’s women’s basketball’s top senior player.
1995
Minnesota wins its first Big Ten title in women’s soccer in just the third year of conference play.
1996
Mike Hebert (left) becomes head volleyball coach; he’ll lead team to 14 NCAA Tournament berths, eight NCAA Regionals, four Regional finals, three Final Fours and one National Championship match during his 15-year tenure.
P.J. Bogart (right) closes his Minnesota diving career with three national championship titles. The most decorated diver in school history, Bogart wins six national titles and eight Big Ten championships.
1997
Minnesota women’s hockey program forms; three years later, it will win the American Women’s College Hockey Association championship.
1997
Gretchen Hegener swims the 100-yard breaststroke, in a U.S.-record 1:00.32 at the NCAA Championships, for Minnesota’s first swimming national title.
1997
The women’s soccer team advances to the second round in the NCAA Tournament.
1997
Women’s gymnastics reaches the NCAA Championships for the first time.
1998
James McLean becomes Minnesota’s second NCAA men’s golf medalist, taking the title in Albuquerque, N.M.
1999
Minnesota returns to post-season football bowl play at the Sun Bowl under coach Glen Mason, launching a run of seven bowl games in eight years.
1999
Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium opens; it will host the 2007 Big Ten Tournament and first two rounds of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
1999
Women’s swimming and diving wins its first Big Ten championship under head coach Jean Freeman.
1999
Tim Hartung becomes Minnesota’s first two-time NCAA wrestling champion in 50 years.