Samson brothers inducted into MSU-N Hall of Fame

Brothers, Kyle and Marc Samson made history for the Montana State University-Northern football program, leading the team to the NAIA playoffs in 2006.

Over a decade later, they were recognized for their historic contributions to the program and to the school as they were inducted into the Northern Athletics Hall of Fame Wednesday night in an outdoor ceremony on the MSU-N campus.

And they entered the hall of fame the same way they led the Lights all those years ago - as brothers.

"Very honored and humbled to be inducted and really an awesome night to be inducted with my brother," Kyle Samson said. "Very special and something that I'm very proud of."

Both players were nominated and voted unanimously by a selection committee to receive the honors. The Northern Hall of Fame recognizes players, coaches and managers who have made a significant impact on athletics at MSU-N.

Kyle and Marc Samson made a huge impact when they arrived at Northern in 2004. The MSU-Northern football program was a new program, struggling to find its way when they got there. But thanks to the Samsons and their father and head coach Mark Samson, they got the team to the national playoffs in 2006.

"It was one of the worst programs in the country and then in three years, (we're) making the playoffs and actually competing for a national title," Marc Samson said. "What we did was pretty special. A lot of work, but it was fun."

Kyle Samson made his impact playing quarterback for the Lights. After he played his freshman year for the University of Montana, he transferred to MSU-N and started for the Lights at quarterback 2004-2006. He was named an all-conference selection in all three seasons while also earning two NAIA All-American selections (2005, 2006) and the Frontier Conference Most Valuable Player in 2006. He made sure to etch his name into the Northern record books during his time here as he set 21 school records.

He also performed well in academics at MSU-N as he was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection and he won the National Football Foundations Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards and the MSU-Northern Student Excellence Award in his senior season. He finished his academic career with a bachelor's degree in health/physical education in 2007.

After he graduated, he remained at Northern as the team's offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2013. During that time, the Lights were a top 10 offense in the nation. He eventually moved on from the program and became the head coach at Flathead High School in Kalispell. He now serves as the head coach of Montana Tech. As he has transitioned from a player to a coach, he credits his father to teaching him to be a coach.

"He's taught me everything about the game and I wouldn't be where I'm at without my dad," Kyle Samson said. "He's my hero and he's my mentor and everything that I know about the game of football I learned from my dad so just super thankful for him."

On the other side of the ball, Marc Samson led the team on defense as their safety 2004-2007. He picked up many accolades during his four years at Northern such as a Second Team All-Conference Safety in 2004, First Team All-Conference from 2005 to 2007 and First Team NAIA All-American at Safety in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he led the NAIA with 26 passes defended and was second in the nation with eight interceptions. He also holds several Northern records with three interceptions in a game, eight interceptions in one season, 17 career interceptions, 26 passes defended in a season and 53 career passes defended.

Like his older brother, Marc Samson excelled in academics. He was a three-time NAIA Academic All-American and graduated with Honors and a Bachelor of Arts in health promotion in 2007. He then went on to graduate from the University of Montana School of Physical Therapy in 2011 and now works as a physical therapist in Helena.

During their tenure at MSU-N, both brothers were coached by their father. Not only did he coach them both in college, but he got the chance to coach them both at Capitol High School in Helena. Since he had the chance to coach them for eight years, he witnessed what made them deserving of a spot in the Northern Hall of Fame.

"For them to be inducted into a collegiate hall of fame, I think it's something special," Samson, the winningest coach in the Northern program's history, said. "It goes far beyond what they did on the football field, (it's) what they did in the classroom, what they did in this community and what they're doing now as dads."

Kyle and Marc Samson believe they would not have been the players they were without the influence of their father. During his speech, Marc Samson reminisced on how he got the chance to serve as a ball boy for the Carroll College football team as his father and grandfather coached the team. Both their father and mother pushed them to practice as children so they would be at their best when they got on the field.

"I obviously wouldn't be here without them today, we were very fortunate to grow up around football," Marc Samson said. "They pushed us to be better, to work hard, to succeed."

As Kyle and Marc look back on their time at MSU-N, they do not think about all their individual accomplishments but the adversity they faced coming into the program. Through their hard work and determination, they were able to turn the program around, which taught them a lesson they will not soon forget.

"Just to overcome adversity and really just the hard work," said Kyle Samson on what he learned from his time as a Light. "If you work extremely hard, you're going to be successful."