Gus Kolb - Inducted 2019

Gus Kolb graduated from Leola High School in 1943 and South Dakota State College in 1951. As a high school athlete, he lettered four years in football, basketball and baseball. He did not participate in athletics in college.

As a basketball coach, Kolb literally built teams from scratch. Walt Conahan, Kolb’s nominator, commented “Kolb was one of the first basketball coaches to use the zone press defense in boys’ basketball”. Kolb began his coaching career in Ree Heights in 1954, coaching all sports. He also coached the girls’ basketball team to two undefeated seasons even though it was not an official sport at that time. He coached boys’ basketball at Cheyenne for six years (three each for Cheyenne Agency and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte). His 1958 team won 32 games in a row and placed third at state. The 1959 team was 32-3 and won the state Class B title. The 1961 team was 20-9 and was fifth. He also coached the Cheyenne football and track & field teams for three years and the boys’ golf team for two. His basketball coaching record in 14 years was 234-112. Kolb coached one year at Forestburg, five years at Egan and one year at Deubrook.

Kolb is the only South Dakotan to receive the national “Pop Warner” Award. After college, he played amateur baseball and independent basketball. Leola won the state Legion basketball tourney in 1949.