Building More Than Balance Sheets: How Jerry Fischer Helped Shape Marauder Athletics

When fans think about the growth of University of Mary athletics—from a single team to nearly twenty programs—they often picture coaches, players, and big wins. But behind the scenes, another kind of architect was quietly laying the foundation.

That architect was Jerry Fischer.

An unwavering believer in the role athletics can play in the life of a university, Fischer spent 35 years at UMary making sure the Marauders had not just teams, but the facilities, resources, and vision needed to thrive.

From the Classroom to the Executive Suite

Fischer’s journey at Mary is a story of steady, long-term commitment.

• A graduate of Dickinson State University, he went on to earn his master’s degree at the University of North Dakota.
• He joined the University of Mary as a full-time instructor, teaching for one year.
• He then transitioned into administration, serving 32 years as Vice President for Financial Affairs.
• In his final two years, he took on an even broader role as UMary’s first Executive Vice President.

In those roles, he wasn’t just managing numbers; he was helping steer the entire direction of a growing institution—including its athletics.

Growing Athletics from One Team to Nineteen

When Fischer began his administrative career at Mary, the athletic department was small. Over the decades, he became one of the key figures in its expansion from one team to as many as 19 varsity sports.

His fingerprints are all over Marauder facilities and infrastructure:

• Construction of the athletic fields that have hosted countless practices, games, and championships.
• Development of the first field house, giving athletes and teams a true home for training and competition.
• Oversight of two additions to the activity center, expanding the space where students work out, train, and gather as a campus community.

Every weight lifted, sprint run, and game played in those spaces is part of Jerry’s legacy.

Helping Lead the Move to the NCAA

Fischer’s influence wasn’t limited to bricks and mortar.

He also chaired the committee that studied and ultimately recommended that the University of Mary transition to the NCAA. That decision reshaped the competitive landscape for every Marauder team—past, present, and future.

The move to the NCAA:

• Raised the profile of UMary athletics on a regional and national stage
• Challenged teams to elevate their standards in recruiting, facilities, and competition
• Created new opportunities for student-athletes to compete at a higher level while still grounded in UMary’s mission

Fischer understood that athletics could be a front porch to the university—a visible, dynamic way to express the school’s character, excellence, and community to the world.

A True Marauders Fan, Courtside and Beyond

For all of his executive responsibilities, Jerry never drifted far from the heart of athletics: the court, the field, and the student-athletes themselves.

Early in his time at Mary:

• He assisted Hall of Fame coach and athletic director Al Bortke as a part-time basketball coach for several years.
• He wasn’t just signing off on budgets for sports—he was on the bench, on the floor, and in the huddle, invested in the daily work of competition and coaching.

That combination—administrator, builder, coach, and fan—made him uniquely effective as an advocate for athletics in university leadership circles.

Why Jerry Fischer’s Story Matters Now

For today’s Marauders and alumni, the athletic experience you know—fields, gyms, lockers, weight rooms, NCAA competition—didn’t appear overnight. It was built, piece by piece, over decades by people like Jerry Fischer who believed:

• Athletics help shape character, leadership, and resilience in students.
• A strong athletic program can help grow and define a strong university.
• You support sports not just because they win games, but because they form people.

When we watch a game at UMary today, we’re doing so in spaces and within a competitive structure that Jerry helped make possible.

He didn’t score the touchdowns or hit the game-winners—but without his vision and steady hand, a lot of those moments never happen.