Dakota State University Alumni Coaches of the Year

Les Knutson-The Alumni Coach of the Year for 1995 is Les Knutson. Knutson, a 1973 graduate of Dakota State, has taught Physical Education and Social Studies for nineteen years in Okabena, Minnesota. He has coached volleyball, girls basketball, track, football and cross-country during his tenure. He is currently the head coach in four sports--girls cross country, boys cross country, girls basketball and boys track & field. He has been the head girls basketball coach for eighteen straight seasons with a total win-loss of 297-100. He has had five seasons with 20 or more victories, including a perfect 26-0 season in 1980-91 and the 1981 State Championship. In 1994, the girls basketball team had a record of 23-4 and won their sub-section.

Knutson began coaching boys track & field in 1987 and had been making steady gains. His team won 9 meet titles last year and complied an overall win-loss of 99-8. Knutson also started the cross country program at his school in 1991. The first year, the boys team placed 6th out of 18 teams at the Sectional West. In 1992, the boys team went to win 8 meet titles, including the sectional championships. They boys team finished the season by claiming the second-place at the state meet. In 1993, the boys team was ranked number one. They won every meet they competed in and repeated as Section 3 Champions and captured second place honors at the state meet. In 1994-95, the boys team placed 4th in their section.
 

Les and his wife, Cheryl, have four children: Lance, Chad, Lucas, and Chelsey and reside in Heron Lake, Minnesota.

 

Tom Schlimgen (Class of 1974).  

Tom Schlimgen, originally from Dimock, SD, graduated from Dakota State College in 1974.  After graduating he spent four years teaching and coaching in Huron, SD before moving to Scotland, SD where he has been for the past 27 years.  He teaches social studies and physical education there.  Tom was nominated for Social Studies Teacher of the Year for 1991-1992.

Tom has been the head boys’ basketball coach in Scotland since 1978.  In 2004, the boys’ basketball team was Class B runner-up in the state tournament.  During his many years of coaching basketball he was a finalist for SDHSAA Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 1986, 1998, and 2004.  From 1986 until 2005, Tom headed the golfers in both the boys’ and the girls’ programs.  During the 1990’s he served as the head girls’ basketball coach for four years.  He has also been an assistant and junior high football coach.  Tom has been active in summer baseball programs his whole life and is currently the manager of the Scotland amateur team.

Tom’s involvement in baseball goes back to his amateur days in Dimock.  From 1968 to 1996 he played in every state amateur tournament for Dimock.  He has also coached the Scotland Legion and Teener teams to a number of State Championships.

Some awards, honors, and positions Tom has held include: 1972-1974 All Conference and All District (Dakota State College), 1991 Golf Coach of the Year Finalist, coach of the All-Star South Dakota Boys’ Basketball Team (1989), coach of the South team in the South Dakota All-Star games (1995), South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association Board (1982-1986), Teener Regional Commissioner (1988-1992), and 2002 President of the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association.

In 1975 Tom married Cindy Puetz, together they have four children; Jill (26), Todd (24), Kim (22), and Julie (19).  Tom also has two sisters; Kim and Marchell.

 

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