--- title: "From the Gridiron to the Diamond to the Hall of Fame: The Story of Jason Salz" description: Discover the inspiring journey of Jason Salz, a dual-sport athlete who excelled in football and baseball, served in the U.S. Army, and now shapes the next generation. image: https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(38).png --- [Skip to content](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/marauder-football-alumni-association-blog/from-the-gridiron-to-the-diamond-to-the-hall-of-fame-the-story-of-jason-salz#main-content) ![2x10 Marauder Football Alumni Association (2)](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hubfs/2x10%20Marauder%20Football%20Alumni%20Association%20(2).png "2x10 Marauder Football Alumni Association (2)") [Website](https://marauderfootballalumni.com/)[Membership Levels](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/-levels) --- [Business Opportunities](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/marketing-branding-experience)[Events](https://marauderfootballalumni.com/group-events) ![](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(38).png?width=2000&height=1000&name=Untitled%20design%20(38).png) Marauder Alumni Hall of Fame # From the Gridiron to the Diamond to the Hall of Fame: The Story of Jason Salz ![Marauder Football Alumni Association](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(51)%20copy-1.png?width=48&height=48&name=Untitled%20design%20(51)%20copy-1.png) Marauder Football Alumni Association February 9, 2026 Some athletes leave their mark in one sport. **Jason Salz** did it in two—and still found room to serve his country and come back home to teach and coach. An early member of the University of Mary football program and the **first baseball player inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame**, Salz helped launch UMary baseball while also suiting up on Saturdays for the Marauders. His story is one of versatility, leadership, and a deep commitment to North Dakota. ## Early Days: Football First A graduate of **St. Mary’s Central High School** in Bismarck, Salz arrived at the University of Mary in **1992** and began his athletic career on the **football field**: - **Redshirted in 1992**, his freshman year - Played Marauder football for the **next four seasons**, contributing to the growing foundation of the young program But while he made an impact on the gridiron, his greatest legacy would emerge a few yards away—on the baseball diamond. ## 1996: Launching Marauder Baseball In **1996**, UMary fielded its **first varsity baseball team**, competing in the **North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC)**. Salz was there from the very beginning. Under **Coach Bill Sharp**, Jason immediately stood out: - Emerged as an **outstanding all-around player** - Contributed as a **pitcher, hitter, and leader** on a brand-new program When **Coach Steve LeGrand** took over, Salz’s role only grew. His **pitching, hitting, and leadership** helped: - Turn the Marauders into **conference co-champions** - Earn the program a spot in the **NAIA Great Plains Regional Tournament** For a start-up team, that kind of rapid success was remarkable—and Salz was at the heart of it. ## Honors, Records, and a Hall of Fame Career Over his Marauder baseball career, Jason collected a long list of accolades: - **Team captain** - **NDCAC All-Conference** selection in **1996 and 1997** - **1997 NDCAC Player of the Year** - Member of the **1997 Great Plains All-Region Team** - **Marauders Most Valuable Player** in **1996 and 1997** He also left his name in the record book as a pitcher: - **Fewest hits allowed per 7-inning game** in school history - **Fewest walks allowed**—just **10 walks in two years** on the mound Those numbers reflect a competitor who combined command, composure, and competitiveness every time he took the ball. In recognition of his impact, Jason became the **first baseball player ever inducted into the University of Mary Hall of Fame**—a fitting honor for someone who helped define what Marauder baseball could be. ## Service, Education, and Coaching Salz’s success wasn’t confined to athletics. - He earned a **Bachelor of Science degree in 1997** from the University of Mary. - Later completed a **Master of Education in 2007**. - Served **overseas in the U.S. Army** as part of the **1st Ranger Battalion**, a testament to his courage and commitment to service. After his military service, Jason returned to his roots in education and athletics: - Now **teaches and coaches in Mandan, North Dakota**, continuing to invest in the next generation of students and athletes. The son of **Rick and Bernie Salz** of Bismarck, Jason’s life reflects the full arc of what it means to be a Marauder: student-athlete, soldier, teacher, coach, and community leader. ## A Legacy That Still Shapes Marauder Athletics For current and future Marauders, **Jason Salz’s** story carries several powerful lessons: - You can help **build something from the ground up**, as he did with UMary baseball. - You can lead in **multiple arenas**—football, baseball, the military, and the classroom. - Excellence isn’t just about stats and awards; it’s about **service, leadership, and giving back**. From launching a new program to becoming its first Hall of Famer, Jason Salz is a reminder that sometimes the people who help start the story end up being some of its most important characters. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fpage.marauderfootballalumni.com%2Fmarauder-football-alumni-association-blog%2Ffrom-the-gridiron-to-the-diamond-to-the-hall-of-fame-the-story-of-jason-salz](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fpage.marauderfootballalumni.com%2Fmarauder-football-alumni-association-blog%2Ffrom-the-gridiron-to-the-diamond-to-the-hall-of-fame-the-story-of-jason-salz) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-15%20at%2011.45.39%20AM-1.png?width=3916&height=1882&name=Screenshot%202026-09-15%20at%2011.45.39%20AM-1.png) Staff Team Marauder Alumni Closing the Gap: Why the UMary Marauders are on the Brink of Turning the Tide Against USF](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/marauder-football-alumni-association-blog/closing-the-gap-why-the-umary-marauders-are-on-the-brink-of-turning-the-tide-against-usf) ### [![](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-08%20at%209.00.33%20AM.png?width=1254&height=688&name=Screenshot%202026-09-08%20at%209.00.33%20AM.png) Staff Current Marauders Team Week 2 - Marauders Hit the Road to Face Concordia-St. Paul](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/marauder-football-alumni-association-blog/week-2-marauders-hit-the-road-to-face-concordia-st.-paul) [![Marauder Football Alumni Association](https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(51)%20copy.png?width=200&height=200&name=Untitled%20design%20(51)%20copy.png "Marauder Football Alumni Association")](https://marauderfootballalumni.com/) ###### \*Not an Official Organization of the University of Mary. --- Privacy Policy · Legal · © 2026. All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Marauder Football Alumni Association", "url" : "https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/marauder-football-alumni-association-blog/author/marauder-football-alumni-association" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-01T10:41:35.713Z", "datePublished" : "2026-02-09T16:17:32.000Z", "headline" : "From the Gridiron to the Diamond to the Hall of Fame: The Story of Jason Salz", "image" : [ "https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(38).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/marauder-football-alumni-association-blog/from-the-gridiron-to-the-diamond-to-the-hall-of-fame-the-story-of-jason-salz", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://page.marauderfootballalumni.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(51)%20copy.png" } } } ```