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Head basketball coach Carl Blythe "Rube" Hoy with returning University of South Dakota lettermen in 1954. Courtesy Archives and Special Collection, University Libraries, University of South Dakota. |
Carl Blythe "Rube" Hoy -- son of Albert and Emma A. (Blythe) Hoy -- was said by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader to be "one of South Dakota's finest citizens" known for his sportsmanship and campus work at the University of South Dakota. His friend Elbert Harrington wrote that Carl was born in "the long sweep of the prairies" and "grew to young manhood in an atmosphere of horses and cattle, prairie grass and wheat, scarce money and hard work."
He and his future wife Hazel Bergeson went to a dance on their first date featuring the orchestra of a young Lawrence Welk, on his way to international stardom.
In 1927, Carl was hired as basketball coach by his alma mater, the University of South Dakota and remained for more than 24 seasons. His record with the Coyotes over that timeframe was 167 wins and 190 losses. He was named USD's athletic director in 1934 and served until 1959. He also coached track during the World War II years, from 1941 to 1946. One of his basketball coaching hires Dwane "Cloddy" Clodfelter led the Coyotes to the national championship in 1958, the only one in school history. His autobiography, published by the university in 1960, is entitled According to Hoy: Memoirs of an Athletic Director.
At his death in 1973, the Argus-Leader said that Carl "was an inspiration to thousands of Coyote athletic students. And for the fans, whether they followed the Red and White, or the Yellow and Blue of their arch rivals at South Dakota State, 'Rube' Hoy as basketball coach provided some hardcourt spectaculars that became a legend. To 'Rube' Hoy the game was the thing -- and his fans were seldom disappointed."
He was inducted into the university's hall of fame in 1972, a year before he died. In his memory, an annual Carl "Rube" Hoy Award was established at the university to honor outstanding achievment in both athletics and academics.