Buck, Robert J. “Coach”

Robert J. “Coach” Buck, longtime Dodgeville High School coach, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born on August 19, 1937 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, to Dr. Robert M. and Mrs. F. Lucille Buck. After graduating from Belle Fourche High School, he received his B.S. in Education from Black Hills State University located in Spearfish, South Dakota. He then went on to take graduate classes at the UW-Madison, Azusa Pacific - California, Southern Illinois University, and UW-La Crosse. He taught for two years in Mobridge, South Dakota before moving to Dodgeville in 1963. While at Dodgeville, where he taught and coached for 36 years, he was the head football coach for 12 years. His 1986 team went 9-0 and lost, in the playoffs in overtime, to the eventual state champion, Westby. He was head basketball coach for 18 years, winning 5 league championships and his team ended up 3rd place in the 14 team SWAL conference league. One year he coached wrestling and two of his wrestlers made it to state. He was named Coach of the Year nine times and was honored on January 18, 1978 when they named a day after him. He was the only Southern 8 conference head coach in history to win championships in both football and basketball.

In 1995, Buck was named to the Wisconsin High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. Followed by Black Hills State University Hall of Fame as a coach in 1998, and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999 as an assistant coach. In 2010 he was a charter member of the Dodgeville High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2011, he received the WBCA Eli Crogan Humanitarian Award. He took great pride in having the opportunity to coach against 35 different coaches that are now in the Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Wisconsin High School Basketball Hall of Fame Committee since 1996 and a member of the WIAA Basketball Rules Committee from 1978-1986 as well as many other coaching committees and associations. “Coach” was Young Jaycee of the Year in 1972, three times nominated to Who’s Who among US teachers, and received a Teachers Award from Congressman Scott Klug in 1996. Coach authored a book in 1970 titled, The Shuffle and Press Offense for High School Basketball and wrote articles for many athletic magazines.

After retiring from teaching in 1996, he became the public address announcer for Dodgeville basketball games. His trademark “sophomore” pronunciation was repeated at every game. Later he became very active in Relay for Life, MACC Fund, Parkinson’s Disease Group, and the Iowa County Cancer Coalition. He was on the board of directors for DASFI (Dodgeville Area Scholarship Fund Inc.), the Wis. Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Banquet, and a committee member for selecting Mr. Basketball of Wisconsin.

He loved sports trivia, especially 1950’s baseball. He also loved following his grandchildren in all of their activities such as sports, dance, band, and art. He followed the Brewers, Badgers, Bucks and Packers religiously and could give a play-by-play recount of not only their games, but his grandchildren’s as well. His later years were spent managing numerous fantasy football and baseball leagues, where he was competitive until his last days.

Bob was married to the former Sandra Gossard in 1958 and together they had six children. He married Nancy (Eichorst) Hinderman in 1986 and gained two step-children. He is survived by his loving wife Nancy and his children; Robert C. Buck, Rebecca Buck, Kristen (Mike) Flanigan, Marylee (Dan) Oleson, and Melissa (Curt) Hames, and his step-children; Mark (Karla) Hinderman and Karen (Steve) Schultz. His sisters Rosemary Geis, SuzAnne (Bill) Howe, and LeeAnne (Gene) Schmidt. He is further survived by his grandchildren; Cassie, Jillaine, Tyler, Michael, Elizabeth, Megan, Sierra, Kathryn, Molly, Bailey, Sydney, Griffin, Silas, and Liliah as well as 8 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Richard S. Buck, his brother-in-law Ken Geis, and his parents-in-law Bob “Otto” and Loene Eichorst.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the DODGEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL UPPER GYM from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with a memorial service starting at 2:00 p.m. 

A private burial is planned.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Dodger Food Locker, the Dodgeville Area Scholarship Foundation Inc (DASFI), or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to thank Upland Hills NRC, Doctors Grunow and Shannon, and all his doctors and medical staff, everyone who visited, called, wrote, or was in any way impacted by Coach in their life. He always had time for a chat and a story. He will be profoundly missed, and we were all better for having known him.

IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A DODGER! -Coach Buck

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com