Nov. 18—HOWARD, S.D. — A pair of Mitchell-area coaches received recognition for their teams’ success at the South Dakota state high school football championships last week.
Howard football head coach Pat Ruml and Mount Vernon/Plankinton football head coach Brent Olson were selected as the South Dakota Football Coaches Association’s coaches of the year in Class 9A and 11B, respectively. They were presented with the honor at halftime of their respective classes’ championship game at the DakotaDome.
Ruml guided the Tigers to a perfect 12-0 season and the Class 9A championship, Howard’s fifth state championship since 2004. The Tigers had the No. 1 scoring defense in all of Class 9A and the second-highest scoring offense, which powered them to a 38-30 win in the title game over Wolsey-Wessington.
Olson led a resurgent Titans team that went 3-6 the previous season to a 7-3 record and the No. 3-seed in the Class 11B playoffs.
Other SDFBCA awards are listed below:
SDFBCA Coach of the Year
Class 11AAA: Matt Christensen, Brandon Valley
Class 11AA: Tom Tieszen, Spearfish
Class 11A: Jared Smith, Sioux Falls Christian
Class 11B: Brent Olson, Mount Vernon/Plankinton
Class 9AA: Ethan Pearson, Elkton-Lake Benton
Class 9A: Pat Ruml, Howard
Class 9B: Shayne Geditz, Faulkton Area
All Nations: Charlie LaRoche, Lower Brule
SDFBCA Assistant Coach of the Year
Class 11AAA: Dylan Briest, Brandon Valley
Class 11AA: Kelly O’Connor, Watertown
Class 11A: Craig Jorgensen, Dell Rapids
Class 11B: Adam Timmins, Elk Point-Jefferson
Class 9AA: Kaleb Haas, Elkton-Lake Benton
Class 9A: Mitchell Johnson, Alcester-Hudson
Class 9B: Chad Spicer, Faulkton Area
All Nations: Ryan Kornely, Todd County
State Asst. Coach of the Year: Adam Timmins, Elk Point-Jefferson
Middle School Coach of the Year: Mathew Cadwell, Sioux Valley
State Friend of Football: Bill Weber, Watertown
Keeper of the Game: Kurtiss Riggs, Sioux Falls
Hometown Hero: Brian Hansen, Sioux Falls
