DuWayne Deitz

Deitz was born on December 7, 1930. He attended Minneapolis Southwest High School and was named conference football MVP in 1948.[1] After graduating from there, Deitz served with the United States Marines in the Korean Conflict, being awarded the Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation.[2]

In 1952, Deitz joined the University of St. Thomas, where he was team captain in football and track. Deitz was named Catholic All-American in 1954 and also was a MIAC champion in shot put.[3] He played offensive tackle.[2] Deitz graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Education degree.[3]

In 1956, Deitz was hired by Minneapolis Marshall High School as an assistant football coach, wrestling coach, and track and field coach.[4] He was promoted to head football coach in 1958, after the resignation of Norm Kragseth.[4] He was named Minneapolis City Coach of the Year in 1961.[2]

On April 12, 1962, Deitz resigned from Minneapolis Marshall to accept a position as head football coach at White Bear Lake High School.[4] "Marshall's enrollment is down and it will be down more by next fall. I just feel in the long run I can do better coaching at a school like White Bear," he said.[4] Deitz ended up coaching eight seasons at White Bear Lake, compiling an overall record of 50–18–4.[3] His final game with the team was the 1969 Suburban Conference football championship game, a 25–20 win over Kellogg High School.[5][6]

In January 1970, Deitz, one of 30 applicants, was chosen to be the next head football coach at the University of St. Thomas.[3] In his first year, the St. Thomas Tommies compiled a record of 1–9.[7] They improved to 3–7 in 1971, 6–4 in 1972, and by his fourth season the Tommies went 9–1 for their first conference championship since 1956.[7][8] For this, he was named the 1973 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Coach of the Year.[2] In the subsequent years St. Thomas compiled records of 5–4 (1974), 3–6 (1975), 7–3 (1976), 4–5–1 (1977), and 5–4 (1978).[7] In 1979, he was awarded for the second time MIAC Coach of the Year, after stunning 7–1 St. John's in the season finale, 30–0, to force a four-way tie for the conference championship between St. Thomas, St. John's, Concordia, and St. Olaf.[2][7]

Deitz later stated that the 1979 season "was probably the most frustrating but also most rewarding" in his career as a coach.[2] The Tommies started the season dealing with several starters who decided not to return, multiple injuries, and one player's death.[2] They started the season 1–2, but had a 4–0 home record and closed the year with four consecutive wins.[2] "We lacked depth, yet we had some freshmen that came through for us," Deitz said.[2] Among the players on the roster that year was wide receiver Jim Gustafson, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Concordia and later made it to the National Football League (NFL).[2]

Following the 1980 season, in which the Tommies went 3–6–1, Deitz resigned.[9][7] His career record at the school was 52–52–2.[9] "I've been thinking about giving up football for some time," he said.[9] "It's time I turned over the job to somebody else. I'd like to start spending more time with my wife and family."[9]

While at St. Thomas, Deitz coached each of his three sons: Dan, a defensive back; Doug, a quarterback; and Dave, a center.[10] Doug Deitz was later inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]

Deitz later served as a member of the St. Thomas physical education faculty.[9] From 1981 to 1984, he served as a member of the White Bear Lake school board.[2] He was inducted into the White Bear Lake High Athletic Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Old Timers Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.[2]

Deitz died on August 22, 2018, at the age of 87.[2]