30-Year Coaching Awards Recognize Three South Dakota Veterans
The SDFBCA will honor Chad Williamson, Travis Kurth, and Greg Stluka for three decades of coaching during state championship games in Vermillion.
By Renata Mehta ·
The South Dakota Football Coaches Association will present long service awards to three veteran coaches during state championship games at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
The ceremony is scheduled for November 12 through 14. Chad Williamson of Colman-Egan, Travis Kurth of Groton Area, and Greg Stluka of Pierre will receive the 30-Year Coaching Award.
Williamson began his career in Pipestone and Jasper, Minnesota. He moved to Colman-Egan in 2013 and remains the head coach there. The Hawks have won three state titles in Class 9A and 9B under his leadership.
Kurth has served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the Groton Tigers for 30 years. His 32-year teaching and coaching career in the area included membership on state Class 11B runner-up teams in 2007, 2008, and 2016.
Stluka has spent the majority of his 34-year coaching career at Pierre. He previously coached at Bonesteel-Fairfax and Scotland before taking the position at Pierre.
The association will also present 40-Year Coaching Awards to Kent Mueller of Freeman and Tom Culver of Bon Homme. Mueller coached at Edgemont, O'Gorman, West Central, and Freeman. He holds a career record of 124 wins and 43 losses and guided teams to 14 state championships.
Culver has coached for 40 years, including 30 years as a head football coach. He led the Avon Pirates to five state titles and three runner-up finishes. His other stops include Hanson, Grant-Deuel, Viborg, Wakonda, and Bon Homme.
Head Coach of the Year honors will go to nine individuals across various classifications. Eric Struck of Sioux Falls Jefferson, Chris Koletzky of Sturgis, Rich Lundstrom of Canton, and Dave Severson of Clark-Willow Lake will be recognized in Class 11. Bruce Hanson of Platte-Geddes, Ryan Gimbel of Timber Lake, and Ross Flemmer of Dell Rapids St. Mary will receive the award in Class 9.
Bob Kornely of Todd County and Mike Busch of Dupree-Takini will receive the head coaching honors in the All-Nations Conference. Assistant Coach of the Year awards will go to ten coaches, including Mike Zerr of Brandon Valley and Ward Anderson of Sturgis. Pat Mikkonen of Parkston will receive the award for Middle School coaching.
Justin Ingalls of Hamlin will receive the Keeper of the Game award. He serves as the statewide officials coordinator for the South Dakota High School Activities Association and oversees the recruitment and training of sports officials. Shad Hawkey of Tea Area will receive the Friend of Football Award.
The SDFBCA 2027 Hall of Fame class includes Doug Ruesink of Castlewood, Craig Nowotny of St. Thomas More, and Steve Peters of Huron. Ruesink compiled a record of 152 wins and 100 losses in 33 years as a head coach. Nowotny is completing his 51st year of coaching football as an assistant. Peters has taught and coached South Dakota student-athletes in six different decades. Their induction ceremony is set for April 3, 2027, at the SDFBCA-Sanford Sports Clinic in Vermillion.
