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Ex-Moorhead football coach Jim Gotta dies at 93

June 3, 2020 at 3:53AM

October 18, 1968: Coach Jim Gotta, looked over five of his Moorhead football players. They included (standing, from left) Paul Hanson, Dennis Kovash and Greg Troland and (kneeling, from left) Dale Powers and Mike Onderick. (Brian Stensaas — RPA -/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Former Moorhead High School football coach Jim Gotta died Saturday. He was 93.

Gotta, an Ironwood, Mich., native, had a 161-44-3 record in 26 seasons as a prep coach. Gotta, a graduate of Moorhead State (now MSU Moorhead), started his coaching career at Casselton, N.D. He was the Moorhead head coach from 1956-76.

Moorhead was named the mythical state champion by the Minneapolis Tribune in 1971. A playoff system for high school football began in 1972 and Moorhead was the Class 2A runner-up in 1972, losing to Minneapolis Washburn 26-6 in Class AA (the largest schools then). Moorhead took a 26-game winning streak into the title game that year.

The Spuds also reached the state playoffs in 1974. Gotta had five undefeated teams and a career winning percentage of 84.3%.

Gotta also coached boys' track and field at Moorhead, leading the Spuds to two state titles.

JOEL RIPPEL

Smith in fourth

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Smith, a first-team All-Big Ten selection who announced last month she will return for a fifth season at Nebraska, made five birdies in her opening round.

She trails three co-leaders by a stroke.

Etc.

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