Former DWU coach Martin's remembered after death

Former Dakota Wesleyan University University men's basketball coach Doug Martin died Sunday, but his legacy lives. "He did a lot for Dakota Wesleyan," DWU Athletic Director Curt Hart said Monday. "We still hear about Doug all the time. He was just a class act and was very likeable. He's going to be missed."
Martin, 78, died in his hometown of La Crosse, Wis., after suffering from poor health for the last several months. Martin, who coached the DWU men for 17 seasons, was in hospice care in early fall. Martin suffered a stroke in 1992, but continued coaching basketball for the next 13 years. He was a basketball coach for 46 years and led the Tigers to four conference titles and a national tournament berth. The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame member coached college men's basketball for 31 years in South Dakota, starting as an assistant at the University of South Dakota from 1974 to 1978. He was Mount Marty's head coach for four years, then was USD's coach for six. His teams were 68-46 at Mount Marty and 51-116 at USD. Gordon Fosness, also a former DWU men's basketball coach, said Martin was smart about the game. Fosness is the only coach ahead of Martin on the DWU men's basketball all-time wins list. Fosness compiled 351 wins and 10 conference championships. "He was a very good coach," said Fosness, who led the Tigers from 1961 to 1983. "You had to be prepared when you played his teams, and they were prepared for you." Fosness said the best thing about Martin was the respect his peers and players had for him. "He was well-liked, and just a steady, good and respectful guy," Fosness said. "I think the big thing about him was that players really liked him, and for that reason, they played hard for him. He was kind of fatherly." At Dakota Wesleyan, from 1988 until retiring in 2005, Martin's Tigers had a 251-257 record. He led DWU to conference titles in 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1997, and the 1995 team reached the NAIA Division II national tournament. He was coach of the year three times while at DWU, earning the award in 1989-90 and 1998-99 in the South Dakota-Iowa Conference and 2000-01 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. He was the College Men's Coach of the Year for 1990 as chosen by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association. He also was the NAIA District 12 Coach of the Year in 1980, while at Mount Marty. Martin also was the athletic director at Mount Marty from 1980 to 1982 and at DWU from 1990 to 1999. Martin coached basketball in Wisconsin from 1959 to 1974, all at the prep level except for two years as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. At Logan High School in La Crosse, Wis., Martin played football, basketball and baseball. He was on the basketball team at the University of Wisconsin before transferring to UWL for his final two seasons. Doug and his dad, Rod, were the first father and son to be inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Association Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the DWU and Mount Marty halls of fame. Martin was a high school and college football referee from 1961 to 1991 and a prep basketball ref from 1965 to 1991.Former Dakota Wesleyan University University men's basketball coach Doug Martin died Sunday, but his legacy lives."He did a lot for Dakota Wesleyan," DWU Athletic Director Curt Hart said Monday. "We still hear about Doug all the time. He was just a class act and was very likeable. He's going to be missed."
Martin, 78, died in his hometown of La Crosse, Wis., after suffering from poor health for the last several months. Martin, who coached the DWU men for 17 seasons, was in hospice care in early fall.Martin suffered a stroke in 1992, but continued coaching basketball for the next 13 years. He was a basketball coach for 46 years and led the Tigers to four conference titles and a national tournament berth. The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame member coached college men's basketball for 31 years in South Dakota, starting as an assistant at the University of South Dakota from 1974 to 1978. He was Mount Marty's head coach for four years, then was USD's coach for six. His teams were 68-46 at Mount Marty and 51-116 at USD.Gordon Fosness, also a former DWU men's basketball coach, said Martin was smart about the game. Fosness is the only coach ahead of Martin on the DWU men's basketball all-time wins list. Fosness compiled 351 wins and 10 conference championships."He was a very good coach," said Fosness, who led the Tigers from 1961 to 1983. "You had to be prepared when you played his teams, and they were prepared for you."Fosness said the best thing about Martin was the respect his peers and players had for him."He was well-liked, and just a steady, good and respectful guy," Fosness said. "I think the big thing about him was that players really liked him, and for that reason, they played hard for him. He was kind of fatherly."At Dakota Wesleyan, from 1988 until retiring in 2005, Martin's Tigers had a 251-257 record. He led DWU to conference titles in 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1997, and the 1995 team reached the NAIA Division II national tournament.He was coach of the year three times while at DWU, earning the award in 1989-90 and 1998-99 in the South Dakota-Iowa Conference and 2000-01 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. He was the College Men's Coach of the Year for 1990 as chosen by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association. He also was the NAIA District 12 Coach of the Year in 1980, while at Mount Marty.Martin also was the athletic director at Mount Marty from 1980 to 1982 and at DWU from 1990 to 1999.Martin coached basketball in Wisconsin from 1959 to 1974, all at the prep level except for two years as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.At Logan High School in La Crosse, Wis., Martin played football, basketball and baseball. He was on the basketball team at the University of Wisconsin before transferring to UWL for his final two seasons.Doug and his dad, Rod, were the first father and son to be inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Association Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the DWU and Mount Marty halls of fame.Martin was a high school and college football referee from 1961 to 1991 and a prep basketball ref from 1965 to 1991.