2007 Dakota State University Athletic Hall of Fame
| Inductee Name |
Title/Award/Honor/Athlete/Coach/Others |
| Linda Collignon |
Coaching |
| Eugene Danielsen |
Coaching |
| Fred Tibbetts |
Coacahing |
| 1977 DSC Trojan Football Team |
SDIC Championship Team |
Linda Collignon – Coaching
The name of Linda Collignon is synonymous with gymnastics on the eastern side of South Dakota.
During her years as coach of Madison Bulldogs gymnastics, Collignon led the team to the state championship seven straight years.
Linda graduated from Dakota State in 1978 with a degree in elementary education with a middle school endorsement. She is the health education teacher at Madison Middle School, a position she has held for nearly five years. Prior to that, Linda taught seventh grade physical science, as well as sixth grade, second grade, and junior high. Her entire teaching career has been in Madison.
Linda enjoys mentoring, educating, inspiring, and challenging individuals and teams to exceed goals and expectations. She has authored grants to allow expansion of middle school health programs and coordination of the school district’s health committee, garnering well over $7,000.00. Linda unselfishly volunteers her time, fosters creativity and provides support for many of Madison’s youth.
Linda has been honored as the DSU Alumni Coach of the Year in 1997. In 1994, 1999, and 2000, she was named State Gymnastic Coach of the Year.
Linda’s family includes her husband John, son Scott, and daughters Susan and Sarah.
Gene Danielsen – Coaching
Gene is the second of four children of Harland and Geneva Danielsen. He attended Sunshine School #41, rural Viborg, S.D., for eight years. He graduated from Viborg High School in 1964. He enjoyed participating in track where he held school records in the 880- and 440-yard runs, softball where he had an unassisted triple play, football where he broke his arm, and basketball.
One of his high school teachers, Gene Iverson, inspired him to be a math teacher and coach of track and field, so he enrolled at General Beadle State College in the fall of 1964 to become a teacher/coach. He participated int rack and cross-country at General Beadle. He received a teaching degree in mathematics and physical education in 1968. In January of 1968, Gene began teaching match and physical education at Salem Public School. He continued to teach math there until 2004. He also taught computers and driver’s education while at Salem/McCook Central. He received his master’s degree in mathematics from USD in 1973.
Gene coached track and field from 1968 through 2000. He coached cross-country from 1971 through 1999. His teams won 38 conference championships and another 20 second-place finishes. The Salem Booster Club track meet was renamed the Danielsen Relays in 1989. He was the SDHSCA Coach of the Year in cross country in 1993. He was the honorary referee for the Howard Wood Relays in 2002. He received the Dan Lennon award in 2003. The school athletic complex was named the ‘Gene Danielsen Field’ in 2004. Gene was recently inducted into the South Dakota Coaches Hall of Fame as well as being honored as one of the outstanding alumni of DSU.
Gene coached grade basketball from 1969 through 1985. He umpired baseball from 1975 to 2006, having umpired in various state tournaments. He officiated basketball from 1975 to 1984. He is currently teaching mathematics as an adjunct instructor at University Center in Sioux Falls, where he continues to enjoy working with students.
In 1966, Gene married his high school and college classmate Karen Gors. Karen was a teacher in Salem until 2004, as well. Karena and Gene have two children, Jeff and Julie. Jeff and his wife Steph have three children. Jeff is the Supt. Of Schools at Hanson Public School in Alexandria, S.D. Steph is the guidance counselor at Hanson. Julie and her husband Justin Hinker live in Lennox. They have four children. Julie is a substitute teacher at Lennox. Justin is the administrator of the Luther Manor Good Samaritan Home in Sioux Falls.
Gene enjoys golfing and other sporting events. He is a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Salem, where he is a Sunday School teacher and the church treasurer. Gene is a member of SDEA and the SDHSAA. Gene and his wife continue to reside in Salem.
Fred Tibbetts – Coaching
Fred Tibbetts graduated from De Smet High School in 1967 and from Dakota State in 1972. He began his coaching career at Jefferson High School in 1972 where he started a girls’ basketball and track program. His girls track teams at Jefferson were state champs five years in a row (1981-85). He led the girls’ basketball team to a then-state record win streak of 67 games from 1978-80. His Jefferson teams were state champs in 1975 (the first year of sanctioned state tournaments), ’78, ’79, ’80, and ’85 and were twice runner-up as well.
In 1986, Tibbetts took over as women’s coach at the University of South Dakota for four years (1986-90). At USD, he was 66-47. He was named South Dakota College Women’s Coach of the Year in 1989, when the Coyotes were 22-7 and reached the NCAA Division II playoffs.
He returned to Jefferson in 1990 and stayed through 1994 when he moved on to Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School. Tibbetts guided Roosevelt girls’ basketball team to a state-record win streak of 111 games and six Class ‘AA’ titles, including five in a row (1997-01). The win streak included four wins at an out-of-season tournament in Oregon that featured nationally-ranked teams. Roosevelt beat 11th-ranked Buena High of Ventura, Calif., in the finals. Roosevelt was 227-28 in 11 seasons under Tibbetts. Before he arrived there, a Sioux Falls public school had not won the state title since 1981. The Rough Riders were 4-16 in 1993, the year before he took over. Tibbetts retired after winning the 2005 state title.
As a coach, he compiled a record of 551 wins and 11 state titles – both state girls’ basketball coaching records. He was 551-101 in 29 seasons at the high school level (18 at Jefferson, 11 at Roosevelt). His teams qualified for the state tournament 19 teams and reached the state finals an astounding 15 times. Seven times he had unbeaten seasons. In all, Tibbetts coached teams to 16 state titles. He is the only coach to win state basketball titles in all three classes (Class B and A at Jefferson and AA at Roosevelt).
In 1999, Tibbetts was named National Coach of the Year in girls’ basketball. He was inducted into the South Dakota High School Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame in 2000, the South Dakota High School Coaches Association Hall of Excellence in 1999, and to the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1985. Tibbetts was also inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
1977 DSC Football Team
The 1977 Football team had the best season record in Dakota State University football history with a 10-0 mark. This has proven to be the only undefeated football team in our history.
The 1977 football team will be the 5th team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
- 10-0 record
- First unbeaten team in school’s history
- Ranked sixth in final NAIA Division II poll
- Won fourth SDIC title in five years
- Named South Dakota Collegiate Team of the Year by the state sportswriters
- NAIA Point Defense Champions, allowing only 4.2 points per game
