JIM MALOSKY: DISTINGUISHED MINNESOTAN

Pretty cool honor for longtime UMD football coach Jim Malosky. This information provided by UMD's athletic department.

Legendary University of Minnesota Duluth football coach Jim Malosky will be presented with the 2009 Distinguished Minnesotan Award by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame at its annual awards dinner on April 19 in St. Paul, Minn. The Distinguished Minnesotan Award honors an individual who has made a lifelong contribution to football in the state of Minnesota.

Malosky, a native of Crosby, Minn., retired from the UMD head coaching ranks in February 1998 after a memorable and prosperous 40-year run. At the time, he was the winningest head coach in NCAA Division II history and held down the No. 11 spot on college football's all-time coaching win list, amassing a 255-125-13 overall record -- for a .665 winning percentage. Malosky, who finished with a sub-.500 record just twice during his final 28 seasons on the sidelines, guided the Bulldogs to three Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles (1960, 1961, and 1973) and six Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships (1979, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 1996). In addition, no less than 20 of his players attained various All-American honors during his tenure and five went on t play in the National Football League. Chosen the Coach of the Year by the MIAC, the NSIC, and NAA District 13 on 10 occasions during his four decades of service, Malosky is a member of the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame (1999), the University of Minnesota Hall of Fame (1996) and the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1994). The Bulldogs' recently-renovated home football facility now bears his name -- James S. Malosky Stadium.

I can think of no more fitting or deserving recipient. Congratulations, Coach Malosky!