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Bernie Bierman

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Not to be confused with Bernard Bierman.

Bernie Bierman
Bierman, c. 1948
Biographical details
Born(1894-03-11)March 11, 1894
Springfield, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMarch 7, 1977(1977-03-07) (aged 82)
Laguna Hills, California, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1913–1915Minnesota
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1919–1921Montana
1923–1924Tulane (assistant)
1925–1926Mississippi A&M
1927–1931Tulane
1932–1941Minnesota
1942Iowa Pre-Flight
1945–1950Minnesota
Basketball
1919–1922Montana
1925–1927Mississippi A&M
1928–1930Tulane
Head coaching record
Overall153–65–12 (football)
89–51 (basketball)
Bowls0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
5 National (1934–1936, 1940–1941)
3 SoCon (1929–1931)
7 Big Ten (1933–1935, 1937–1938, 1940–1941)
Awards
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1955 (profile)

Bernard W. Bierman (March 11, 1894 – March 7, 1977) was an American college football coach best known for his years as head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers football program. Between 1934 and 1941, his Minnesota teams won five national championships (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, and 1941) and seven Big Ten championships (1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, and 1941) and had four perfect seasons (1934, 1935, 1940, 1941). Bierman's five national championships rank him among the greatest college football coaches of all time, as only 2 coaches (Nick Saban (7) and Bear Bryant (6)) have won more.[1]

Bierman was born and raised in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota where he played football, basketball, and track, and was captain of the undefeated 1915 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.

Bierman later served as the head football coach at the University of Montana (1919–1921), Mississippi A&M (1925–1926), Tulane University (1927–1931), Iowa Pre-Flight (1942), and Minnesota (1932–1941, 1945–1950). He compiled a career record of 153–65–12 as a head football coach and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. Bierman was also the head basketball coach at Montana (1919–1922), Mississippi A&M (1925–1927), and Tulane (1928–1930), tallying a career college basketball coaching mark of 89–51.

Early years

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Bierman in 1917

Bierman was born in 1894 to German immigrants on a farm near Springfield, Minnesota.[2] His family moved to Oklahoma when he was a baby, but returned to Minnesota, living in Waseca, Paynesville, Litchfield, and Minneapolis. The family returned to Litchfield in 1908, and it was there that Bierman attended high school and played football, baseball, and track, before graduating in 1912.[3] Bierman's high school athletic success is remarkable given his bout of osteomyelitis which confined him to crutches for 3 years as a boy.[4]

Bierman enrolled at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1912. He played for the freshman football team in 1912 and for the varsity team in 1913, though a charley horse sidelined him early in the season. He became a starter in 1914, and as a senior, he was captain of the undefeated 1915 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.[5][6] He won a total of seven varsity letters at Minnesota, three in football, three in track, and one in basketball.[5]

Bierman was the second of four Bierman brothers to compete in athletics at the University of Minnesota. Older brother Al Bierman played halfback for the football team in 1912 and 1913. George Bierman was the school's top broad jumper. Harlow Bierman was the youngest brother joined the football team in 1917.[7]

Coaching career

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Montana

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In the summer of 1916, Bierman accepted a job as the football coach at Butte High School in Butte, Montana. His Butte team outscored opponents by a total of 300 to six and was recognized as the Montana state champion. When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Bierman enrolled in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Marines from May 1917 until April 1919. He was promoted to second lieutenant on July 1, 1918, and to captain on July 2, 1918. He spent most of the war in Cuba.[8]

After completing his military service, he was hired in May 1919 as head football, basketball and track coach at the University of Montana. He served as head football coach at Montana from 1919 to 1921.[6] The highlight of his time at Montana was an 18–14 upset victory over Washington in October 1920. In the annual rivalry game with Montana State, Bierman's team's played to a tie in 1919 and won consecutive games in 1920 and 1921. While at Montana, Bierman met his wife Clara McKenzie.[9]

Tulane and Mississippi A&M

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In 1922, Bierman returned to Minnesota working as a municipal bond trader for Wells Dickey.[9] He also coached the football team at Pillsbury Academy in Owatonna, Minnesota.[6]

Bierman later recalled that he "couldn't shake my natural love" for football, and in the summer of 1923, he accepted an offer to become a part-time assistant coach at Tulane University under his Minnesota teammate Clark Shaughnessy. He was an assistant coach for the football, basketball, and track teams at Tulane in 1923 and 1924. He continued to work part-time in the bond business while at Tulane.[10]

In April 1925, he was hired as head football coach and associate professor of physical education at Mississippi A&M.[11] The position was full time, marking the end of Bierman's time in the bond business. Bierman later recalled that football was at a "low ebb" at Mississippi A&M when he took the job and recalled that a highlight of his time there was a close 6–0 loss to the undefeated, national champion 1925 Alabama team.[12] He served as the school's head football coach in 1925 and 1926, compiling an 8–8–1 record.

