Happy Hour with John Gaskins

FULL SHOW: Eric Henderson on his first year at Drake / Canaries president Brian Jamros on recent success & what's new in '26 / Melsted moving from Augie to Minnesota

2 h 12 min · 22. Mai 2026
Episode FULL SHOW: Eric Henderson on his first year at Drake / Canaries president Brian Jamros on recent success & what's new in '26 / Melsted moving from Augie to Minnesota Cover

Beschreibung

How does a college basketball coach who had known nothing but winning big handle a losing season in his first year at a school that previously had six consecutive 20-win seasons? Eric Henderson blazed through the Summit League, achieving an 80 percent win rate in his six years leading South Dakota State, which followed three banner-hanging seasons as an assistant in Brookings under T.J. Otzelberger. The success landed "Hendo" the gig at Drake, where he replaced Ben McCollum, whose one season in Des Moines yielded a 31-4 record and landed the long-time Division II legend the gig at Iowa. Then, a thud. Hendo's first squad went 14-20, but they secured a monumental Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinal win over No. 1 seed Belmont. What went wrong, then right? What did the infectiously "glass half full" Hendo learn? How does he expect three Jackrabbits he took to Drake—Owen Larson, Garrett Goodbary, and Bryson Bahl — to contribute? How and why were those the three SDSU players that came along for the ride and why weren't there more? Did Hendo have input in the hiring of his successor? How does Hendo navigate NIL when most mid-major schools are pillaged by the big leagues? What's his favorite memory of Mike Daum? All this and plenty more as the always-gregarious Hendo catches up with the Happy Hour host. Thirsty Thursday local sports talk with Trent Singer If there has actually been a busier or more compelling three days of softball news in South Dakota history, it has been a while. Two days after the shocking removal of 10-year head coach Robert Wagner from USD softball, Augustana's 20-year legend Gretta Melsted became the new head coach at Minnesota. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/gretta-melsted-steps-down-as-augustana-softball-coach-accepts-head-coaching-job-at-minnesota] Yeah, the Gophers. Big Ten. From Division II. Melsted led Augustana to the 2019 national championship, four D2 world series, and a combined 14 NSIC regular season and tournament titles in her two decades. She had turned down prior Div. I offers from mid-major schools. So, what do we make of her leap to the big time, just a couple months after Augie hockey coach Garrett Raboin stayed put after reported strong interest from Minnesota? The Happy Hour host—who sat down with Melsted for nearly an hour about her softball journey a year ago [http://sports/happy-hour-augustana-softball-coach-gretta-melsted-on-another-ncaa-tourney-run]—and Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer -- who recently sat down with Melsted for 45 minutes a couple weeks ago, unpack a massive move. Melsted's name was on the tip of anyone's tounge the moment it was public knowledge that USD had an opening. While the school conducts a "national search" to replace Robert Wagner, Singer and the host add layers to a story that has become mysterious, controversial, and combative on social media among USD followers since USD announced there would be a "change in leadership" without mentioning Wagner's name or decade of service. Meanwhile, the Sioux Falls Stampede skate into Muskegon needing just one win to capture the club's first Clark Cup in seven years. Singer has covered the team all season and reported on a bunch dramatic playoff wins in front of packed, rowdy crowds. Why does he suppose attendance has swelled as the title chase has built? Why has the Herd dominated the first two games of these Clark Cup Finals? What will be this team's legacy if it hoists the cup? Canaries president Brian Jamros No team in the American Association has won more games over the last three seasons than the Sioux Falls Canaries. No team had lost more in the several years before that. The Birds have seen an uptick not just in wins, but also in ticket sales and revenue. That has a lot to do with owners Brian Slipka and Anthony Albanese, who bought the club in April 2021, kept manager Mike Meyer, and poured their own money into enhancements for the players and fans at The Birdcage. President Brian Jamros has led the day-to-day operations since the 2022 season and tells the story of how so much has transformed in a few years. Sioux Falls is off to a 5-1 start, with games at The Birdcage every day through Sunday this, then again Friday-thru-Sunday next week. So, what's new? Why are ticket prices lower? What factors influence decisions about ballpark renovations and concessions? Oh, what is a conversation about the Canaries without bringing up a possible new ballpark someday. Perhaps you have heard that 130 acres of city-purchased land just north of Falls Park will be available in a few years.

