University of South Dakota Athletics

George Birger, retired and living in Tucson, Ariz., is a long-time supporter of Coyote athletics. A former Coyote assistant coach, Birger helped secure funding for the indoor track in the DakotaDome. Every year, he helps with the Pat O'Brien Celebrity Auction, putting together gift packages for the auction, and also serves as an auctioneer. Early in his life, Birger was an assistant football coach and also the freshman basketball coach for South Dakota. A native of Winner, S.D., he was an assistant coach on the Coyotes' national championship basketball squad in 1958, while also serving as a freshman football coach. He played football at Southern State Teachers College, where he was captain and earned-all conference honors as an offensive lineman. Later, he taught and coached for 16 years in the public school system in two states. While a head coach at Menno, S.D., Columbia, S.D., and Soda Springs, Idaho, Birger had a 70-17-2 record in football, including seven conference titles. His 1956 Menno squad was named mythical state six-man champions. During that 11-year span, he compiled a 246-73 record in basketball, including six state tournament appearances. In addition, his track and field and cross country teams won several championships. He led teams to three State B second-place finishes in Idaho and one in South Dakota while winning a State B cross country title in Idaho. He has also served as a director of athletics, head men's basketball coach and chair of a physical education department at various universities. Birger worked in promotions for the Tucson Mavericks hockey club and was an assistant to the director of athletics for special projects at the University of Arizona from 1987-99. Birger earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Southern State Teachers College, a master of education degree from USD, education specialist degree from the University of Oregon, and a Ph.D. from Pacific Western University.