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'''Roy Griak''' (October 5, 1923 – July 9, 2015) was a [[Cross Country Running|cross country]] and [[track and field]] coach.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-xc/mtt/roy_griak_760491.html|title=GOPHERSPORTS.COM Roy Griak Bio :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Men's Cross Country|website=www.gophersports.com|access-date=2016-04-06}}</ref> He was the head [[Cross Country Running|cross country]] and [[track and field]] coach at the [[University of Minnesota]] from 1963–1996. In 2001, he was inducted into the [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]].
{{Orphan|date=April 2016}}

'''Roy Griak''' (October 5, 1923 – July 9, 2015) is a [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]] cross country and [[Track and field|Track and Field]] coach (inducted in 2001).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-xc/mtt/roy_griak_760491.html|title=GOPHERSPORTS.COM Roy Griak Bio :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Men's Cross Country|website=www.gophersports.com|access-date=2016-04-06}}</ref> He was the head cross country and [[Track and field|Track and Field]] coach at the [[University of Minnesota]] from 1963-1996.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Griak was born in [[Montana]] but raised in [[Duluth, Minnesota]]. He served three years in the Army [[Infantry]] during World War II. After the war, he enrolled at the [[University of Minnesota]] ran for Coach Jim Kelly. He was a [[Letterman (sports)|letter-winner]] in both Cross-Country and Track and Field.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-xc/spec-rel/092611aaa.html|title=A Truly Golden Gopher|website=www.gophersports.com|access-date=2016-04-06}}</ref> Griak earned his [[bachelor's degree]] in education and later also obtained his [[master's degree]].
Griak was born in [[Montana]] but raised in [[Duluth, Minnesota]]. He served three years in the [[US Army]] [[Infantry]] during [[World War II]]. After the war, he enrolled at the [[University of Minnesota]], where he was a [[Letterman (sports)|letter-winner]] in both cross country and track and field.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-xc/spec-rel/092611aaa.html|title=A Truly Golden Gopher|website=www.gophersports.com|access-date=2016-04-06}}</ref> Griak earned his [[bachelor's degree]] in education and later also obtained his [[master's degree]].


==Career==
==Career==
Griak taught at Nicollet High School in Nicollet Minnesota and started the track and field program at Nicollet, he later went on to teach at Mankato Public Schools.<ref name=":0" /> Those jobs led him to St. Louis Park High School where he continued teaching and took on his first coaching position.
Griak taught at Nicollet High School in [[Nicollet, Minnesota]], where he started a track and field program and coached 5 sports.<ref name="DNT">{{cite web |title=Longtime Gophers track and field coach Griak dies at 91 |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/longtime-gophers-track-and-field-coach-griak-dies-at-91 |website=Duluth News Tribune |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> He later went on to teach and coach at [[Mankato, Minnesota|Mankato]] Public Schools<ref name=":0" /> and [[St. Louis Park High School]].<ref name="DNT" />


In 1962, Kelly retired from the [[University of Minnesota]] and Griak filled his vacancy, taking a pay cut from $12,000 to $8,500. He spent 33 years as the head coach, and continued for 19 years as an assistant coach. On July 9, 2015 Roy Griak died at the age of 91.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/longtime-u-track-coach-griak-dead-at-91/313092911/|title=Roy Griak, longtime Gophers track and field coach, dies at 91|website=Star Tribune|access-date=2016-04-06}}</ref> Gophers athletics director Norwood Teague said in a statement that "Roy went to Minnesota, coached here for more than 30 years, worked here for more than 50 years and impacted more lives than almost anybody in the history of athletic department."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wctrib.com/sports/college/3784009-roy-griak-former-gophers-cross-country-and-track-coach-dies|title=Roy Griak, former Gophers cross country and track coach, die...|website=West Central Tribune|access-date=2016-04-08}}</ref>
In 1962, [[Jim Kelly (coach)|Jim Kelly]] retired from the [[University of Minnesota]] and Griak filled his vacancy, taking a pay cut from $12,000 to $8,500. He spent 33 years as the head coach, and continued for 19 years as an assistant coach. On July 9, 2015 Roy Griak died at the age of 91.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/longtime-u-track-coach-griak-dead-at-91/313092911/|title=Roy Griak, longtime Gophers track and field coach, dies at 91|website=Star Tribune|access-date=2016-04-06}}</ref> Gophers athletics director [[Norwood Teague]] said in a statement that "Roy went to Minnesota, coached here for more than 30 years, worked here for more than 50 years and impacted more lives than almost anybody in the history of athletic department."<ref name="DNT" />


===Coaching accomplishments===
===Coaching accomplishments===
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* 33 years, head coach, University of Minnesota
* 33 years, head coach, University of Minnesota
* 19 years, assistant coach, University of Minnesota
* 19 years, assistant coach, University of Minnesota
* [[Big Ten Conference]] Cross-Country titles in 1964 and 1969,and runners-up in 1968
* [[Big Ten Conference]] cross country titles in 1964 and 1969, and runners-up in 1968
* Fourth place finish at [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] cross-country finals
* Fourth place finish at [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] cross country finals
* [[Big Ten Conference]] Conference title, 1968
* Big Ten Conference Conference title, 1968
* Coached 47 Cross-Country and Track and Field All-American athletes, including three NCAA Champions and 60 Big Ten individual champions.<ref name=":2" />
* Coached 47 cross country and track and field All-American athletes, including three NCAA champions and 60 Big Ten individual champions.<ref name=":2" />


