George "Butch" Addison Nash (December 13, 1915 – July 18, 2005) was an American football collegiate player and coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He played for the Golden Gophers from 1935 to 1938.[1] [2] [3] During that time, he played the end position.[4] [5] [6] Nash earned second-team Associated Press All-Big Ten Conference honors for his efforts in his senior 1938 season.[7] He was later an assistant coach for the Golden Gophers from 1947 through 1980 (43 seasons)[8] as primarily a defensive ends specialist. He then returned in 1984 as the junior varsity coach. He then worked as a volunteer coach from 1985–1991. He fully retired from coaching after the 1991 season. During his career, he worked under seven head coaches: Bernie Bierman, Wes Fesler, Murray Warmath, Cal Stoll, Joe Salem, Lou Holtz, and John Gutekunst.
Nash's career is highlighted by several key moments including National Football Championships in 1935 and 1936 as a player.[9] As a coach, he earned a National Championship in 1960, a Rose Bowl victory in 1962,[10] and bowl participation in the 1961 Rose Bowl and 1977 Hall of Fame Bowl
Another key highlight is the role he played in the 1977 and 1986 victories over the Michigan Wolverines. He delivered pre-game speeches to the team telling them the importance of the rivalry and the history of the "Little Brown Jug."[11] [12] [13]
Nash also played basketball for the Golden Gophers and was on the 1936–1937 Big Ten Championship team.[14]
| Role | Year | Award or Championship | |
|---|---|---|---|
| End | 1935 | National Champions | |
| End | 1935 | Big Ten Champions[15] | |
| End | 1936 | National Champions | |
| End | 1937 | Big Ten Champions | |
| Guard | 1937 | Big Ten Champions (Basketball) | |
| End | 1938 | Big Ten Champions | |
| End | 1938 | Associated Press All Big Ten 2nd Team | |
| Head Coach | 1941 | Big Nine Champion (Winona, Minn High School) | |
| Asst. Coach | 1960 | National Champions | |
| Asst. Coach | 1960 | Big Ten Champions | |
| Asst. Coach | 1962 | Rose Bowl Champions |
Nash was married to Mary Leona "Lee" Nash and had three children.[16] [17]
Nash was born in Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 13, 1915. He attended Edison High School in Minneapolis and was a standout athlete in Basketball and Football.[18]
He died July 18, 2005, at the age of 89.
The George "Butch" Nash Scholarship is awarded each year to a Golden Gopher Football Player. The recipient for the 2023-24 season is Kenric Lanier II, Wide Receiver, Decatur, GA.
Since 1984, the Golden Gopher football team awards the Butch Nash award to player(s) that are "competitive on the field and in the classroom."[19] The recipient list is below.
| Year | Player | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | John Kelly | C | |
| 1985 | Andy Hare | FL | |
| 1986 | Anthony Burke | OT | |
| 1987 | Brian Bonner | OLB | |
| 1988 | Ross Ukkelberg | DT | |
| 1989 | Dan Liimatta | OT | |
| 1990 | Frank Jackson | CB | |
| 1991 | Joel Staats | LB | |
| 1992 | Russ Heath | LB | |
| 1993 | Omar Douglas | WR | |
| 1994 | Justin Conzemius | DB | |
| 1995 | Justin Conzemius | LB | |
| 1996 | Cory Sauter | QB | |
| 1997 | Parc Williams | LB | |
| 1998 | Parc Williams | LB | |
| 1999 | Ben Mezera | LB | |
| 2000 | Ben Hamilton | C | |
| 2001 | Derek Burns | OG | |
| 2002 | Dan Kwapinski | DT | |
| 2003 | Greg Eslinger | C | |
| 2004 | Mark Setterstrom | OG | |
| 2005 | Greg Eslinger | C | |
| 2006 | Dominic Jones | CB | |
| 2007 | John Shevlin | LB / S | |
| 2007 | Steve Shidell | OT | |
| 2008 | Jeff Tow-Arnett | OL | |
| 2009 | Jon Hoese | FB | |
| 2009 | Steve Shidell | OT | |
| 2010 | Ryan Collado | CB / D | |
| 2010 | D.J. Burris | C | |
| 2011 | Aaron Hill | LB | |
| 2012 | Aaron Hill | LB | |
| 2013 | Jon Christenson | C | |
| 2014 | Jon Christenson | C | |
| 2015 | Jon Christenson | OG | |
| 2016 | Scott Ekpe | DT | |
| 2017 | Brandon Lingen | TE | |
| 2017 | Andrew Stelter | DL | |
| 2018 | Payton Jordahl | DL | |
| 2018 | Gary Moore | DL | |
| 2018 | Sam Renner | DL | |
| 2019 | Sam Renner | DL | |
| 2019 | Blaise Andries | OL |
The Butch Nash High School Assistant Coach Award given to outstanding Minnesota high school football coaches based on the criteria that they are an active coach, could be coaching at the varsity or lower levels, have a sufficient years of service to their program, along with other criteria mentioned on the Minnesota Football Coaches web site.[20]