Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Springfield, Minnesota, U.S. | March 11, 1894
Died | March 7, 1977 Laguna Hills, California, U.S. | (aged 82)
Playing career | |
Football | |
1913–1915 | Minnesota |
Position(s) | Halfback |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
Football | |
1919–1921 | Montana |
1923–1924 | Tulane (assistant) |
1925–1926 | Mississippi A&M |
1927–1931 | Tulane |
1932–1941 | Minnesota |
1942 | Iowa Pre-Flight |
1945–1950 | Minnesota |
Basketball | |
1919–1922 | Montana |
1925–1927 | Mississippi A&M |
1928–1930 | Tulane |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 153–65–12 (football) 89–51 (basketball) |
Bowls | 0–1 |
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.