===Other accomplishments===
===Other accomplishments===
* Roy Griak co-founded the Twin Cities Race for the Cure, which over the years, has raised millions of dollars towards breast cancer research.<ref name=":2" />
* Roy Griak co-founded the Twin Cities Race for the Cure, which over the years, has raised millions of dollars towards breast cancer research.<ref name=":2" />
* Over his time coaching at the U of M, Griak raised more than two million dollars for the Gopher Cross-Crountry and Track and Field teams.<ref name=":2" />
* Over his time coaching at the U of M, Griak raised more than two million dollars for the Gopher cross country and track and field teams.<ref name=":2" />


===Roy Griak Invitational===
===Roy Griak Invitational===
The Roy Griak Invitational was named in his honor and has become one of the nations largest Cross-Country events. Today it is one of the largest and most exciting meet for athletes to participate in. Each Cross-Country season the Roy Griak holds six collegiate races (Division I-III) and four high school races ([[Varsity team|varsity]] and [[Junior varsity team|junior varsity]]) totaling up to over 4,000 runners.<ref name=":1" />
The Roy Griak Invitational was named in his honor and has become one of the nation's largest cross country events. The meet consists of six collegiate races (Division I-III) and four high school races ([[Varsity team|varsity]] and [[Junior varsity team|junior varsity]]) totaling over 4,000 runners.<ref name=":1" />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-xc/mtt/roy_griak_760491.html Roy Griak Bio on Gopher Sports]
*[http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-xc/mtt/roy_griak_760491.html Roy Griak Bio on Gopher Sports]
*[https://www.facebook.com/TheGriak Roy Griak Invitational]
*[https://www.facebook.com/TheGriak Roy Griak Invitational]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Griak, Roy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griak, Roy}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers coaches]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers men's cross country runners]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers cross country coaches]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers track and field coaches]]
[[Category:American track and field coaches]]
[[Category:American track and field coaches]]
[[Category:College cross country coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports coaches from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Sports coaches from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Duluth, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Duluth, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers athletes]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]

Latest revision as of 19:47, 6 November 2023

Roy Griak (October 5, 1923 – July 9, 2015) was a cross country and track and field coach.[1] He was the head cross country and track and field coach at the University of Minnesota from 1963–1996. In 2001, he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Early life

[edit]

Griak was born in Montana but raised in Duluth, Minnesota. He served three years in the US Army Infantry during World War II. After the war, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, where he was a letter-winner in both cross country and track and field.[2] Griak earned his bachelor's degree in education and later also obtained his master's degree.

Career

[edit]

Griak taught at Nicollet High School in Nicollet, Minnesota, where he started a track and field program and coached 5 sports.[3] He later went on to teach and coach at Mankato Public Schools[1] and St. Louis Park High School.[3]

In 1962, Jim Kelly retired from the University of Minnesota and Griak filled his vacancy, taking a pay cut from $12,000 to $8,500. He spent 33 years as the head coach, and continued for 19 years as an assistant coach. On July 9, 2015 Roy Griak died at the age of 91.[4] Gophers athletics director Norwood Teague said in a statement that "Roy went to Minnesota, coached here for more than 30 years, worked here for more than 50 years and impacted more lives than almost anybody in the history of athletic department."[3]

Coaching accomplishments

[edit]
  • 10 years, St. Louis Park High School
  • 33 years, head coach, University of Minnesota
  • 19 years, assistant coach, University of Minnesota
  • Big Ten Conference cross country titles in 1964 and 1969, and runners-up in 1968
  • Fourth place finish at NCAA cross country finals
  • Big Ten Conference Conference title, 1968
  • Coached 47 cross country and track and field All-American athletes, including three NCAA champions and 60 Big Ten individual champions.[4]

Other accomplishments

[edit]
  • Roy Griak co-founded the Twin Cities Race for the Cure, which over the years, has raised millions of dollars towards breast cancer research.[4]
  • Over his time coaching at the U of M, Griak raised more than two million dollars for the Gopher cross country and track and field teams.[4]

Roy Griak Invitational

[edit]

The Roy Griak Invitational was named in his honor and has become one of the nation's largest cross country events. The meet consists of six collegiate races (Division I-III) and four high school races (varsity and junior varsity) totaling over 4,000 runners.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "GOPHERSPORTS.COM Roy Griak Bio :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site  :: Men's Cross Country". www.gophersports.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  2. ^ a b "A Truly Golden Gopher". www.gophersports.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  3. ^ a b c "Longtime Gophers track and field coach Griak dies at 91". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Roy Griak, longtime Gophers track and field coach, dies at 91". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
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