Bus Mertes

American football player and coach (1921–2002)

Bus Mertes

Mertes in 1947

Biographical details
Born| (1921-10-06)October 6, 1921
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died| January 17, 2002(2002-01-17) (aged 80)
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, U.S.
Playing career
1941| Iowa
1942–1944| Iowa Pre-Flight
1945| Chicago Cardinals
1946| Los Angeles Dons
1947–1949| Baltimore Colts
1949| New York Giants
Position(s)| Running back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1950| Bradley (backfield)
1951–1952| Bradley
1953–1954| Kansas State (backfield)
1955–1959| Kansas State
1960–1964| Drake
1965–1966| Denver Broncos (assistant)
1967–1984| Minnesota Vikings (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall| 50–63–1

Bernard James "Bus" Mertes (October 6, 1921 – January 17, 2002) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Iowa and professionally in the National Football League (NFL) and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) with the Chicago Cardinals, Los Angeles Dons, Baltimore Colts, and New York Giants. Mertes served as the head football coach at Bradley University from 1951 to 1952, at Kansas State University from 1955 to 1959, and at Drake University from 1960 to 1964, compiling a career college football coaching record of 50–63–1.

## Coaching career

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### Kansas State

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Mertes was the 24th head football coach at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, and he held that position for five seasons, from 1955 until 1959. His record at Kansas State was 15–34–1.[1]

### Drake

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After leaving Kansas State following the 1959 season, Mertes became the 19th head football coach at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, serving for five seasons, from 1960 until 1964. His record at Drake was 27–19.[2]

### Denver Broncos

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After leaving Drake following the 1964 season, Mertes joined the Denver Broncos of the American Football League as an assistant coach. He coached with Denver for two seasons.

### Minnesota Vikings

[edit]

After leaving the Denver Broncos, Mertes joined Bud Grant's coaching staff on the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. He coached the running backs and special teams, working with players such as Bill Brown, Dave Osborn, Ed Marinaro, Chuck Foreman, Ted Brown, Darrin Nelson, Greg Coleman, and Fred Cox. As an assistant with the Vikings from 1967 to 1984, he coached in four Super Bowls.

## Head coaching record

[edit]

Mertes pictured in The Quax 1961, Drake yearbook. Year  | Team  | Overall  | Conference | Standing  | Bowl/playoffs

|
|
|
|
|

Bradley Braves (Missouri Valley Conference) (1951)
1951 | Bradley | 4–5 | 0–3 | 7th |
Bradley Braves (Independent) (1952)
1952 | Bradley  | 4–5 |  |  |
Bradley: | 8–10 | 0–3 |
Kansas State (Big Seven / Big Eight Conference) (1955–1957)
1955 | Kansas State | 4–6 | 3–3 | T–3rd |
1956 | Kansas State | 3–7 | 2–4 | T–5th |
1957 | Kansas State | 3–6–1 | 2–4 | T–5th |
1958 | Kansas State | 3–7 | 2–4 | 5th |
1959 | Kansas State | 2–8 | 1–5 | 7th |
Kansas State: | 15–34–1 | 10–20 |
Drake Bulldogs (NCAA College Division independent) (1960–1964)
1960 | Drake  | 4–5 |  |  |
1961 | Drake | 5–4 |  |  |
1962 | Drake | 8–2 |  |  |
1963 | Drake  | 4–4 |  |  |
1964 | Drake  | 6–4 |  |  |
Drake: | 27–19 |  |
Total: | 50–63–1 |

## References

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1. ^ Kansas State Coaching Records Archived December 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ Drake Coaching Records Archived July 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

## External links

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*   * Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference

Links to related articles

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# denotes interim head coach

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Minnesota Vikings 1969 NFL champions

* 11 Joe Kapp
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* Head coach: Bud Grant

* Coaches: Jerry Burns
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