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We have lost a very special person with the untimely passing of former Minnesota Duluth's basketball head coach Dale Race, who brought Bulldogs Athletics back into prominence.
His teams competed for many successful years at the top of the NCAA Division II and NAIA rankings. His legacy will forever live on for his dynamic contributions to team members, UMD and our community.
Unknown to his many followers, Dale was a strong Christian which was, sometimes, contrary to his on-court antics.
He instilled his Christian beliefs by preaching to his players the importance of team play, dedication and strong personal effort to accomplish their goals. His involvement with all his players continued after their time playing to help them succeed after graduation.
I was privileged to accompany him on his first recruiting trip after a mid-summer hire as head coach. But it led to a somewhat nervous trip with me on my Cessna 185 float plane – and borrowing my partner's vehicle in Shawano, Wis. – to meet with recruit Tod Kowalczyk, who ended up playing four years at UMD.
After getting Tod committed, we flew to Lake Altona in Eau Claire, Wis., for a second interview. We were running out of daylight so ventured back to Duluth. About 25 miles from Sky Harbor we ran into a wall of fog, which prevented us from landing there. Duluth flight control inquired about possibly landing on the grass at the airport, though landing on grass is not normally recommended.
Coach Race heard all the communications on the radio and tried to remain calm during the end of his maiden flight. The beads of sweat on his forehead were noticeable.
While talking with Duluth flight control, Jim Olson, an experienced pilot who flew for FedEx, interrupted saying that we could land at Pike Lake, which was landable and that we could tiedown overnight at his house.
So, we diverted our flight plan to get to his house where his wife would turn on the landing lights; long story short, we safely landed at Pike Lake for my first time ever. Coach Race wondered about future trips with me, I'm sure.
That was the first of many trips with Dale recruiting and fishing with his senior players and their fathers. In 45 years with no accidents, Coach Race made at least 25 trips with coaches, friends and me, all safely. They all were memorable trips for the team members and their fathers.
Trips with his wife Margaret, Karen Stromme and Gary Holquist, Dale and Pat Sundeen, and my wife Lisa were treasures – with Dale as ringleader and game-playing partner.
My trip with Dale and Don Meyer, the nationally-known coach at David Liscomb, was particularly memorable with the two of them diagramming plays as they were catching walleyes and trout.
After 14 years at UMD, Dale was offered to take charge of the athletic department's much-needed development funding program. His close contact with Bulldogs boosters was a dream for the UMD basketball community.
After his eventual move to Green Bay we kept in close contact, especially with first recruit Kowalczyk as the new Green Bay coach. He and his family have been lifelong friends. Many books could be written about our times together. When I was diagnosed with cancer leading to extensive back surgery, a week never went by without coach calling to inquire about my health issues.
We will truly miss Dale's visits and phone calls. He fought a tough medical battle with dignity against the odds. I was fortunate to talk with him long-distance from Hawaii during his unexpected last week of life. Lisa and I along with his many friends were heartbroken with his passing. He was a truly great friend and coach. Dale and his family will always be closest to our hearts.
There will be only one "Coach Race".
