The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame will be inducting 23 sports legends on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
The 2025 class includes perhaps the greatest kicker in NFL history, world record holders, champion coaches, women athlete pioneers, a pro cowboy and South Dakota’s most well-known sled dog racer.
Tickets will go on sale later this year. The new inductees are: Jo (Haase) Auch, Tom Casey, Jessi Combs (deceased), Cathy Coyle, Donovan Gibbs (deceased), Vern Halter, Ryan Jansa, brothers Edgar and Hobart Lone Hill (both deceased), Guy Mackner, Bill Marquardt, Kim Nelson, Candi Nielsen, Tom Reeves, John “Deac” Sanders, John “Stig” Stiegelmeier, “Jumping Jim” Tays, Mark Tetzlaff, Dennis Tiefenthaler, Buck Timmins (deceased), Lemoine Trout (deceased), Jim Uttecht and Adam Vinatieri.
Vinatieri was a Rapid City/South Dakota State/NFL legend. Uttecht coached West Central to numerous state football titles. Trout helped Rapid City Stevens build a track dynasty. Countless referees credit Timmins of Mitchell for teaching them his talents.
Tiefenthaler was one of the state’s greatest high school athletes at Armour. After Hamlin High School, Tetzlaff was an almost unstoppable force for SDSU on the basketball court. When Tays, a former Hot Springs coach, left Gettysburg High School and the University of South Dakota, he held the high jump record at 14 track meets across the region — the record that Tays set in 1949 is still the GHS record in 2025.
Stiegelmeier won a national football title at SDSU and his impact was felt throughout the nation. A Sunshine Bible Academy legend and later an NFL standout, Sanders was one USD’s greatest players. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte graduate Reeves was a world champion saddle bronc rider. The multi-talented Nielsen was one of the best players ever at Armour, Augustana and in the North Central Conference.
Dakota State graduate Nelson, who like Stiegelmeier coached Vinatieri, is the winningest high school coach in SD history. Salem native Marquardt is one of four prep coaches in SD history to have teams win state football and basketball titles. NBA draft pick Mackner made Sisseton and SDSU basketball powerhouses in the 1960s.
Born in Pine Ridge, the Lone Hill brothers were two of the best earliest boxers in the Upper Midwest. Sioux Falls native and senior PGA golfer Jansa is the most decorated golfer in state history with a record 33 SD Golf Association titles. Flandreau and USD graduate Halter is the state’s most accomplished sled dog musher. 1940s multi-sport athlete Gibbs, who spent time in the NY Yankees farm system, led Claremont High School to three straight unbeaten seasons to begin their national-record 61-game win streak for six-man football.
Belle Fourche High School and Northern State athletics rose to new heights with the multi-talented Coyle in various lineups. Combs grew up in the Black Hills and later would set land-speed world records of more than 500 mph in jet-powered vehicles. State radio legend Casey’s voice is known and trusted throughout the vast Pine Ridge Reservation. Auch, one of the first women scholarship athletes at USD, expanded opportunities for high school athletes, especially girls, for decades.
With the 23 new inductees, the hall will have enshrined 395 women and men from every part of
the state representing more than 30 sports. The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1968 by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association. A group of unpaid volunteers from across the state now manages it.
Inductees are voted into the hall in four categories: as athletes, coaches, contributors (such as media, administrators and/or officials) and/or legends (deceased).
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Biographies of the 2025 inductees
JO (HAASE) AUCH
1978 Scotland/1982 USD graduate. JoAnn (Haase) Auch was one of the first women scholarship athletes at USD (basketball and softball) and in South Dakota. Olivet native who was the state’s first Class B three-time, first-team, all-state high school girls’ basketball player. At Scotland, she was a four-year starter who had a career 1,145 points and 940 rebounds as well as being considered one of the best ballhandlers in the state. Also played softball and ran track and cross country in high school. She was such an impressive athlete that when she was a freshmen, the Scotland football coach asked her to join his team. At USD, she was a starter in softball and basketball and made the 1981-82 All-North Central Conference Tournament team. Starting in 1982, she taught, coached, officiated and was an administrator while at Menno for 26 years. Coached girls’ basketball (17 years), volleyball (10 years) track (15 years) and softball (six years, winning three state titles). Officiated basketball from 1999-2008. Auch has officiated volleyball since 1999. Also was athletic director for five years at Menno before leaving in 2008 to join joined the South Dakota High School Activities Association as an assistant director. With her retirement in 2024, South Dakota lost a strong voice for athletics. She has done a lot to expand opportunities for sports, especially for women. Auch served as one of 11 members on the National Federation of State High School Associations’ (NFHS) Volleyball Rules Committee for four years before becoming the chair of that prestigious committee (2020-24). Also served on NFHS Spirit of Sport Committee, helping to select sectional and the national Spirit of Sport winners. Auch, her SDHSAA teammates and others have helped expand opportunities for South Dakota youth in recent years by sanctioning boys’ and girls’ soccer, girls’ softball and girls’ wrestling. Auch has earned various coaching honors and in 2004, she was the NFHS girls’ basketball official of the year.
