Gary L. Boner

Gary L. Boner (October 31, 1940 – May 16, 2005) was an American football player and coach. He was the longest-tenured head football coach for South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSM&T) in Rapid City, South Dakota, serving from 1971 to 1989. With a record of 92–73–7, he won more games than any football coach in SDSM&T history.[1]

Gary L. Boner
Boner as a player at South Dakota State, 1962
Biographical details
Born(1940-10-31)October 31, 1940
Hot Springs, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedMay 16, 2005(2005-05-16) (aged 64)
Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.
Playing career
1960–1961South Dakota Mines
1962–1963South Dakota State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1965–1968Rapid City HS (SD) (assistant)
1969Stevens HS (SD)
1970South Dakota Mines (assistant)
1971–1989South Dakota Mines
Head coaching record
Overall92–73–7 (college)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
  • SDSM&T Sports Hall of Fame (2004)
  • SDSA College Coach of the Year (1981)
  • South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame (2011)
Records
  • Most wins in South Dakota Mines history (92)
  • Most games coached in South Dakota Mines history (172)

Playing career

As a player, Boner spent two seasons at SDSM&T before transferring to South Dakota State University (SDSU). At SDSU he was the leading rusher (497 yards) on the 1962 team that tied for the North Central Conference title. Counting receiving and kick/punt returns, he had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards that season. He was all-conference at both SDSM&T and SDSU. He graduated from SDSU with a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Physical Education. After graduation, he had a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings.

Coaching career

Boner started his coaching career as an assistant football and basketball coach at Rapid City High School (now Rapid City Central High School) in 1965. In 1969, he became the first head football coach at the new Rapid City Stevens High School, guiding the Raiders to a 6–3 record. He joined the staff at SDSM&T as an assistant football coach in 1970 and became the head coach in 1971.

Boner's teams were 73–32–4 in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) and won seven SDIC titles (1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, and 1985), the most in the school's history. His 1980 team was 8–1, while his 1978, 1981, 1982 and 1984 teams each won seven games. The SDSM&T Hardrockers won 13 games in a row over the 1980-81 seasons and reached the No. 3 rating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics football poll in 1981. Boner led SDSM&T to 13 consecutive winning seasons from 1973 to 1985.

He was the NAIA District 12 Coach of the Year in 1980, and the South Dakota Sportswriters Association’s College Coach of the Year in 1981.[2] He retired from coaching in 1990.

He was among the first inductees of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Sports Hall of Fame in 2004,[3] and was posthumously inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[4]

Personal life

Boner married Linda Richtman on July 16, 1973, and had two sons. Following his retirement from football in 1990, he taught mathematics at Central High School from 1991 until his retirement in 1997.

An avid golfer since his 20s, Boner recorded five holes-in-one over his lifetime.

He died in Rapid City on May 16, 2005, at the age of 64.[5]

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
South Dakota Mines Hardrockers (South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference) (1971–1989)
1971 South Dakota Mines 3–4–13–2–13rd
1972 South Dakota Mines 3–63–3T–3rd
1973 South Dakota Mines 4–3–23–1–12nd
1974 South Dakota Mines 6–2–14–0–11st
1975 South Dakota Mines 5–44–1T–1st
1976 South Dakota Mines 4–4–12–34th
1977 South Dakota Mines 6–34–12nd
1978 South Dakota Mines 7–2–15–12nd
1979 South Dakota Mines 5–4–14–1–13rd
1980 South Dakota Mines 8–16–01st
1981 South Dakota Mines 7–25–1T–1st
1982 South Dakota Mines 7–27–01st
1983 South Dakota Mines 5–45–23rd
1984 South Dakota Mines 7–25–1T–1st
1985 South Dakota Mines 6–45–11st
1986 South Dakota Mines 3–63–22nd
1987 South Dakota Mines 4–53–2
1988 South Dakota Mines 1–81–45th
1989 South Dakota Mines 1–81–45th
South Dakota Mines: 92–74–773–30–4
Total:92–74–7
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. "South Dakota School of Mines & Technology". All Time Coaching Records. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  2. "List of South Dakota Sportswriters Association year-end award-winners". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  3. "Tech to induct first 18 into sports Hall of Fame". Rapid City Journal.
  4. "New class set to be inducted into hall". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  5. "Obituaries for May 18".
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