Before national semifinal runs and deep playoff pushes became part of Marauder lore, there was 1995—the season that proved the University of Mary could stand on the biggest stage in NAIA football.
Packed with talent, leadership, and grit, the 1995 UMary football team was an overwhelming force in all phases of the game. Featuring three All-Americans and four future Marauders Hall of Fame members, this group became the first of only two Marauder squads ever to reach the NAIA national semifinals.
It’s easy to forget how young the program was at the time.
Under head coach Tom Shea, the 1995 season marked just the eighth year of varsity football at the University of Mary. Despite that, the Marauders played with the poise and power of a long-established powerhouse.
Their résumé:
From the first kickoff, it was clear: this team was different.
The regular season set the stage. The postseason made history.
UMary opened the NAIA playoffs on the road at Dickinson State University, the only team to beat them during the regular season.
In a tight, physical game, the Marauders flipped the script:
That late score didn’t just win a game; it erased the season’s lone blemish and pushed Mary into uncharted territory.
Back home in Bismarck, the Marauders hosted the University of Sioux Falls in the quarterfinals and delivered a statement performance.
It was the kind of closing burst that defined this team—explosive, relentless, and ready when the moment came.
The incredible season ended one game short of the championship, on the road against Central Washington, a team led by future long-time NFL quarterback Jon Kitna.
Even with the loss, the 1995 Marauders had established something brand new in the program’s history: UMary belonged in the national conversation.
The 1995 team blended elite individual talent with a deep, complete roster.
All-Americans:
Future Marauders Hall of Famers on the roster:
(Additionally, Jason Salz would later enter the Hall of Fame as a baseball player.)
All-NDCAC First Team:
All-NDCAC Second Team:
At quarterback, Paul Cronin led one of the most explosive offenses in program history. He was named NDCAC Most Valuable Player by the media after:
Both totals remain single-season school records to this day.
Team captains—Ahneman, Chris Clements, Clooten, and Cronin—set the emotional and competitive tone for a team built to win big games.
Championship-caliber teams are always deeper than their top-line stars. The 1995 Marauders roster was loaded with contributors across all positions:
Team Members (partial list):
Jon Ahneman, Jason Aman, Chad Austin, James Barrett, Brent Brannan, Willie Campbell, Eric Chinn, Aaron Christopher, Cory Churchill, Chris Clements, Steve Clooten, Charles Colby, Jason Collopy, Paul Cronin, Lance Dandliker, David Delaplane, Alfred Demps, Ray Emmanuel, Patrick Entzel, Peter Erri, Scott Faul, Kelly Fischer, Reed Fraase, Ryan Geerdes, Joe Girdner, Gary Grad, David Hall, Wes Harens, Brad Hauff, Tim Heilman, Jarrod Herbers, Bryon Hoff, Brent Hysjulien, Richard Jacobson, Aaron Jenkins, Darrin Johnson, Derrick Johnson, Nathan Krikorian, Nathan Kupfer, Jeff LaFrance, Justin Lawrence, Reginald Lawrence, Joel Lentz, Spencer Long, Neil MacDannald, Steve Magazinovic, Seth Maier, Jeremy McPherson, Scott Muir, Peter Nardelli, Eric Nelson, Buck Olson, James Olson, Greg Paramore, Temell Parks, Pat Piehl, Jeremy Polson, Michael Priest, Mike Rosas, Ryan Sabin, Jason Salz, Chance Sampsel, Ky Saylor, Darin Schlosser, Jeremy Schmidt, James Schoales, Rich Sigsworth, Brad Sinner, Ervin Speed, Matt Stahl, Brent Stebleton, Jason Stewart, Nate Sutter, Mike Thorpe, Scott Tomanek, Jamisun VanHorn, Bill Vejtasa, Jeremy Waldo, Chris Walker, Steve Walker, Josh Will, Justin Williams, Michael Williamson, Steve Wiseman, Chris Witty, Michael Wright.
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach Tom Shea and assistants Roger Haug, Jerry Obenauer, Terry Clark, Steve Coyne, Harvey Keeney, Myron Schulz, Zach Reitzell, Todd Sheldon, Bob Brusven, Tim Trokey, John Haley, Paul Golla, Mike Shafer.
Support Staff:
Anne Hutchins, Mic McCrory, Bob Fettig.
For current Marauders and alumni, the 1995 team represents a turning point:
When today’s Marauders talk about “playing up to the standard,” the 1995 team is one of the clearest examples of what that looks like: tough, explosive, unselfish, and unafraid of the biggest moments.