Bob Young, 83
Bob Young, of Brandon, a longtime USF football coach, educator and friend of many, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. He was 83. The family will be present to greet friends from 1- 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at the Stewart Center, 1120 W. 26th Street, Sioux Falls. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at the Bob Young Field Sports Complex on June 3, 2023.
To his family, he was Dad or Grandpa. But for legions of others, he was simply “Coach.” Robert (Bob) Ross Young was more than an iconic football coach, he was a man of faith who lived what he believed. A genuine, kind, family man who exhibited care, sacrifice, love, and support at every turn. Bob was a servant leader with a selfless demeanor who inspired others to embrace in his leadership style of community, family, and faith.
During his life, Bob always fashioned a philosophy of “inadequate but faithful” and it was the message that he knew fostered rewards. He said: “I feel as adequate as anybody. I felt inadequate when I took this job at Sioux Falls College or in how I lived my life. I trusted God to give me wisdom. And, I have been blessed far and above. Faithfulness gets you rewarded.”
With that lifelong perspective, he shared his faith, love and inner resolve with hundreds of student-athletes, students, colleagues, friends, and family. His relationships and life philosophy were built on integrity, perseverance, and a great work ethic. It is a measure of Coach’s legacy that his philosophy is ingrained in numerous people who loved him, respected him, and carry on that message now and in the future.
Bob was born on April 10, 1939 to Harold and Margaret (Bachman) Young in Union County. He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane (Skola); siblings, Dorothy (Merrill) Johnson, Don Young, Joyce (Myron) Larson, Marge Hansen, Larry Young, and son-in-law Chad Garrow.
He is survived by his brother, George (LaVonne) Young; children, David (Georgina) Young, Steven (Pamela) Young, Jerilyn (Larry) Fox, and Melissa Garrow; along with 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Dione Young and Corinne Young.
Raised on a farm in Union County, his early education included instruction in a one-room schoolhouse and taught by his sister, Dorothy. Bob participated in football, basketball and track and field in high school. At Beresford, Bob was a leader and outstanding student-athlete who later attended and earned all-conference honors in 1960 at Sioux Falls College, where No. 65 was an outstanding linebacker and offensive guard. But his strength in character, passed down by his parents, was shown through his work ethic. Bob loved to compete in sports but also conducted his family obligation by working on the farm both while attending Beresford and later at Sioux Falls College.
It was at Sioux Falls College where Bob met the love of his life, Diane Skola, a Viborg, S.D., native who was the head cheerleader when Bob was the football captain. The “dream couple” were married on April 18, 1960. Little did Diane know then that she was destined to become the ultimate coach’s wife.
The journey of life for Bob and Diane began in South Dakota and Iowa, moving to Arizona for 19 years and returning home to South Dakota. In Phoenix they raised four children and were active at Maryvale Baptist Church. While in Sioux Falls, Bob and Diane were very active at First Baptist Church. Bob and the family lost Diane on March 26, 2020, at the age of 79, honoring her with a “Celebration of Life” ceremony at Bob Young Field in October, 2020.
For Coach, the start of a legendary Hall of Fame career that would span some five decades began in Garretson, S.D. He moved on to Hawarden, Iowa, before taking a role at Maryvale High in Phoenix, Ariz. At Maryvale, he was 72-23-5 while twice earning Phoenix High School Coach of the Year honors. It was also at Maryvale, where he coached both of his sons, that his coaching prowess began to attract attention as he led the team to consistent playoff appearances and a state title game.
In 1983, he was convinced by some former teammates, to return to South Dakota to take over a USF program that had struggled. From a .276 winning percentage all-time, Young created a national powerhouse, which included the first ever collegiate football title in South Dakota when the Cougars defeated Western Washington, 47-25, in 1996. Bob helped deliver the title which seemed improbable some 13 years earlier. Yet, without a home field, his team rolled to a 14-0 record, which earned him the NAIA National Coach of the Year.
During his 22 seasons, he became the program’s career wins leader at 172-69-3, which included a dominant 103-31-3 conference record. The Cougars won 13 conference championships and played for another national title in 2001. His first conference title came in his second season, when he led his team to an 8-2 record in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference. He would go on to win eight more SDIC titles, including the final five of the conference's existence.
Coach’s Cougars won 27 straight SDIC games over five seasons (1994-99). In 2000, USF joined the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The 2001 season started a number of streaks again as USF began conference play with 34 straight wins, and USF won its first of four consecutive GPAC titles. He was named GPAC coach of the year eight times and national coach of the year in 1996. Six times his Cougars had unbeaten regular seasons. Ten times they advanced to the NAIA playoffs, including nine of his last 11 seasons. He had national semifinalists in 1997, 2002 and 2003 with quarterfinalists in 1995, 1998 and 2004. Amazingly, Bob, who led his teams to six unbeaten regular season campaigns, directed his team to conference winning streaks of 27 games from 1994 to 1999 and 34 games from 2001 to 2004. Many won’t realize that during his development of a highly successful football program, he was also a full-time math professor, not becoming a full-time coach until later in his career at Sioux Falls.
In 1994 with his son, Steve, on the team, Bob led his team to a winning record, which was the start of a run at Sioux Falls that continues today with 28 consecutive winning seasons. Eight times, he had 10 wins or more, including the 14-0 mark of the 1996 team. With that significant success, Bob Young Field at the University of Sioux Falls was named in his honor in 2007. And, during his successful career in athletics, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, and University of Sioux Falls Hall of Fame.
His faith-based approach resonated through his commitment to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as director of the coaches’ ministry in South Dakota. His faith was also highlighted through his commitment to former coaches and players with his One Team Fellowship where he provided counsel, support, and friendship. “Legacy is not what you leave with people. Legacy is what you leave in people” is a quote that expresses what so many felt when they encountered Coach Young. For Coach, relationships were everything. His love for others emerged from his love for Jesus.
For online condolences, visit millerfh.com.
