July 20, 2008

Bismarck, ND - The University of Mary today announced that U-Mary has reached a three-year agreement with KFYR-TV to broadcast a Marauders Coaches Show that will reach a wider geographical area, covers all Marauders sports for the full athletic year, and airs longer each week than ever before.

Beginning this fall, KFYR-TV will broadcast the expanded Marauders Coaches Show, providing North Dakota’s lone NCAA Division II athletic program access to viewers across central and western North Dakota and into eastern Montana and northwest South Dakota.

Originating from KFYR-TV in Bismarck, ND, the 15-minute Marauders Coaches Show will air Sunday nights at 10:35 p.m. central time following the Night Report across the NBC North Dakota Sports network, which includes KFYR-TV, KMOT-TV in Minot, KUMV-TV in Williston, and KQCD-TV in Dickinson. The Marauders Coaches Show will run weekly for a total of 40 weeks every year. This year, the new coaches show will begin August 31, 2008, and run through May 31, 2009.

University of Mary and KFYR-TV will join forces on a Marauders Coaches Show beginning in August. Left, Dick Heidt, General Manager, KFYR TV; Center, Brent Winiger, University of Mary Vice President for Financial Affairs; Right, Roger Thomas, University of Mary Athletic Director.

"We’re thrilled to partner with KFYR-TV for the Marauders Coaches Show," said U-Mary athletic director Roger Thomas. "The expanded coverage throughout central and western North Dakota is a tremendous opportunity for the University of Mary and Marauders athletics.

"It’s exciting that Marauders fans will be able to see more of our teams play live on television as well as learning about all of our coaches, student-athletes and athletic programs."

"KFYR-TV in Bismarck and its sister stations in Minot, Williston and Dickinson are very pleased to form a broadcast partnership with the University of Mary, North Dakota’s only NCAA Division II college," said Dick Heidt, KFYR-TV general manager. "We will bring our audience a well-produced weekly coaches show each Sunday evening. The show will feature not only the school’s football and basketball programs, but many other sports as well. The partnership will also include the live broadcast of at least two University of Mary football games and a similar number of basketball games.

"We feel KFYR-TV and the University will present interesting and entertaining information that the people of western North Dakota are going to enjoy. This is a partnership that will benefit both parties and we are eagerly looking forward to getting the school year and the athletic season underway."

Hosted by KFYR-TV weekend sports anchor Bill Halter, the new Marauders Coaches Show will feature highlights and stories of U-Mary’s athletic programs throughout the full season. KFYR-TV sports reporter Scott Westerberg will contribute profile stories and at times will also go on the road with the Marauders. While Marauders football and men’s and women’s basketball will have a weekly presence during their seasons, all U-Mary athletic programs will be featured throughout the year. To ensure highlights of home and away contests, KFYR-TV will send a travelling correspondent with the Marauders to provide comprehensive coverage of away football and basketball games.

"NBC North Dakota Sports is proud to announce the creation of a television program dedicated to University of Mary athletics," said Lee Timmerman, KFYR-TV’s sports director. "It could be called a coaches show, but it will include much more. Football and basketball are the most visible sports on campus but, having a stand alone program with an expanded format, all of the Marauders sports will be included sometime during the school year.

"The University of Mary has distinguished itself in the athletic arena for years and the Marauders have distinguished themselves even further with the move to the NCAA. U-Mary took a major step in becoming the only NCAA Division II university in North Dakota and we feel honored to be able to take that step with them."

Should viewers miss the live broadcast, the Marauders Coaches Show will be posted online at www.kfyrtv.com with links to the story also available at www.umary.edu.

In addition to the weekly Marauders Coaches Show, KFYR-TV and its affiliated stations will carry at least two U-Mary football games per year and will broadcast a similar number of basketball games.

One football game this season is already set. U-Mary will travel to Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, for a Thursday night game on October 16, at 7 p.m. The contest will be broadcast throughout central and western North Dakota and into Montana on the NBC North Dakota Sports and all of South Dakota and into southwestern Minnesota on KSFY-TV. Timmerman, a multiple recipient of the North Dakota Sportscaster of the Year honor and other awards, will lead the broadcast team for live events.

KFYR-TV has been, and continues to be the market leader in local sports broadcasting. With a schedule of over 35 LIVE high school and collegiate games televised, KFYR-TV is proud to be your sports leader! The premier source for live high school athletic action in the state, NBC North Dakota Sports televises high school championship tournaments in football, hockey, and girls and boys basketball.

The University of Mary is a member of NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and offers 19 varsity sports, including nine for women and ten for men. U-Mary became an active member of the NCAA in 2007. The process took only three years after the NCAA waived the final two transitional years, allowing the University of Mary to become one of the quickest to achieve active membership in NCAA history.