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Jim Cordts named to Basketball Hall of Shrine
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By ARIY-EL BOYNTON, Sports Editor
| 03/05/2010 |
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Jim Cordts of Madison got a call three months ago saying that he was going to be part of the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Shrine. Being away from coaching varsity basketball for more than 35 years, Cordts felt honored to be recognized for his efforts.
"It did surprise me. It was 37 years ago, and it sure is an honor for the boys that I coached through the years," said Cordts, who played football and basketball at Northern Normal and Industrial School (now Northern State University) in Aberdeen. "It's given to me, but it's a product of their hard work throughout the years."
The 1953 Clark graduate coached Howard High School to an undefeated state Class B title in 1964.
"The state title at Howard was a really special group, and it is a great memory of mine. We had three all-staters. It made me a pretty good coach," said Cordts, who received his master's degree in 1971 from South Dakota State University.
Cordts put together a 53-1 record over two years at Howard and was named Boys' Coach of the Year in 1964 by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association. He won seven conference championships and five district championships in his time at Wessington, Madison and Howard.
Cordts said that he has a soft spot for all the athletes he has coached.
"Most of the players I coached were average players and good kids. Those are the players that make the team. If you have really good players, you better do something with them," he said.
Cordts knows a thing or two about championships, as he won state titles in baseball and track & field along with basketball.
After winning the state title in baseball, Howard defeated Williston, N.D., and its pitching ace Phil Jackson (former Chicago Bulls coach and current Lakers coach), but lost to a Nebraska team in the Midwest Regionals and did not advance to nationals.
Beside being inducted into Madison High School's first Hall of Fame class in 1991, Cordts was selected as Boys Track Coach of the Year in 1982. In 1996, Cordts was inducted into the South Dakota High School Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was given the Distinguished Service Award from the SDHSAA.
He will be inducted into the Hall of Shrine at the Sioux Falls Arena on March 19 during the state Class A championship basketball game.
He and his wife of 53 years, Caroll, have three children, Brad, Bob and Jean Marie, and three grandchildren.
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