University of Mary Hires Former UND Football Coach Dale Lennon

Former University of North Dakota head football coach Dale Lennon is taking a job away from the field at the University of Mary.

Lennon, who was most recently head coach at Southern Illinois, has been announced as the University of Mary's new director of public affairs, according to InForum.

The University of Mary released a statement from Lennon, in which he discusses the reasoning behind his return to the Bismarck school:

My family and I have maintained close relationships with the school throughout the years, and returning to the university and the Bismarck community has been a scenario that we always hoped would become a reality.

Lennon grew up in Knox and attended Rugby High School. He coached the University of Mary football team from 1997 to 1999. He was at the University of North Dakota until 2007, before leaving to take over Southern Illinois.

Lennon's first day on the job at the University of Mary will be February 22nd.

[InForum]