Gary Boner was selected as Tech's head football coach in 1971. During his 18 years at the hem, Boner won more games (93) and championships (6) than any football coach in Tech history. His South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference record was an outstanding 72-31-3.
Boner played for the Hardrockers in 1959 and 1960, and then transferred to South Dakota State where he earned his degree. He was an outstanding player and received a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings. After serving as the first head coach at Rapid City Stevens High School in 1969, Boner joined the Tech staff as Dud King's assistant in 1970.
Boner, and long time defensive coordinator Sonny Coyle, brought Tech to national football prominence in 1981 as the Hardrockers won 13 in-a-row and reached the No. 3 spot in the weekly NAIA football poll. Boner led Tech to 13 consecutive non losing seasons from 1973 to 1985.
The winningest football coach in South Dakota School of Mines history, the 1959 Edgemont graduate had a 93-74-7 overall record in 19 seasons (1971-89).
His teams were 72-31-3 in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference and won seven SDIC titles (1974-77-78-80-81-82-84). His 1980 team was 8-1, while his 1978, ’81, ’82 and ’84 teams each won seven games. The Hardrockers won 13 games in a row over a two-year period and reached the No. 3 rating in the NAA poll in 1981. Boner led Mines to 13 consecutive non-losing seasons from 1973-85.
He was the NAIA District 12 Coach of the Year in 1980, and the South Dakota Sportswriters Association’s College Coach of the Year in 1981.
As a player, Boner spent two seasons at Mines before transferring to South Dakota State. At SDSU he was the leading rusher (497 yards) on the 1962 team that tied for the North Central Conference title. Counting receiving and kick/punt returns, he had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards that season. He was all-conference at both Mines and SDSU. After graduation, he had a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings.
Boner started his coaching career as an assistant at Rapid City Central in 1965. After four years at Central, he became the first head coach at Rapid City Stevens in 1969, guiding the Raiders to a 6-3 record. He joined the Mines staff as Dud King’s assistant in 1970 and became head coach in 1971.
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