Mitchell, Ronald

Ronald Mitchell is hearing, but for nearly 50 years was a dedicated supporter/promoter of deaf sports programs in South Dakota, Minnesota and nationally as an athlete, coach and administrator. Mitchell served as a Team USA assistant coach at the 1993 Deaf Olympics in Sweden, where one of his athletes won five gold medals. For 36 […]

Olson, Leonard

1921 Red Wing, Minn. HS grad. 1927 Luther College grad. Olson became head coach of all sports at Augustana in 1931 and remained a member of the staff until he retired in 1968. From 1931-41, the last year Augustana was a member of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference, Lefty’s Vikings won eight conference titles in […]

Olson, Bob

The Aberdeen Central and 1977 Northern State grad helped Northern succeed in athletics for almost 40 years. He served the Wolves in the role of athletic director for 13 years, taking over the position in 1999 for the retired Jim Kretchman. Prior to that, he coached the NSU men’s basketball team for 14 seasons, winning […]

Prendergast, Harry

Harry Prendergast graduated from Milbank High School and was a 1953 graduate of Huron College. At Huron he was All-SDIC in football and basketball. He was a member of three SDIC championship basketball teams and started 39 straight games in football. Prendergast is the only football coach in South Dakota history to have coached 6-man, […]

Reed, Gary

Gary Reed attended Egan High School where he played varsity basketball for five years. He continued his basketball career at the University of Sioux Falls as a four-year starter. Graduating from USF in 1963, Reed began his teaching and coaching career in Jasper, MN. In 1965 he returned to Sioux Falls to continue teaching and […]

Hennies, Jay

Jay Hennies graduated from Wagner High School and the University of South Dakota. At Wagner, he was selected to the all-state basketball team two years and once in football. At USD, he played baseball and basketball for four years and was All-NCC in basketball his senior year. He played amateur baseball for 20 years. Hennies […]

Hoover, Gayle

Born Dec. 15, 1934. Washington High and 1958 Sioux Falls College grad. Ranks as one of the state’s finest both as a player and as a coach. At SFC, the 6-foot-2 Hoover became the first South Dakota college player to score over 2,000 career points (2,069). He averaged 28.5 points during the 1956-57 season. Forty […]

Houska, John

John Houska graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1961 and Black Hills State College in 1965. He was a multi-sport high school star athlete who became a Hall of Fame athlete at Black Hills State College. Houska coached for 50 years in football, cross country, track & field, and wrestling. Schools that he coached at […]

Hoy, Carl B.

Born Oct. 17, 1893, near Huron. 1915 Huron H.S. grad. 1919 USD grad. Came to USD in fall of 1927 as head basketball and assistant football and track coach. Was head track coach from 1931-46. Was athletic director from 1935-56. Was basketball coach for 24 years (1927-49, ’52-54), going 167-189. His 1947-48 basketball team defeated […]

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 […]