Bob “Torgy” Torgrimson was born to Wilbur and Irene Torgrimson in Boise, Idaho. Bob was raised on a farm in Ashby, MN and graduated as Salutatorian from Ashby High School in 1963. Bob participated in several school activities to include baseball, basketball, football, track, drama, chorus, Boys’ State and American Legion Baseball. Following high school Bob attended Fergus Falls Community College where he lettered in baseball and basketball. Bob took a sabbatical from his studies and rode a bicycle across the United States for 1 year before enrolling in Moorhead State University Moorhead where he graduated with a BS in Education in 1968. 

Upon completion of college, Bob accepted a position at Backus High School in MN where he taught for 2 years before moving on to Motley High School and Redwood Falls High School for the next 7 years. Bob had many firsts as a coach for the various Minnesota schools. In 1973 Bob was part of Minnesota’s first football playoff with his Motley High School team and while at Redwood Falls High School, their basketball team took 6th place and completed their 1st state tournament appearance in 43 years. In 1978 Bob attended South Dakota State University where he received his Masters degree in Education while serving as a Graduate Assistant for the basketball team. Following completion at SDSU, Bob began his teaching and coaching career at West Fargo where he taught Social Studies, Adaptive Phy-Ed and Elementary Phy-Ed and Coached Basketball and Football. While the coach for the West Fargo High School Basketball Team, he won 3 state Championships and made 10 state tournament appearances. He was named the North Dakota High School Basketball Coach of the year twice in 1990 and 1992, and was inducted into the North Dakota High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999. Bob took a brief absence from West Fargo to coach and teach in Saudi Arabia from 1994-1996 before returning to West Fargo in 1996.

After his long career at West Fargo ended in 1998, Bob resumed his Minnesota teaching and coaching career until his retirement at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School. While there he coached Basketball and Girls’ Softball. Both the basketball and softball teams excelled under his coaching with the basketball team taking 3rd place at state in 2004 and the softball team making state tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. Bob retired from teaching and coaching in 2007 and was inducted into the Minnesota High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame that same year. He is a member of the 500 Victory Club with a record of 507-270 in his 34 seasons as a head basketball coach. Bob and his wife Betty have 3 Children: Ryan, Randy and Tyler and 7 grandchildren: Alex, Jennifer, Gunnar, Kelsey, Jakob, Calvin, and Forrest.

Bob is a cherished member of the West Fargo Community for his contributions to both education and sports. “Torgy” brought discipline and drive for success to West Fargo basketball that continues today.