TOM CASEY
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. Was teaching at Oglala Lakota College when he started his own four-hour show on KILI Radio, a reservation station that was established on Feb. 25, 1983, and one that has been an important lifeline for decades for area residents. The station gave Native Americans a voice and a way to celebrate the Lakota culture. In January 1986, the KILI sports director left and Casey started doing games with the station’s program director. Casey, who had played and followed a variety of sports, was soon on his own. On March 13-15, 1986, he covered his first state tourney as he followed the Pine Ridge to the Class A tourney (Thorpes finished 22-4 and in third-place after 91-73 thriller over Cheyenne-Eagle Butte). The next season in 1986-87, Casey called 21 games in Pine Ridge’s historic 26-0 state championship season led by Willie White and coach Jesse Mendoza. Over the years, Casey has covered numerous girls’ and boys’ Native American teams and teams featuring Native Americans. It is always a special occasion to the various communities when Casey showed up to broadcast a sporting event. Casey has been a mainstay at the Lakota Nation Invitation. At the 45th annual LNI in 2022 at the age of 74, Casey called 20 games over four days. Casey also was a key figure in keeping the station going over the years in running it and raising funds to help keep it on the air. The retired voice of high school sports on the Pine Ridge Reservation also earned the nickname of “Crash” as he hit numerous deer and other animals in his late-night travels across the state covering games.
JESSI COMBS (Born 1980. Died 2019.)
1998 Rapid City Stevens/2004 WyoTech (Laramie) graduate. Born in Rockerville; moved to her hometown of Piedmont when she was 2; and later to Rapid City when she was older. Extreme athlete and national celebrity in the speed world, she always clung to her South Dakota roots while on a national stage. Broke South Dakota resident Kitty O’Neil’s women’s world record land-speed record on Aug. 27, 2019, in Oregon’s Alvord Desert (where O’Neil had set the record of 512.71 in 1976) when Combs reached 522.783 mph. During the record run, Combs’ jet-powered car crashed and she died in the crash. It was reported that the crash was caused by a failure of a front wheel, likely caused by hitting an object in the desert, which caused the front wheel assembly to collapse at a speed nearing 523 mph. Combs set the women’s four-wheel land-speed record twice, first with a run of 440.709 mph on Oct. 9, 2013, and then broke her own record with a speed of 477.59 on Sept. 7, 2016. Combs, a master metal/custom fabricator and welder, also was a successful professional racer who won numerous races, including an off-road national championship in 2014. Combs broke gender barriers and inspired a generation of women to love motor sports. Combs was a well-known TV personality as a host and guest, especially in the car world. She hosted shows such as “Xtreme 4×4,” “Overhaulin’,” “MythBusters,” and “All Girls Garage.” Combs credited growing up in South Dakota as a huge part of her success, work ethic and drive to succeed and promoted the state and all it had to offer. On Oct. 20, 2022, HBO Max released a documentary (“The Fastest Woman on Earth”) chronicling Combs’ extraordinary life and career.
CATHY COYLE
1979 Belle Fourche/1983 Northern State graduate. Cathy (Coyle) Grubb was a two-time All-American basketball player at Northern State who led Wolves to a four-year record of 98-15. She scored 1,342 career points and was one of the school’s best-ever free throw shooters (82 percent career average). She led the Wolves to third in the nation in 1981. She also was a college track star whose 4×800 relay team placed fifth in the nation at the 1982 NAIA national outdoor meet. She also was a 400-meter hurdle conference champion who helped the Wolves win state and district team titles. Was the 1982 SD Sportswriters’ Female College Athlete of the Year for all sports. Four-year all-conference and three-year all-state player in high school who scored a school record 1,068 career points. Played in two high school state basketball tourneys, losing to Yankton in the 1978 state championship game despite her 25-point effort with the Broncs finishing with a 22-1 record that season. Her basketball team set a Belle Fourche school record of 23 consecutive wins. High school track star who was a multiple state meet winner. Lifetime all-state and all-tourney softball player who helped various teams win numerous championships. Grubb was the Belle Fourche volleyball coach for 17 seasons with a 362-174-34 record. Was the 2011 Special Olympics South Dakota Coach of the Year. Retired teaching in 2017. Also has experience as a radio sports broadcaster and veteran worker for Special Olympics SD. She is in the NSU Athletic (1998), SD Softball (2005), SD High School Basketball (2011), SD VB Coaches (2012) and Belle Fourche High School Athletic (2016) halls of fame.
