SIOUX FALLS, SD - Jim Luce, who led Augustana to the North Central Conference football championship in 1959, has been chosen for induction into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. The induction banquet will be held April 9, 2011, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Luce led the NCC in passing in 1958 and 1960, and in total offense in 1959 and 1960. Against North Dakota in 1960, Luce was 22 of 25, a national record for one-game passing percentage, according to the NCAA Service Bureau.
He also played baseball (two years) and basketball (one year) at Augustana. He was an all-NCC infielder as a senior. He was inducted into the Augustana Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979. Luce and Augustana teammate and receiver, John Simko, were named South Dakota College Male Athletes of the Year in 1960 by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association.
Luce coached and taught at Washington High for more than 30 years. He coached football, basketball and golf. He was 37-31 in eight seasons as football coach (1980-87). He was the boys golf coach from 1965-80 and 1991-99 and the girls golf coach from 1968-99. Washington won six boys state titles and four girls state titles under Luce. He retired from teaching and coaching in 1999.
He was named the 1997 national golf coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
