Casey, Tom
1966 Wasson (Colorado Springs) High School/1970 University of Colorado. Was a high school gymnast (excellent tumbler and on the trampoline) who earned a scholarship to the University of Colorado where he competed in gymnastics. Came to Pine Ridge Reservation in June 1970 while working as a Vista volunteer and on his master’s degree in sociology. […]
Uttecht, Jim
1965 Tripp/1969 Southern State (USD-Springfield) graduate. One of the winningest prep football coaches in state history, Uttecht guided West Central to eight titles in nine championship games and a 234-64 record (fifth best ever when he retired as head coach) in 28 seasons as head coach from 1974-2003. The Trojans won seven of eight state […]
Trout, Lemoine
(Born 1943. Died 2002.) 1961 Alliance (NE) High School/1966 Black Hills State graduate. Was the key figure in building a track dynasty at Rapid City Stevens. His girls won six straight State AA titles from 1996-2001. His boys won a state title in 2001. Started teaching at Rapid City Stevens in 1982 until the time […]
Timmins, Buck
(Born 1948. Died 2020.) 1966 Mitchell/1971 Dakota Wesleyan graduate. Timmins was one of South Dakota’s premier promoters of all sports as a teacher, coach, administrator and official. He won numerous awards in each of those categories. Timmins coached all different sports during a 36-year career at Avon (seven years) and Parkston (29 years). He started […]
Stiegelmeier, John “Stig”
1975 Selby/1979 SDSU graduate. SDSU’s winningest football coach in school history, with a 199-112 record in 26 seasons. Retired after the 2022 season in which the Jackrabbits won the FCS Division I national title. The Jacks were national runners-up during the spring 2021 season. Beginning in 2004, Stiegelmeier led SDSU’s transition from NCAA DII to […]
Nelson, Kim
1974 Lake Benton (MN) High School/1979 Dakota State graduate. Nelson is the winningest high school football coach in South Dakota history. As the Sioux Falls Roosevelt football coach, Nelson collected his 300th career win Sept. 26, 2020. He was the first high school coach in state history to reach 300 wins. Former SF O’Gorman coach […]
Marquardt, Bill
1970 Salem/1976 Northern State graduate. Successful coach in a variety of sports, significant contributor to growing/improving SD sports. First SD prep coach to win state championships in football and basketball (and only one of four in state history to do so with Marv McCune, Kent Mueller and Paul Raasch). Had a 501-265 record in 36 […]
Vinatieri, Adam
1991 Rapid City Central/1995 SDSU graduate. Most agree, Vinatieri is the greatest kicker in NFL history. Played for New England Patriots (1996-2005) and Indianapolis Colts (2006-19). Became the all-time leading scorer in NFL history in his 24 seasons. Was a four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time pro bowler. Named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, […]
Tiefenthaler, Denis
Dennis Tiefenthaler was born on May 17, 1962, and now resides in Dewey (AZ). In the words of hall of fame member Greg Hanson, “Athletic versatility did not originate with Dennis Tiefenthaler, he has simply refined it to an art seldom seen before in the state of South Dakota. In a time when two out […]
Tetzlaff, Mark
1981 Hamlin/1985 SDSU graduate. Hayti native who finished his basketball career as SDSU’s all-time leading scorer (1,931 points) and rebounder (1,132). As a senior in 1985, he led the Jackrabbits to the NCAA Division II finals, where he was named MVP of the Final Four despite SDSU losing the title game. He also set SDSU […]