Bernie 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.

  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.