University of South Dakota Athletics

Coplan, who has enjoyed a stellar career as a football coach and athletic director at Canton High School since 1955, was an outstanding football player at South Dakota. Coplan played halfback and safety and was a starting member of the 1951 Coyote football team, which rolled to a 6-0 record in capturing the North Central Conference football title. Coplan, who has been head coach at Canton for 25 years, has a brilliant record of 169-44. His teams have captured conference titles 13 times in the past 17 years, including six undefeated seasons. Coplan, a native of Watertown, has been honored as Siouxland Coach of the Year, the South Dakota Sportswriters Coach of the Year as well as the South Dakota Coaches Association Coach of the Year.