HAVRE, Mont.  –  MSU-Northern has announced the hiring of Jerome Souers as as head football coach. 

"I've coached for over 40 years now, and most recently retired, and then stepped back in as an assistant coach with Southern Oregon University," Jerome Souers said. "My time with SOU has been a truly wonderful experience, and I love the people and the program, but I've just gotten a different perspective on life due to recent personal events, and I decided that the chance to build a program at MSUN was a really exciting opportunity for me."

Souers finished his tenure at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 2018 as the Big Sky's Conference's all-time leader in victories. He is the winningest coach in Northern Arizona history with a 21-year record of 123-114. Souers led NAU to national playoffs in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2013, and 2017.
 
"I'm excited to have an opportunity to coach in a state that I'm very familiar with. In many ways, it is like coming home as some of my fondest memories and friendship were formed in Montana, these are people that I've had long-standing relationships with," Souers said. "The people at MSU-Northern are phenomenal. They're clearly such an intensely collaborative group. I can't wait to join the community and be a part of that."
 
"We want to recruit physically and academically talented people who have strong character and are clearly willing to step outside of their normal roles to embrace the campus and the community," Souers said. "So I think the long-term goals are to build a team culture where our program is successful not just athletically, but in academics and within the social context of our relationship with the community."

"Well, first we'll need to identify and assess the personnel within the program – what their talents are and what our recruiting needs will be," Souers said. "We need to build that trust and confidence with the young men already in the program and take into account the things they've already worked on and what they aspire to – that's very much necessary for the success of the program. So we need to win over the upper classmen, and the entire team, to the vision of what we have planned." 
 
"The we'll build an outstanding team chemistry so that we can clearly define the expectations of student athletes, coaches, and their relationships. We also need to build a strong foothold in recruiting by establishing contacts with the high school coaches and various influencers throughout the state," Souers said. "In addition, I think it's important that we gain the trust and the support of the entire Hi-Line. That would be a huge goal of ours, that they understand what we're doing and that we're going to need their help, but that we're going to make good on our promises and we're going to operate with integrity." 

Prior to NAU, Souers coached at the University of Montana for 12 seasons including eight years as defensive coordinator. The Grizzlies, Montana advanced to two national title games. The Grizzles were national champs in 1995 and national runner-up in 1996. During the 1995 title run, Souers' defense became the first in NCAA history to register back-to-back playoff shutouts.
 
"Chancellor Kegel is very intent on having a football program that espouses greatness in all areas," Souers said. "And people always ask "how many wins?", but it's not about the wins – it's about how many guys we can get to compete at their highest potential. And then, usually, the results are going to speak for themselves. When you can achieve that with your entire team, the wins are going to come. But our focus is on their development, their understanding, and their potential. We'll be focusing on all the elements that it takes to build a successful team."

Souers was the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in 1999. In 2003 he was NCAA Division I-AA Coach of the Yea and and an Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year finalist. Souers led the NAU Lumberjacks to their first Big Sky conference championship in 25 years and the quarterfinal round of the NCAA, 1-AA playoffs. The Lumberjacks made five postseason appearances under Souers direction and went 85-77 in Big Sky conference play.
 
"Jerome Souers is without a doubt one of the greatest coaches in the NCAA Div. I history," MSU-Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel said. "I am very pleased and excited that he has agreed to head up the Northern Lights football team. We pride ourselves on our ability to take students who are often at the bottom of the economic ladder and help them climb to the top of the economic ladder. Bringing in a coach like Souers will help our football team rise to the top of the Frontier Conference and compete for a national title." 

Souers began his coaching career at his alma mater, North Eugene High, while attending the University of Oregon. He graduated from Oregon in 1983 with a degree in physical education. Collegiatelly, Souers made early coaching stops at Western Washington University and Portland State University.
 
"MSU-Northern is very lucky to have landed a head coach like Jerome Souers with not only the experience but the passion and ability to develop both great football players and student-athletes," MSU-Northern Athletic Director Christian Oberquell said. "MSU-Northern football has a great base of returning players and with the recruiting ability that Coach Souers has, MSU-Northern will put a very solid and talented team on the field. I would like welcome Coach Souers to the Northern Family."