Jim Bridge — as only Jim Bridge can do — reflected on his many teams, players and even gut-wrenching losses on a night he reached a career milestone. 

The long-time Hanson girls basketball coach recorded his 600th career win on Friday night, putting him in rare company among South Dakota girls basketball coaches. He’s just the second coach in state history to record 600 or more girls basketball wins, joining all-time leader Dawn Seiler (629) in the exclusive club. 

Bridge achieved his 600th win in Hanson’s 57-29 win over Kimball/White Lake. But after a quick team photo to celebrate the milestone, the veteran coach deflected any praise to his past and current players. 

“I am proud of how many different kids there were involved in that,” Bridge said. “This is just a few of them. You do it because you love it and I love it. I am blessed. I am thankful. I am honored. I am appreciative. I am humbled.”

Bridge, who has coached for 36 seasons, has proudly recorded all 600 wins at Hanson. A Wagner native and Northern State University graduate, Bridge’s coaching career started as a student teacher under legendary coach Burnell Glanzer. 

As a player, Bridge and Wagner lost two games in two seasons and both were to Armour. So when the opportunity to learn from Glanzer arose, Bridge jumped at it. Glanzer himself finished with 617 career wins. 

“I learned a lot from him,” Bridge, 60, said. “Burnell always said that the mark of the program is when you can have consistency for many years with a lot of different kids.”

Hanson coach Jim Bridge looks on as his team plays against Kimball/White Lake on Friday in White Lake. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Hanson has indeed done that under Bridge’s watch. He’s built the Beavers into one of the state’s most consistent girls basketball programs. He’s coached numerous all-staters and future college basketball All-Americans, including his daughter Jennifer Bridge.  

Under Bridge’s tutelage, Hanson has advanced to nine state tournaments and he’s had 16 seasons with 18 or more wins. But season-ending losses and undefeated seasons spoiled in districts are what he remembers more than some of the wins.

“I can tell you about 200 some other nights where it wasn’t fun and those probably motivate you a lot, too,” Bridge said. “The losses are getting harder and harder and they always are hard but they keep you going.”

Bridge also singled out coaching peers who reached milestones this season, including Frank Cutler (Platte-Geddes), Tom Young (Ethan), Mark Amdahl (Waubay/Summit), Mark Senftner (Sully Buttes) and Tim McCain (Sanborn Central/Woonsocket).

Bridge has built relationships with many of them, while also picking up on their tendencies along the way. 

“I am still learning and I feel like I have so much to learn,” said Bridge, who also praised his assistant coaches Kim DeRouchey and Tyler Payer for having a big hand in the wins.

This season, the Beavers (14-4) are again clicking off the wins as the postseason inches closer. They’ve won 10 of their last 11 games, including a 44-40 win over No. 1 Wagner on Feb. 1. 

“It’s so much fun to have this group of kids who listen and try and that’s all I ever ask out of kids,” Bridge said. 

Bridge isn’t sure how much longer he’ll coach and said he’ll know when the time is right. But the idea of coaching his granddaughter and current Hanson statistician, Taziah, intrigues him. 

“I am hoping I can hang in there with her a little bit,” Bridge said. “That might be kind of fun to get a few more wins with her in the next three or four years.”