Recognized as one of the nation’s leading coaches, Mike Thorson enters his 15^th season at the helm of the University of Mary track & field and cross country program. In 14 years under Thorson’s direction, the Marauders have achieved unparalleled success, winning 34 conference championships, five regional cross country titles, crowned 297 All-Americans, 62 Academic All-Americans and 29 individual national champions.

Thorson added to his legacy when the Marauders women won both the indoor and outdoor Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles in 2007, the first season U-Mary competed in the conference. Those results earned Thorson NSIC Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year honors.

“It was really exciting to move into the Northern Sun and experience the type of success we enjoyed,” said Thorson. “It was especially satisfying to enjoy the success we did in a year that can only be termed a rebuilding season.”

In 2006, Thorson added another remarkable chapter to his already brilliant career as he guided the Marauders into NCAA Division II competition and was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame.

Thorson and Hall of Famers go hand in hand. Two of Thorson’s athletes, Jamey Mulske and Mandy (Schroeder) Sheldon, also are enshrined in the NAIA Hall of Fame. So has U-Mary athletic director Al Bortke, who Thorson always says has been instrumental in the success of the Marauders program. Thorson is also a member of the Minot State University and the U-Mary Halls of Fame.

A 1978 graduate of Minot State, Thorson is a four-time NAIA National Coach of the year, earning the accolades in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002. Named many times as the conference coach of the year, Thorson has guided the Marauders to 34 of the 35 conference titles U-Mary has collected in track and field/cross country in school history.

Despite the personal accolades, Thorson prefers to emphasize the team aspect of his program while always stating that he receives too much credit for the Marauders success.

“We are very fortunate that the University of Mary cares about our sport,” said Thorson. “They care whether we win or lose. For me, as a coach, that is the kind of environment that I want to be a part of. The athletic department’s philosophy and demands are very similar to my own personal philosophy. They hired me to do a job. They continue to have the confidence in me that I can lead our program. Of course, that means that winning is part of the mentality, and for me, that keeps me at the University of Mary.”

Thorson, who received his master’s degree in educational administration from the University of North Dakota in 1992, coached at both UND and North Dakota State University. In 1993, the University of Mary brought Thorson aboard as the women’s track and field coach at the University of Mary. After becoming head coach of both the men’s and women’s track and field programs in 1999, Thorson was named U-Mary’s Track and Field Coordinator.

Before moving to the college ranks, Thorson honed his coaching talents in North Dakota high schools at St. John, Minot Ryan, and Grafton.

A native of Minot, ND, Thorson graduated from Minot High School in 1973. He is married to the former Ann Dunnigan of Bismarck. They have five children, Troy, Andrea, Marisa, Niki and Bryan.

Dennis Newell

A 10-time All-American at Black Hills State University, SD, Dennis Newell is in his second year of guiding the University of Mary cross country and distance athletes. Newell was an assistant track coach at Black Hills State University in 2006, where he helped to guide the distance runners to success.

A six-time conference champion, Newell graduated from Black Hills State University in 2004 and received his master’s degree from the University of North Dakota in 2005.

Newell, the 2003 and 2004 DAC-10 cross country champion and most valuable player, hopes to continue the success the Marauders distance runners have consistently achieved over the years. A USATF Level I and II (Endurance) Certified Coach, Newell takes every opportunity to continually learn through cross country and track & field educational programs, seminars, and instructional clinics.

It didn’t take long for Newell to make his mark at U-Mary. He guided a young Marauders women’s cross country team to a surprising second place finish in the 2006 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference meet in Newell’s first season with the program. Tiffany Czarnomska had a great fall campaign, capping off the season by winning the NSIC cross country individual championship.

Although he had a small, youthful crew of distance runners indoors and outdoors, his runners stepped right into the NSIC and experienced a great deal of success.

“We are very pleased with how Coach Newell stepped in and developed our runners in his first year,” said U-Mary track and field/cross country head coach Mike Thorson. “Dennis is an excellent motivator and he has a great rapport with his athletes. He is very, very good at designing training programs and getting great results from his athletes.”