VOLGA — Bill Vincent notched career win No. 500 on Jan. 29. 

The longtime Sioux Valley boys basketball coach earned his 500th career win in the Cossacks’ 65-54 victory over Beresford in the Cossack Center surrounded by friends, family, and many former players.

“It just speaks volumes of the community that I’m fortunate enough to coach in and the players the parents have sent me. It’s always fun, and now I’ll be looking for 501.

“You just try to get to the next game with a 1-0 mindset. The years just quickly piled up and the games quickly piled up, that's for sure.”

A De Smet native, Vincent started his coaching career in 1997 with Sioux Valley and has won all 500 games with the Cossacks. In 28 seasons, Vincent and the Cossacks have made 14 trips to the Class A state tournament, including five consolation championships, a third-place finish in 2001 and runner-up finishes in 2021 and ‘22.

Bill Vincent on the sideline during the Cossacks 65-54 win over Beresford on Jan. 29, 2026, in Volga. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

“That makes it extra special,” Vincent said of his longevity with Sioux Valley. “You just bleed navy and gold and have a lot of Cossack pride. I was fortunate to get started at a young age with some talented kids.”

He becomes the 13th coach in South Dakota High School boys basketball history to reach the 500 career win mark, joining Larry Luitjens, Gary Munsen, Paul Raasch, Burnell Glanzer, Gayle Hoover, Mike Tuschen, Frank Cutler, Dave Hollenbeck, Jim Schlekeway, Bill Marquardt, Doug Groth and Silas Blaine.

“When you look at the people that came before me that were my mentors and you see people on that list I watched when I was a youngster and played for,” Vincent said. “Those types of people, it just makes it that much more fun because you become so tight with the coaches and officials that are out there.”

But Vincent says the community of Sioux Valley has been a big factor in reaching this milestone, and continuing the long tradition of “Hoop Valley” basketball.

“We’ve just been very fortunate with parents that have trusted us with their kids and kids that have worked extremely hard for us,” Vincent said. “We’ve had plenty of good basketball players play for us that have carried on the tradition from year-to-year.”

Vincent also credits his family for their support in his near three-decade-long coaching career, saying “This doesn’t happen without family”.

Bill Vincent hugging with Kelton Vincent following the Cossacks' 65-54 win over Beresford on Jan. 29, 2026, in Volga. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

“They support you through the highs and lows and I’ve been blessed with that and of course many of them have also had the opportunity to either play for me or coach Granum on the girls side and he was under me for a few years as well,” Vincent said. “I’ve been blessed with a great coaching staff year in and year out and people who pour into our program, people who volunteer into our program.”

Following the win, Vincent was presented with a plaque and banner by former players and nephews Kelton and Oliver Vincent commemorating the milestone.

“I guess it didn’t hit me, you’re just thinking about the next game and then all of a sudden you see players like Kelton and Oliver come through the door to be at the game to want to be here for this ball game, it makes it that much more special.”