Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Wilinski played basketball and baseball at Bethany Lutheran College from 1954-56. After earning a degree from Mankato State, he returned to Bethany in 1962 as the Vikings basketball coach, serving in that role until 1967. Wilinski also coached baseball and was the athletic director at Bethany.
On the basketball court, Wilinski was a dominate player. As a freshman in the 1954-55 season, Wilinksi led the entire nation in scoring, pouring in over 32 points a game earning him All-American honors. What makes this feat even more impressive is that it was his first season playing competitive basketball. Wilinski never played basketball in high school at West Rockford, although he was a high school All-American swimmer for two years.
As a coach, Wilinski’s best season was the 1965-66 campaign. His Vikings won the SMJCC (Southern Minnesota Junior College Conference) Championship with an 18-4 record and finished the year ranked 18th in the nation. Bruno Wilinski is also given credit for starting the men’s soccer program at Bethany in 1964.
Wilinski is a member of the West Rockford School Hall of Fame. He was named Mankato State University’s Teacher of the Year four times in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department.
Wilinski and his wife, Marian currently live in Mankato, Minnesota.
