One of the fi ne college coaches Minnesota produced was that of John Sterner. Sterner led the Minnesota State University - Moorhead Dragons for 15 years. During that term the Dragons won six Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles, eight national place winners and 25 All-Americans, including Nate Hendrickson, a national champion and NCAA II "Wrestler of the Year" He dedicated 38 years of his life to coaching wrestler and helping his athletes better their lives. The odds that John Sterner and his twin brother, Mike, would succeed in life were stacked against them from the start. Born in l939, he and his brother survived their first weeks in an incubator. Soon after, their father abandoned the family. Their mother, who worked as a cook placed them in an orphanage. After 11 years at the Presentation Children's Home, a Catholic orphanage school in Sioux Falls, the Sterners enrolled at "Boys Town" in Nebraska. After Boys Town they did six month stints in the Army Reserves. As an athlete in college John lettered three times in football and wrestling. He was also named to the All-Conference teams in football and wrestling at South Dakota State University. John first started out coaching as a graduate assistant back at SDSU for one year, and then began his teaching and coaching career in l963 at Chariton (Iowa) High School. There, he led his team to a third place finish at the l964 Iowa State H.S.Wrestling Tournament. John later coached at St. Mary's High School in New England, N.D., to the l969 North Dakota State Class B Championship, and was honored as North Dakota State Class B "Coach of the Year" that season as well. John would build a stellar five -year prep dual meet record of 71-7. John later moved to Stevens High School in Rapid City, S.D, that next year to serve as the school's head football coach. Three years later he joined the South Dakota Tech Staff and served as wrestling coach for four seasons, posting a 24-8 mask, before the sport was discontinued. In l978 John accepted a teaching and coaching position in the public school system in Rapid City. Ten years later, he came to MSU - Moorhead, where he took over the wrestling team in l988. The rest is history as he guided the Dragons back to success like they enjoyed back in the early 1960's. Longtime sports information Director for MSU-Moorhead, Larry Scott, says this about Coach Sterner in his nomination letter: "Sterner's rich legacy as supportive colleague, dedicated teacher, trusted mentor and inspiring coach left a positive imprint and enriched us all. He taught us about competition, teamwork, fairness and he showed us how to reach for the stars while keeping our feet planted firmly on the ground." John and his wife, Jo Ann, have one daughter, Kay.