Special Achievement Award
Considered the highest honor of the NDHSAA, the Special Achievement Award dates back to 1968.
| Year | Honoree(s) |
| 2020 | Jim Pettersen, Fargo baseball |
| Barry Holmen, Minot High football, track and field | |
| Greg Ladoucer, Grand Forks Red River tennis | |
| Darrell Anderson, Bismarck High cross country, track and field | |
| Don Larson, NDSU men's track and field and cross country | |
| 2019 | Dick Limke, University of Mary and Minot State basketball |
| NDSU football | |
| Thompson High School athletics, unprecedented Class B success in a school year | |
| 2018 | Mike Thorson, University of Mary track and field |
| Bob Waldal, Beach and Watford City coach | |
| 2017 | Lyne Enget, Stanley-Powers Lake football |
| Rod Oksendahl, Cavalier football and baseball | |
| 2016 | Fargo Shanley girls basketball win record |
| Grand Forks Red River tennis | |
| Dan Imdieke, Linton football and wrestling | |
| Gelaine Orvik, Fargo, coaches association | |
| Carson Wentz, Bismarck and NDSU football | |
| Bob Zimney, Grand Forks track | |
| 2015 | Bishop Ryan High School girls basketball, 3 straight titles & record winning streak |
| Clint Chamberlain, Williston cross country coach | |
| Jim Haussler, Bismarck athletic director | |
| Wayne Herman, Golden Valley rodeo champion | |
| Scott Knowlen, Bismarck wrestling coach | |
| Steve Miller, Bismarck basketball coach | |
| Jordan Shearer, West Fargo wrestling six-time state champion | |
| 2014 | Hank Biesiot, Dickinson State football coach |
| Ryam Brantl, Thompson baseball coach | |
| Fred Fridley, Watford City football coach | |
| Brad Sandy, Harvey football coach | |
| Duane Schwab, Lake Region women's basketball coach | |
| Len Stanley, Washburn girls basketball & baseball coach | |
| 2013 | Amy Anderson, Oxbow golfer |
| Ed Kringstad, Bismarck State wrestling coach and athletic director | |
| Bismarck Century High School Girls (four state titles: volleyball, basketball, soccer, track) | |
| 2012 | Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Vikings football |
| Gene Roebuck, UND & Lake Region women's basketball coach | |
| Mike Forsberg, Bottineau girls basketball coach | |
| Randy Vigen, Central Valley football coach | |
| Tim Wynne, Grand Forks Red River tennis coach | |
| 2011 | John Butterfield, Hettinger basketball coach |
| Arthur "Bucky" Maughan, NDSU wrestling coach | |
| Joe Howell, Lisbon track & football coach | |
| 2010 | Bismarck High School Boys Teams |
| Monique & Jocelyne Lamoureux, Grand Forks hockey | |
| Laura Roesler, Fargo sprinter | |
| 2009 | Ramon Miller, Dickinson State track athlete |
| Jerry Lyon, Minot State tennis coach | |
| Bruce Anderson, Minot High School girls basketball coach | |
| 2008 | Gene Manson, Minot High School boys basketball coach |
| Ken Disher, Minot High School swimming coach | |
| Al Bortke, University of Mary men's basketball coach and athletic director | |
| 2007 | Liza Wischer, Grand Forks Red River High School tennis (129-0 singles career) |
| 2006 | Dickinson Trinity High School (three state titles: football, boys basketball, track) |
| Whitney Carlson, Carrington track (19 career state titles) | |
| Jim Howson, Hatton baseball, boys basketball & football coach | |
| Scott Glasser, Bismarck High School wrestling | |
| 2005 | Derrick Atkins, Dickinson State track |
| Jerry Popp, Bowman track & cross country coach | |
| Dick Schindler, former NDHSAA Executive Secretary | |
| Bill Jansen, Valley City High School track coach | |
| 2004 | Zach Parise, UND hockey |
| Glee Mayer, Minot High School girls track coach | |
| Dwight Leier, Esmond-Maddock High School football coach | |
| Jack Carlson, Dickinson High School track coach | |
| Larimore High School girls basketball, state record winning streak | |
| 2003 | Bob Feeney, Bismarck High School football coach |
| Ron Gadberry, Hillsboro High School wrestling coach | |
| 2002 | Mike Stromberg, UND swimming coach |
