College Football Coach. Born of pioneer parents on a farm near Springfield, Minn. Bernie was a 1919 graduate of Minnesota he had captained the 1915 Gophers who won the Big Ten championship. Bernie began his coaching career in prep ball at Billings, Montana, and then, following his first tour of duty with the Marines in World War I, he took over as head coach at University of Montana in 1919. He later wound up serving as the head coach at both Mississippi A&M and later at Tulane. In 1932 the "Grey Eagle" came home to take over as the head coach of the Gophers, where he became a legend. During his first 10 years as Minnesota's head coach from 1932 to 1941, better known as the "Golden Era," the Gophers not only won seven Big Ten titles, they also won five national championships in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940 and 1941. In 1942 Bernie decided to rejoin the military for a three-year stint to serve in WWII. He returned to coaching in 1945 and would coach the Gophers for six more seasons before retiring with a 93-35-6 career record at Minnesota 146-62-13 overall. Bernie was married to Clara McKenzie Bierman. They had two sons. He was a recipient of numerous Coach of the Year awards, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. Bernie was 82 at the time of his death.
College Football Coach. Born of pioneer parents on a farm near Springfield, Minn. Bernie was a 1919 graduate of Minnesota he had captained the 1915 Gophers who won the Big Ten championship. Bernie began his coaching career in prep ball at Billings, Montana, and then, following his first tour of duty with the Marines in World War I, he took over as head coach at University of Montana in 1919. He later wound up serving as the head coach at both Mississippi A&M and later at Tulane. In 1932 the "Grey Eagle" came home to take over as the head coach of the Gophers, where he became a legend. During his first 10 years as Minnesota's head coach from 1932 to 1941, better known as the "Golden Era," the Gophers not only won seven Big Ten titles, they also won five national championships in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940 and 1941. In 1942 Bernie decided to rejoin the military for a three-year stint to serve in WWII. He returned to coaching in 1945 and would coach the Gophers for six more seasons before retiring with a 93-35-6 career record at Minnesota 146-62-13 overall. Bernie was married to Clara McKenzie Bierman. They had two sons. He was a recipient of numerous Coach of the Year awards, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. Bernie was 82 at the time of his death.
Bio by: Shock
Family Members
Advertisement
