Nicholas John Musty Sr. (December 5, 1906 – November 17, 1996) was an American athlete and sports coach.

Nic Musty
Biographical details
Born(1906-12-05)December 5, 1906
Bellechester, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedNovember 17, 1996(1996-11-17) (aged 89)
Crow Wing County, Minnesota, U.S.
Playing career
Basketball
1925–1929Saint Mary's
Football
1925–1928Saint Mary's
Baseball
1925–1928Saint Mary's
Position(s)Guard, center (basketball)
End (football)
Third baseman (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1929–1932Saint Mary's (asst.)
1933Saint Mary's
1934–1935St. Thomas (asst.)
1936St. Thomas Military
1937–1940St. Thomas
Basketball
1929–1934Saint Mary's
1937–1940St. Thomas
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1929–1933Saint Mary's (director of intramural sports)
1936St. Thomas (director of prep athletics)
1937–1940St. Thomas

Early life and education

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Musty was born on December 5, 1906, in Bellechester, Minnesota, and attended Red Wing High School.[1][2] After graduating in 1925, Musty enrolled at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. His position in football was end; his position in baseball was third baseman; and in basketball he played as a guard and center.[3][4] As a junior, Musty was named team captain in both basketball and baseball.[3][4] He was described as a "sturdy running guard" and "one of the best ball handlers on the squad."[3] An article from The Minneapolis Star called Musty "one of the best football ends ever turned out at St. Mary's."[4]

Coaching career

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After graduating from Saint Mary's in 1929, Musty accepted a position as assistant football coach, head basketball coach, and director of intramural sports at the school.[4] In 1932, he was promoted to head football coach for the 1933 season.[2] He was the youngest head coach in the conference, being only 26 in his first year.[2] After compiling a 3–3–1 football record in 1933, Musty resigned to study medicine at Saint Mary's.[5]

While studying at Saint Mary's in 1934, Musty accepted a position as assistant football coach at the University of St. Thomas.[5]

In 1936, Musty was appointed head football coach at St. Thomas Military Academy.[6]

After one year at the military academy, Musty was named athletic director, head football coach and head basketball coach at the University of St. Thomas.[7] St. Thomas compiled a 2–3–2 record in their first year under Musty.[8] In his third season as football coach, 1939, Musty led St. Thomas to the conference championship with a 6–1–1 record.[9][10] Following the 1940 season, he resigned to enter the medical profession.[11] He was succeeded by Frank Deig as basketball coach and athletic director.[12] Willie Walsh succeeded him as football coach.[13]

Later life and death

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Musty later practiced medicine in Minneapolis for many years, retiring in 1972.[1]

Musty served as a flight surgeon in World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.[14]

In 1995, Musty was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame.[15]

Musty died on November 17, 1996, at the age of 89.[1]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Saint Mary's Redmen (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1933)
1933 Saint Mary's 3–3–1 2–2–1 4th
Saint Mary's: 3–3–1 2–2–1
St. Thomas Tommies (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1937–1940)
1937 St. Thomas 2–3–2 1–1–2 4th
1938 St. Thomas 6–2 4–1 T–2nd
1939 St. Thomas 6–1–1 4–0–1 1st
1940 St. Thomas 5–3 4–1 2nd
St. Thomas: 19–9–3 13–3–3
Total: 22–12–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Musty". Star Tribune. November 20, 1996. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ a b c "Nic Musty Appointed Head Football Coach at St. Mary's". The Winona Daily News. December 31, 1932. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b c "Redmen Leader". The Winona Daily News. March 1, 1928. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ a b c d "Nic Musty Signs as Coach at St. Mary's". The Minneapolis Star. June 6, 1929. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ a b "Rampaging, Pass-Throwing Redmen Seek Win Over St. Thomas Tonight". The Winona Daily News. October 12, 1934. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "Seven Grid Games For Tommy Preps". Star Tribune. July 5, 1936. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "Musty Appointed St. Thomas Coach". Star Tribune. April 22, 1937. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ "MIAC Football Record Book" (PDF). Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. 2020. p. 6.
  9. ^ "Nic Musty May Soon Give Up Coaching for Medical Profession". The Winona Daily News. November 18, 1939. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ "Nic Musty Stays on as Tommy Grid Boss". The Minneapolis Star. December 13, 1939. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ Hall, Halsey (November 1, 1940). "It's A Fact". The Minneapolis Star. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.  
  12. ^ "Francis Deig Fills Nic Musty Position As St. Thomas Coach". St. Cloud Times. Associated Press. November 15, 1940. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.  
  13. ^ Walsh, William (September 9, 1941). "Sophs to Fill Tommy Holes". The Minneapolis Star. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.  
  14. ^ "Nic Musty, Former Tommy Coach, Wins Bronze Star". Star Tribune. July 24, 1945. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.  
  15. ^ "Tommies' hall grows". Star Tribune. September 26, 1995. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.