VERMILLION, S.D. — The South Dakota Football Coaches Association will present a series of honors during the state high school football championship games Nov. 12-14 at the DakotaDome.
The presentations will feature the SDFBCA Coaches and Assistant Coaches of the Year, Keeper of the Game, Friend of Football Awards, 30- and 40-Year Coaching Awards, and the recognition of the SDFBCA 2027 Hall of Fame Class.
Coaches of the Year
Head coaches selected for honors are:
- Class 11AAA: Eric Struck, Sioux Falls Jefferson
- Class 11AA: Chris Koletzky, Sturgis
- Class 11A: Rich Lundstrom, Canton
- Class 11B: Dave Severson, Clark-Willow Lake
- Class 9AA: Bruce Hanson, Platte-Geddes
- Class 9A: Ryan Gimbel, Timber Lake
- Class 9B: Ross Flemmer, Dell Rapids St. Mary
- All-Nations Conference Class 9A: Bob Kornely, Todd County
- All-Nations Conference Class 9B: Mike Busch, Dupree-Takini
Assistant Coaches of the Year include:
- Class 11AAA: Mike Zerr, Brandon Valley
- Class 11AA: Ward Anderson, Sturgis
- Class 11A: Brett Keepers, Sioux Falls Christian
- Class 11B: Luke Anderson, Deuel
- Class 9AA: Garret Knebel, Britton-Hecla
- Class 9A: Landon Luening, Timber Lake
- Class 9B: Casey Michel, Dell Rapids St. Mary
- All-Nations Conference Class 9A: Justin Robinson, Lakota Tech
- All-Nations Conference Class 9B: Morgan Harkless, Dupree-Takini
- Middle School: Pat Mikkonen, Parkston
30- and 40-Year Coaching Awards
Kent Mueller of Freeman and Tom Culver of Bon Homme will receive 40-Year Coaching Awards. Chad Williamson of Colman-Egan, Travis Kurth of Groton Area and Greg Stluka of Pierre will receive 30-Year Coaching Awards.
Mueller has coached 40 years across stops at Edgemont, O’Gorman, West Central and Freeman, guiding teams to 17 state championship games with 14 state titles. His career record as a head coach is 124-43.
Culver’s 40-year career includes 30 years as a head coach, with stops at Hanson, Grant-Deuel, Viborg, Wakonda, Avon and Bon Homme. He served as an assistant on a state Class 9A championship team for Wakonda/Gayville-Volin before taking over as head coach and leading the program to a state runner-up finish the following year. At Avon, he led the Pirates to five state titles and three runner-up finishes.
Williamson spent 16 years coaching at Pipestone and Jasper in Minnesota before moving to Colman-Egan in 2013. He continues as head coach for the Hawks, who have won three state Class 9A and 9B titles during his tenure.
Kurth has spent most of his 32-year career in Groton, including the past 30 years as assistant coach and defensive coordinator. He contributed to Class 11B runner-up teams in 2007, 2008 and 2016.
Stluka’s 34-year coaching career includes extensive time at Pierre, following earlier stops at Bonesteel-Fairfax and Scotland.
Keeper of the Game
Justin Ingalls, a Hamlin High School graduate and statewide officials coordinator for the South Dakota High School Activities Association, will receive the Keeper of the Game award.
Now residing in Sioux Falls, Ingalls oversees the recruitment, training, education and development of sports officials across South Dakota, working to advance officiating quality and consistency in football and basketball.
Friend of Football
Shad Hawkey of Tea Area will receive the SDFBCA Friend of Football Award.
SDFBCA Hall of Fame
Doug Ruesink of Castlewood, Craig Nowotny of St. Thomas More and Steve Peters of Huron comprise the SDFBCA 2027 Hall of Fame class. The induction ceremony is scheduled for April 3, 2027, during the SDFBCA-Sanford Sports Clinic in Vermillion.
- Doug Ruesink: A 1984 Castlewood High School graduate, Ruesink starred for the Warriors before playing football at South Dakota State University. He taught and coached at Hanson and Estelline before returning to Castlewood from 2000 through 2025. Over 33 years as a head coach, he compiled a 152-100 record.
- Craig Nowotny: Completing his 51st year of coaching football as an assistant with St. Thomas More, Nowotny began his career as head coach at Bristol High School in 1976. His background includes five years at Adrian (Minn.), one year at the University of the Pacific and 10 years at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. He became activities director and assistant coach at St. Thomas More in 1996, helping lead the Cavaliers to seven state runner-up finishes and the 1995 Class 11B state title.
- Steve Peters: A Colorado native who competed in football, wrestling and track at Huron College, Peters is recognized for a lifetime of service to South Dakota athletics. After starting his teaching and coaching career in Winner, he returned to Huron as head wrestling coach and assistant coach in football, track and wrestling. Spanning six decades of coaching, Peters contributed to two state championship and six state runner-up teams at Huron.
