Stan Kostka

Stanislaus Clarence Kostka (July 8, 1912 – February 3, 1997) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Minnesota and was a member of the 1934 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team that won a national championship. Kostka played professionally in the National Football League for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935. He served as the head football coach at North Dakota Agricultural College—now known as North Dakota State University in 1941 and from 1946 to 1947, compiling a record of 8–17. He was also the head baseball coach at North Dakota Agricultural in 1947, tallying a mark of 5–3. Kostka served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy during World War II.

Kostka, a squarely built 6-foot, 225-pounder who only played one year, received offers from the Bears, Packers, Giants, Steelers, and Brooklyn. "A team would send me a wire and say they'd give me $3,500," he recalled. "I'd send a wire back and say Green Bay or the Chicago Bears said they'd give me $4,000. I kept that up". Kostka eventually culminated the bargaining by signing a $5,000 contract, along with a $500 bonus, with Brooklyn. "That was a big deal then," said Kostka. "I think like Nagurski was in the league about three years and making $400 or less. Most of the guys were making $50 a ball game."

Kostka was born in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and died in Fargo, North Dakota at the age of 84.