DuWayne Richard Deitz (December 7, 1930 – August 22, 2018) was an American football offensive tackle and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of St. Thomas from 1970 to 1980, compiling a record of 52–52–2.

Deitz was born on December 7, 1930.^[1] He attended Minneapolis Southwest High School and was named conference football MVP in 1948.^[2] After graduating from there, Deitz served with the United States Marines in the Korean Conflict, being awarded the Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation.^[3]

In 1952, Deitz joined the University of St. Thomas, where he was team captain in football and track. Deitz was named Catholic All-American in 1954 and also was a MIAC champion in shot put.^[4] He played offensive tackle.^[3] Deitz graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Education degree.^[4]

In 1956, Deitz was hired by Minneapolis Marshall High School as an assistant football coach, wrestling coach, and track and field coach.^[5][3] He was promoted to head football coach in 1958, after the resignation of Norm Kragseth.^[5] He was named Minneapolis City Coach of the Year in 1961.^[3]

On April 12, 1962, Deitz resigned from Minneapolis Marshall to accept a position as head football coach at White Bear Lake High School.^[5] "Marshall's enrollment is down and it will be down more by next fall. I just feel in the long run I can do better coaching at a school like White Bear," he said.^[5] Deitz ended up coaching eight seasons at White Bear Lake, compiling an overall record of 50–18–4.^[4] His final game with the team was the 1969 Suburban Conference football championship game, a 25–20 win over Kellogg High School.^[6][7]

In January 1970, Deitz, one of 30 applicants, was chosen to be the next head football coach at the University of St. Thomas.^[4] In his first year, the St. Thomas Tommies compiled a record of 1–9.^[8] They improved to 3–7 in 1971, 6–4 in 1972, and by his fourth season the Tommies went 9–1 for their first conference championship since 1956.^[8][9] For this, he was named the 1973 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Coach of the Year.^[3] In the subsequent years, St. Thomas compiled records of 5–4 (1974), 3–6 (1975), 7–3 (1976), 4–5–1 (1977), and 5–4 (1978).^[8] In 1979, he was awarded for the second time MIAC Coach of the Year, after stunning 7–1 St. John's in the season finale, 30–0, to force a four-way tie for the conference championship between St. Thomas, St. John's, Concordia, and St. Olaf.^[3][8]

Deitz later stated that the 1979 season "was probably the most frustrating but also most rewarding" in his career as a coach.^[3] The Tommies started the season dealing with several starters who decided not to return, multiple injuries, and one player's death.^[3] They started the season 1–2, but had a 4–0 home record and closed the year with four consecutive wins.^[3] "We lacked depth, yet we had some freshmen that came through for us," Deitz said.^[3] Among the players on the roster that year was wide receiver Jim Gustafson, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Concordia and later made it to the National Football League (NFL).^[3]

Following the 1980 season, in which the Tommies went 3–6–1, Deitz resigned.^[10][8] His career record at the school was 52–52–2.^[10] "I've been thinking about giving up football for some time," he said.^[10] "It's time I turned over the job to somebody else. I'd like to start spending more time with my wife and family."^[10]

While at St. Thomas, Deitz coached each of his three sons: Dan, a defensive back; Doug, a quarterback; and Dave, a center.^[11] Doug Deitz was later inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame.^[3]

Deitz later served as a member of the St. Thomas physical education faculty.^[10] From 1981 to 1984, he served as a member of the White Bear Lake school board.^[3] He was inducted into the White Bear Lake High Athletic Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Old Timers Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.^[3]

Deitz died on August 22, 2018, at the age of 87.^[3][1]