DES MOINES

Dwight Gingerich, who has stacked up 738 victories in 42 seasons at Hillcrest Academy and Iowa Mennonite School, became a Hall of Famer on Friday, March 8.

Gingerich was inducted into the Iowa High School Basketball Hall of Fame during the state boys basketball tournament being played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Gingerich, who is also principal at Hillcrest Academy, was quick to thank others.

“This honor is a reflection of all who have given so much over the last 40 years plus,” Gingerich told The News. “I am grateful for each player that has come through our program, including those who laid the foundation early on. I have learned so much from them. I am very lucky to have had terrific assistant coaches and support staff, and I’m so thankful for each of them.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had tremendous administrator support, support from our faculty and staff and parents, and from so many in the larger community. I’m grateful for the incredible sacrificial support I have received from my family, including my wife Mo, and our children, Michaela, Eli and Caleb. I’m also so grateful for the support of my siblings and parents. I am most grateful to God for the opportunity to serve the IMS/Hillcrest community over these many years.”

Gingerich is tied for fifth for the most all-time victories in state history. The Ravens have had a winning record every year since joining the Southeast Iowa Super Conference, including 2006-07 when a 25-win season included a 10-game winning streak to begin the season.

The news of Gingerich’s selection for the state Hall of Fame spread quickly. A Facebook post by The News drew nearly 200 “likes” and more than 30 comments in less than 24 hours. Statewide, coaches are expressing their appreciation for Gingerich, one of the few who never changed schools over his long career.

“Coach Gingerich is well deserved of this honor,” former longtime Lone Tree coach Tom Squiers said. “His teams over the years we’ve competed against are some of the most prepared I’ve ever played against. They play hard and rarely deviate from his system of play.”

“His program is also run with a lot of class,” Squiers added. “They’re humble in both victory and defeat, which is a reflection of how Dwight runs his program. Over the years, while I was at Lone Tree, we developed quite a rivalry when they joined the SEISC. During that time I had the upmost respect for his teams and how he ran his program. He is one of those coaches who gets the most out of his players every year.”

Gingerich’s 1992 team at IMS won a state championship. IMS also was state runner-up in 1991, 1998, 2005 and 2007.

Gingerich won his 700th game in December 2021, a home game that drew a standing-room-only crowd to Hillcrest Union.

“I have made my share of blunders through the years,” Gingerich said, “and I am so grateful for the grace that’s been shown to me by so many. It has been a joy and a labor of love.”

He remains one of the longest active coaches in Iowa.

“His success as a coach is well documented,” Squiers said, “but Dwight is an even better person. He really cares about his players and Hillcrest, and he’s stuck with his school and continues to coach there. You don’t see a lot of coaches do that anymore.”

Joining Gingerich in Friday’s ceremony were Bryce Smeins, a retired administrator and coach whose 1992 Clear Creek Amana team lost the state championship game to Gingerich and IMS; players Brad Barron of Cedar Falls, Kent McCausland of Waterloo West, Kirk Speraw of Sioux City North and Kurt Spomer of Tri-Center; and Rich Collison, who officiated for 19 years.