Ben Berogan
Head Coach
Office: 701.355.8034
E-mail:bdberogan@umary.edu
After an honor-filled wrestling career followed by great coaching experiences, Ben Berogan now starts his collegiate head coaching career at the University of Mary beginning with the 2008-09 season. He had served four years as an assistant with the Marauders and one year as the interim head coach.
Under Berogan's tutelage as the interim head coach during the 2007-08 season, the Marauders experienced several firsts. Jesse Laber became U-Mary’s first NCAA All-American when he finished fifth in the heavyweight division. The Marauders finished 23rd nationally at the NCAA Division II tournament, the first year U-Mary was eligible to compete at the national tournament. U-Mary also won its first Northern Sun dual match as a member of the NSIC.
"I’m excited to be the head coach of the Marauders wrestling program," said Berogan. "This is a step in the right direction for our wrestling team to become strong and competitive in the Northern Sun.
"Now that we are eligible to compete in the postseason, we should be able to qualify four to five wrestlers a year for the NCAA national championships. We have some guys who are close right now. It’s not an easy goal to reach but one I believe we can accomplish at the University of Mary."
Berogan began his coaching tenure at the University of Mary as the assistant coach at U-Mary for three years beginning with the 2003-04 season. He was the graduate assistant coach in 2006-07 before becoming the Marauders interim head coach in January 2007.
A native of Bismarck, Berogan wrestled for Bismarck High School (1989-1992), earning a record of 123-17. He placed 1st in the North Dakota State High School Wrestling Tournament as a junior and senior and earned a 2nd and 3rd place finish his sophomore and freshman years, respectively. The Bismarck High School Wrestling Team was rated the No. 1 high school team in the nation by USA Today Berogan’s freshman and senior year. Berogan also was valedictorian of Bismarck High School’s class of 1992.
Berogan attended the University of North Dakota and wrestled under Brad Kerr, Jeff Schumacher and Bruce Moe. He gained All-American status in 1995, placing 7th at the national tournament. He earned further honors as an Academic All-American. Ben graduated cum laude from UND in 1997 with a double major in natural science and Latin.
Berogan previously coached high school wrestling in Virginia for three years under Thad Kiesnowski, who retired from coaching with 463 dual wins, and coach of the year honors. During Berogan’s tenure, he coached eight individual state champions, and coached the team to two state championships.
Berogan is married and has three children.
Elijah Simburger
Student Coach
Elijah Simburger began his college coaching career in 2007-08 season as a student coach for the Marauders after a very successful college wrestling career. Simburger is a three-time NAIA All-America. He finished seventh and fourth nationally while at U-Mary and placed third his senior year at Dickinson State. A two-time high school state champion for Mandan, ND, Simburger has returned to U-Mary to complete his degree in Criminal Justice.
