Ledgendary Bloomington/River Ridge Football Coach Passes Away

A Southwest Wisconsin teacher and coach who served the area for nearly 30 years has passed away. Jerry Usgaard passed away on Saturday. He was 80 years old. Usgard’s teaching career began in the fall of 1968, at Bloomington High School where he taught physical education and was the head football coach for 27 years and had a coaching record of 206-108. He was also the Athletic Director 17 years. Usgaard was also a head basketball coach, head track coach and head baseball coach. Usgaard continued to be the physical education instructor, athletic director and head football coach after Bloomington consolidated with West Grant starting in the 1995-96 school year. His 1997 River Ridge football team played for a State Championship where they were runner-up to Flambeau. He was also an assistant basketball coach when Bloomington won a State basketball championship in 1972. Usgaard was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001 and his plaque is on display at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. He was a native of Mabel, Minnesota.