Barb Felderman (Coach) led the Lady Hardrocker basketball team to 11 conference championships and nine NAIA national tournament appearances, including five round of 16 appearances and two national semifinal appearances (1998 and 1999). She coached seven SDIC Championship teams and added DAC conference titles in 2002 and 2005. For 13 years, she coached both basketball and volleyball, as well as men’s tennis.
Felderman began her SD Mines basketball coaching career in 1981, accruing a 474-397 record. During the 1997-1998 season she led the team to a 28-4 record. She served as assistant Athletics Director for intercollegiate athletics and chair of, and a professor in, the Department of Physical Education at SD Mines.
As the volleyball coach (1981-1996) at SD Mines, Felderman’s teams won seven conference championships from 1984 through 1996, and several sub-district titles. Her championship teams from 1983-1986 were all inducted into the Hardrocker Hall of Fame.
Although primarily known as a basketball coach, she also led the men’s tennis teams to district titles on two occasions and advanced to the national tournament in 1989-1990 and 1990-1991. She was named District Coach of the Year in 1990.
Felderman was honored as South Dakota College Coach of the Year by sportswriters in 1991 and 1998 and has been named SDIC Basketball Coach of the Year three times.
Former players have described Felderman as dedicated to helping young people and demanding hard work, dedication, focus and commitment from players.Her student athletes carried an average 3.4 GPA. Over the years, there were numerous All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. Six Lady Hardrockers were named to the university’s Leadership Hall of Fame as well.
