Former Sidney coach closes career with hall of fame induction

LINCOLN - A former coach at Sidney High School received national recognition Wednesday night during a ceremony at the Lincoln Station Great Hall in Lincoln.

Mark Yoakam, who served as the Red Raiders Cross Country Coach for four years and coached the Track and Field team for five years, was one of 39 coaches nationwide to be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

"It's a great end to a dream career," Yoakam said. "Here I am with the kids I love from Sidney, Corvallis and Glasgow. They span from age 19 to age 60. It couldn't be better."

Yoakam retired from coaching at the conclusion of the Montana high school track and field season earlier this year. His 48-year coaching career includes 60 state trophies - including 28 Montana state championships - as a head coach and as an assistant. 

He was named Montana Coach of the Year three times, a nominee for Regional Coach of the Year and was recognized by the NHSACA as Assistant Coach of the Year in 2016.

"I told Joy (his wife) today that it all came down to, not the wins and the titles, but having 43 people here," Yoakam said. "Having your kids respect you enough to come."

Yoakam led the Sidney girls cross country team to the Nebraska School Activities Association State Championships all four years he was the coach. No team, boys or girls, had ever gone to the state meet prior to his arrival. 

"I'm sure I scared a lot of kids when I first came," Yoakam said. "We went from a few on the track team the year before I came, to 90-some the first year. It was fun to see the programs start to succeed."

He credits his success in Sidney to former Athletic Director Dick Scott, former Principal Jim Bonesteel, former Superintendent Chuck Bunner and Adams Industries Founder Donny Adams.

"I had a dream career," Yoakam said. "It was such an honor to be able to do what I love and get paid for it. It was my job, but I loved it. I wouldn't have done anything else." 

Sutherland's Dan Keyser and Norfolk Catholic's Jeff Bellar were two other Nebraska high school coaches inducted on Wednesday.

The Hall of Fame Ceremony was part of a four-day convention hosted by the NHSACA. The national convention featured clinic sessions for nineteen specific sports and college credit courses.