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Bret Bielema reveals major characteristic he learned from Iowa HC Hayden Fry

Grant Bricker

By Grant Bricker

Published:

Bret Bielema was thinking about former Iowa HC Hayden Fry recently after the news about longtime Iowa DC Bill Brashier’s passing came out. Bielema played for Iowa in college.

Fry was Bielema’s head coach back in the day. Fry wished Bielema the best of luck in his coaching career, and Bielema kept the note the Iowa HC left him.

“Every day in my personal journal I kept a note that Fry wrote me,” said Bielema. “It said: ‘Brett, with two T’s, you’re gonna be a great head coach when you get the opportunity because you always kick butt. That’s why I always spell your name with two T’s.'”

Bielema is still using what Fry taught him to this day. The Illinois HC learned a lot from Fry.

What I learned from Hayden Fry was the amount of respect that we had from him as a coach to our players. I loved him as a coach and I’d do anything for him because I always that he had my best interest and our player’s best interest. He helped me with the loss of my sister, he helped with my scholarship. He gave my guidance in many different ways.

It looks like Fry had a lasting impact on Bielema’s life. Fry passed away in 2019.

Grant Bricker

Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.