Special Achievement Award
Considered the highest honor of the NDHSAA, the Special Achievement Award dates back to 1968.
Year | Honoree(s) |
2024 | Bob Gillen, high school hockey statistician |
Jeff Schumacher, Bismarck High wrestling coach | |
2023 | Dan Carr, Linton basketball coach |
Dan Smrekar, Bismarck St. Mary's football coach | |
Larry Sandy, Velva football coach | |
2022 | Kathy Aspaas, Minot / Bismarck swimming coach |
Wayne Johnson, Dakota College at Bottineau women's basketball coach | |
Weston Dressler, Bismarck pro football player | |
2021 | Dave Tews, Fargo gymnastics coach |
Shon Horgan, Pembina County North wrestling coach | |
Mark Frost, Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page / Hope-Page / Hope-Finley / Hope coach | |
Ralph Manley, Mandan swimming & diving coach | |
Kent Van Ells, Dickinson gymnastics coach | |
2020 | Jim Pettersen, Fargo baseball |
Barry Holmen, Minot High football, track and field | |
Greg Ladoucer, Grand Forks Red River tennis | |
Darrell Anderson, Bismarck High cross country, track and field | |
Don Larson, NDSU men's track and field and cross country | |
2019 | Dick Limke, University of Mary and Minot State basketball |
NDSU football | |
Thompson High School athletics, unprecedented Class B success in a school year | |
2018 | Mike Thorson, University of Mary track and field |
Bob Waldal, Beach and Watford City coach | |
2017 | Lyne Enget, Stanley-Powers Lake football |
Rod Oksendahl, Cavalier football and baseball | |
2016 | Fargo Shanley girls basketball win record |
Grand Forks Red River tennis | |
Dan Imdieke, Linton football and wrestling | |
Gelaine Orvik, Fargo, coaches association | |
Carson Wentz, Bismarck and NDSU football | |
Bob Zimney, Grand Forks track | |
2015 | Bishop Ryan High School girls basketball, 3 straight titles & record winning streak |
Clint Chamberlain, Williston cross country coach | |
Jim Haussler, Bismarck athletic director | |
Wayne Herman, Golden Valley rodeo champion | |
Scott Knowlen, Bismarck wrestling coach | |
Steve Miller, Bismarck basketball coach | |
Jordan Shearer, West Fargo wrestling six-time state champion | |
2014 | Hank Biesiot, Dickinson State football coach |
Ryam Brantl, Thompson baseball coach | |
Fred Fridley, Watford City football coach | |
Brad Sandy, Harvey football coach | |
Duane Schwab, Lake Region women's basketball coach | |
Len Stanley, Washburn girls basketball & baseball coach | |
2013 | Amy Anderson, Oxbow golfer |
Ed Kringstad, Bismarck State wrestling coach and athletic director | |
Bismarck Century High School Girls (four state titles: volleyball, basketball, soccer, track) | |
2012 | Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Vikings football |
Gene Roebuck, UND & Lake Region women's basketball coach | |
Mike Forsberg, Bottineau girls basketball coach | |
Randy Vigen, Central Valley football coach | |
Tim Wynne, Grand Forks Red River tennis coach | |
2011 | John Butterfield, Hettinger basketball coach |
Arthur "Bucky" Maughan, NDSU wrestling coach | |
Joe Howell, Lisbon track & football coach | |
2010 | Bismarck High School Boys Teams |
Monique & Jocelyne Lamoureux, Grand Forks hockey | |
Laura Roesler, Fargo sprinter | |
2009 | Ramon Miller, Dickinson State track athlete |
Jerry Lyon, Minot State tennis coach | |
Bruce Anderson, Minot High School girls basketball coach | |
2008 | Gene Manson, Minot High School boys basketball coach |
Ken Disher, Minot High School swimming coach | |
Al Bortke, University of Mary men's basketball coach and athletic director | |
2007 | Liza Wischer, Grand Forks Red River High School tennis (129-0 singles career) |
2006 | Dickinson Trinity High School (three state titles: football, boys basketball, track) |
Whitney Carlson, Carrington track (19 career state titles) | |
Jim Howson, Hatton baseball, boys basketball & football coach | |
Scott Glasser, Bismarck High School wrestling | |
2005 | Derrick Atkins, Dickinson State track |
Jerry Popp, Bowman track & cross country coach | |
Dick Schindler, former NDHSAA Executive Secretary | |
Bill Jansen, Valley City High School track coach | |
2004 | Zach Parise, UND hockey |
