RAPID CITY — Derek Robey’s legendary coaching career came to an end on March 21.

The longtime O’Gorman boys basketball coach led the Knights to one last state tournament run this season, and while OG took eighth place, Robey says the competition was certainly a challenge.

“Tough weekend, certainly, no one wants to get eighth place at a state tournament,” Robey said. “We’re thrilled to be here, the competition is tough. I just told our guys afterwards to look at this tournament, it’s loaded. Somebody is going to lose them all and I wish it wasn’t us. But the kids played hard, we just didn’t shoot the ball very well this weekend, that’s the reality of it.”

But Saturday’s seventh-place game versus Tea Area was the last of a 40-year long coaching career for the Mitchell native.

An emotional Robey said postgame how it was a tough day for him, but knew it was time to step away.

O'Gorman's Derek Robey gets recognized before his final game as a head coach during the Class AA state tournament on March 21, 2026, in Rapid City. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

“Kind of tough,” Robey said of his final game. “It’s just been tough. Kind of a roller coaster. But it’s time.

“I love this sport, I was very passionate about it. I love the camaraderie with the other coaches. That’s what it’s all about, the relationships. The wins and losses, they mean really zero to me. I’ve been very fortunate and very blessed to be in the situation I’m in.”

Robey ends his career with 726 career wins across both boys and girls basketball in South Dakota. He spent the last 21 seasons with O’Gorman leading the Knights to nine state title game appearances, winning six of them in 2006, ‘07, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12 and ‘17.

Some of the biggest coaching influences have come from his days as a player for the Mitchell Kernels under legendary coach Gary Munsen. Robey also attended Northern State University and started his coaching career shortly after college.

“My high school coach, coach Munsen, Gordie Fosness (former Dakota Wesleyan University coach), they’ve both passed but very influential,” Robey said. “Bob Olson up at Northern. And then all of my assistant coaches, they’ve been outstanding. They make my job easy. I’ve been very fortunate and blessed to have some really good assistant coaches.”

O'Gorman's Derek Robey coaches on the sideline during the Knights' seventh-place game at the Class AA state tournament on March 21, 2026, in Rapid City. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

Robey also had coaching stints in Aberdeen before coming to Sioux Falls at both Roncalli and Aberdeen Central.

As for life after coaching, Robey still plans to teach as a junior high social science teacher at O’Gorman, but will certainly find ways to get back to the game he loves.

“I’m still going to teach and dabble into some junior high coaching stuff but it’s getting to be a year-round gig. It’s time I spend some family time with grandkids and go on vacation a couple of times.”