Hall of Fame
The late Mr. West was UND athletic director and head football coach 1928-1945. UND athletics zoomed to national prominence under his direction, his football teams became nationally ranked and feared under his never-ending quest for supremacy. UND football teams under him dominated the North Central Conference, winning eight NCC championships and compiling a gaudy 90-35-5 overall and 50-12-2 conference records. He scheduled such national powers as Army, Minnesota, Texas Christian and Oregon and played them all very tough, including the 1930 scoreless tie with Oregon here at Homecoming. He was a founding father of the 53-year old North Central Conference while coaching football at South Dakota State upon reaching the national scene at UND he was considered for the head coaching jobs at the University of Minnesota and almost was selected for the Ohio State job. He left UND to coach the pro Winnipeg Blue Bombers team several seasons. He died in 1959 while actively engaged as an insurance underwriter here. He also coached tract at various times and instituted boxing, golf, and tennis during his tenure and his determination resulted in the building of UND's first hockey arena, known now far and wide as "The Old Barn." He was and innovative coach, fine public speaker and widely admired by sports people. He embodied great character traits, including a fine sense of public relations, and it was said he could outdo--and did--many politicians. He was a perfectionist and reputedly was more widely known in the state than the late UND President John C. West (no relation) under whose regime he served so ably and long.
