WINONA, Minn. –Winona State football coach Tom Sawyer will retire after next fall’s season, he announced. In 24 seasons Sawyer has amassed a 190-86 record – almost 70%, the best in the college’s history. He was named the Northern Sun conference football Coach of the Year in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2017. Sawyer led the Warriors to 10 NCAA Division II postseason contests, including seven playoffs and three Mineral Water Bowl appearances. In the 107-year history of the program, only one other postseason contest was played without Tom Sawyer as the head coach That was the 1993 NAIA Championship Game, in which Sawyer was assistant coach.

His blood runs purple

Sawyer played football and baseball for the Warriors as an undergraduate. He joined the coaching staff as an assistant under Dave Bassore in 1987. He earned his degree at Winona State.

Sawyer. Retirement beckons. Head football coach since 1997.