COACHING STAFF
Ben DavisDefensive Coordinator
Ben Davis enters his ninth season on the sidelines for the Marauders in 2022 and will be transitioning back to coaching the defensive line after three seasons as the linebackers coach. He became the defensive coordinator in the spring of 2020 after getting elevated to the position from co-defensive coordinator after the 2019 season. In 2021, after his first season as defensive coordinator, the defense improved in several statistical categories including points per game, total defense, rush defense, 3rd down defense, and redzone defense.
The 2021 season was highlighted with the improvement on 3rd downs and in the redzone on defense, climbing the conference rankings in both categories. On 3rd downs, the defense improved from 16th in the NSIC to 7th, going from a conversion percentage of 47.3% in 2019 to 39.5% in 2021. In the red zone, the defense improved from 10th in the NSIC to tied for 6th, improving over 2% on scoring drives allowed when in the redzone going from 80.8% to 78.7%.
After spending a season away, Davis returned to the Marauders in February 2019 as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. The linebacker group was led by Paul Guptill who became an all-conference performer. Paul led the team in sacks (3), tackles for loss (9.5), forced fumbles (2) and defensive touchdowns (2). Guptill was second on the team with 81 tackles (34 solo). He was also named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the final game of the 2019 season, returning an interception 39 yards for a score, getting a sack, and totaling nine tackles.
Davis spent one season coaching at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL, during the 2018 season. After beginning his time there as the defensive line coach for the Eagles, Davis was promoted to defensive coordinator at the NCAA Division III school in the fifth week of the season. Benedictine finished second in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in sacks and defensive tackle Jack Drummond was a second team all-conference selection, one of two Eagles defensive players to receive all-league honors.
Prior to his year away from UMary, Davis coached the defensive line in 2016 and 2017. The defensive line was anchored by defensive tackle Brock Pittsley, an all-conference performer in 2017 who recorded seven sacks (3rd most in the NSIC). In that two year period, UMary jumped eight slots in sacks on the Northern Sun leaderboard, moving from 16th to 8th.
After a brief stint at UW-Stout, he returned to coach the Marauders full time in the spring of 2015 as the offensive line coach. The UMary offensive line allowed sacks on just 4.84 percent of drop backs, the fifth-best figure in the league. With the transition of offensive philosophy, he returned to his home on the defensive line for the 2016 season.
Davis originally came to UMary in 2013 as a graduate assistant coaching the running backs. He moved to defensive ends coach for the 2014 season, when he worked with Marauders all-conference defensive end Troy Guptill who finished fourth in the NSIC that season in sacks with ten.
He started his collegiate coaching experience at his alma mater in 2012, where Davis guided the MacMurray College Highlanders starting running back to second team all-conference honors.
A starter at both defensive end and nose tackle at MacMurray, Davis earned UMAC academic all-conference honors in 2010 and was recognized by the Highlanders athletic department for graduating with the highest academic achievement for a male athlete during the 2011-12 academic year.
Davis graduated from MacMurray College in 2011 with a degree in Sports Management and a minor in coaching. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration from UMary in 2014. Davis’ wife Liz, works as an athletic trainer at UMary working with several of our athletic programs.
Mark MartinCo-Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach
Mark Martin enters his fifth season with the Marauders as the Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. A veteran in the Northern Sun, Martin joined the University of Mary football staff in December 2017 after eight seasons at Northern State University as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator.
After joining the Northern State staff as Offensive Coordinator for the 2010 season, Martin became the Wolves Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator in 2011 and helped create a dynamic, league-leading offense. While at NSU, he has coached quarterbacks, punters, receivers and running backs. Martin has coached seven first team all-conference players and created the best red zone offense in the NSIC in 2017.
Three of Martin’s offensive players earned first or second all-NSIC honors and the team tied the school game scoring record. He coached five all-conference players in 2015. In 2014, Martin led the explosive Wolves offense to one of its best in years. The NSU offense ranked at the top of the NSIC in scoring offense, passing offense, and total offense; while ranking first in red zone scoring. Jared Jacobson, a First Team All-Conference Selection quarterback, led the NSU front finishing his career third all-time in the NSIC in total career yards. Jacobson’s career was also highlighted with school records in single season passing completions (260), single season total offense (3,557), career touchdowns (71), and total career offense (10,199).
Martin spent seven seasons at Jamestown (2003-09), including six as the Offensive Coordinator. He coached 17 all-conference players, two conference players of the year and two All-Americans with the Jimmies. While at Jamestown, the Jimmies made it to the national playoffs in 2006 and 2007, as well as a Dakota Athletic Conference title (2007). The Jimmies led the DAC in scoring three straight years (2006-08) and was the league’s top rushing offense in 2006.
A 2001 graduate of St. Cloud State University with a degree in Social Science and Secondary Education, Martin began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant (2000-03) and helped the Huskies win a conference title in 2002. He coached tight ends, offensive tackles, punters and quarterbacks, including two all-conference performers and one All-American.
A native of Maple Grove, MN, Martin and his wife Trisha have two children, Grace (17) and Maria (12).
Nathan FrameSpecial Teams Coordinator / Wide Receivers Caoch
Nathan Frame joined the University of Mary football program as Wide Receivers Coach in February 2021 after coaching collegiately at the NCAA Division I and Division III levels for four seasons.
Frame spent the 2020 year at Louisiana College as the Wide Receivers & Tight Ends Coach/Special Teams Coordinator.
In the three seasons before LC, Frame coached at Southern Illinois University (DI-FCS). In 2017, Frame served as an Offensive Quality Control Coach for the Salukis. In 2018, he was promoted to the Defensive/Special Teams Graduate Assistant position assisting with the Linebackers. In Spring 2019, Frame moved over to the offensive side of the ball as an Offensive/Special Teams Graduate Assistant assisting with the Wide Receivers. In the Fall of 2019, he assisted with the Offensive Line as the Offensive/Special Teams Graduate Assistant.
Prior to SIU, Frame played football at Sterling (KS) College. He played in 44 career games, helping his team to a conference championship and NAIA playoff berths in 2013 and 2016. For his career, he accumulated 80 catches and 14 touchdowns. As a senior, Frame earned first team Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference honors and was also named to the conference’s Scholar-Athlete team.
In addition to football, he excelled as an all-conference indoor and outdoor triple jumper for the Sterling College track & field team.
Frame graduated from Sterling College with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 2017 and a master's of science degree in kinesiology from Southern Illinois University in 2019.
Frame moves to Bismarck with his wife, Erika.
Tom JohnsonAssistant Football Caoch