Jo Auch is a South Dakota sports lifer. 

A Scotland High School graduate, Auch wore many hats with the South Dakota High School Activities Association, including student-athlete, coach, official, athletic director and assistant executive director. 

“I felt like I had been with the SDHSAA forever,” Auch said. “I grew up loving sports. I participated in track, basketball and cross-country while I was in high school and went on and played college basketball. As soon as I got done with that, I popped right into coaching and stayed involved with athletics.”

Auch joined the Menno School District in 1982, continuing her SDHSAA journey as a coach, athletic director and official at different times. Her path with SDHSAA took a big step in 2008 when she joined the SDHSAA as an assistant executive director. 

SDHSAA assistant executive director Jo Auch, who will retire in June, was honored at the Class B girls basketball tournament in Rapid City. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports).

“All those things bled SDHSAA,” Auch said. “I felt like I had known the high school activities association my whole life and grew up with it. I remember telling them in the interview, that I feel like I have been a part of this SDHSAA family from the time I started in high school all the way through.”

Auch will now retire from the SDHSAA in June, capping off a four-decade run being involved with the association. Auch initially planned to retire next year, but grandmother duties sped up the retirement. 

Auch’s granddaughter and family live in Dickinson, North Dakota. A few months ago, Auch received a request for a grandparents day, but was unable to make the 4 1/2 hour trek on short notice. 

“She was pretty upset,” Auch said. “She just cried. I said ‘Honey, I am not going to be able to make this one. But I promise you I am going to work really hard in the future to not let that happen again’ and honestly that was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.”

Aspiring coach turns into administrator 

Auch’s association with the SDHSAA began at Scotland High School, where her love for sports was fostered. Auch was a multi-sport athlete for the Highlanders, was a three-time all-state basketball player and was even approached about playing football. 

“The football coach at Scotland when I was a freshman in high school wanted me to play on the football team,” Auch said. “He needed a quarterback.” 

After high school, Auch attended the University of South Dakota, where she was a four-year member of the women’s basketball team and was a 1981-82 all-North Central Conference all-tourney selection. 

An education major, Auch had aspirations to be a coach and teacher. 

“All I wanted to do was be a coach and a teacher and work with kids,” Auch said. “I had a passion for youth and being a part of that. I guess that kind of bled into where I am sitting today. I started coaching in ‘82 and I coached throughout.”

The aspiring coach looked up to a pair of South Dakota icons in Fred Tibbetts and Bob Winter. Auch was a regular at their basketball camps and it also sparked her desire to coach. 

“Fred just had a way,” Auch said. “Bob Winter had a way of getting along with his athletes and showcasing them and teaching them there’s more to life than athletics. But you are going to learn life lessons through your athletic career and I think those are the takeaways that I took away from them in that process and tried to instill that in some of my athletes as well.”

Auch was a teacher and coach in Menno for 26 years, while she also served as an official and athletic director. She taught social studies and physical education, coached volleyball, girls basketball and track and field, among other activities at the Class B school. 

“I loved every minute of it,” Auch said. “You went through a lot of things in a small school setting and you wore a lot of hats during that. When I was the athletic director, I remember sweeping the floor at halftime and making popcorn. Doing whatever you had to do in between to get things done, and the small communities that just help each other so much. I think that’s the beauty of a small community and growing up in those areas.” 

Former SDHSAA assistant executive director Ruth Rehn retired in 2008, and Auch was among the 40-plus applicants. Auch interviewed on a Sunday and former SDHSAA executive director Wayne Carney offered her the job two days later. 

Auch received the call from Carney while teaching middle school social studies and needed a moment to herself. 

“I went into the teacher’s workroom and I just screamed,” Auch said. “It was one of those happy, happy screams. I didn’t know what I was up against. You are excited, but you are nervous because Ruth had done such a fantastic job of putting so many things in place for girls athletics. My goal was just not to screw anything up that she had put in place.” 

After taking over for Rehn, Auch continued to be a strong voice for girls athletics. During her tenure, Auch oversaw boys and girls tennis, volleyball, competitive cheer, competitive dance, sideline cheer, boys and girls basketball, gymnastics, and softball. The SDHSAA added softball, girls wrestling and soccer during her tenure. 

She played an integral role in sanctioning softball, which began in 2023, to the association. 

“I think the thing I am probably most proud of obviously last year was getting softball up and running,” Auch said. “I think that was a real ‘aha’ moment and a real feather in the cap for the female athletes in South Dakota. I am really proud of that and I am looking forward to seeing what the potential growth of that will be.”

‘Going to miss the people’ 

Auch’s impact on the SDHSAA was celebrated at the Class B boys and girls basketball tournaments. 

At the tournaments in Aberdeen and Rapid City, she was recognized by administrators and officials for her years of service, receiving gifts and standing ovations. 

“That was probably the reality check for me that retirement was really becoming a reality,” Auch said. “That this is really starting to set in. That this is the last time I am going to do this basketball tournament. The last time I am going to do these activities along the way, and to get the accolades that I did from all the different groups of people and the overwhelming support; it was a tear jerker. I am not going to lie. It was one of those that kind of hits you right there and it meant the world to me to think that people thought I had done a good job.” 

SDHSAA assistant executive director Jo Auch, who will retire in June, was honored at the Class B boys basketball tournament in Aberdeen. (Trey Kaul / 605 Sports)

Auch said she will miss the relationships she established with member schools, athletic directors, officials and SDHSAA staff members. 

“I am definitely going to miss the people,” said Auch, who has a bubbly personality. “I am kind of a people person and just love being around people and I love watching kids excel.”

Auch said she’ll still be around the state and hopes to be a resource for her replacement, Kristina Sage. 

“I’ve already told her if there are questions she has and if I can help in any way I am happy to help,” Auch said. “I am obviously not going to do the job anymore, but still be very active. If I can sweep a floor or if I can be a scorer or whatever the case may be I am happy to help in any way I can.” 

In the meantime, Auch will continue her sports journey with the SDHSAA in the upcoming months. 

“I am thankful to have had the opportunity and to have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, and to work for such a great organization,” Auch said. “I am thankful for the people I work for on a daily basis that bring a lot of smiles to my face and I am just happy that the membership schools entrusted me in this position to kind of lead over the last 16 years. I am forever grateful for that.”