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Episode Sports Lounge: Kalen DeBoer & Kurtiss Riggs, recently fired Fargo Shanley HS coach Beth Maher, Vikings talk with Thor Nystrom & Diamond Vision with Zach Borg Cover

Sports Lounge: Kalen DeBoer & Kurtiss Riggs, recently fired Fargo Shanley HS coach Beth Maher, Vikings talk with Thor Nystrom & Diamond Vision with Zach Borg

Two Sioux Falls legends and South Dakota football all-time luminaries who combined for national chamionships at the University of Sioux Falls— one as teammates and three more as coaches together on the offensive headset. One moved on to travel the country and rise up the Div. I ranks to become head coach at Alabama. The other stuck around to win seven more of his 11 professional indoor championships with the Sioux Falls Storm, strengthen his burgeoning youth football developmental academy, and become a respected radio and TV broadcaster. But it all started at tiny NAIA "Sioux Falls College" in 1993 together. Kalen DeBoer and Kurtiss Riggs joined Happy Hour with John Gaskins to tell old stories about their lifelong friendship, starting with their first encounter. The vivid memories, entertaining storytelling, and loads of laughs lead off this week's "South Dakota Sports Lounge" — a regional TV and audio show for Midwest Sports Plus that provides the hand-picked best conversations of the week on the daily sports talk shows of Forum Communications, plus a weekly MS+ local sports feature story. Only the first 12 minutes of the DeBoer/Riggs chat is provided in this Sports Lounge episode. To see the whole chat, click here. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-kalen-deboer-kurtiss-riggs-on-their-lifelong-friendship] The other segments this week: Hot Mic w/ Dom Izzo (Fargo): Exclusive interview with Beth Maher. She was fired as head girls basketball coach at the Catholic high school in Fargo (Shanley) unexpectedly after a winning tenure. The boys basketball coach was also fired unexpectedly. It was part of that spate of surprise resignations/firings of prominent high school coaches in both North Dakota and South Dakota. This is the first interview Maher has given on her thoughts and feelings. The Nate Brown Show: The latest Minnesota Vikings hot topics from Thor Nystrom of Skor North. They start their conversation on new Vikings GM Nolan Teasley. Zach Borg feature: The final Diamond Vision feature of the season recapping state high school baseball championships in South Dakota. Midwest Sports+ broadcast both the Class A and Class B tournaments in their entirety.

Gestern44 min
Episode FULL SHOW: Eric Musselman and a Thirsty Thursday reaction to USD's "Coach Piv" presser, USHL expansion, state track, state softball Cover

FULL SHOW: Eric Musselman and a Thirsty Thursday reaction to USD's "Coach Piv" presser, USHL expansion, state track, state softball

It's a small basketball world after all. At least in South Dakota. If you were wondering whether there was a local tie to USD and Summit League leading scorer Isaac Bruns' transfer portal landing spot at USC, you were correct. Well, kind of. It partly circles back to Trojan coach Eric Musselman's time with the Rapid City Thrillers almost 40 years ago. Yes, that Eric Musselman, the son of former Golden Gopher coach and the first-ever Minnesota Timberwolves coach Bill Musselman. Eric was in his 20's when the Thrillers and Sioux Falls Skyforce waged a heated in-state rivalry. And, yes, Musselman remembers those days well, including back-and-forth shenanigans with Skyforce fans. He was more than happy to share those memories during a nearly 40-minute conversation about his long, strange basketball coaching journey. It started in Rapid City and took him to plenty of highs and lows in the CBA, USBL, and NBA—where he led both the Warriors and the Kings — the NBA D-League and G-League and, for the last 14 years, the college game. He took Nevada to its first Sweet 16 and Arkansas to its first Elite Eight since the Nolan Richardson glory years— and famously took his shirt of and twirling it around on-camera along the way. Now 61 and running several miles a day on the beaches near the University of Southern California, Musselman describes the lessons he has learned after humbling times since those Rapid City days. He also explains exactly how Isaac Bruns ended up in Los Angeles and what Bruns must do to see significant playing time at USC. Plus, how has Musselman's experience as a professional coach honed his ability to deal with NIL roster payroll? Thirsty Thursday and Shannon Pivovar media conference On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/shannon-pivovar-excited-to-build-on-momentum-for-usd-softball] This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-coach-piv-on-usds-proud-viral-moment-the-power-of-a-a-team-and-its-town-in-a-title-chase] With almost all questions coming from Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host, Pivovar opened up about how her experiences as an SDSU assistant coach (2015-2018) and University of Sioux Falls head coach (2019-23) helped shape the associate head coach she became at USD before Wagner's contract was not renewed. Pivovar also fielded questions about how much of the current roster (that is eligible for next season) and current commitments will remain intact because of her hiring. Shortly after the media conference, Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer joined the Happy Hour host to react to it, plus the news of the USHL's expansion plans. What does that mean for the Sioux Falls Stampede and the landscape of all levels of hockey— high school, junior hockey, college and the pros? The Thirsty Thursday session from Orion Pub finishes on headlines and takeaways from last weekend's state high school track and field meet and this weekend's state softball tournament.

