The positive impact of Coach Samson

I was a member of the Lights football team from 2006-2009. I currently work as a teacher in Helena.

I was greatly disappointed when learning that coach Mark Samson was no longer the football coach at Montana State University-Northern.

Coach Samson brought countless student-athletes to Havre to play for the Lights, who including myself would not have attended Northern if it wasn't for Coach Samson allowing us to live our dreams to play college football.

As a coach, I run into many former teammates who are now coaching and teaching in Montana. I see them at coaching clinics, state track meets and football games. We often visit about our fond memories of our time playing football under the direction of Coach Samson for the Lights.

The mentoring we received from Coach Samson was second to none. Many of us may not have gone into the profession if it was not for the positive influence he had on us.

Coach Samson taught us as players many things: respect, accountability, loyalty and teamwork. These things more valuable than anything I learned from any class I took in college. The positive impact Coach Samson had on the student athletes he guided is so large it is impossible to measure. My teammates and myself will be forever grateful for everything Coach taught us, from how to properly block and tackle to more importantly how carry ourselves in our everyday lives.

Tom Kain

Helena