Coach P: A Living Legend, On and Off the Football Field
In this episode, Kristine and Harris sit down with Mike Plinske; better known as Coach P; former defensive coordinator for Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Learn why coaching meant so much more than winning, and how his own career as a player has influenced him to this day.
Mike Plinske was raised in Minneapolis and moved to Canby, Minnesota in 1956. At Canby High School, he lettered in four sports, earning all-conference honors and serving as team captain in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. He received a football scholarship from South Dakota State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, English and Biology and a master’s degree in Physical Education. He taught Physical Education, English and Biology while serving as assistant football and head wrestling coach at Pierre High School (SD) from 1963 to 1965.
Mike returned to SDSU in 1965 to serve as an assistant football coached for two seasons. In 1967, Mike and his wife, Bernie, moved to Richfield, Minnesota here he served as physical education and health instructor while coaching football and basketball in the Richfield Public Schools. As defensive coordinator, Richfield High School finished as state finalist in 1975 and 1977. During his time as a basketball coach his teams were state finalists in 1974 and 1975. Plinske coached 11 All-State football players along with a 1980 Mr. Basketball finalist. In 1986, Plinske retired from coaching in the Richfield Public Schools to follow the athletic endeavors of his two children, Paul and Julia. In 1987 he returned to the grid iron at Minneapolis Washburn High School where he coached Paul to All-State Honors as a running back.
In 1988, Mike was hired as the defensive coordinator at Bethel University in St. Paul. During his 13-year career, he helped turn the program into conference champions. Coaching ten All-Americans, Plinske was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Division III Assistant Coach of the Year in 1988. His defensive units finished in the top three in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in four of his last five seasons. After a perfect 10-0 regular season in 2000, Mike announced his retirement from teaching and coaching.
Mike and Bernie enjoy their retirement with their children and grandchildren while living in Spicer in the summer months and Palm Desert, California in the winter.
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