Burt Gustafson
Burton F. Gustafson (November 30, 1925 – October 22, 2022) was an American athlete and sports coach. After attending Northern Michigan University (NMU) where he was a three-sport star, he coached several high school football, basketball, and track and field teams. He then returned to NMU where he served from 1956 to 1961 as a coach in four sports. He later was an assistant coach for the Wyoming Cowboys and coach and administrator for the Green Bay Packers. Early life and education Gustafson was born on November 30, 1925, in Marquette, Michigan, and grew up in Newberry, Michigan. He attended Newberry High School, where he was a three-sport star, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and track and field. After graduating from Newberry, he joined the United States Navy and served in World War II as a member of the Seabee department. He served three years, including two in the South Pacific. After being discharged in 1946, Gustafson enrolled at Northern Michigan University (NMU). Gustafson played football, basketball, and track and field at NMU and finished his college career having earned a total of 12 letters, making him the first person in school history to accomplish that feat. As a senior, he was named football most valuable player and was captain of the track team. He played the end position in football, was a guard and center in basketball, and was a high jumper, hurdler, relay team member, and participant in the 440-yard dash in track and field. Coaching career Immediately after graduating from Northern Michigan in 1950, Gustafson began a coaching career, serving as a baseball, football, track, and basketball coach at Cedarville High School. After two seasons there, Gustafson was hired as assistant football coach, track coach, and head basketball coach at Escanaba High School. In 1954, he was hired as ends coach in football, assistant coach in track and head basketball coach at Battle Creek High School. During this period, Gustafson also attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a master's degree in physical education. In 1956, Gustafson was named assistant football coach and head track and field coach at Northern Michigan University, in addition to being given the position of assistant professor in physical education. He was also supposed to be junior varsity basketball coach but became varsity head coach shortly before the season started, after C. V. Money announced he was not up for the job. He compiled a 9–7 record in one season as basketball coach before resigning to focus on track and field and football, being succeeded by Stan Albeck. Gustafson turned the track team into one of the most prominent in the area, winning the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District Championship three times in a row. Among track athletes he coached were Curt Harper, described as "one of the nation's outstanding performers in the shot put and discus," and Al Washington, who at one point held the world record for the 60-yard dash. Gustafson also created the Northern Michigan