Frank Deig

Francis J. Deig ( 1909 – October 28, 1960) was an American athlete and sports coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of St. Thomas from 1946 to 1957, the head basketball coach at St. Thomas from 1940 to 1946, and the athletic director of St. Thomas from 1941 to 1958. He played college football at Marquette University.

Early life and education Francis J. Deig was born in 1909 and grew up in the Mount Vernon, Indiana, area. He later transferred a second time to Jasper Academy, where he starred in football, basketball, and baseball. gaining a reputation as a hard-hitter. As a senior in 1930, he scored five touchdowns and placed second on the team in scoring with 30 points. The 1935 football team went undefeated and scored 275 points, the highest among state high schools. A 1936 article in the Star Tribune wrote "Down at Austin they are mighty proud of the St. Augustine high school team ... The team is coached by Francis Deig, former Marquette university end who won All-American mention four years ago. All of the townspeople are talking about it. The team is big and experienced. Deig has been working on his present squad for three years and many say it is one of the best coached they have ever seen."

In 1937, Deig became a coach and physical education faculty at Saint Thomas Academy. Through October 1937, he had won 24 straight games as a coach, including his time at St. Augustine. His football team compiled a record of 52–11–7, winning six conference championships. By the start of 1946, his record as head basketball coach was 71–28. In just his second year with the football team, Deig led them to the conference championship.

Deig received a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas in 1941. By the end of his coaching career, he held the school wins record and was the only coach in team history to have won four MIAC championships. His undefeated 1956 season earned him National Catholic Small College Coach of the Year honors. Deig was inducted into the University of St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983.

Later life and death After his coaching career, Deig worked for a St. Paul investment firm as a salesman.

Head coaching record College football