Clare Ekeland - Inducted 2019

Clare Ekeland was a 1934 Washington High School and 1938 Augustana College graduate.

Ekeland began his high school teaching/coaching career at Dell Rapids in 1938. From 1945-48 he was at Luverne, MN, serving as athletic director, coach and teacher. He also taught and coached at Rapid City High School from 1948-52.

In 1952 Ekeland started his 29-year career at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. He was the head coach in seven different sports: football (7 years), golf (7), tennis (17), track & field (1), wrestling (4) and volleyball (6). The tennis team was the SDIC champions nine times and NAIA District 12 champions six times. His golf team was SDIC champions twice and NAIA District 12 champions twice. He was the NAIA District 12 Tennis Coach of the Year in 1976 and the SDIC Tennis Coach of the Year in 1980. He served as an assistant coach in football (4 years), basketball (8) and track & field (5) and was intramural director for 11 years.

At WHS, Ekeland started on the 1933 state championship basketball team. He was a member of the 1933-34 state championship football team. At Augustana, he earned 13 varsity letters. He was a member of four straight SDIC championship football teams. Following four years in the Army (1941-44), he returned to Augustana as a basketball and track & field coach.

Ekeland is a member of the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce, SDIC, SDSM&T and Augustana halls of fame.