Distinguished:
Gary Munsen
Gary Munsen graduated from General Beadle State College in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and physical education. While at General Beadle, Munsen played basketball for Coach Ed Harter and was also a member of the first organized golf time.
Munsen started his college career at Dakota Wesleyan in the Fall of 1961, he was recruited to play for Gordie Fosness there. Munsen attended one semester there and returned to school at General Beadle in 1963.
After graduation, Munsen taught and coached at Marion High School for three years. He was the head basketball coach there, compiling a 40-20 record. He also assisted with varsity football and was the head track coach.
In 1969, Munsen moved to Mitchell to teach and coach at Mitchell Middle School. He coached 10th grade football and basketball, compiling a 77-6 record as head basketball coach. In 1973, he moved to Mitchell High School, where he taught until his retirement in 2000. he has been the head boy's basketball coach there for 29 years and the head girl's basketball coach for 13 years.
As head boy's basketball coach, Munsen has amassed 8 state titles, including three straight from 1984-86. His 1985 team finished the season undefeated, 23-0 the first Mitchell High School team to go undefeated.
During a six-year span (1983-88), his team could not be beat at home as they won 63 straight games in the Corn Palace. His teams also won 43 straight games, from 1984-86, a State "A" and "AA" record. His overall coaching record in boy's basketball is 591-196.
In girl's basketball, Munsen has managed three state titles (1990 (first ever), 1992 and 1994), 11 state tournament appearances and four runner-up state titles (1991, 1993, 1995 and 2001).
During that time frame, Munsen coached two undefeated seasons (1992 and 1994) and won 45 games in a row. In a three-year span, his girl's team went 68-1. His teams have claimed six Eastern South Dakota Conference championships (1990, 1992-94, 2001-02). His overall coaching record in girl's basketball is 225-71.
Munsen has been named Sportswriters Coach of the year four times two each for boy's and girl's basketball (1985, 1986, 1994 and 2000). He was inducted into the South Dakota High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1994 and the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995. In 1997 he was awarded the South Dakota High School Association Distinguished Award.
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Completed by Spring 2004 Class of English 401
Last updated Spring 2004