BISMARCK, ND — Dennis Newell has resigned as the University of Mary head coach for men's and women's cross country and track and field to pursue an NCAA Division I coaching opportunity. In his 15 seasons with the NCAA Division II University of Mary, including the last four as head coach, the Marauders captured 24 conference championships.

"Dennis was instrumental in building an exemplary program at UMary filled with national champions and conference championships and leaves behind a template for our continued future success," said Marauders Director of Athletics Dale Lennon. "His life lessons also resonated away from the track as his scholar-athletes performed well in the classroom and are valued members of our campus community. We greatly appreciate all Dennis has done for the University of Mary and our Marauders scholar-athletes and wish him well in his new pursuits."

Newell joined the Marauders as an assistant coach in 2006 and worked alongside Hall of Fame Coach Mike Thorson to build the preeminent women's cross country and track and field program in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Named UMary's cross country head coach in 2014, Newell took the helm of the Marauders track and field programs from Thorson in July 2017. During his Marauders career Newell earned 21 conference and national coach of the year honors.

"I cannot possibly express how much the last 15 years at the University of Mary has meant to me and my family," said Newell. "The experiences, opportunities and relationships afforded to me in my time at the University of Mary will never be forgotten or taken for granted. The University of Mary will forever be a home for me and my family.

"A special thank you to the late Sister Thomas Welder (former University of Mary president) and the late Al Bortke (former University of Mary athletic director) for believing in my character enough to hire me here at the University of Mary. To Monsignor Shea and Jerome Richter for the endless support in the formation of our scholar-athletes. To Dale Lennon for being more than a boss, but a mentor who helped shape my vision. To Mike Thorson, no words can express my gratitude."

Newell's resume at Mary is steeped in accomplishments as he helped lead the Marauders to 24 NSIC cross country and track and field team titles, over 300 NSIC All-Conference honors, more than 100 NSIC champions, and nine NSIC records. Newell earned 11 NSIC Coach of the Year honors. As head coach, UMary won nine NSIC championships in 10 opportunities: cross country (three), indoor track and field (three), and outdoor track and field (three).
At the NCAA Division II regional level, Newell garnered eight NCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards for his efforts with three NCAA DII Central Region Cross Country Team Championships, five NCAA DII Central Region Cross Country Champions, and over 100 NCAA DII Central Region Cross Country and Track and Field All-Region Champions.

Newell also made impacts at the highest level of NCAA DII athletics with two NCAA National Runner-Up finishes at the 2017 and 2018 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships and a fourth place team trophy at the 2018 NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships. Newell helped Marauders scholar-athletes earn 172 NCAA DII All-American finishes and win NCAA DII National Championship events nine times. He earned the NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year honor in 2013.

The Marauders Women's Track and Field Team had an outstanding spring in 2021. UMary dominated the Northern Sun Championships on the way to a third straight title and finished eighth in the nation at the NCAA Division II Championships. Ida Narbuvoll won a pair of national titles as she dominated the field in the 10,000-meter and 5000-meter runs. In the final race of her collegiate career, Narbuvoll shattered a 39-year-old meet record in the 5K when she posted the second-best time ever recorded by an NCAA DII runner. Narbuvoll was named both the nation's Athlete and Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCAA), and the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), all firsts for a UMary scholar-athlete.

Other University of Mary NCAA national champions coached by Newell are Alexis Zeis (cross country in 2015 and the indoor 5,000-meter run in 2017 and 2018), Jennifer Agnew (cross country in 2013), Melissa Agnew (outdoor 1500-meter run in 2013 and indoor mile run in 2012), and the 2012 UMary Distance Medley Relay (DMR) Team of Dakota Wolf, Kathryn Stewart, Bri Lynch, and Melissa Agnew.    

Cale Korbelik, who joined the Marauders coaching staff in 2020, will serve as the interim head track and field coach. Former Marauders distance runner and current Assistant Coach Jamison Dietrich will serve as the interim head cross country coach.

The Marauders cross country teams reported to camp this weekend and open the season on September 10 at the MSU Moorhead Twilight meet.

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