University of South Dakota Athletics

Robert Taplett was a three-sport standout for the Coyotes lettering in football, track, and basketball from 1937-40. Taplett originally of Tyndall, SD, was the third leading scorer (11.8 average) on the 1938-39 Coyote basketball team, which won the North Central Conference title ( head coach Ruby Hoy). That squad, which went 10-7 and 6-2 in the NCC, was probably best remembered for scoring one of the biggest victories in Coyote Basketball history when it claimed a 40-39 triumph over Loyola University of Chicago, which were the two-time defending national basketball champions. Taplett was also a starting member on the Coyote football team, coached by Harry Gamage, which won North Central Conference titles in 1938 and 1939. He also finished second in the pole vault during both the 1938 and 1940 conference outdoor track meets and also was second in the high jump at the 1940 league meet. Taplett served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps before retiring in 1960. He saw extensive service during World War II and the Korean War and was decorated with two silver stars, The Legion of Merit with Star, Bronze Star, and three Presidential Citations.