MSU President's Newspaper Column
April 11, 2026
Celebrating campus progress and the Mayville State excellence that extends statewide and beyond
It was a pleasure to welcome Governor Kelly Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong to Mayville State on April 2. Hosting their visit gave us an opportunity to share progress on the renovation of Old Main, a $52+ million state-funded project. As we walked through the building, I was proud to show how thoughtfully the historic building is being transformed by preserving its iconic exterior while reimagining the interior to better serve today’s students and future generations. Seeing the classrooms, offices, and gathering spaces reinforces just how impactful this project is for our university, the community, the region, and ultimately the state.
After the tour, we enjoyed time with our Comets archery team at Norsemen Hall in Portland, where the Governor, First Lady, and my wife, Nina, and others joined students for lunch and some friendly archery competition. Moments like these capture the spirit of Mayville State … strong traditions paired with programs that inspire a sense of belonging, close connections between students and university leaders, and a shared commitment to student success.
The visit underscored the important role Mayville State plays in shaping future leaders and strengthening local communities, while assisting with the needs of our state. We appreciated the opportunity to share firsthand with Governor Armstrong the momentum that is underway at Mayville State and how that positivity is impacting the state of North Dakota.
That impact continues to be reflected in the recent accomplishments of Mayville State alumni, whose professional achievements and contributions are being recognized statewide.
Mike McCall (‘92), Wahpeton, and Dave Nelson (‘81), Hillsboro, were recently inducted into the North Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NDIAAA) Hall of Fame, recognizing their lasting contributions to school athletics. Their induction continues a strong tradition of Mayville State alumni being recognized by the NDIAAA for leadership and service. Previous NDIAAA Hall of Fame recipients who are Mayville State alumni include Ken Rio, Clint Lein, Jerry Sheldon, John Hutchison, Dave Hanson, Mike Callahan, Randy Vigen, Todd Olson, and Matthew Herman. This is a testament to the university’s lasting impact on athletic administration in North Dakota and beyond. Their accomplishments reflect not only their personal dedication but also the enduring legacy of excellence fostered at Mayville State.
Additional statewide recognition was awarded to Jason Wiberg (’96), who was named Division A Athletic Administrator of the Year by the NDIAAA. He was named Region 2 Athletic Administrator of the Year in February. Jason is in his 29th year in education and his 24th year as an athletic director, serving in his current role at Devils Lake since 2010. Jerome Slag (’85) was honored as Division B District 6 Athletic Administrator of the Year. He serves as athletic director and physical education teacher at New Salem-Almont School in New Salem, where he has led athletic programs for more than two decades.
Several Mayville State graduates have also recently earned leadership appointments and honors. Jay DeCann (‘91) was named the athletic director at Detroit Lakes (Minn.) schools, while Beth (Herzog) Olson (‘90) was selected as Fargo Public Schools 2026 Administrator of the Year.
Tom Gieske (‘23) has just been named head boys basketball coach at Hillsboro, and Sydney Brekken (‘24) accepted a physical education position there.
Alumni Frank White (’79), Kim Knodle (’78), and Rod Volk (’93) have authored a new book titled North Dakota Mat Legends, which chronicles the history of Class B wrestling in the state. Scheduled for publication this fall or early next spring, the book features references to numerous Mayville State alumni and celebrates North Dakota’s rich wrestling tradition.
I was filled with Comet Pride when I attended the high school boys basketball games hosted at Mayville State in March and saw five of our alumni serving as coaches. Tom Gieske (Hillsboro), Brandon Albrecht (’25) (Grafton), and Tim Salmon (’25) (May-Port CG) were in assistant coach roles. Alumni in head coaching roles were Riley Lillemoen (’05) (Grafton) and Taylor Kunkel (’14) (May-Port CG). They and so many others are reinforcing the strong connections that exist between Mayville State and North Dakota’s high school athletic community.
It also gives me great pride to recognize Mayville State alumnus Matt Fetsch (’03), executive director of the North Dakota High School Activities Association since 2014. The youngest state association executive director ever appointed, Fetsch is considered one of the nation’s strongest advocates for education‑based athletics and activities.
This is just a small sampling of achievements that reflect the lasting influence of a Mayville State education, one that prepares graduates to lead, serve, and make meaningful contributions across North Dakota and beyond. I could not be more CometProud.