4. Juni 20261 h 23 min
Episode USD-Shannon Pivovar media conference Cover

USD-Shannon Pivovar media conference

On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/shannon-pivovar-excited-to-build-on-momentum-for-usd-softball] This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-coach-piv-on-usds-proud-viral-moment-the-power-of-a-a-team-and-its-town-in-a-title-chase] With almost all questions coming from Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host, Pivovar opened up about how her experiences as an SDSU assistant coach (2015-2018) and University of Sioux Falls head coach (2019-23) helped shape the associate head coach she became at USD before Wagner's contract was not renewed. Pivovar also fielded questions about how much of the current roster (that is eligible for next season) and current commitments will remain intact because of her hiring.

4. Juni 202618 min
Episode USC's Eric Musselman on Isaac Bruns, his 90's rivalry with the Skyforce & college vs. pro hoops Cover

USC's Eric Musselman on Isaac Bruns, his 90's rivalry with the Skyforce & college vs. pro hoops

It's a small basketball world after all. At least in South Dakota. If you were wondering whether there was a local tie to USD and Summit League leading scorer Isaac Bruns' transfer portal landing spot at USC, you were correct. Well, kind of. It partly circles back to Trojan coach Eric Musselman's time with the Rapid City Thrillers almost 40 years ago. Yes, that Eric Musselman, the son of former Golden Gopher coach and the first-ever Minnesota Timberwolves coach Bill Musselman. Eric was in his 20's when the Thrillers and Sioux Falls Skyforce waged a heated in-state rivalry. And, yes, Musselman remembers those days well, including back-and-forth shenanigans with Skyforce fans. He was more than happy to share those memories during a nearly 40-minute conversation about his long, strange basketball coaching journey. It started in Rapid City and took him to plenty of highs and lows in the CBA, USBL, and NBA—where he led both the Warriors and the Kings — the NBA D-League and G-League and, for the last 14 years, the college game. He took Nevada to its first Sweet 16 and Arkansas to its first Elite Eight since the Nolan Richardson glory years— and famously took his shirt of and twirling it around on-camera along the way. Now 61 and running several miles a day on the beaches near the University of Southern California, Musselman describes the lessons he has learned after humbling times since those Rapid City days. He also explains exactly how Isaac Bruns ended up in Los Angeles and what Bruns must do to see significant playing time at USC. Plus, how has Musselman's experience as a professional coach honed his ability to deal with NIL roster payroll?

4. Juni 202638 min
Episode Reaction to Piv USD presser, USHL expansion, state track, and state softball on another Thirsty Thursday from Orion Pub with Trent Singer Cover

Reaction to Piv USD presser, USHL expansion, state track, and state softball on another Thirsty Thursday from Orion Pub with Trent Singer

On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/shannon-pivovar-excited-to-build-on-momentum-for-usd-softball] This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour. [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-coach-piv-on-usds-proud-viral-moment-the-power-of-a-a-team-and-its-town-in-a-title-chase] With almost all questions coming from Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host, Pivovar opened up about how her experiences as an SDSU assistant coach (2015-2018) and University of Sioux Falls head coach (2019-23) helped shape the associate head coach she became at USD before Wagner's contract was not renewed. Pivovar also fielded questions about how much of the current roster (that is eligible for next season) and current commitments will remain intact because of her hiring. Shortly after the media conference, Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer joined the Happy Hour host to react to it, plus the news of the USHL's expansion plans. What does that mean for the Sioux Falls Stampede and the landscape of all levels of hockey— high school, junior hockey, college and the pros? The Thirsty Thursday session from Orion Pub finishes on headlines and takeaways from last weekend's state high school track and field meet and this weekend's state softball tournament.

4. Juni 202644 min