MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University mourns the passing of Gary Walhaug, a longtime coach at Minot State who made a lasting impact on so many Beaver student-athletes lives and who was recently elected to the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Walhaug passed away last week.

"On behalf of Minot State University and the Department of Athletics, we extend our deepest condolences to the Walhaug family on the passing of Gary Walhaug," Vice President of Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics, Kevin Harmon, said.

"Gary was the quintessential teacher and coach. For decades, he possessed a remarkable gift for developing each player individually while helping them become better team players — an exceptional accomplishment for any coach — and Gary achieved it every day.

"One of Gary's greatest strengths was his unique ability to bring people and teams together. He served as a bridge between student-athletes and the coaching staff.

"Gary left a lasting impact that extended far beyond the classroom, the basketball court, and the track and field."

A legend in North Dakota athletics, both at the high school and collegiate levels, Walhaug was a devoted team player in Beaver Athletics as an assistant coach for 19 years with the Minot State women's team, and three seasons with the Beaver men's basketball program.

Earlier this spring, Walhaug was voted into the Minot State Athletic Hall of Fame and will be inducted as part of the Class of 2026 during Homecoming ceremonies in September.

Walhaug spent all 19 seasons on the Beaver bench as an assistant to Minot State Athletic Hall of Fame head coach Sheila Green Gerding, who called Walhaug the "Brains" behind Minot State's offense. During their partnership, the Minot State women's basketball program went 305-253, claimed the 1998-99 North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) title and the 2005-06 Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) title, and the duo guided the Beavers through the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II play.

During his time on the Beaver bench, Walhaug also helped 9 Minot State women's basketball players earn All-American honors (Carol Hayes, Kayla Blom, Jenn Sundahl, Kendra Meyer, Lashay Bagby, MacKenzie Mack, Ari Hendrix-Roach, Caroline Folven, and Carly Boag).

A 1970 graduate of Minot State, Walhaug began his coaching career at Tolley High School before moving to Surrey High School, where he served as athletic director for 28 years, coached the girls basketball team for 17 seasons, and the boys basketball team for 16 seasons.

Walhaug was honored for his career as a high school coach when he was inducted into the North Dakota High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009, and honored again for his dedication to high school athletics when he was inducted into the North Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame in 2012.