Frontier Notebook: Former Light Kyle Samson is the right man to lead Tech

It’s basketball season and this weekly notebook is usually reserved for just Frontier Conference hoops. But there was a pretty big piece of football news in the Frontier last week, as Montana Tech formally named former Montana State University-Northern All-American quarterback and assistant coach Kyle Samson as the Orediggers’ new head coach.

Samson, who was in his first year as Tech’s offensive coordinator, had been named interim head coach for the Diggers’ after Chuck Morrell announced he was leaving for a position at NCAA Fresno State.

"Coach Samson is the right guy for Montana Tech," Montana Tech Chancellor Dr. Les Cook said. "He not only cares deeply about football but more importantly, he cares about each of our players as individuals.”

"I am very humbled and honored for this great opportunity," Samson said. "Being the next head football coach at Montana Tech fulfills a lifelong dream of mine.”

In essence, Samson has rocketed up the coaching ranks since his playing day as a Light. He came to Northern in 2004 to play for his dad, then first-year Northern head coach Mark Samson, who is currently the head coach at Great Falls High. As Northern’s quarterback, Samson led the Lights to their only playoff appearance back in 2006, was All-Conference twice, was the 2006 Frontier Offensive Player of the Year and an NAIA All-American.

Samson took up coaching thereafter. He served under Mark for seven years at Northern, as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, before leaving for the head coach job at Flathead High in Kalispell in 2014. Samson was in Kalispell until last fall when he took the job at Tech, and for the first time since 2013 he returned to Blue Pony Stadium when the Orediggers beat the Lights during the Sept. 26 blizzard game.

Though neither Northern nor Tech has released its 2020 football schedule as of yet, eventually, Samson will return to Blue Pony Stadium as head coach of Tech. He is also now the second coach in the Frontier to have either played or coached in Havre, or both, joining current Carroll College head coach and former Havre Blue Pony Troy Purcell.

It was only a matter of time

Speaking of Tech, it’s now safe to say the Montana Tech men’s basketball program is back. After many years of struggle, Adam Hiatt has turned things around, and the Tech team that will come to Havre Saturday night is dangerous, having won three in a row, including beating the Lights two weeks ago in Butte.

Returning star Taylor England has been a beast for the Diggers, but, newcomer Sindou Diallo and his 21 points per game have allowed the Orediggers to take the next step for Hiatt, who was a highly successful coach at Westminster College.

And now Hiatt is showing that his team, which stunned the Montana Grizzlies back in November, is for real.

And for good measure, the Tech women are much better than their record would indicate. After all, Tech’s Mesa Williams leads the Frontier in scoring at 17 ppg, while teammate Tavia Rooney leads the league in rebounds at 11 per night. And those two will help the Tech women join the Oredigger men in creating what should be a pretty exciting night in Havre.

Frontier Honors

Taylor England of Montana Tech was selected the Frontier Conference’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Kiara Burlage of Lewis-Clark State was named the Frontier Conference’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Kenya Lorton and Mascio McCadney of Northern were nominated.