Glee Mayer, Minot High School girls track coach | |
Dwight Leier, Esmond-Maddock High School football coach | |
Jack Carlson, Dickinson High School track coach | |
Larimore High School girls basketball, state record winning streak | |
2003 | Bob Feeney, Bismarck High School football coach |
Ron Gadberry, Hillsboro High School wrestling coach | |
2002 | Mike Stromberg, UND swimming coach |
Phil Hansen, Buffalo Bills football | |
Colette Folstad, West Fargo High School girls basketball coach | |
Fargo North basketball | |
2001 | Briona Reynolds, Grand Forks Red River High School thrower |
Jerry Wilson, Bismarck Century High School boys basketball coach | |
2000 | Minot Bishop Ryan High School (three state titles: football, baseball, golf) |
Nikki Flynn-Gregg, NDSU softball | |
Amy Ruley, NDSU women's basketball coach | |
Kyle Herman, national Junior Olympic decathlon champion | |
1999 | Roger Thomas, UND football coach |
Bob King, NDHSAA Executive Secretary | |
1998 | Scott Berry, Mayville State baseball coach |
Russ Schmeichel, Jamestown High School cross country coach | |
Jamey Mulske, University of Mary track athlete (8-time national champion) | |
1997 | Ed Beyer, Hillsboro High School boys basketball coach |
Brian Mueller, Hillsboro High School wrestler | |
Pat Peake, Grand Forks throwing coach/trainer | |
Dale Brown, LSU men's basketball coach | |
Tom Lium, Berthold, Harvey, Bismarck, Fargo South coach | |
1996 | Sarine Weingarten, Grand Forks Red River High School tennis |
Lori Roufs & Jen Rademacher, NDSU women's basketball (four career titles) | |
Scott Owens, Devils Lake wrestler | |
1995 | Darin Erstad, Nebraska baseball (Major League Baseball #1 draft pick) |
Paul O'Leary, longtime PGA golfer from Bismarck who once beat Arnold Palmer | |
1994 | Gino Gasparini, UND hockey coach |
Tanya Fischer, Bowman High School track, cross country, basketball (all-time GBB scoring leader) | |
Greg Limke, Minot Ryan High School basketball (coached girls and boys state champs in the same year) | |
1993 | Dave Gunther, UND men's basketball coach |
Jack Brown, Jamestown (contributions to ND baseball/athletics) | |
1992 | Henry Brenner, ND School for the Deaf basketball coach |
Corey Ihmels, Williston track (success in HS and at national level) | |
Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls (achievement and tenure; NBA title) | |
1991 | Rollie Greeno, Jamestown College football coach |
Doug Hanson, NDSU track | |
1990 | Dick Karlgaard, Bismarck High School athletic director (athletics longevity & tourney chair) |
1989 | Nathan Brenna, Watford City wrestling career |
Al Bortke, University of Mary coach | |
Jerry Meyer, Jamestown High School basketball coach | |
1988 | Terry and Troy Steiner, Bismarck Century wrestling |
Bowman High School cross country (team accomplishments) | |
Virgil Hill, Williston boxer (WBA light heavyweight title) | |
1987 | Susan Lautt, Anne Carlsen School athlete |
1986 | Paul Syvrud, Jamestown College wrestler |
Bret Maughan, Fargo North High School wrestler | |
1985 | Mike Podolak, Fargo amateur golfer |
Virgil Hill, Williston-Grand Forks boxer | |
David Hilliard, Lakota wrestler | |
1984 | Joan Hammeren, Bismarck cross country athlete |
Rolla junior curling rink | |
Bismarck High School wrestling program | |
1983 | Duane Carlson, Minot administrator |
1982 | Brad Gjermundson, Marshall rodeo champion |
Bill Osmon, Valley City State athletic director | |
Harold "Pinky" Kraft, UND baseball coach | |
1981 | Jerry Harter, Fargo American Legion Baseball coach |
1980 | Al Meyer, Mayville State (all sports) |
Dave Christian, UND and US Olympic hockey player | |
1979 | Don Barcome, Jr., Grand Forks junior curling rink |
Jim Simle, Fargo South High School gymnastics coach | |
1978 | Sid Cichy, Fargo Shanley High School football coach |
1977 | no award |
1976 | Robin Huebner, Dickinson gymnast |
1975 | no award |
1974 | no award |
1973 | Steve Blehm, North Dakota School for the Deaf athlete |
1972 | Bob LaBonte, Grafton curling rink |
1971 | no award |
1970 | Art Tallackson, Grafton curling rink |
1969 | Fargo American Legion Baseball team |
1968 | Marcus Huff, Minot trapshooter |