The story of football in Montana has always been about more than competition. It is about identity, pride, relationships, and the lasting bond formed through the game. That truth is now taking shape in a new way at the University of Mary, where head coach Shann Schillinger has added Mike Person to the Marauders’ staff as offensive line coach.
For many across the region, the names Schillinger and Person are already familiar. Both are eastern Montana natives. Both represented their in-state programs with distinction. Both experienced the intensity of the Montana-Montana State rivalry firsthand. And both went on to reach the NFL.
Now, after years of competing against one another in high school, college, and even at the professional level, they are joining forces in Bismarck with a shared purpose: building the Marauders football program the right way.
Schillinger, entering his fourth season as head coach at Mary, described the opportunity in a way that says much about the culture he is continuing to establish. He called it “shared joy” — the idea that two people with different football roots can come together around a common mission and find meaning in building something as one.
That perspective speaks to the strength of the hire.
Person brings a wealth of experience to Mary’s coaching staff. A former standout offensive lineman at Montana State, he started 35 consecutive games for the Bobcats and was part of their 2010 Big Sky championship team. He later built a nine-year NFL career with the Seahawks, Rams, Falcons, Colts, and 49ers, demonstrating remarkable versatility by playing center, guard, and tackle. His professional resume includes starting at right guard for San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV.
That kind of experience matters, especially in the development of an offensive line room. Person understands the physical and technical demands of the position at the highest level. More importantly, he has already begun translating that experience into coaching. His recent work has included high school coaching in Ohio, running his own offensive line academy, and serving as an offensive quality control assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2022.
For the Marauders, this is not simply a staff addition. It is an investment in player development.
Schillinger pointed to Person’s ability to teach technique across the offensive front as a major strength. That versatility will be important for a program working to become more consistent, more physical, and more complete. Offensive line play often sets the tone for everything else an offense hopes to accomplish. Bringing in a coach with both NFL experience and teaching ability gives Mary a valuable asset in that area.
Just as important is the kind of person Person appears to be. Schillinger emphasized the respect he has long had for him, not just as a player, but as an individual. That matters in college football, where coaching is about more than schemes and drills. It is about mentoring young people, establishing standards, and creating an environment rooted in accountability, effort, and respect.
Those values align naturally with the identity the Marauders are working to strengthen.
Person is also expected to make an immediate impact in recruiting, particularly in Montana. With deep roots in the state and credibility built through both college and professional football, he offers Mary another meaningful connection to one of the region’s most passionate football communities. Schillinger has already highlighted Person’s work ethic and eye for talent, both of which are essential as the program continues to grow.
His arrival also adds to the strong Montana presence already on staff, reinforcing the program’s ties to a football tradition that continues to produce tough, disciplined, and competitive athletes. That regional connection can help Mary continue building relationships with players and families who value both football development and personal growth.
The timing of this hire is significant. The Marauders are coming off a 4-7 season after two difficult years, but signs of progress are beginning to emerge. As Schillinger enters Year 4, moves like this suggest a program that is still building with purpose and conviction. Improvement in college football rarely happens by accident. It comes through alignment, trust, and the steady addition of people who raise the standard.
Mike Person appears to be one of those people.
For Schillinger, this partnership is built on a history of competition. For the University of Mary, it represents something more important: a chance to move forward with experienced leadership, stronger player development, and a shared commitment to the future of Marauders football.
In the end, rivalries may shape the early chapters of a football life. But for programs that want to grow, what matters most is what people build together. At Mary, Schillinger and Person now have the opportunity to do exactly that.