Phil Trautner

Trautner enrolled at Sioux Falls and played football and basketball before graduating in 1950. Trautner became a South Dakota coaching legend as his infectious enthusiasm for sports and life impacted thousands of high school athletes in the Pierre Public School System from 1951-2002. While at Pierre, he served as Athletic Director from 1953-1965, head boys’ basketball coach from 1954 to 1960.

His career records were outstanding in football (72-24-2) and basketball (82-38).  In 1965, Trautner started the boys’ tennis program and continued to coach the team through the 2002 season.  His tennis teams compiled an impressive 361 wins and 61 losses in dual competition, earned 10 E.S.D. titles, four state titles, and three state runner-up titles.  He was named the South Dakota Tennis Coach of the Year from Region VI in 1976, 1980, and 1991.  Phil is enshrined in several Halls of Fame including  South Dakota Tennis (1992),  Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (1986),  South Dakota High School Coaches Association (1987), Pierre Athletic Hall of Fame (1987), National High School Athletic Coaches Association (2003),  South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators (2004) and the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame (2004).