Seely, Brad
A 1974 Baltic High School and 1978 SDSU graduate, Brad Seely was considered one of the greatest special teams coaches in NFL history. He coached for the three New England Super Bowl-winning teams in 2001, 2003, and 2004. Seely was an All-State high school football player, all-conference basketball player, and state track & field meet […]
Seiler, Dawn
The winningest girls’ basketball coach in South Dakota history as of 2022, Dawn Seiler, retired with a 629-244 record in 37 seasons. She graduated from McLaughlin High School in 1979 and from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND in 1983. She was a high school and college basketball star. In 1977, she scored a […]
Stephenson, Warren
Native of Nebraska City, Neb. Peru (Neb.) State. Football and basketball coach at Yankton High. Yankton’s basketball teams reached the state tourney every year he coached there (1927-35), winning state titles in 1928, ’29 and ’31 and finishing second in ’30. The 1928 team took part in the last of the national prep tourneys held […]
Strain, Dave
The White River High and South Dakota State grad guided Rapid City Central boys basketball to statewide prominence. In his 24 years as the Cobblers’ coach (1963-86), Strain’s teams won two state titles (1969 and ’80) and were runners-up six times (1965, ’67, ’74, ’75, ’79 and ’82). Strain guided Central to the state tourney […]
Swisher, Clark
Born March 27, 1916 in Vermillion. 1934 Vermillion HS grad. 1938 USD grad. Was a coach and/or athletic director at Northern State from 1946-1986. When he started at NSU, he coached football, basketball, track, tennis and golf – with no assistants. The winningest football coach in NSU history, he was 146-42-4 with four perfect seasons […]
Taplett, Howard
Born May 23, 1921. 1939 Tyndall High and 1943 University of South Dakota grad. Taplett built Tyndall into a Class B track power. In 16 years as Tyndall’s coach, Taplett coached the Panthers to seven state Class B titles (1953-56, 1960 and 1966-67) and one runner-up finish (1965). The four consecutive titles is a feat […]
Tibbetts, Fred
The 1967 De Smet High and 1972 Dakota State grad won 551 games and 11 state titles – both state girls basketball coaching records. He was 551-101 in 29 seasons at the high school level (18 at Jefferson, 11 at Roosevelt). His teams qualified for the state tourney 19 times and reached the state finals […]
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 […]
Trautner, Phil
Born in Beulah, N.D. in 1926. 1944 Goodrich, N.D., HS grad. 1951 Minnesota grad. The most successful prep tennis coach in state history, Trautner’s teams were 361-61 from 1965-2002. He led the Governors to four state titles (1975, ’79, ’84-85), three runner-up finishes and 10 Eastern South Dakota Conference titles. Taught and/or coached in Pierre […]
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 […]