DONOVAN GIBBS (Born 1931. Died 2010.)
1949 Claremont High School/USD. Star running back who led Claremont to three straight unbeaten seasons to begin its national-record 61-game win streak for six-man football. In 1948 Claremont set another national record by scoring 608 points in a 10-game season and Gibbs likely set a national individual scoring record but game stats from all games were not available to determine that. He also starred in basketball and track. In 1949, he led the Honkers to an unbeaten regular season in basketball and he set the state record in the high hurdles and almost singlehandedly won the state track title for Claremont. Baseball may have been his best sport. In 1949, Claremont lost to Sioux Falls in the state Legion finals; Gibbs threw three no-hitters that year. He went to USD on a football scholarship but a severely broken leg in spring drills ended his football career. After recovering from the injury, he signed with the New York Yankees. In 1952 at Class D McAlester in the Sooner State League he was 17-8 and hit .277 as an outfielder in between his pitching starts. The next year he played briefly for Class C Joplin but an injury ended his career. He later played semi-pro baseball in Marshall, Minn., and also played SD amateur baseball before retiring in the early 1960s.
VERN HALTER
1967 Flandreau/1971 USD graduate who later earned law degree in Vermillion. One of the world’s and South Dakota’s most famous sled-dog racer, Halter competed in the 1,000-mile (Anchorage to Nome) Iditarod 19 times in a 22-year span (1983-2005). His best finish was third in 1999 to earn about $46,000, with three top five and nine top 10 finishes. His fastest time came in the 2002 race when Halter finished fifth in nine days, seven hours, 47 minutes and 48 seconds. Also has raced in the Yukon Quest (1,000 miles from Fairbanks to Whitehorn, Yukon) six times, winning that 1,000-mile race in 1990 in 11 days, 17 hours, 9 minutes to earn $20,000. Halter also placed second in 1989 and sixth in 1991 in the Yukon Quest. Also had had success racing in Minnesota’s John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and is a past champion in Alaska’s Moose Creek Nugget 100. Halter secured one of the largest corporate sponsorships (Norwest/Wells Fargo) in the history of mushing. Has lived in Alaska since 1977. Halter’s friend David Monson (from Roslyn, SD), who married four time Iditarod Champion Susan Butcher, inspired Halter to run his first Iditarod. Halter won more than $300,000 in career earnings. Halter was a wrestler in high school and is a member of the Flandreau Hall of Fame. He also tirelessly promoted his sport, bringing some of his puppies to schools across South Dakota over the years. A former mayor, public defender and judge in Alaska, Halter and veterinarian wife, Dr. Susan Whiton, own and manage the successful Dream-A-Dream Sled Dog Tours, Bed & Breakfast and Kennel. Whiton also was a musher and played a key role in Halter’s success in the sport. In the Flandreau Athletic Hall of Fame.
RYAN JANSA
1991 Sioux Falls Lincoln/1996 New Mexico State graduate. Perhaps the greatest, but for certain the most decorated, amateur golfer in South Dakota history with a record 33 South Dakota Golf Association champions and numerous state runner-up finishes. Won nine husband-wife state titles with wife and fellow SDGA Hall of Famer Julie. He played professionally for several years, winning three events, including two on the Dakota Tour. Jansa gave up pro golf to raise a family until he turned 50 in 2023. His first PGA Tour event was the Sanford International on the Champions Tour in his hometown of Sioux Falls where Jansa finished at even par at the Minnehaha Country Club to finish tied for 55th to earn $4,400. The following September 2023 weekend, Jansa qualified for the Pure Insurance Championship on the famous Pebble Beach course (he didn’t make the final-day cut). In 2024, he qualified for and played in the Senior British Open in Scotland. Jansa, a golf and tennis player at SF Lincoln where he is a hall of fame member, led the Patriots to three State A golf team titles (1988-1990). In 1990, Jansa finished as state runner-up. Jansa played collegiately at New Mexico State, where he was a four-year starter and a first-team All-Big West Conference selection for the Aggies. In 1995, Jansa won the Big West Conference individual championship and the Aggies claimed the Big West team title. The Jansas have two children, Isaak (25) and Reese (20). Reese, an eight-time state golf champion who was the 2022 national high school player of the year, is playing collegiate golf at SDSU. Ryan’s dad, Steve, is also a member of the SDGA Hall of Fame.
