Mayville State University Athletics

Being in a tie for the record of the most career wins in NAIA football is a stunning accomplishment, but former Comet football and baseball standout Henry (Hank) Biesiot soared to that level. That career began in 1972, when he was named the defensive coordinator at Dickinson State University. In 1976 he was named head football coach, and he was on his way to making national football history. His teams won 17 conference titles and played in 15 NAIA national play-off games. He had five undefeated seasons; was named the DAC Coach of the Year three times; was named North Dakota Sports Writers Coach of the Year twice; North Dakota Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 12 times; and the NAIA District 12 Coach of the Year four times. He was inducted into the NAIA Coaching Hall of Fame in 2006. He is in the Dickinson State Hall of Fame, the Dakota Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, the North Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Mayville State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2012 The Henry Biesiot Activities Center on the DSU campus was named for him, honoring the many ways Hank dedicated his life to Blue Hawks football and Dickinson State University. He retired after the 2013 season with a 258-121-1 win/loss/tie record in the two divisions in which DSU played. To honor Biesiot, in 2012 USA College Sports established the Hank Biesiot Award to be given to the outstanding NAIA College Scholar/Football Player of the Year, acknowledging excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.