PRESS RELEASE

The three newest members to be inducted into the South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame are Marv McCune (deceased) of DeSmet, Gary Weismantel of Herreid, and Chuck Welke (deceased) of Warner.

The induction ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Spring Athletic Director’s Conference Award Luncheon at the Pierre Ramkota Inn on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at noon. To be chosen for this honor a person must have been an athletic director for ten years and an active member in the SDIAAA. Candidates are considered through three criteria, national, state, and local involvement. Individuals are chosen who have volunteered time to promote the belief and purpose of the SDIAAA and who have promoted the importance of athletics and sportsmanship within their school and community.

CLASS OF 2023

Marv McCune was a 1972 graduate of DeSmet High School, and Huron College. In 1978, McCune returned to DeSmet as a teacher, and basketball, football and track & field coach. Marv led the Bulldogs to the 1981 State Football Title and his teams won the 1989, 1995 and 1999 Boys’ Basketball Championships. McCune is one of only three South Dakota coaches to win both football and basketball titles. Marv was inducted to the South Dakota High School Coaches, South Dakota High School Basketball Coaches and South Dakota Football Coaches Associations Halls of Fame. McCune served as SDHSCA President from 2001-2002 and was selected as 2013 SDIAAA Region AD of the Year and honored with a SDHSAA Distinguished Service Award and the John Wooden Legacy Award in 2021. Marv was a NIAAA member for 38 years and retired in 2020 after 42 years of service.

Gary Weismantel was a 1972 graduate of Groton High School. Weismantel earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern State College in 1976. Gary began his teaching career at Hamlin County in 1977. He taught in Page, Nebraska for the next two years, where he began his coaching career. Gary and his family moved to Herreid in 1980, and he continued teaching and coaching until his retirement in 2018. At various times, Weismantel served as head volleyball coach as well as an assistant coach for football, track & field, boys’ basketball and volleyball. He was also a SDHSAA basketball and volleyball official. Weismantel served as athletics director for 15 years at Herreid. He was a member of the SDIAAA Executive Committee for 10 years, including president during the 2012-13 school year. Weismantel was honored as 2011-12 Region II Athletic Director of the Year.

Chuck Welke graduated from Redfield High School in 1971, and Northern State University. After two years as a teacher, football, basketball and track coach, and athletic director at Harrold, Welke accepted a position with similar coaching duties at Warner in 1977. Eventually, Chuck focused on basketball – coaching boys for 29 years and girls for four as well as football and track during a 33-year career. His basketball teams won State Championships in 1993 and 1994 and were Runners Up twice. Welke was inducted to both the SDBCA and SDHSCA Halls of Fame. In 2005, he retired from coaching to become the middle and high school principal. Chuck also served as athletics director for 18 years, and a member of the SDIAAA Hall of Fame Committee. His honors include 1993 Boys Basketball and NFHS Region Coach of the Year as well as Region Athletic Director of the Year.