EDGAR LONE HILL (Born 1932. Died 1999.)
1952 Rapid City Central graduate who attended Black Hills State before leaving for the military. Born in Pine Ridge and moved to Rapid City at age 6 where he lived until he died. West Point nominee and Korean War veteran. Lettered in football and basketball. He was the punter, place-kicker and a back on the Cobblers undefeated 1950 (state champions) and 1951 football teams that won 15 straight games. However, his best sport was boxing. Many considered him and his brother (Hobart Lone Hill) as two of the best earliest amateur boxers in the Upper Midwest. The Lone Hill brothers made many headlines in Black Hills newspapers for their boxing successes. Edgar is said to have gone on a winning streak that lasted almost two years at one point during a time when amateur boxers had lots of fights. In 1952, the Lone Hill brothers were state champions who went on to win Regional Golden Gloves’ titles on Feb. 14 in Sioux City to earn a trip to the Golden Gloves national finals in Chicago. Hobart won the 126-pound regional division and Edgar “The Cat” was the 147-pound champion. Edgar was a southpaw known for his knockouts and crippling body shots. He first learned by boxing his three brothers until dark on the Pine Ridge Reservation and then in an organized fashion at the Cactus Patch Boxing Club in 1947. Hobart said that Edgar had so many interests and talents, but boxing wasn’t his older brother’s greatest passion even if it was his greatest talent. In 1955, MGM Studios came to the Black Hills to shoot its $2 million plus budget buffalo movie, “The Last Hunt.” They needed Native Americans, Edgar tried out as an extra and was so good that he ended up earning a role (“Spotted Hand” — he is killed in a gun duel with movie star Robert Taylor) in the 1956 movie directed by Oscar-winning Richard Brooks that starred Stewart Granger, Taylor and Debra Paget (who replaced Oscar-winner Anne Bancroft, who was injured three weeks into the shoot). MGM offered Edgar a contract, but he would eventually settle back into his main role as a family man. Member of the Rapid City and SD AAU halls of fame.
HOBART LONE HILL (Born 1936. Died 2018.)
1956 Rapid City Central graduate who attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Born in Pine Ridge. Hobart started boxing his brothers at a young age when one of their dad’s friends, a former boxer, gave his friend’s children his boxing gloves. Hobart was hooked from the start and started organized boxing in 1948. He seldom lost and won numerous titles. Many considered him and his brother (Edgar Lone Hill) as two of the best earliest amateur boxers in the Upper Midwest. The Lone Hill brothers made many headlines in Black Hills newspapers for their boxing successes. Also in 1952, the successful brothers were recruited to fight each other. They agreed to merely put on a show for fans and not go for a knockout. In the second round, Hobart saw an opening and couldn’t help himself, reportedly landing a powerful blow to Edgar’s head that staggered him. It started a brotherly brawl, and soon after the fight was stopped and called off, with both brothers bleeding and fuming. The fight was quickly forgotten and forgiven. Hobart won South Dakota state titles in 1951 (bantamweight), 1952 (featherweight) 1954 (welterweight) 1956 (welterweight) and 1958 (middleweight). Hobart earned trips to Golden Gloves national tournaments in Chicago by winning regional titles in 1952 (featherweight), 1953 (lightweight), 1955 (welterweight) and 1957 (welterweight). In 1958, Hobart first became a middleweight champion by hiding quarters during his weigh-in at a tourney to help a friend and fellow boxer who hoped to win the class Hobart was supposed to be in. Hobart was known for his speed and finesse, and when he broke his dominant right hand a few weeks before an upcoming tournament, he taught himself to use his left hand and came away with a wicked left hook. Hobart was at his prime in 1958 and was ready to turn pro when doctors found a heart murmur that ended his career. Hobart loved boxing and continued to help young boxers after he retired. In 1967, Hobart was asked to start coaching the Rapid City Boys Club boxing team, which he did. In 1969, Hobart started his own boxing club, the Indian Men’s Club. Hobart influenced and taught athletes across the Black Hills and helped other boxing clubs develop their athletes. His program caught the attention of world champion boxer Archie Moore who became a friend with Lone Hill, his club and its athletes. Also, Hobart was a state champion horseshoe pitcher. Member of the Rapid City and SD AAU halls of fame.
