A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of Jan. 11-17, 2026:

Last year on Jan. 16, 2025: After the most-successful back-to-back seasons for the University of South Dakota football program at the FCS level, head coach Bob Nielson has retired after nine seasons. Known for building programs, Nielson took the reins of the USD program ahead of the 2016 season. Nielson’s career is a storied one being a two-time NCAA Division II national champion (Minnesota-Duluth, 2008 and 2010) and a three-time national coach of the year. Nielson’s teams had a 239-128-1 record in 32 seasons, with 14 of those teams qualifying for the national playoffs. Nielson won a total of nine conference titles in his career, picking up titles at all three NCAA Divisions (Wartburg and UW-Eau Claire in DIII; Duluth in DII; and USD in DI).

10 years ago on Jan. 16, 2016: NSU junior Sasha Hovind won the 3,000 meters at the NDSU Bison Indoor Classic track meet in Fargo.

20 years ago on Jan. 16, 2006: Sioux Falls Christian defeated Dell Rapids 60-59 in overtime in a boys’ basketball game. There was only one jump ball at the start of the game in the era of jump balls when players from opposing teams had possession of the ball at the same time jumped it up.

30 years ago on Jan. 13, 1996: The Vermillion boys’ basketball team defeated Harrisburg to win the Big Sioux Conference Tournament and to give coach Rex Huska his 400th career win.

40 years ago on Jan. 11, 1986: Led by Keith Hasselquist and Steve Thein, Augustana defeated the SDSU men’s basketball team 81-59 at Frost Arena in Brookings. It was Augie’s first win in Brookings since 1978.

50 years ago on Jan. 16, 1976: The Aberdeen Roncalli boys’ basketball team defeated Groton 67-58. The winners got 20 points and 10 rebounds from Kent Clausen, and 18 points and 15 rebounds from Mark Graeber. Jim Marske scored 28 for Groton.