Longtime Gophers track and field coach Griak dies at 91 - Duluth News Tribune
Griak coached the Gophers’ cross country and track and field programs from 1963 to 1996, guiding Minnesota to Big Ten Conference cross country titles in 1964 and 1969. His 1968 team finished second in the conference and fourth at the NCAA... In track and field, Griak coached the Gophers to the 1968 Big Ten championship. He had three individual national champions, 47 All-Americans and 60 Big Ten champions. After retiring as a coach, Griak stayed associated with Gopher athletics as an administrative aide. He celebrated his 50th year of service to the U of M in 2013. “We have lost a true legend in Roy Griak," Gophers athletics director Norwood Teague said in a statement. "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 the athletic department. Griak coached or helped coach national champions in five different decades: Garry Bjorklund in 1971, Ron Backes in 1986, Martin Erickson in 1993, Vesa Rantanen in 1998, Adam Steele in 2003 and Luca Wieland in 2015. Bjorklund, the former U. S.... Source: www.duluthnewstribune.com
