PARKSTON — Parkston is the next stop on Bill Marquardt’s coaching journey. 

Marquardt, who is one of the winningest boys basketball coaches in South Dakota history, was recently named the head boys basketball at Parkston High School.

Marquardt, who has been a head coach for 36 years, most recently coached at Centerville. Marquardt has also been a head boys basketball at Warner, Bridgewater, Sioux Valley, Hanson, Colman-Egan and McCook Central/Montrose. He also coached the Mount Vernon/Plankinton girls basketball team for four seasons. 

The veteran coach stepped down at Centerville after the 2023-24 season, and never fully shut the door on coaching again. 

Another coaching door opened when former Parkston boys basketball coach Craig Bruening recently accepted the Mitchell School District business manager position. 

“I never really decided I didn’t want to coach anymore,” Marquardt said. “This was a situation where they were in a bind and I thought it fit.”

The position also fit Marquardt due to his connections to Parkston, including relationships with administrators Pat Mikkonen (superintendent), Cole Knippling (principal) and Adam Fischer (athletic director). 

And the Trojans, who are coming off a 16-win season, will be among the top teams in Region 4B.

“I know a lot of other people around Parkston and know that they are going to be pretty good,” Marquardt said. “I have coached a couple of places (Centerville and Mount Vernon/Plankinton) since I quit teaching and both of them were kind of rebuilding type projects. They both went quickly then I thought they would and this one is not a rebuilding project.”

Marquardt, who retired from teaching in 2013, lives in Sioux Falls and will commute to Parkston. But will occasionally stay with long-time friend Dan Sabers in Mitchell during the season.

And will continue his storied coaching career. 

“A lot of retired people golf and fish and hunt for their hobby,” Marquardt said. “My hobby is coaching. I think I am still effective at it. If I didn't think that I wouldn’t have considered this.”

Being closer to Mitchell, Marquardt plans on attending more Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell Kernel games. He also hopes to continue attending South Dakota State University and Harrisburg High School basketball games. 

Marquardt’s daughter — Dana Bigge — is an assistant girls basketball coach at Harrisburg, while his niece — Hilary Behrens — plays for the Jackrabbits. 

“I love the flexibility to go watch high school games almost every night of the week,” Marquardt said. “But there’s just something about everything that goes into being a basketball coach that draws me in.”

Marquardt had his first open gym at Parkston on Wednesday, July 16, and came away impressed after his initial view of the Trojans. 

“I am stepping into a good, solid program,” Marquardt said. “Coach Bruening had been there for years and the kids know that there are expectations and they were great today. The effort was good. The focus was good.” 

Marquardt isn’t sure how many seasons he’ll coach the Trojans, but if both parties are satisfied, he envisions being at Parkston longer. 

“We will see how the year goes and we will go one year at a time,” Marquardt said. “But I wouldn’t rule out staying longer by any means.”

Marquardt is one of 11 South Dakota high school boys basketball coaches to win 500 or more games. Marquardt joins Larry Luitjens, Gary Munsen, Burnell Glanzer, Gayle Hoover, Paul Raasch, Mike Tuschen, Frank Cutler, Jim Schlekeway, Doug Groth and Dave Hollenbeck in the 500-win club. 

Marquardt’s teams from Bridgewater, Hanson and McCook Central/Montrose played in five state tournaments, including a Class A championship (Hanson, 1986) and a Class B runner-up finish (Hanson, 1989). Hanson won 46 consecutive games during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons. 

Marquardt was also a head football coach for nine years, compiling a 60-21 career record and led Bridgewater to the 1981 Class 9A state championship. He also was a head track coach for 20 years, leading Bridgewater’s boys to a fifth-place finish in 1980 and Colman-Egan’s girls to a runner-up finish in 2006.

Marquardt is one of four head coaches in South Dakota history to win state championships in boys basketball and football, joining Raasch, Marv McCune and Kent Mueller.