University of Illinois Athletics

Football • 1898-1901, Football Coach • 1904-43

Following Justa Lindgren’s playing career that culminated as captain of the 1901 team, he joined the coaching ranks and served on staffs for three Fighting Illini head coaches. Lindgren was assistant football coach from 1904-43 under Arthur Hall, Robert Zuppke and Ray Eliot, coaching the offensive line. He started his coaching career as head coach at Cornell College in Iowa from 1902-03 (4-11). Lindgren was member of the Alumni coaches group that rotated as head coaches in 1904 (9-2-1), and was head coach alone in 1906, finishing 1-3-1. He also was a chemist who served on the chemistry staff at the UI and as an analyst for the Illinois Geological Survey and State Water Survey. Lindgren died in 1951 at the age of 72.