North Central College Cardinals

Career Highlights: 2013 D3football.com First Team All-American; 2013 North Regional Defensive Player of the Year; 2013 CCIW Defensive Player of the Year; Two-time D3football.com All-Region selection; Three-time First Team All-CCIW selection; Four-time CCIW Champion; Four-time NCAA Tournament participant; Program record holder for single-season and career interceptions 

 

Shane Dierking ’14/M’16 played more games in a Cardinal football uniform than any student-athlete at the time of his graduation, finishing his career with a 44-7 record and four College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championships, highlighted by a 2013 NCAA Division III National Semifinal appearance. Dierking was the 2013 CCIW Defensive Player of the Year and the D3football.com North Region Defensive Player of the Year, earning First Team All-America honors from D3football.com. As a senior, he matched the program’s single season record with eight interceptions and set a new North Central career record with 16 interceptions, a mark that still stands at the time of induction. A three-time First Team All-CCIW selection, he competed in the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons, totaling 206 tackles, including 137 solo stops, with 35 pass deflections. He also excelled on special teams, returning 21 punts for 327 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown against North Park in 2010. After graduating, Dierking served as the Cardinals’ defensive graduate assistant coach. He later coached at Benedictine before returning to North Central as defensive coordinator, working with linebackers and safeties and serving as assistant head coach. He has twice been named the FootballScoop.com NCAA Division III Coordinator of the Year (2022 and 2025) and has helped guide the Cardinals to three NCAA Division III national titles.