Former BYU Assistant Coach Roger French to Enter Minnesota Hall of Fame

2008-French-Roger-mug_02008-French-Roger-mug_0

Longtime Cougar assistant being honored by Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association

PROVO -- Former BYU assistant football coach Roger French has been selected for induction into the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Association announced this week.

One of five new inductees who will be honored on April 4 at the Association’s annual Hall of Fame Banquet in Minneapolis, Minn., French will enter the Hall in the College Division for his outstanding career of more than 40 years in the collegiate ranks, including 21 seasons at BYU.

In addition to serving as BYU’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach during his 21-year career in Provo from 1980-2000, French also coached at his alma mater Minnesota (1956-57, 1970-78), Memphis (1958-65), Wisconsin (1966-69) and Northern Iowa (1979). Since his departure from BYU, French coached in the professional ranks with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League before returning to Minnesota to coach at the high school level at Bloomington Kennedy, Maple Grove and Minneapolis Patrick Henry high schools. French is currently the head coach at Patrick Henry, where he has been since 2004.

French’s coaching achievements include helping Minnesota go to its first bowl game in 15 years at the Hall of Fame Bowl and being a part of 18 bowl appearances, 14 conference championships and the 1984 National Championship at BYU. He coached 19 All-Americans and one Outland Trophy winner (BYU’s Mo Elewonibi) along with 50 more NFL players. French has worked with individuals such as Robbie Bosco, Steve Young, Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon, Andy Reid, Tony Dungy, Keith Fahnhorst and Bart Oates.

In 1997 he was awarded the All-American Football Foundation Award as Assistant Coach of the Year. He received the Holiday Bowl Admiral’s Trophy after being selected by BYU’s team and staff as the person who contributed the most to the team during the 1983 season. He was inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in 2004 as a member of BYU’s National Championship team. In 2007, he served as an honorary Metro All-Star Coach.

French graduated from Minneapolis Central High School where he earned three letters in football and basketball, with two more in track. He went on to attend college at the University of Minnesota and was a three-time football letter winner. He is married to Doty, and has two children, Kathy and Gail. His hobbies include spending time with his family and football.

Joining French as 2009 inductees are High School Division selections Dwight Lundeen (Becker), Mike Mahlen (Verndale), Dave Hylla (Proctor) and Dwayne Johnson (Anoka).