Year four of the Jerome Souers era at MSU Northern kicks off Monday July 4^th as players and coaches hit the field for the first time. There is excitement in the air as the team welcomes its largest recruiting class in many years. The team's coaching staff is in place and will look to contend in an expanded Frontier Conference. 
 
The Frontier Conference is now at 14 teams split into two divisions.  MSUN will compete in the Eastern Division alongside Dakota State University, Dickinson State University, Mayville State University, Montana Tech, Rocky Mountain College, and Valley City State University. 
 
The Lights kick-off their season August 30^th at home versus Carroll College. The team plays 6 home games versus 5 road games. Check out the schedule at https://golightsgo.com/sports/football/schedule
 
Here is a look at this season's coaching staff:
 
The staff is led by veteran NCAA Div. 1 Coach Jerome Souers. Coach Souers began his coaching career in 1976 at North Eugene High School.  His first college experience was as in 1984 as the Defensive Coordinator at Western Washington University. He spent the next year at Portland State and then began a long tenure with the Montana Grizzlies. He spent 3 years as an assistant before taking over the Defensive Coordinator position in 1989. He continued in that role for 9 seasons including helping guide the Griz to their first national Championship in 1995.  
 
In 1998 Coach Souers become the Head Coach at Northern Arizona University where he would spend 20 years guiding the Lumberjacks football program.  After a short retirement he joined Southern Oregon University for two years before joining the Lights in time for the 2022 season. 
 
Dave Sandau, a native of Missoula, MT, is back for his second season as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. Sandau has a wealth of knowledge at the college level. He has worked most recently as the OC at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Previous to that he coached the prep team at the United States Naval Academy.  He had stops at Wofford and with the University of Montana as well as Occidental College and Yuba College.
 
Dylan Wampler is a name familiar with people that follow MSU Northern football as he was a 5-year starter and two-time All-American. Wampler is the new Defensive Coordinator after acting as a student-coach last season.  Wampler will look to transfer his success on the field to his new position leading the defense. Dylan is originally from Peoria, Arizona. 
 
Joseph Newman joined the staff in January of 2025 making this fall his first season with the Lights.  Joseph was a star quarterback at FCS Wofford University playing 4 years in South Carolina. The Riverdale, Georgia native was named the SoCon offensive player of the year in 2019 and a 2^nd Team All-American.  He followed that up with stints in pro ball in Germany, France and a stint in arena football with the Bay Area Panthers.  Newman will coach the Lights QBs and Running backs. 
 
Zach Brooks joined the staff in January of 2025 after one season as the Lights starting QB. Brooks, from Germantown, Wisconsin, will coach the running backs in 2025. Prior to his time in Havre, Brooks spent four years at Dakota State University.   Has been a captain at both DSU and MSU Northern and his leadership will be a great asset to the Lights in 2025. 
 
Caleb Starr of Atlanta, Georgia is the new receivers coach.  Starr previously was with Pebblebrook High School in Mabelton, Georgia. He played his college ball as a DB at Texas' Blinn College in 2017 and as a safety at Highland Community College in Kansas in 2018. 
 
Cooper Siudek is the Lights DB coach. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin Siudek comes to the Lights from Oberlin College where he was the DB coach in 2024.  Previous to this he spent 4 seasons at the University of Oregon as a DB assistant as well as assisting in the recruiting and operations departments. 
 
Coach Dominic Marino Jr. started his coaching career in 1979 and has coached at the youth, high school and college levels for over 45 years. Most recently he was the Associate Head Coach/Special Teams/Dline coach at Arizona's Camelback High School.  He coached at Northern Arizona University for several years including in 2003 when NAU won the Big Sky Conference title.  Marino will handle the Dline and coordinate special teams for the Lights in 2025. 
 
Michael Smith joins the team for the 2025 season working in the player personnel and operations area.  The former High school coach from Canada has extensive experience in coaching and football operations.  He previously spent time with the Regina Thunder as the team's Recruiting Coordinator. 
 
The team is optimistic that 2025 will be a vastly improved year for the Lights.  Check out the Lights this season starting Saturday August 30, 1:00pm at Tilleman Field.