GUY MACKNER
1965 Sisseton/1969 SDSU graduate. The 6-foot-7 center teamed with John Thomas and Gene Zulk to make South Dakota State a men’s basketball powerhouse in the late 1960s. He averaged 19.9 points and 11.6 rebounds a game as a junior. Mackner earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior and led the North Central Conference in rebounding in 1968, averaging 12.5 rebounds a game in league play. He also was named to the all-tournament team at the Great Lakes Regional in the national tourney. Helped SDSU win NCC titles in 1968 and 1969. Following a collegiate career in which he finished with 1,114 career points and averages of 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds in 74 games, Mackner was a sixth-round NBA draft pick (81st pick overall in 1969) of the Atlanta Hawks. After being released by the NBA team, he played for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber team in the U.S. Industrial League, then spent 1970-72 in the U.S. Army, where he was a member of the armed forces basketball team. While in the military he became involved in handball as a player, coach and official. In 1972, he was one of only four certified handball officials in the nation. Mackner was not only a national handball official, player, coach and consultant, he was a tireless promoter of the sport, putting on clinics and helping groups such as the USA Olympic handball team. Helped Sisseton to 1965 big-school state basketball tournament and a 23-2 record as an all-state senior who averaged 11 points and 21 rebounds per game. Is a member of the SDSU and SD High School Basketball halls of fame.
BILL MARQUARDT
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 years as a head boys’ basketball coach. From 1985-1990, his Hanson boys’ basketball teams had a magical five-season run with a 108-14 record that included a 46-game win streak; five conference titles; a State A title in 1986 as the smallest school in Class A; and a State B runner-up finish (Northwestern 82, Hanson 80) in 1989. He was a head football coach for nine seasons that included seven years at Bridgewater where his teams won 45 of 61 games, the first-ever SD state championship football game in 1981 and had a 28-game winning streak. After retiring from teaching, he became a head girls’ basketball coach for the first time at Mt Vernon\Plankinton. His teams responded with a four-season record of 71-23 with fifth- (2014) and third- (2015) place finishes in the State A tournament. Marquardt was also a head track coach for 20 years, directing the Colman-Egan girls to a state runner-up finish in 2006. Played key role in starting SD football playoffs by devising a points system that was published statewide, which projected who would be in playoffs the season before (1980) football playoffs began. Idea man behind first Class A vs. Class B (only two classes at the time) boys’ basketball all-star classic in 1982. Had an important role in statewide growth of the Hanson Basketball Classic. He taught social studies, language arts, and PE (1976 to 2013 at Warner, Bridgewater, Hanson, Colman-Egan and McCook Central). All-state quarterback at Salem High School who accounted for 27 TDs, leading the Cubs to an 8-0 record in 1969. All-conference basketball player who held six school track and field records when he graduated. Forty-five years later in 2025, Marquardt still holds his high school’s rebounding records for a season (360) and career (788) that he set as a senior in 1970. Inducted into the Hanson High School, SD Basketball Coaches Association, and SD HS Coaches Association halls of fame.
KIM NELSON
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 Steve Kueter (289 wins in 34 seasons) called Nelson one of the best innovators in the game. In 2023, SF Washington coach Chad Stadem said Nelson changed East River and Sioux Falls football when he brought his modern passing attack to Washington in 1993. At the end of the 2023 season when he decided to step down, SFR had won one state title (2011) in five state championship appearances under Nelson. In 45 seasons, his overall head prep coaching record at the end of 2023 was 314-154 (Milbank 1979-87; RC Central 1987-93; SF Washington 1993-05; Edina, MN — got 30 wins there from 2005-09, —and SFR 2009-2023). Nelson was state football coach of the year in 2011 and a 2024 and 2015 national finalist for coach of year. Was University of Sioux Falls assistant in 2023 and was the SFR freshman coach in 2024. Nelson was a multi-sport star in high school and DSU where he played football, basketball and baseball. In DSU hall of fame as a coach and as a member of the 1976 Trojans’ football team that finished ranked ninth in the NAIA nation. Also was DSU alumni coach of the year in 2001. Among the players Nelson coached were future NFL Hall of Fame kicker Adam Vinatieri; New York Islanders hockey great Anders Lee; and NFL offensive lineman Mason McCormick. Several of Nelson’s assistants became state championship winning high school coaches and Nelson gave Milbank native and now Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer one of his first coaching gigs. SF Jefferson coach Vince Benedetto in 2023 said: “From East River to West River, thousands of players and numerous coaches are better for having crossed Kim’s path.” At Lake Benton High School, Nelson played for his dad and legendary Hall of Fame coach Andy Nelson, and as a three-year starting QB, All-Stater Kim led his team to win 34 of 38 games, his last 21 in a row and the 1973 Minnesota State Nine-Man Championship.
