Earle Solomonson
Earle Solomonson (born September 2, 1947) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at North Dakota State University from 1985 to 1986 and at Montana State University from 1987 to 1991, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 39–42–1. Solomonson won back-to-back NCAA Division II Football Championships with the North Dakota State Bison in 1985 and 1986. He played college football at Augsburg College, from which he graduated in 1969.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 2, 1947 |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1965–1968 | Augsburg |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1969–1974 | Richfield HS (MN) (DC) |
| 1975–1978 | Park Center HS (MN) |
| 1979–1983 | North Dakota State (DL) |
| 1984 | North Dakota State (DC) |
| 1985–1986 | North Dakota State |
| 1987–1991 | Montana State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 39–42–1 (college) 30–7 (high school) |
| Tournaments | 6–0 (NCAA D-II playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 NCAA Division II (1985–1986) 2 NCC (1985–1986) | |
| Awards | |
| AFCA Division II COY (1986) | |
Solomonson began his coaching career in 1969 as an assistant at Richfield High School in Richfield, Minnesota. He was the head football coach at Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota from 1975 to 1978, leading his teams to a record of 30–7 in four seasons.[1][2] Solomonson joined the coaching staff at North Dakota State in 1979 as defensive line coach under head coach Don Morton. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in 1984, succeeding Mike Daly, who left the program to coach at Idaho State University.[3]
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State Bison (North Central Conference) (1985–1986) | |||||||||
| 1985 | North Dakota State | 11–2–1 | 7–1–1 | 1st | W NCAA Division II Championship | ||||
| 1986 | North Dakota State | 13–0 | 9–0 | 1st | W NCAA Division II Championship | ||||
| North Dakota State: | 24–2–1 | 16–1–1 | |||||||
| Montana State Bobcats (Big Sky Conference) (1987–1991) | |||||||||
| 1987 | Montana State | 1–10 | 0–8 | 9th | |||||
| 1988 | Montana State | 4–7 | 4–4 | T–4th | |||||
| 1989 | Montana State | 4–7 | 2–6 | T–6th | |||||
| 1990 | Montana State | 4–7 | 3–5 | T–5th | |||||
| 1991 | Montana State | 2–9 | 1–7 | T–8th | |||||
| Montana State: | 15–40 | 10–30 | |||||||
| Total: | 39–42–1 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- "Solomonson To Head Football at Park Center". The Minneapolis Star. Minneapolis, Minnesota. May 30, 1975. p. 9B. Retrieved April 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com
. - "Solomonson takes post at N.D. State". Minneapolis Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. March 29, 1979. p. 4D. Retrieved April 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- "Daily Leaves Bison". Rapid City Journal. Minneapolis, Minnesota. May 30, 1975. p. 9B. Retrieved April 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .