Sep. 11—GRAND FORKS — In northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, the name Widman is widely known for iconic candy stores.
In 1911, George Widman I opened the Widman's Candy store in Crookston.
In 1949, George Widman II started Widman's Candy in Grand Forks.
George Widman III and George Widman IV currently own the candy shop in Crookston.
As for George Widman V? He's currently trading in the candy business for a clipboard and whistle at UND's Memorial Village.
Widman is a 21-year-old UND student in charge of the Fighting Hawks football program's scout team and overseeing the team's equipment staff.
"He grew up with a great family," UND head football coach Eric Schmidt said. "Everyone knows the Widman name in the candy business, but he's going to be an excellent football coach. There's no job too small for him, like he's not above anything. He digs in and goes to work, and he'll do it with a lot of quality. "
Three weeks after graduating from Crookston High School in 2023, Widman joined the UND football program. His first tasks were with the equipment staff, then worked into a student assistant role on the defense — working with former UND defensive coordinator Joel Schwenzfeier and veteran UND corners coach Travis Stepps.
When Widman first started at UND, he saw former Hawks student assistant Joe Seymour working with the scout team and wanted to have that role. Seymour, who spent six years at UND, is in his second season on the Northwestern staff as a special teams assistant after a short stop at Indiana State.
When Schmidt arrived in Grand Forks ahead of last season, Widman transitioned to being Schmidt's assistant and running the scout team.
"Last year, he started in defensive (quality control) and by the end of the year was running the scout team and team meetings," Schmidt said. "He had a hand in equipment. Every coach on our defensive side of the ball was using him because of the quality of work. I probably did a poor job managing his workload. It's a testament to young coaches who come in and do a great job and increase value. He'll have the opportunity to be full-time when he graduates. "
Prior to this season, Widman was planning to help coach at Crookston High School before an opportunity arose and Schmidt called Widman.
"I had a great connection with Coach Schmidt," Widman said. "I'd still talk to him like every other week when I was gone. I was juiced up (when he offered a position). How can you pass the opportunity to work with that guy? I mean, he's my role model. My mentor. He's my guy. I look up to him. "
Schmidt has never hesitated to give Widman additional duties. As UND heads to its first road trip of the 2026 season this weekend in Portland, Widman will be overseeing the equipment operation and travel logistics.
"Never in this line of work have I not considered someone because of age," Schmidt said. "If someone is young and energetic and starving to get a foot in the door ... and players love him. He's getting them juiced up every day. There's a really genuine love for what he's doing and everyone appreciates that. "
As for the candy business, Widman thinks he's found his profession on the football field.
"I love doing football every day," Widman said. "I love the guys I work with. They're my guys. I love being around them. "
