Legendary Gophers coach dies at age 98

Published Mar. 17, 2011 11:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

The football coach who led the Minnesota Gophers to a national championship and two back-to-back Rose Bowls has died at age 98.

The University of Minnesota says Murray Warmath died in Bloomington of natural causes. University spokesman Preston Smith said Warmath died about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Warmath led the Gophers for 18 seasons and made two trips to the Rose Bowl. He was named coach in 1954 and after the Gophers finished in last place in the Big Ten in 1959, angry fans tossed garbage on his front lawn and hung the coach in effigy. But, it was just a year later that Warmath led Minnesota to the national championship.

Warmath became a Vikings assistant coach in 1978.