To make contributions to this endowment, please click here.
History
In his name, the Jack Doyle Scholarship was created at USD to honor his memory and to provide support for generations of student-athletes in the hope they too, will be inspired by his example and also give back to USD as their circumstances permit.
John Francis (Jack) Doyle was born in Manhattan, N.Y., on March 15, 1993 and passed away at age 80 on Sept. 6, 2013, in Encinitas, Calif., completing a full and productive life as a devoted husband, father, coach, athletic administrator, faithful friend and member of the Roman Catholic Church. That he was born on one coast and passed away on the other is symbolic of the breadth and depth of his impact on family, friends and colleagues in the center of America in Wyoming and South Dakota.
A gifted athlete, Jack accepted a middle distance track scholarship at the University of Wyoming where he earned a bachelors and masters degree. He later became the volunteer president of the Wyoming alumni association. In Laramie, he met the love of his life, Lois Naslund of Faith, S.D., and they were married June 30, 1955. The Doyles were blessed with seven children, 15 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
From 1960 to 1971, Jack taught physical and drivers education at Lead High School in South Dakota where he also coached football, track and basketball. As the Golddiggers' head basketball coach, he compiled a record of 72 wins and 32 losses while winning five Black Hills Conferences championships. In the summers, he directed the Lead community recreational program. Also in Lead, he was a member of the Kiwanis Club and active in the Knights of Columbus of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
In 1971, Jack became the assistant basketball coach at the University of South Dakota and became head coach from 1973 until 1982 when he was appointed USD athletic director with 106 Coyote wins. During his time as USD head basketball coach, he was active in the fundraising and planning for the DakotaDome which opened in 1979.
In 1977, Jack was instrumental in organizing and conducting a highly publicized visit to Cuba by the USD and SDSU basketball teams, the first such trip to be officially approved by the US Government since the advent of the Castro regime in 1959. Intended as a goodwill gesture intended to help break the diplomatic ice between the USD and Cuba, the trip involved two games between the Cuban national basketball team and the two university squads. The Cuban team made a return visit to South Dakota in 1978 playing games at USD and SDSU.
As USD Athletic Director from 1982 until his retirement in 1998, Jack's leadership produced 21 North Central Conference championships in various sports, a berth in the 1986 Division II National Championship football game and two appearances in the Elite Eight Division II national basketball tournament. He served on various NCAA bodies and in 1995, he was named chair of the NCAA Division II national basketball committee.
During his year as USD's athletics director, Jack also oversaw improvements in the DakotaDome and other Coyote athletic facilities. In 1999, he received the honor award of the North Central Conference in recognition of his leadership. In accepting the award, Jack emphasized that his success was largely due to the quality of coaches and athletes at USD. Other awards following his retirements form the athletic department included the Volunteer Award of the Howard Wood Dakota Relays and induction in the Coyote Athletic Hall of Fame. The capstone of his career as athletic director was in 2006 when his was inducted into the hall of fame of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
Following his retirement as athletics director, Jack joined the staff of the USD Foundation where he worked on a variety of special projects and served as a highly valued advisor to the staff in support of the successful Campaign South Dakota comprehensive USD development program. He retired from the Foundation in 2010 and spent the final months of his life to be near to family and received medical treatment in Encinitas, Calif., in the San Diego area.
During his years in Vermillion, Jack was an active member of the Lions Club, a regular in the men's golf league and lay leader of St. Agnes Catholic Parish. He was quick to volunteer for any task, applying his Irish charm to whatever the challenge.
Fund Notes
Started in 2013, earnings generated are used to provide scholarships for students who are enrolled in or accepted by USD and eligible for athletic scholarships with a preference for basketball and track and field. Preference will be given to a junior or a student enrolled in any USD degree program who has earned the award by exemplary performance as a non-scholarship athlete. The award may be renewed for second and subsequent years at the discretion of the USD Athletic Department.
Â