| Phil Hansen, Buffalo Bills football | |
| Colette Folstad, West Fargo High School girls basketball coach | |
| Fargo North basketball | |
| 2001 | Briona Reynolds, Grand Forks Red River High School thrower |
| Jerry Wilson, Bismarck Century High School boys basketball coach | |
| 2000 | Minot Bishop Ryan High School (three state titles: football, baseball, golf) |
| Nikki Flynn-Gregg, NDSU softball | |
| Amy Ruley, NDSU women's basketball coach | |
| Kyle Herman, national Junior Olympic decathlon champion | |
| 1999 | Roger Thomas, UND football coach |
| Bob King, NDHSAA Executive Secretary | |
| 1998 | Scott Berry, Mayville State baseball coach |
| Russ Schmeichel, Jamestown High School cross country coach | |
| Jamey Mulske, University of Mary track athlete (8-time national champion) | |
| 1997 | Ed Beyer, Hillsboro High School boys basketball coach |
| Brian Mueller, Hillsboro High School wrestler | |
| Pat Peake, Grand Forks throwing coach/trainer | |
| Dale Brown, LSU men's basketball coach | |
| Tom Lium, Berthold, Harvey, Bismarck, Fargo South coach | |
| 1996 | Sarine Weingarten, Grand Forks Red River High School tennis |
| Lori Roufs & Jen Rademacher, NDSU women's basketball (four career titles) | |
| Scott Owens, Devils Lake wrestler | |
| 1995 | Darin Erstad, Nebraska baseball (Major League Baseball #1 draft pick) |
| Paul O'Leary, longtime PGA golfer from Bismarck who once beat Arnold Palmer | |
| 1994 | Gino Gasparini, UND hockey coach |
| Tanya Fischer, Bowman High School track, cross country, basketball (all-time GBB scoring leader) | |
| Greg Limke, Minot Ryan High School basketball (coached girls and boys state champs in the same year) | |
| 1993 | Dave Gunther, UND men's basketball coach |
| Jack Brown, Jamestown (contributions to ND baseball/athletics) | |
| 1992 | Henry Brenner, ND School for the Deaf basketball coach |
| Corey Ihmels, Williston track (success in HS and at national level) | |
| Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls (achievement and tenure; NBA title) | |
| 1991 | Rollie Greeno, Jamestown College football coach |
| Doug Hanson, NDSU track | |
| 1990 | Dick Karlgaard, Bismarck High School athletic director (athletics longevity & tourney chair) |
| 1989 | Nathan Brenna, Watford City wrestling career |
| Al Bortke, University of Mary coach | |
| Jerry Meyer, Jamestown High School basketball coach | |
| 1988 | Terry and Troy Steiner, Bismarck Century wrestling |
| Bowman High School cross country (team accomplishments) | |
| Virgil Hill, Williston boxer (WBA light heavyweight title) | |
| 1987 | Susan Lautt, Anne Carlsen School athlete |
| 1986 | Paul Syvrud, Jamestown College wrestler |
| Bret Maughan, Fargo North High School wrestler | |
| 1985 | Mike Podolak, Fargo amateur golfer |
| Virgil Hill, Williston-Grand Forks boxer | |
| David Hilliard, Lakota wrestler | |
| 1984 | Joan Hammeren, Bismarck cross country athlete |
| Rolla junior curling rink | |
| Bismarck High School wrestling program | |
| 1983 | Duane Carlson, Minot administrator |
| 1982 | Brad Gjermundson, Marshall rodeo champion |
| Bill Osmon, Valley City State athletic director | |
| Harold "Pinky" Kraft, UND baseball coach | |
| 1981 | Jerry Harter, Fargo American Legion Baseball coach |
| 1980 | Al Meyer, Mayville State (all sports) |
| Dave Christian, UND and US Olympic hockey player | |
| 1979 | Don Barcome, Jr., Grand Forks junior curling rink |
| Jim Simle, Fargo South High School gymnastics coach | |
| 1978 | Sid Cichy, Fargo Shanley High School football coach |
| 1977 | no award |
| 1976 | Robin Huebner, Dickinson gymnast |
| 1975 | no award |
| 1974 | no award |
| 1973 | Steve Blehm, North Dakota School for the Deaf athlete |
| 1972 | Bob LaBonte, Grafton curling rink |
| 1971 | no award |
| 1970 | Art Tallackson, Grafton curling rink |
| 1969 | Fargo American Legion Baseball team |
| 1968 | Marcus Huff, Minot trapshooter |