The History of Moorhead Spuds Football
Moorhead High School football got its humble beginings in the fall of 1915. From that point the Spuds have gone on to build a rich tradition of producing quality football teams and quality young men. Sixteen head coaches have lead the football team to 13 Section titles and 2 State Championships in 1971 and 1987. Coach Gotta led the '71 squad and Coach Kostich piloted the '87 team.
The Spuds now call Jim Gotta Stadium home. The Stadium was named after the legendary Jim Gotta who coached from 1959 to 1976, compiling a .843 winning percentage. In that time Coach Gotta had five undefeated seasons and a state championship in 1971. His name will live forever with Spud football.
All-Time Spud Football Records
All-Time Record (1913-2006) - 94 Seasons
(Missing '59, '58, '57, '28, '19, '18, '17, '13)
757 Games
515 - 227 - 15
.680 Winning %
Avg. Record : 6 - 3
Highest Win Total (1 Season) - 14; 1987
Lowest Win Total (1 Season) - 2; 1950, 1949, 1941, 1940, 1938, 1935, 1934, 1933
Number of 10 Win Seasons - 7 ; 1993, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1983, 1981, 1972
Number of Undefeated Seasons- 11; 1987, 1974, 1971, 1969, 1966, 1963, 1946, 1945, 1942, 1936, 1916
Record w/ Black Helmets (1991-present) = 170 Games: 104 - 66; .612 W%
Record w/ Orange Helmets (1950-1964 ;1972-1990) = 261 Games: 210 - 51; .804 W%
Record w/ White Helmets (1965-1971) = 61 Games: 54 - 7; .885 W%
Record by Decades:
2000's = 81 Games; 50 - 31 .617 W%
1990's = 111 Games; 65 - 46 .585 W%
1980's = 116 Games; 91 - 25 .784 W%
1970's = 86 Games; 63 - 22 -1 .732 W %
1960's = 87 Games; 73 - 14 .839 W %
1950's = 56 Games (no records for '57, '58, '59) 36 - 20 .643 W%
1940's = 78 Games (no record for '47) 45 - 27 - 6 .577 W%
1930's = 69 Games; 35 - 32 - 2 .507 W%
1920's = 55 Games (no records for '28) 46 - 18 - 5 .654 W%
1910's = 21 Games (no records for '10-'13; '17-'19) 18 - 2 - 1 .857 W%
Head Coaches Records:
Rick Eidsness (2004-present) = 40 games; 23-17; .575 W%
Steve Connelly (1996-2003) = 78 games; 47 - 31; .602 W%
Dan Kostich (1981-1995) = 168 games; 124 - 44; .738 W%
Craig McComb (1977-1980) = 33 games; 19 - 14; .575 W%
Jim Gotta (1959-1976-no record '59) = 149 games; 122 - 26 - 1; .819 W%
No Coach or records listed 1957-1958
Jerry Olson (1955-1956) = 16 games; 9 - 7; .562 W%
No Coach listed 1954 = 8 games; 5-3; .625 W%
Dwaine Hoberg (1951-1953) = 24 games; 20 - 4; .833 W%
Clyde McDonald (1948-1950) = 24 games; 12 - 12; .500 W%
No Coach listed 1947 = 9 games; 3-6; .333 W%
Asst. Coach Matson (1946) = 9 games, 7 - 0 - 2; .777 W%
Cliff Halmrast (1943-1945) = 21 games, 15 - 2 - 4; .714 W%
A.C. Christopherson (1935-1942) = 54 games, 28 - 26; .519 W%
Glenn Hanna (1926-1934-not '28) = 60 games, 35 - 22 - 3; .583 W%
Elgar "Cherry" Thune (1924-1925) = 16 games, 8 - 5 -3; .500 W%
Hobart Litherland (1922-1923) = 15 games, 10 - 4 - 1; .666 W%
No Coach listed 1921 = 8 games, 6-2; .750 W%
No Coach listed 1920 = 6 games, 4-2; .666 W%
No Coaches or records listed 1917-1919
Elmer Wickham (1916) = 5 games, 4 - 0 - 1; .800 W%
George Caviness (1915) = 8 games, 7 - 1; .875 W%
No Coaches listed 1914 = 8 games, 7-1; .875 W%
No Coaches or records listed 1913
