PRESS RELEASE

Platte-Geddes’ Frank Cutler is the 2025 boys basketball recipient of the Larry Luitjens Coach of Influence Award.

Cutler’s coaching record is 540-264, and he has guided the Black Panthers to 13 state tournaments and one state championship in 2008. 

The Larry Luitjens Coach of Influence Award will recognize a girls basketball coach and a boys basketball coach each season. The award’s objective is to pay tribute to Luitjens and honor coaches that stood for his core coaching values.

Larry Luitjens, South Dakota’s all-time basketball coaching wins leader, was a legend in high school sports. Luitjens’ career spanned four decades, during which time he guided his teams to 17 state tournaments, 13 state championship games, and seven state titles. 

Luitjens, who won a state-record 748 games, died in 2023.