RAPID CITY, SD (July 3, 2025) – Juggling the demands of a STEM degree and the intensity of college athletics is no easy feat—excelling at both is even rarer. But the South Dakota Mines Hardrocker Football team has shown that excellence on the field and in the classroom can go hand in hand.
Today, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its top academic teams across the league's 22 sponsored sports, and for the first time ever, Hardrocker football has earned the prestigious Brechler Award.
The team, under the guidance of head coach Charlie Flohr, is the third Hardrocker team to earn the recognition since the award was established in 2012-2013.
"Receiving the 2024-2025 Brechler Award means a lot to us as a program and showcases the hard work and commitment our players put in this year to be the best they could be in the classroom," Flohr said. "I am so proud of how our student-athletes represent our institution on the field, but most importantly in the classroom. I would like to thank our student-athletes, our coaches, academic support staff, and everyone involved who motivates our players and helped our program achieve this award. "
Hardrocker football was one of eight programs to win their first Brechler Award. Other teams included: Colorado School of Mines men's cross country, CSU Pueblo women's cross country, Chadron State women's golf, Westminster women's soccer, Colorado Mesa men's outdoor track and field, Chadron State women's outdoor track and field, and Texas Woman's women's wrestling.
"This recognition speaks volumes about the type of student-athletes we have at South Dakota Mines," said David Crum, Mines athletic director. "Earning the Bechler award is a testament to the drive, discipline and character of our players. We're incredibly proud of what they've accomplished, and this recognition reinforces what it means to be a Hardrocker: excellence in all arenas."
Established in 2012-13, the Brechler Awards recognize the conference's top team grade point average (GPA) in each of its 22 sports. Grades were used from the 2023-24 academic year. All student-athletes who were on the institution's NCAA eligibility list were included in the teams' GPA calculation. The team GPA is calculated by dividing the total quality points for each semester by the total number of credits. Team GPAs were submitted to the RMAC Office by each institution's compliance administrator.
The award is named after Paul W. Brechler, a former RMAC Commissioner (1976-1990), who, along with his wife Wanda, were the first inductees into the RMAC Hall of Fame. Paul was also the former athletic director of the University of Iowa and served as Commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
The Brechler Award winners will be recognized during the 2025 RMAC Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet on Thursday, July 10, at the Colorado Springs Marriott. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the induction and awards ceremony will follow promptly at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at RMACSports.org/Tickets.
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About South Dakota Mines
Founded in 1885, South Dakota Mines is one of the nation's leading engineering, science and technology universities. South Dakota Mines offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and a best-in-class education at an affordable price. The university enrolls 2,579 students with an average class size of 24. The South Dakota Mines placement rate for graduates is 97 percent, with an average starting salary of $77,067. For these reasons, South Dakota Mines is ranked among the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment. Find us online at www.sdsmt.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat.
About South Dakota Mines Athletics
South Dakota Mines is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah.
About the RMAC The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
