Hall of Fame

Manny Beckman - MSU

Manny Beckman

  • Class
    1952
  • Induction
    2010
  • Sport(s)

Manny Beckman was a three sport athlete at Minnesota State University, Mankato as he excelled in football, basketball and track for the Mavericks from 1950 to 1954. The eleven-time letterwinner was part of nine conference championships during his stint at MSU.
On the gridiron, Beckman earned all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior and was named the team’s Outstanding Athlete as a sophomore. He then earned the NIC’s Glen Galligan Award in 1952 as he set the school record for a total yardage in a single season (1,300) that stood for 15 years.
As a forward in basketball he was named all-conference honorable mention as a sophomore and all-conference as a junior. In track he competed in the hurdles and competed in the weight events for three seasons before student teaching in the spring of his senior season.
Beckman graduated with a B.S. Degree in U.S. History and Physical Education. Beckman then spent 1954 to 1992 (37 years) teaching and coaching at Waseca High School. He was head boys basketball 38 years and the head track coach for 35 years. Manny’s greatest coaching fame came in boy’s basketball where he won 487 games, 13 conference championships and appeared in the Minnesota State Basketball Tournament four times. Beckman was named the Minnesota Coach of the Year in 1975 and coached Minnesota’s first Mr. Basketball in Gene Glynn.
Manny was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 1981. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Waseca Hall of Fame in 2005. He was also inducted to the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992.
Manny retire from teaching and coaching in 1992 and he and his wife Pat reside in Waseca.