BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Since 2003, there’s been one constant for U-Mary Women’s Basketball: Rick Neumann.

“When this opportunity came up at the University of Mary, it was just something I couldn’t pass up to come back home,” said U-Mary Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Neumann. “That, to me, is the best part of this.”

A native of Fessenden in a Division 2 head coaching position.

“Being a North Dakota guy, coaching at a North Dakota college, there just aren’t that many people like that,” said Neumann. “I think when you have a chance to work at a place that you love, you’ll never work another day in your life.”

Which made it all the more difficult when Coach Neumann heard the news; that he was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.

“I went through a litany of drugs, I lost over 60 pounds. I went into the hospital when I was at my worst at 180 pounds and I came out at 119,” said Neumann.

But from the get-go, Neumann received strong support from his team.

“From when I was first diagnosed, Coach Fridlay, I offered to resign, and he was like, no just get healthy, we want you here,” said Neumann.

Coach Neumann remained at U-Mary as an assistant coach until 2012, when he became the head coach. Once again, he had battles with his health. And once again, his school stood by him.

“When I got sick as a head coach, again the University was like, you do what you need to do, your spot is your spot and we’re here for you. To me that just says everything about this place. I remember waking up from my surgery in Rochester, and having a text message from Monsignor Shea, asking how I was doing, and I was like, boy that’s pretty cool when the President of the University’s checking in on you,” said Neumann. “It tells me I’m in the right place, and god wanted me here for a reason,”

Neumann still wonders what could’ve been for his past teams.

“The girls knew I was sick and they knew I cared, but we weren’t able to be as successful as we have been when I’m healthy. So, I feel bad for those players, they didn’t get the best version of me. For me it adds a layer of boy I really want to be successful here because those people at the university, they stuck with me during some really tough times,”

With a talented roster, Coach Neumann and his program are both quite healthy and have lofty goals on the horizon.

“I would like to coach the University of Mary into another NCAA tournament, I’d ultimately like to get us back to that level. We were close last year, probably, the proverbial first team out which was a tough pill to swallow,” said Neumann.

Goals he and his team are working toward every day

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