According to KCCR Radio in Pierre, long-time Sully Buttes coach Mark Senftner has resigned, effective Sept. 30. 

The Agar-Blunt-Onida School Board accepted Senftner’s resignation with “great reluctance” as both a coach and teacher during a special board meeting on Sept. 29. Senftner was diagnosed with a brain tumor in Dec. 2020 and has been dealing with health issues the past two years. 

During his 17-year tenure at Sully Buttes, Senftner led the girls basketball and football teams to state-wide prominence. He guided the girls basketball teams to 11 state tournament appearances, winning state championships in 2007, ‘08, ‘16 and ‘17. The Chargers also finished as state runner-ups in 2012 and ‘15. 

Before coaching at Sully Buttes, Senftner led Timber Lake to three girls basketball state tournament appearances and he has compiled more than 500 girls basketball coaching wins. 

On the gridiron, Senftner guided the Chargers to state championship appearances in 2015, ‘17 and ‘18. He accumulated a 101-42 record in 14 seasons. 

A McLaughlin High School and Northern State University graduate, Senftner also had coaching and teaching stints at Roscoe and Gregory. 

Last season, Senftner was inducted into the Onida/Sully Buttes Hall of Fame and South Dakota Basketball Coaches Hall of Shrine. 

Board members also approved the hiring of Senftner’s son, Scott, to replace him as a physical education teacher. Assistant girls basketball coach Susie Rilling was named as head coach. She coached with Senftner for nine years and recently served as temporary head coach at times.

Former Sully Buttes assistant football coach Tom Moore was elevated to head coach prior to this football season.