In April 1927, he was hired as Tulane's head football coach.[13] After two rebuilding years, Bierman's Tulane teams did not lose a conference game and won three consecutive Southern Conference championships from 1929 to 1931.[14] The 1929 Tulane team compiled a perfect 9–0 record; the 1930 team was undefeated in conference games but lost to Big Ten champion Northwestern. In his final year at Tulane, Bierman led the 1931 team to an 11–0 record in the regular season and a No. 2 ranking in the final Dickinson System ratings.[15] The 1931 team won a berth in the 1932 Rose Bowl, losing to No. 1 USC by a 21–12 score.

Minnesota

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1932 to 1941

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The Minnesota's Golden Gophers, 1935 National Champions, coaches: Bert Baston, end coach; Bernie Bierman, head coach; and George Hauser, line coach. The fourth varsity tutor, Lowek (Red) Dawson, who coached the backfield, was absent when the photograph was taken

In January 1932, Bierman was hired to replace Fritz Crisler as Minnesota's head football coach. After a 5–3 season in 1932, Bierman led Minnesota on a nine-year run from 1933 to 1941 during which they five won national championships (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, and 1941) and seven Big Ten championships (1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, and 1941) and four perfect seasons (1934, 1935, 1940, 1941). Bierman cited the 1934 victory over Pittsburgh as the "high spot" of the season in which the Golden Gophers "blossomed" into a great team.[16]

Bierman coached nine consensus All-Americans between 1934 and 1941: fullback Pug Lund, halfbacks George Franck and Bruce Smith, end Frank Larson, guard Bill Bevan, and tackles Ed Widseth, Dick Smith, Urban Odson, and Dick Wildung.

Bierman published his book, "Winning Football: Strategy, Psychology and Technique", in 1937.[17]

Bierman's pre-war Minnesota dynasties deployed the single wing offensive formation.[18]

Wartime military service

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Bierman continued to serve in the Marine Corps reserves while coaching at Minnesota. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bierman was ordered to report to active duty with the Marines in January 1942.[19] In March 1942, he was named athletic director and head football coach of the Navy's new pre-flight training school at the University of Iowa.[20] He led the 1942 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football team to a 7–3 record and the No. 2 ranking in the AP's Service Poll.

In May 1943, the Navy announced that Bierman had been assigned to sea duty and would not be available to coach Iowa Pre-Flight in 1943.[21] His order to report for sea duty was remanded, and he spent the summer and early fall of 1943 at Marine Corps base in San Diego. In March 1944, he was appointed as the athletic director at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. He was released by the Navy in October 1944.[22]

1945 to 1950

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After his discharge from the military, Bierman returned to Minnesota as an advisory football coach in October 1944. He resumed his role as Minnesota's head football coach in 1945 and held that post through the 1950 season. His teams did not compete for championships after the war, and he resigned as head coach in November 1950, as his 1950 team compiled a 1–7–1 record.[23]

Overall record and coaching style

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In 16 years as Minnesota's head football coach, he compiled a 93-35-6 record. He was known for his quiet approach, a coach who "did not believe in whipping his players into an emotional state" before they took the field.[2] His teams ran a single-wing formation behind an unbalanced line, emphasizing a conservative running game with little use of the forward pass.[2]

Bierman was an aloof, intense head coach, whose practices were long and difficult, during which Bierman would talk to the players only to criticize their play.[24]

Family and later years

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Bierman remained employed by the University of Minnesota's athletic department until his retirement in the summer of 1959.[6] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.[25][26] He was also inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame in 1958,[27] the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1967,[28] the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1971,[29] and the University of Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame in 1991.[30]

After retiring in 1959, Bierman moved to southern California. During the 1960s, he continued an association with Minnesota as the color commentator on WCCO's radio broadcasts of Minnesota football.[6]

Bierman died on March 7, 1977, at Saddle Community Hospital in Laguna Hills, California, after a long illness. He was survived by his wife Clara and two sons, William A. Bierman and James Bierman.[31]

