Keck, Sheri
One of the most successful high school gymnastics coaches in state history, the 1979 South Dakota State grad guided Rapid City. Stevens to six state titles and two runner-up finishes in 13 seasons. A Stevens grad, she coached the Raiders from 1991-2001 and 2005-06. The Raiders won state titles in 1994, ’95, ’97, ’98, ’99 […]
Krauth, Dave
Dave Krauth is the winningest women’s basketball coach in Augustana history and one of the winningest in NCAA DII history. His teams have compiled a 670-296 record in 33 years at the end of the 2021-22 season. Krauth has never had a losing season at Augie and his Vikings have won 20 games or more […]
Kueter, Steve
Steve Kueter graduated from West Central High School in 1973 and Dakota State College in 1977. In high school he participated in football, basketball and track & field. At Dakota State he played fullback for the Trojans his freshman and sophomore years until an injury sidelined him his junior and senior years. He started officiating […]
Lambert, Ward
The legendary Purdue coach was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in 1960. He was born in Deadwood and lived there until age 10 or so before moving to Indiana. The 1911 Wabash (Ind.) College grad was coach at Purdue from 1916-17 and 1918-46. He was 371-152 in 29 seasons, including […]
Larson, Don
Don Larson was a championship runner and unmatched track & field coach in the North Central Conference. As an All-American track & field athlete at SDSU, Larson won seven NCC championships. He set three conference records and still holds a share of the retired 600-yard indoor mark. Larson captured his NCAA DII All-American honors in […]
Leahy, Frank
Born Aug. 21, 1908 in O’Neill, Neb. Grew up in Winner through junior year of high school, spent senior year at Omaha, Neb. 1931 Notre Dame grad. One of the most famous coaches in the history of college football. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970. Leahy was 33 when he replaced […]
Lennon, Dan
Born Jan. 5, 1908 in Vermillion. 1931 Vermillion HS grad. 1935 USD grad. Longtime USD track coach (1949-75). During a stretch from 1957-67, Lennon’s teams finished either first or second in the North Central Conference meet, winning titles in 1961, ’63, ’65 and ’66. In 1949, Lennon started the USD Invitational, which is still run […]
Long, Tom
Perhaps the state’s greatest prep wrestling coach, the 1944 Forestburg High and 1951 Dakota Wesleyan grad coached in Rapid City for 33 years – the first 13 at Central and the last 20 at Stevens. Long is perhaps best known for winning eight state titles (1963-65, ’75-76, ’80-81, ’88) during his tenure and coaching Randy […]
Ekeland, Mark
The winningest baseball coach in South Dakota State history, the Rapid City Central and Augustana grad had a 561-345-2 record in 20 seasons. Ekeland’s Jackrabbits won five North Central Conference titles and they won 11 NCC Southern Division titles in 14 seasons of divisional play, including 10 straight from 1985-94. Poor health forced him to […]
Farrand, Floyd
Floyd Farrand graduated from Superior, NE High School in 1948 and from Sioux Falls College in 1952 and earned his master’s degree from South Dakota State University in 1963. At Sioux Falls College, he competed in football, basketball and track & field. Farrand was a teacher and coach for almost 40 years, most of that […]