CANDI NIELSEN
1984 Armour /1988 Augustana graduate. Candi Nielsen Musiel was an all-state in prep basketball as a junior and senior. Led Armour to 1983 state basketball title (first of five in a row) and to three State B track titles. Armour went to the State B basketball tourney three times with Nielsen patrolling the court, and when the undefeated Packers (26-0) won their 1983 title, Nielsen as a senior not only often led Armour’s fast break, she also was the team’s best defender, scorer and rebounder. She scored 1,485 career points in high school where she was a four-year starter who led the Packers to an overall record of 88-10. At end of outstanding basketball career at Augie, Nielsen was the Augie’s career leader in blocked shots (99) and rebounds (882) along with third in career scoring (1,476 points); second in steals (217) and among the career leaders in assists (236). Like high school, a complete player whose stats made her one of the best overall players in Augustana and North Central Conference history. She was all-NCC player and is a member of the Augustana Hall of Fame.
TOM REEVES
1981 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School graduate who studied Rodeo Business at Oklahoma Paanhandle State University. Member of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. The 2001 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider and 18-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier (consecutive from 1985-2002). The year Reeves won in 2001 he was one of five South Dakotans (Billy Etbauer of Ree Heights; Red Lemmel of Faith; Jesse Bail of Camp Crook; and Bud Longbrake of Dupree) of 15 bronc riders in the world to qualify for the 10-day national finals in Las Vegas. Reeves finished in the top four in the world six times and was the National Finals Rodeo Average Champion in Saddle Bronc in 1993. Known and respected for his classic spurring style, an encyclopedic knowledge of saddle bronc horses that he learned from his father Dean, and a level of consistency almost unmatched in the history of saddle bronc riding. When he retired in 2005 after a 23-year pro career, Reeves was the world leader for most NFR qualifications in saddle bronc and had earned almost $1.8 million (20th at the time on the all-time list of career earnings). Reeves also earned a silver medallion for finishing second at the 2002 Olympic Command Performance Rodeo in Farmington, Utah, while serving as captain for the gold medal-winning United States team. He received the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Mentoring Award in 2007 after guiding Ranger (Texas) College to the College National Finals Rodeo men’s title in his second season as coach where he brought a rodeo program back to life. He always has made excellent and consistent efforts to pass on his passion for rodeo, to provide opportunities and to teach free lessons of the Western lifestyle for youth on reservations in South Dakota and across the nation. Taught rodeo schools and owner in rodeo company that provided rough stock to every level of rodeos across the nation. He was a two-time high school national champion saddle bronc rider, his first at 15 years old. Grew up on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation and started rodeoing at age 8, learning his craft from older fellow Native Americans, many who were legendary in the rodeo world.
JOHN “DEAC” SANDERS
1968 Sunshine Bible Academy (near Miller)/1973 USD graduate. Born in Chicago, Sanders played six seasons as a defensive back in the NFL (1974-76 with New England and 1977-79 with Philadelphia). The 6-1, 177-pounder intercepted six passes in 1977 (second best in the NFL that year) and five each in 1974 and 1978 for a career total of 17, returning two for touchdowns. He played in 60 NFL games, starting 51 of them and recovered seven career fumbles. Was teaching school when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by New England in 1974, playing first as a cornerback and then as a free safety. Sanders replaced Bill Bradley as the starting free safety of the Eagles in 1977, Dick Vermeil’s second year as Philadelphia’s coach. At USD, had a school record 15 interceptions and considered to be one of the best cornerbacks to ever play for the Coyotes. In 1972, Sanders led USD to a 9-1 record, its first North Central Conference title since 1951 and a No. 4 national ranking. He was a two-time all-NCC, and he also set the USD record for longest punt return (84 yards). Entered the USD Hall of Fame in 1992. In high school, Sanders was a multi-sport standout in football, basketball and track, earning letters in each sport three times. He was the 1968 state track champion in the long jump.
JOHN “STIG” STIEGELMEIER
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 the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. During the school’s first 19 seasons at DI FCS, Stiegelmeier guided the Jacks to 17 winning seasons, 12 playoff appearances and four conference titles. Coach Stig also was on the SDSU staff as a student assistant in 1977-79 and from 1988-96 as an assistant coach before becoming the head coach, so he has been on the Jackrabbit sidelines for 419 games (264 wins). He was an excellent multi-sport athlete at Selby High School. He also was an assistant at Northern Iowa (1980) and Northern State (1984-86) and the University of Wisconsin (1987) as well as a high school coach in Eau Claire (WI) for three seasons (1981-1983). He made all programs he touched better with not only his coaching, but his ability to teach life lessons to those with whom he came in contact. His ability to coach the coaches was second to none. His program at SDSU consistently produced All-Americans, professional players, high graduation rates and good and productive citizens off the field.
