Former NDakota coach Marvin Helling dies at 91

Former NDakota coach Marvin Helling dies at 91

Published Dec. 3, 2014 2:12 p.m. ET

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) Marvin ''Whitey'' Helling, the football coach who helped build the University of North Dakota into a Division II power, has died. He was 91.

The school says Helling, a native of Luverne, Minnesota, died Sunday in Florida.

Helling was the school's head coach for 11 years, from 1957 to 1967, and had a record of 60-35-3. He guided his teams to three North Central Conference titles and pair of Division II bowl game victories - a 1965 defeat of Northern Illinois in the Mineral Water Bowl and a 1966 win over Parsons in the Pecan Bowl. North Dakota now competes in Division I.

''Coach Helling left a lasting legacy with the program and remained a strong supporter throughout his lifetime,'' current coach Bubba Schweigert said in a statement. ''His efforts and contributions to UND football will always hold a special place in our hearts.''

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Sixteen of Helling's players have been enshrined in the UND Athletics Hall of Fame, including Errol Mann and Dave Osborn, who went on to NFL careers.

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