BISMARCK, N.D. – New University of Mary head football coach Josh Kotelnicki today announced his first new addition to the Marauders football staff. Jason Thier, the linebackers coach at NCAA Division I University of North Dakota last season, was named the Marauders defensive coordinator.
 
"Jason is a young coach who I believe has a very bright future in this business," said Kotelnicki. "I have complete faith that Jason will continue to build on the success our defense had last season. He is a tremendous asset to the U-Mary football program."
 
This will be the third time Kotelnicki and Thier (rhymes with fear) will have worked together. Kotelnicki was the UND defensive coordinator last season when Thier was linebackers coach. Earlier Kotelnicki was the defensive coordinator at Truman State University when Thier was a sophomore linebacker in 2006.
 
Thier (rhymes with fear) served as inside linebackers coach at the University of North Dakota in 2013, where he coached an all-conference linebacker.
 
The defensive coordinator at NAIA Division I University of Montana Western for two seasons (2011-12), Thier coached linebackers one season and defensive backs the other. In 2011 the defensive secondary was ranked second in the Frontier Conference and the squad had an all-conference defensive lineman and linebacker. The 2012 squad doubled its win total from the previous season, takeaways increased by 13 and a defensive back earned all-conference recognition.
 
Thier began his full-time coaching experience at Augustana College as a graduate assistant, working one season with defensive backs and a second with linebackers while also serving a year as the video coordinator and kickoff coordinator. In 2009 the Viking finished 8-4 overall to place third in the Northern Sun and earn a spot in the Mineral Water Bowl. Augie followed up with a trip to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals in 2010, posting an 11-2 record and winning a playoff game for the first time in school history. Three of his linebackers earned all-league honors with one also earning all-region recognition.
 
A team captain his senior year at Truman State University in 2008, Thier earned second team All-MIAA recognition at linebacker after making a team-high 99 tackles. As a sophomore in 2006, Thier played for Kotelnicki, then the Bulldogs defensive coordinator.
 
Named to the Commissioners Honor Roll (2005-08) as a student-athlete, Thier earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Truman State in 2009 and a master's degree in education from Augustana in 2011.
 
All other members of Kotelnicki's staff coached at U-Mary last season, the Marauders first winning campaign since 2007. Scott Edwards remains the offensive coordinator. Chuck Miesbauer moves from linebackers to defensive backs coach and is also the recruiting coordinator. Jeff Dockter coaches the defensive line. Jeff Podzimek will handle the tight end position. Kody Morgan coaches the defensive ends. The running backs coach is Ben Davis. Kyle Smith is the wide receivers coach.
 
In addition to his head coaching responsibilities, Kotelnicki will also coordinate the special teams.
 
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