John's Journal: Remembering A St. Peter High School Legend

This story about Frank Fredlund was written by Kurt Hildebrandt, communications & marketing coordinator for St. Peter Public Schools. 

By Kurt Hildebrandt

November 14, 2023

Frank Fredlund, a well-known former teacher and coach at Saint Peter High School, passed away on November 8 at the age of 90. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 at the St. Peter Funeral Home. Click HERE for the complete obituary.



Fredlund, who taught and coached at Chokio-Alberta for eight years prior to coming to St. Peter, began his teaching/coaching career at SPHS in 1968 where he taught physical education/health and driver’s training and also coached football and basketball during his tenure. He retired from teaching in 1993 and coaching in 1996. 



He is best known for his work with the Saints’ football program, where he served as assistant coach from 1968 to 1976 before taking over as head coach in the fall of 1977. He led the program for the next 20 seasons.

“Frank was well respected both as a teacher and a coach during his time here,” said retired Saint Peter superintendent Dr. Jeff Olson, a former teaching and coaching colleague of Fredlund. “He worked very hard at what he did whether it was in the classroom or on the playing field. He had a great reputation state-wide for his work with the health and physical education teaching groups and coaching groups.



“He was definitely a player’s coach during his time here (as head football coach), but he believed strongly in structure, which our players learned from seventh grade all the way up through their senior year. By the time our players were juniors, they knew everything about the way we ran our wishbone offense and radar defense. 



“He also was a big believer if a player stuck with the program that there would always be a spot or a role for you. If you made it to your senior year you were a starter in some role whether that be on special teams or offense or defense.” 



During his tenure as the Saints head coach, he amassed a career record of 182-78-1 (.699 winning percentage) and his teams earned a state title in the fall of 1981 and a state runner-up finish in 1995. The Saints also qualified for state in 1979, 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1994. During his time as an assistant football coach at SPHS, the Saints won a state title in 1976 and placed second at state in 1975.



Fredlund was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1998 and was named Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year in 1995.