The Bismarck Tribune

5 Prep Coaches
Claim 'Dean' Title

Harley Robertson Among Those
Who Have Coached 10 Years
at Same N. D. School

(By The Associated Press)

Five veteran prep mentors apparently have equal claims to the unofficial title of "Dean of North Dakota Coaches."

Twice in the past two years the mantle has been handed down, first by Joe Cutting, veteran of 20 years of coaching at Williston, and then by Leonard McMahan, who relinquished the role after 12 years at the helm of the Mandan Braves.

Russ Osborne, who would have begun his tenth year as head of the Mott high school athletic plant, was the logical successor to McMahan, but he too left the post and was replaced by S. Victor Hilden.

That brought 10-year veterans into the picture and of these there are at least five, including Harley Robertson, director of athletics and basketball tutor at Minot high; Ed Bohnolf, head coach and athletic director at Grand Forks; Harry Rice, cage mentor at Fargo; George Newgard at Hillsboro, and L. J. Elias at Harvey.

Marty Engh is close, having satisfied fans and alumni for nine years at Wahpeton while Jack Ehlers at Ellendale, Doug Smith at Devils Lake and Leland Vinz at Leeds are beginning their eighth seasons.

Other veterans in state high school coaching circles and the number of years at their present posts include Harry Bridgeford at Fargo, 7; A. D. MacMaster at Rugby, 6; Charles L. Denton at Dickinson and Ernie Gates at Jamestown, 5; and M. J. Tobias at Beach and Johnny Mach at Williston, 4.

Two new coaches entered the Class A field this year. Francis Grunenfelder took over McMahan's post after serving as his assistant for two years, and Loyd Strom was elected at Valley City to succeed Joe Rognstad, who accepted the head coaching position at Concordia college in Moorhead.

Other first-year coaches around the state are Lloyd Murphy at Cooperstown, L. C. Loerch at Hazen, Ted Meinhover at Wilton, Ernest Manney at LaMoure and Alvin Dyke at Fairmount.