John Bunkers

A three-sport letter winner, Bunkers reached the pinnacle of his collegiate athletic success in 1957 when he was named College Athlete of the Year for the contribution made to Sioux Falls College athletics through his leadership, cooperation, teamwork and scholastic achievement. With a competitive spirit matched by few, Bunkers, who earned a degree from USF in 1957, inspired student-athlete for nearly five decades.

From 1957-63, he coached football, basketball and track in Marion, S.D., leading the boys track team to a state title in 1959. He accepted a teaching and coaching position at O’Gorman High School, where he served as the assistant football and basketball coach while being instrumental in starting a track program from 1963-65. From 1968-83, Bunkers was the head football, head track, freshman basketball and Legion baseball coach in Fulda, Minn. As football coach, John’s overall record was 117-59-2. He was named the District 8 Coach of the Year in 1971. As a track coach, he led the Fulda team to 10 Tri-County Counference and 12 District 8 championships. Bunkers was honored as the Region Track Coach of the Year in 1971, 1973 and 1975. Then, in 1971, he was also named the Minnesota Track Coach of the Year.