University of South Dakota Athletics

John Brenegan (class of 1993), who played at USD from 1989-93, was the leader of the 1992-93 Coyote men’s basketball squad that advanced to the Elite Eight Championships in Springfield, Mass. Brenegan was named All-NCC in 1992-93 and Academic All-NCC in both 1991-92, 1992-93. He also received CoSIDA District VII academic honors in 1991-92 and 1992-93. A starter in the final 92 games of his career, he was the point guard on the 1992-93 team coached by Dave Boots that recorded a 25-5 record, including 16-2 in NCC play. The Coyotes lost in the quarterfinals of the national tournament to New Hampshire, 100-96, in triple overtime. A co-captain in 1992-93, he led USD with 101 assists. He averaged 9.9 points and 10.2 in league play. Brenegan connected on 52-of-104 three-point field goals for 50 percent. He also knocked down 90-of-103 free throws for 87.4 percent. Brenegan led USD to a four-year record of 86-34, including 47-25 in the NCC. Aside from the 1992-93 season, he was part of the 1989-90 team that advanced to the regional tournament, finishing with a 22-10 overall record and 10-8 in the NCC. In 1989-90, he played in 25 games while accumulating 79 points and 45 assists. Brenegan helped USD to a 20-10 mark in 1990-91 when the Coyotes finished 9-9 in league play. He started all 30 games and averaged 7.8 points per game, including hitting 85 percent (84-of-99) from the foul line. He made two free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the victory over league champion (66-61) in the semifinals of the NCC Final Four Tournament. During that season, he dished out a career-best 151 assists, a total which ranked sixth on the all-time season chart (to that point). 

Brenegan also led USD to a 19-9 record in 1991-92 when USD finished 12-6 and second in the NCC standings. During that season, he averaged 10.1 points per game, including converting 91-of-167 field goals for a team-high 54.5 percent. He hit 40-of-80 three point field goals for 50 percent. Brenegan dished out 98 assists and also hit 61-of74 free throws for 82.4 percent. In the 1990-91 season, he scored a career-best 27 points in a win over Augustana. During his final five games of that season, he averaged nearly 18 points per game. Brenegan still ranks eighth on USD’s career assist chart with 395, which ranked fifth all-time when he left USD. In his final two years, Brenegan hit 92-of-184 three-point field goals for a torrid 50 percent. In his career, he was 104-of-220 (47.2 percent) on three-point field goals. Overall he was 263-of-554 from the field for 47.4 percent. He also made 261-of-309 free throws for 84.4 percent. In his career, he totaled 891 points (7.8 ppg). He received a Rube Hoy Award for Athletic Excellence as a senior at USD. Brenegan, who lives in Menomonie, Wisc., received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from USD in 1993.