Jim Cordts

Cordts was associated with Madison athletics since he began coaching and teaching in Madison in 1965 after an illustrious career at Howard High School. Cordts came to Madison after taking Howard to the State B High School Boys' Basketball championship in 1964. Cordts is a 1953 graduate of Clark High School and a '57 graduate of then Northern State College. He taught and coached in Wessington and Howard before coming to Madison in 1965. During his time at Madison, the school won the Eastern South Dakota (ESD) Conference track championship one of just two track titles MHS won during its 57 years in the ESD. That was an especially gratifying feat since both of Cordts' sons, Brad and Bob, were members of the team. In 1988, he coached the Bulldogs to a Class A state track championship — the first MHS state title in 43 years. Cordts later served as an assistant in the track program when Madison won three consecutive State A boys track championships and four second-place finishes in the sport (one for the boys and three for the girls). Cordts is a member of the S.D. High School Coaches Association (SDHSCA) Hall of Fame, was tabbed the association's boys track coach of the year, and was a S.D. High School Activities Association distinguished service honoree.