Head coaching record

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AP#
Montana (Independent) (1919–1921)
1919 Montana 2–3–2
1920 Montana 4–3
1921 Montana 3–3–1
Montana: 9–9–3
Mississippi A&M Aggies (Southern Conference) (1925–1926)
1925 Mississippi A&M 3–4–1 1–4 T–15th
1926 Mississippi A&M 5–4 2–3 14th
Mississippi A&M: 8–8–1 3–7
Tulane Green Wave (Southern Conference) (1927–1931)
1927 Tulane 2–5–1 2–5–1 18th
1928 Tulane 6–3–1 3–3–1 T–10th
1929 Tulane 9–0 6–0 1st
1930 Tulane 8–1 5–0 T–1st
1931 Tulane 11–1 8–0 T–1st L Rose
Tulane: 36–10–2 24–8–2
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten Conference) (1932–1941)
1932 Minnesota 5–3 2–3 6th
1933 Minnesota 4–0–4 2–0–4 T–1st
1934 Minnesota 8–0 5–0 T–1st
1935 Minnesota 8–0 5–0 T–1st
1936 Minnesota 7–1 4–1 T–2nd 1
1937 Minnesota 6–2 5–0 1st 5
1938 Minnesota 6–2 4–1 1st 10
1939 Minnesota 3–4–1 2–3–1 7th
1940 Minnesota 8–0 6–0 1st 1
1941 Minnesota 8–0 5–0 1st 1
Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks (Independent) (1942)
1942 Iowa Pre-Flight 7–3
Iowa Pre-Flight: 7–3
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten Conference) (1945–1950)
1945 Minnesota 4–5 1–5 T–8th
1946 Minnesota 5–4 3–4 5th
1947 Minnesota 6–3 3–3 T–3rd
1948 Minnesota 7–2 5–2 3rd 16
1949 Minnesota 7–2 4–2 3rd 8
1950 Minnesota 1–7–1 1–4–1 7th
Minnesota: 93–35–6 57–28–6
Total: 153–65–12
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ Madsen, Rob (Spring 2023). "The Cost of Conservatism: The University of Minnesota's Lofted Ideals and Fallen Football Teams". Journal of Sport History. 50 (1): 85–100.
  2. ^ a b c "Bernie Bierman, Football Coach Who Led Minnesota to Fame, Dies". The New York Times. March 9, 1977. p. 30.
  3. ^ Bernie Bierman (September 8, 1936). "Bernie Bierman's Own Life Story (part 1)". The Minneapolis Star. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Madsen, Rob (Spring 2023). "The Cost of Conservatism: The University of Minnesota's Lofted Ideals and Fallen Football Teams". Journal of Sport History. 50 (1): 85–100.
  5. ^ a b "Bernie Bierman's Own Life Story (part 2)". The Minneapolis Star. November 9, 1936. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Gophers legend Bernie Bierman dies". Minneapolis Tribune. March 9, 1977. pp. 1A, 6A – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Fourth Bierman Brother at "U" to Gain More Athletic Fame for Family". The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. February 23, 1018. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Bernie Bierman (September 10, 1936). "Bernie Bierman's Life Story (part 3)". The Minneapolis Star. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Bernie Bierman (September 11, 1936). "Bierman's Life Story (part 4)". The Minneapolis Star. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Bernie Bierman (September 12, 1936). "Bernie Bierman's Life Story (part 5)". The Minneapolis Star. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bierman to A. & M." Daily Clarion-Ledger. April 15, 1925. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Bernie Bierman (September 12, 1936). "Bernie Bierman's Life Story (part 5)". The Minneapolis Star. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Bierman Chosen Tulane Coach". The Daily Herald. April 19, 1927. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Bernie Bierman (September 14, 1936). "Bernie Bierman's Life Story (part 6)". The Minneapolis Star. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Dickinson Gives Title to Trojans". Monroe Morning World. December 13, 1931. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Bernie Bierman (September 15, 1936). "Bernie Bierman's Life Story (part 7)". The Minneapolis Star. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Winning Football: Strategy, Psychology and Technique. Whittlesey House. 1937.
  18. ^ Madsen, Rob (Spring 2023). "The Cost of Conservatism: The University of Minnesota's Lofted Ideals and Fallen Football Teams". Journal of Sport History. 50 (1): 85–100.
  19. ^ "Bierman Order Hit Gopher Campus Like Bombshell". The Salt Lake Tribune. January 5, 1942. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Bierman To Iowa". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. March 5, 1942. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Charles Johnson (May 11, 1943). "Lt. Colonel Bernie Bierman Is Ordered to Sea: Gopher Mentor Leaves in June". Minneapolis Star Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Bierman Released, to Rejoin Gophers Oct. 15". The Minneapolis Star. October 4, 1944. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Bierman Quits as 'U' Football Coach: Will Stay Till End of Season". The Minneapolis Star. November 13, 1950. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Madsen, Rob (Spring 2023). "The Cost of Conservatism: The University of Minnesota's Lofted Ideals and Fallen Football Teams". Journal of Sport History. 50 (1): 85–100.
  25. ^ Dick Gordon (July 25, 1955). "Gophers Bierman, Spears in Hall of Fame". The Minneapolis Star. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Bernie Bierman". National Football Foundation. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "Celebrate Installation of Hall of Fame". Minneapolis Morning Tribune. December 17, 1958. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Three men enter La. Hall of Fame". Lake Charles American Press. January 20, 1967. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Bernie Bierman". Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  30. ^ "Bernie Bierman". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  31. ^ "Bernie Bierman dies at 82". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. March 9, 1977. p. 21. Retrieved March 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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