The trend of Norwegian athletes coming to play at NIU began in 1982 when NIU men’s soccer recruited Johan Bergseth.

Bergseth is a Norway native. In 1981 Bergseth transferred to Forest View High School in Arlington Heights as an senior foreign exchange student.

In 2009, Bergseth was selected to the NIU Hall of fame for soccer by graduating first in career assists with 23 and fourth in career goals with 34.

Even though Bergseth is no longer helping NIU win games out on the soccer field, he’s found another way to stay involved and help NIU athletics.

Bergseth helped recruit Norwegian athletes to come play at NIU.

Although he has been a big part of recruiting players to NIU, he said he doesn’t want a lot of recognition.

“I don’t want to brag, but I have been a very big part of it,” Bergseth said. “I don’t want any recognition. I just want a good seat at the basketball and soccer games to talk to the coaches and meet the players. That’s enough for me.”

Since Bergseth began helping recruit players to NIU, he’s landed 9-10 players directly and four to five other players came to NIU through other players that he recruited.

Currently, there are four Norwegian athletes playing sports at NIU; Aksel Bolin and Stian Berg of the men’s basketball team, and Finn Jor and Gael Rivera of the men’s soccer team.

“I still stay in touch with both soccer and basketball in Norway,” Bergseth said. “So if I ever see anyone with a lot of talent and they are interested in going to play in the states, then I try to direct them towards NIU.”

When Bergseth hears or sees about a good player, he will let one of the coaches know. In some cases a coach will go and stay with Bergseth in Norway to meet or follow a player.

Former NIU soccer coach, Steve Simmon’s is an example of that relationship.

“Steve Simmons came over to recruit from Norway,” Bergseth said. “The first year he stayed in a hotel, but came and visited and had dinner at my house. The next three years after that, he stayed at my house, and I helped him recruit Engebreth Faerden, then Finn and then Gael.”

Bergseth helped recruit Bolin in 2009 for men’s basketball. Bolin asked for advice on what he should do regarding his education and love of basketball.

“When I was here in 2009, I talked to the basketball coaches,” Bergseth said. “And I told them about Aksel and that he was interested in playing basketball here. So they had Aksel come over in the Spring of 2010, and they wanted Aksel, so I helped recruit him.”

Bergseth said he enjoys being able to help recruit for NIU, and he’s gotten a lot of satisfaction out of it.

“I enjoy it,” Bergseth said. “I enjoy to see that they succeed. It makes me proud when I see that they do well. You have to do good things in your life and maybe this is mine.”