JIM “SLIM JIM” & “JUMPING JIM” TAYS
1950 Gettysburg/1954 USD graduate. Won 18 letters as one of SD’s best all-time basketball players and high jumpers — 4 TF letters, 4 BB and 3 FB at Gettysburg and seven (4 track and 3 BB) at USD. Left USD as its second leading scorer in history and “the greatest high school and college high jump in South Dakota history” according to USD legendary track coach Dan Lennon. He won seven high jump titles (including the North Central Conference, Sioux City Relays and Howard Wood Relays) as a USD senior. His 6 feet, 4.5 inches leap at the 1954 NCAA meet broke the 22-year SD college record of 6-2.5 set by Jim O’Connell of SDSU in 1932. When Tays left USD, he held the high jump record at 14 high school and college track meets across the region along with the school records at Gettysburg High School (6-3.5 in 1949 regional at Redfield as a junior — still the GHS record 75 years later in 2024) and at USD not to mention the South Dakota state high school and college all-time records at the time. Tays was a 6-4 basketball guard at USD, a three-year starter, two-time (1953 and 1954) All-North Central Conference player and the team captain with classmate Ordell Braase (future NFL pro bowler and three-time NFL champion). Tays led the Coyotes in scoring his last two seasons (more than 500 points) and was an almost unstoppable scorer, rebounder, defender and ball-handler in high school and in college, according to legendary USD coach Carl B. “Rube” Hoy. In high school, Tays was a two-time State A high jump champion (only two classes, so Tays competed against schools from SF, RC, Aberdeen and etc.). In basketball, Gettysburg was one of the 263 Class B schools and Tays led Gettysburg to a 1950 state runner-up finish to Emery with a 23-3 (Pierre and Miller were the other losses) record. Scored more than 800 points his final two years as a prep. Tays was a teacher, coach and athletic director at Hot Springs for 37 years from 1960-1997. His track teams won five Black Hills Conference team titles and he coached 18 individual state champions. As the Hot Springs AD, he grew the high school’s athletic department from three sports for boys to seven sports each for boys and for girls. In 1973, Tays became a charter member of the SDHS Activities Directors’ Association. He is in numerous halls of fame: USD, Hot Springs, Gettysburg, SD High School Basketball and SD Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. The Hot Springs Middle School Activity Center was renamed the Tays Center in 2016.
MARK TETZLAFF
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 career record for field-goal shooting (60.7 percent). He was a three-time all-North Central Conference player and was NCC MVP in 1985, when he averaged 18.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. Not only known for his scoring and rebounding, Tetzlaff was an excellent defender. In SDSU’s first two games in the 1981-82 season, SDSU won the four-team, two-night Rushmore Classic in Rapid City. Tetzlaff made his college debut with 19 points and 22 points coming off the bench, and was named the MVP of the tourney. In his third college game, he moved into the starting rotation and never left it through his college career. At Hamlin, the 6-foot-6 center was a three-time all-stater who led the Chargers to the State B tourney twice with 1,204 career points and 981 career rebounds. Also was a standout football player and track athlete for the Chargers. Member of SDSU and SD Basketball halls of fame.
DENNIS TIEFENTHALER
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 of three ain’t bad is a generally excepted philosophy, the Armour high school native looms as a classic example of a different train of thought. His diversified skills seem to proclaim four out of four is best. Football basketball, track and baseball. He not only participates but excels in each. At the age of 16, he is already being mentioned in the same breath with many of the greatest high school athletes in the state’s history.” Quite possibly the most celebrated athlete in his high school career, having been interviewed and featured by every major news outlet throughout the state. He was chosen South Dakota’s prep male athlete of the year in 1978 and went on to help lead Armour to six state titles. Two in baseball coached by his father Ken, two in basketball and two in track. He was an individual state track champion six times and was a state record holder in the 440 yard dash with a time of 48.5 seconds. He also won the 1979 special event at Howard Wood Dakota Relays that included all classes. For that and many other great races at Howard Wood, he was inducted to the Howard Wood Hall of Fame in 2007 alongside his brother and last year‘s Hall of Fame inductee, Jeff Tiefenthaler. He was an all-state football player three times and all-state basketball player two times. A pitcher and infielder in baseball and after overcoming a severe knee injury in his senior football season, Dennis was drafted twice by Major League Baseball in 1980 in the 19th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Then after a year at Yavapai Junior College in 1982, he was the 49th overall pick in the nation by the Baltimore Orioles. He played three seasons, reaching AA. After his professional career, he coached daughter Samantha and her junior Olympic softball team to a national title in 1999. Along with a career in business, he has developed young baseball and softball players to numerous scholarships and awards over the last 25 years. In 2020, he and son Jared co-authored an Amazon best-selling book called “Seam Reading: The Hidden Art Of Hitting.” The Tiefenthalers’ Seam Reader App has developed revolutionary pitch recognition technology that is helping hitters to be better all over the world.
