Former DWU coach Fosness has died

MITCHELL, S.D. (KMIT) — Former Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball coach Gordie Fosness has passed away.

The 85-year old Presho native played football and basketball at DWU before being drafted by the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers in 1957. After being cut just prior to the start of the season, Fosness returned to South Dakota, coaching at Cavour and Gregory before becoming the head coach at Dakota Wesleyan in 1961. Over the next 22 years, his teams won 351 games, 10 conference championships, 14-holiday tournament titles, and played in four NAIA regional playoffs, making the national tournament twice. He later spent 26 years with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as state director, regional director, and director of development at various times.

He was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, the South Dakota Basketball Hall of Fame, and the NAIA Hall of Fame.