MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead has lost one of the most influential and important figures in its history. Dragon athletics mourns the loss of legendary track & field coach Ron Masanz, who passed away on Monday at the age of 97.
"Coach Masanz was a true Dragon in every sense of the word. His passion for MSUM, his belief in student-athletes, and the countless lives he impacted will never be forgotten," said MSUM athletic director Chad Markuson. "His influence reached far beyond the track and will continue to live on through the generations of Dragon student-athletes he helped shape."
Masanz was a native of South St. Paul, Minn., eventually lettering in football at the University of Minnesota. After serving and retiring as a member of the United States Marine Corps, Masanz came to Moorhead in the fall of 1967. He would serve as an assistant track and football coach for MSUM that season. Masanz would take the reins of the men's track & field program the following fall and would immediately lay a groundwork of success.
In his inaugural year as head coach, Masanz tutored four NIC outdoor champions in Dragon legends Vince Felchle, Terry Harrington, Ron Monsegue and Larron Swanson. The individual success would soon be followed by complete team dominance. Masanz led the Dragons to an NIC indoor championship in 1970, the first in the program's history. The victory sparked a seven-year win streak at the indoor meet for the Dragons. At the conclusion of his career, Masanz coached 15 indoor conference championship teams.
The Dragons had a remarkable 50-meet home indoor winning streak from 1970-81 under Masanz. Often, the Dragon teams were so stout that they had the chance to run against Big Ten and Big 8 teams at triangular and quadrangular meets.
Coach Ron Masanz on his 90th birthday / Haley Auger
The Dragons were just as successful on the outdoor track in Masanz's time as head coach. Moorhead captured an outdoor NIC team title in 1972 under Masanz, the program's first since 1946. MSUM would go on to win the next six NIC team championships with Masanz leading 13 conference championship teams in total in his career. Masanz firmly proved his mentorship was no fluke in 1990 as he would come out of a near four-year retirement to lead the Dragons to an NIC indoor and outdoor title.
His teams produced 322 individual conference championships, 49 All-Americans, 69 national placers and three national championships. Masanz helped lead Dave Bergstrom, John Alin and Ron Graham to individual national titles in their Dragon careers. He was inducted into the MSUM Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991. Masanz was inducted into the NSIC Hall of Fame in 2000. Masanz was the 1984 NAIA representative at the 1984 Olympic Games and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1985.
Masanz's lasting legacy will no doubt lie with his Winged Foot Endowment Scholarship. In 2019 Masanz celebrated his 90th birthday with a dinner where more than 100 former athletes came to celebrate, which also was highlighted by his Winged Foot Endowment scholarship surpassing $400,000. He remained in touch with many of his former athletes after retirement. The track inside Alex Nemzek Stadium bears Masanz's name. For many years, the Dragon track & field teams hosted the Ron Masanz Classic each spring.
After retirement, Masanz lived in Park Rapids, Minn., for many years with his wife Barb, who passed away earlier this year.
Funeral arrangements will take place Monday, August 31 with a service beginning at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Church in Park Rapids, Minn. Burial will take place at 3:30 p.m. at Saint Jospeh Cemetery in Moorhead. More information can be found at Cease Funeral Home.
