Former USD head men’s basketball coach Doug Martin passed away in his hometown of La Crosse, Wis., on Sunday at the age of 78.
Martin spent 31 years as a college coach in South Dakota and compiled a 371-418 record as a head coach at three different South Dakota colleges. He was an assistant coach at USD from 1974-78 and head coach of the Coyotes from 1982-88. He became Dakota Wesleyan’s athletic director and head men’s basketball coach in 1988.
Prior to becoming USD’s 14th head men’s basketball coach, Martin began his coaching career at the high school level in Wisconsin, leading three different schools to state tournament appearances in a 12-year span. He joined South Dakota as an assistant coach under Jack Doyle before the 1974-75 season and helped USD to a 47-50 record during his four seasons in that position.
Martin became Mount Marty’s head coach in 1978 and posted a 68-46 record with the Lancers in four seasons before returning to USD in 1982.
Martin recruited and coached four of USD’s 24 players that have recorded 1,000 career points. Tim Hatchett (1986-90) ranks first on USD’s all-time scoring list at 2,280 points, Mike Graves (1986-90) is fourth at 1,746 points, Kyle Collins (1985-89) is 15th at 1,306 points and Jeff Rau (1987-91) is 16th at 1,258.
After USD, Martin coached at Dakota Wesleyan from 1988-2005, compiling four conference titles and a 252-256 record. He was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
(Press Release Courtesy of Jarrod Tell)
