By Micah Friez
Published 12:00 pm on June 17, 2026
If Beth (Buckingham) Baalke could go back in time and tell her former self, she admits she wouldn’t have believed it. But it’s true: The court she once played on at Bemidji State University will soon bear her name.
“That’s where I played, where I spent many hours,” she said. “I have a lot of good memories there. To have our name on the court is very humbling — especially my maiden name. This is very special, and I’m very honored.”
Beth and her husband, Trent, are the leading donors to a new renovation of the BSU Gymnasium as part of the Forth the North campaign. The finished product will feature new bleachers, a viewing room, accessibility upgrades, and the newly minted Buckingham-Baalke Court. Their transformational $1 million gift will positively impact the basketball programs, the volleyball program, and the community at large. And, their gift is a signal that Bemidji State’s imprint has left a lasting mark on them.
“We had a great experience here, and now we’re in a position where we can financially give back to the university that gave us so much,” Trent said. “We’re very fortunate to be in that position. To give back to a place like this, it’s a no-brainer. It really is.”
Beth played basketball for Joan Campbell and the women’s basketball team from 1984-88, and she’s enshrined in the Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1985-86 and 1986-87 squads that won the Northern Sun Conference and District 13 championships. In 2000, Beth was also recognized as one of the top 30 female athletes in Bemidji State history during the women’s athletics 30th anniversary celebration. Trent played football for the Beavers from 1982-85 and was part of one of the most impressive program revivals in Beaver Football history after being recruited by new coach John Peterson, who “did a heck of a job convincing me that Bemidji was a suburb of Minneapolis,” Trent joked.
Those experiences in intercollegiate athletics shaped the Baalkes and instilled in them values that they still carry with them now.
“When you’re involved with any group on campus, you become a part of something special,” Trent said. “It’s all about relationships. And when you have as many positive relationships as we did here over the years, it tells you just how special of a place this is and has been.”
After his playing career, Trent entered into the coaching ranks as an assistant at Bemidji State. He eventually broke into the NFL as a scout for the New York Jets in 1998. By 2011, he was the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, even reaching the Super Bowl in 2012. Trent held that role for six years and then served as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager from 2021-24. Now, he is a senior consultant for the Cleveland Browns and the University of Alabama football team.
Beth, meanwhile, is the boys and girls golf coach at Tomahawk High School in Wisconsin, and she’s been involved in prep sports in a variety of capacities over the years.
Wherever they’ve been, the Baalkes haven’t forgotten Bemidji State. That’s always been apparent, but perhaps never more so than late May, when they returned to campus for a visit and to scope out a gymnasium ready for its upgrade because of them.
“We were both fortunate enough to play here, and we had good experiences playing our sports and receiving a good education,” Beth said. “Being back just makes me smile. It’s fun.”
The visit consisted of touring campus facilities, meeting players and coaches, and — perhaps most importantly — envisioning the difference their gift will make. The gymnasium renovation project is scheduled to break ground in March 2027 and be completed in October 2027.
And when the day for ribbon cutting finally comes, the Baalkes will be proud to have answered the call when they were called to step up.
“If you’re in a position to help, I believe it’s the right thing to do,” Trent said. “We’ve thought about it for years. This isn’t something that just took place today. This is something the staff has been working on with us for the last three or four years to get to the point we’re at now. This is the start, and hopefully we’ll be in a position to give more.”
Join the project
The Baalkes’ gift, along with other leadership commitments, helps satisfy longstanding priorities of the Facility Upgrades and Faculty Excellence pillar within the For the North campaign. Their donation has also positioned the gymnasium’s funding within reach of the $2.5 million goal. The public is invited to join in with their own philanthropic support to see the project through to completion. Donations will be accepted through February 2027 at bsualumni.org/donate/gymnasium.
Those interested in making an impactful contribution or learning more about recognition-level giving opportunities are encouraged to reach out to Jesse Katz for additional information at jesse.katz@bemidjistate.edu or 218-755-2827.
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