BUCK TIMMINS (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 the cross-country program in Parkston during the fall of 1985. He officiated high school and college football and basketball contests for 35 years, including a number of state championship games. He inspired and encouraged hundreds to go into officiating and was one of the best and most knowledgeable teachers of officials in the state. Timmins was the SDHSAA Statewide Supervisor of High School Football officials for a number of years. His impact extended beyond the state as well, as he advised the National Federation of High School Associations on officiating mechanics. Many of his policies and procedures were adopted by other states across the country. He also was one of the go-to people who led Mitchell to successfully hosting the South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Tournament for a number of years. “He wasn’t doing any of this stuff for the money and the glory or anything like that,” said MHS Activities Director Cory Aadland. “He just wanted to give back to high school sports and young kids.”
LEMOINE TROUT (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 of his death. He became the Raiders’ head track coach for boys and girls in 1989. His RCS boys’ track teams finished in the top five at the State AA Meet 10 times and were Region 4AA champions five times. His RCS girls’ teams finished in the top five at the State AA 10 times, were Region 4AA champions eight times and won the first two Greater Dakota Conference titles. Before that, he coached and taught for 13 years at Rapid City Central, where he was the head football coach for eight seasons. He began his teaching and coaching career in Nebraska (1966-69 at McCook and North Platte). Known for sitting in the top row of the bleachers during track meets, his low-key, positivie demeanor and attending nearly every RCS play, band and choir concert and most athletic events. Also served as an athletic official for area high school games. He won numerous awards including being a finalist for national girls’ track coach of the year and three-time conference coach of the year. Member of the South Dakota Coaches, Rapid City and Black Hills State halls of fame.
JIM UTTECHT
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 Class 11A titles from 1996-2003. As offensive coordinator of West Central from 2004-2014, the Trojans won four more state titles with another runner-up finish. In 2015, West Central renamed its field in honor of Uttecht. He also was athletic director at West Central for 32 years (1974-2007) and was the Trojans’ boys’ basketball coach for seven years. Uttecht was a three-time nominee for national football coach of the year. Before West Central, Uttecht taught and coached at Winner from 1969-74 where he was head boys’ basketball coach for three seasons. At Tripp, Uttecht quarterbacked the undefeated 1964 mythical state 8-man football champs, started on the 1965 state “B’’ runner-up basketball team and set the school pole vault record. At Southern State, Uttecht started four years at quarterback and lettered four years in basketball. Uttecht is in several halls of fame, including the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a guitarist and horn player for the 1960s band The Postmen.
ADAM VINATIERI
Born in Yankton. 1991 Rapid City Central/1995 SDSU graduate. Most agree 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, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and the New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team. Counting regular-season and playoff games, Vinatieri played in 397 NFL games (263 wins), made 655 of 784 FGs (84 percent) and 943 of 968 PATs (97 percent) for 2,908 career points. He made 29 game-winning kicks, including two that won Super Bowls. Some feel his best game came in the 2001 playoffs when he made a 45-yard field goal in a swirling windy snowstorm to tie the game at 13 and send it into overtime. Vinatieri then got the 16-13 OT win for his Patriots over the Oakland Raiders by kicking the game-winning 23-yard FG. Of his 38 career tackles, Vinatieri’s most famous one came when he ran down Herschel Walker to make a textbook, touchdown-saving tackle in 1996. Walker was visibly upset he was caught after his 73-yard return. In 2004, Vinatieri had a hand in 22 points in a 40-22 Patriots win over St. Louis when he kicked four FGs, four PATs and threw a TD pass. Born in Yankton, moved to Rapid City when he was 5 where he was a standout in several sports including football, wrestling, soccer and track. All-state football player who rarely came off the field for the Cobblers as a running quarterback, part-time linebacker and kicker/punter. Vinatieri left SDSU as an all-conference kicker and punter and the school’s all-time leading scorer (185 career points). Overcame being undrafted and a shaky NFL start to become known as Automatic Adam, Mr. Clutch and Iceman later to his pro teammates. In 1995, first played with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football before winning the New England job in the 1996 NFL pre-season.