DSU Hall of Famer dies

Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008

One of the most successful coaches in South Dakota girls basketball history has lost his battle with cancer. Former Jefferson and Sioux Falls Roosevelt head coach Fred Tibbetts died Sunday after a 2-year battle with colon cancer.

A 1969 graduate of DeSmet high school, Tibbetts had a career record of 551 wins and 101 losses in 18 years at Jefferson and 11 years at Roosevelt. He coached the Hawkettes to the first-ever Girls Basketball championship in 1975 and led the team to a then-record 67 straight wins. He also served as the head coach for the University of South Dakota womens basketball team from 1986-1990 where he was 66-47.

At Roosevelt, Tibbets once again set the record for consecutive wins in South Dakota girls basketball, leading the Rough Riders to 111 straight wins, as well as five Class AA titles in a row. In all, he coached 16 state championship teams.

Most recently, Tibbetts was named to the Dakota State University Athletic Hall of Fame, where he had graduated in 1972. He was named the National Girls Basketball Coach of the Year in 1999, as well as named to the South Dakota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, as well as the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

Funeral arrangements are pending.