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Mike Van Diest back into coaching...

B

Brother Bear

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According to Footballscoop.com, the long time Carroll Head Coach, who once interviewed for the Montana State head job has accepted a position at the University of Mary (DII) in North Dakota. I believe Mike was an assistant at UM quite some time ago as well.

Interesting move to go from Head Coach to an assistant at University of Mary. Any NAIA followers have any insight into this... he seemed to have abruptly retired after four consecutive losing seasons in Helena. Was he forced out by the admin or did he retire on his own? You would think a 6x national champion coach would call his own shots, but clearly he wasn't ready to be done coaching.
 
Nothing on the NAIA forums yet. Great coach & person, maybe tired of East Helena, needs a change.
 
Let's just say that Carroll was ready to move on and MVD decided to hang it up rather than get fired.
 
Remember when MVD flaked right before the season started and had to be talked into coming back to coach the season?

I don't care how awesome a neighbor he is, whether his wife still loves him, or how brilliant his football mind is, he flakes like that and his time is over.
 
He "flaked" his way into 6 national championships (at one point, four in a row) 14 conference championships (12 in a row) and an induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame! He was 203-54 at Carroll

Like Jerome going to an NAIA school in Oregon, he is a guy who loves to coach position football players and is going to do just that for a bit.

Great guy, great defensive mind and, outside the normal nay sayers on this site, known (especially by his players) as very inspirational.
 
There are a lot of times coaches that have been head coaches or can still be head coaches choose to be assistants. He has nothing left to prove to anyone. His success speaks for itself. Being a coordinator allows him to just coach and not deal with all the BS that head coaches have to spend time on. I have seen it in high school and college and these older experienced guys are a great asset to a young head coach. It is a win-win situation. I just read their head coach is 27 making him the youngest head coach in NCAA. Well you can tell he is smart as hell by going out and getting Van Diest.
 
https://www.montanasports.com/frontier-conference/former-carroll-college-football-coach-mike-van-diest-to-join-university-of-mary-staff

"I did not step away from my position last fall because I was burnt out or because of health problems," added Van Diest, who will now be close to family and friends here in Bismarck. "Craig is a bright, young coach who brings an exciting brand of football from his playing days here as a record-setting quarterback for the Marauders and now as the head coach. It's really a joy for me to watch him in person and pick his brain and share ideas. The game-script has certainly shifted on us, but that's been really fun and energizing to me."

"I read Mary's strategic plan for athletics and was very impressed with points that were made by Coach Lennon and the university's vision for scholar-athletes," remarked Van Diest. "I certainly agree with Mary's motto, 'Greatness through Virtue.'"

Providentially, Van Diest can say he found his own virtue when he decided to retire from coaching so he could have more time with family and spend this past year watching his son play college hockey one last season in Wisconsin.

"I really wanted to be a dad this past year and be there for as many games that I could and enjoy watching him play … It was a thrill for both of us," said Van Diest, who was put on a one-year contract by Carroll to stay on board and be an ambassador. That contract expired on New Year's Eve. "It has been a good experience, but I really miss coaching."
 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismarck,_North_Dakota&ved=2ahUKEwjkxNWo_cfnAhUDU80KHW9mCJoQFjAcegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2Q31HBHUMqGOTbMtazWlUo&cshid=1581371911469
 
One small correction here, gentlemen, UMary is a full member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference which is Div. II, not NAIA
 
Lakerhater said:
One small correction here, gentlemen, UMary is a full member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference which is Div. II, not NAIA
Click to expand...
UNDFan will be on here soon with the information that UMary is jumping to the SEC, replacing Auburn who are joining the NFC East. This will be brought about because the Philadelphia Eagles are moving up to play the Aliens from Space Jam but in a football format.
 
Brother Bear said:
https://www.montanasports.com/frontier-conference/former-carroll-college-football-coach-mike-van-diest-to-join-university-of-mary-staff

"I did not step away from my position last fall because I was burnt out or because of health problems," added Van Diest, who will now be close to family and friends here in Bismarck. "Craig is a bright, young coach who brings an exciting brand of football from his playing days here as a record-setting quarterback for the Marauders and now as the head coach. It's really a joy for me to watch him in person and pick his brain and share ideas. The game-script has certainly shifted on us, but that's been really fun and energizing to me."

"I read Mary's strategic plan for athletics and was very impressed with points that were made by Coach Lennon and the university's vision for scholar-athletes," remarked Van Diest. "I certainly agree with Mary's motto, 'Greatness through Virtue.'"

Providentially, Van Diest can say he found his own virtue when he decided to retire from coaching so he could have more time with family and spend this past year watching his son play college hockey one last season in Wisconsin.

"I really wanted to be a dad this past year and be there for as many games that I could and enjoy watching him play … It was a thrill for both of us," said Van Diest, who was put on a one-year contract by Carroll to stay on board and be an ambassador. That contract expired on New Year's Eve. "It has been a good experience, but I really miss coaching."
Click to expand...

There it is! Good for him, much respect.
 
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