A steady leader, master teacher, and builder of men’s basketball at Mount Marty University, Jim Thorson served as head coach of the Lancers for 18 seasons, leaving behind a lasting legacy both on and off the court.
Thorson amassed 465 career wins over 31 seasons as a college head coach, including 253 victories at Mount Marty, ranking him among the top 10 all-time in NAIA Division II coaching wins at the time of his retirement. Known for his disciplined, defense-first style and his ability to develop players, Coach Thorson earned respect across the Midwest and shaped the lives of countless student-athletes.
During his first season leading the Lancers, Thorson produced immediate success by winning the South Dakota Iowa Conference (SDIC) Championship with an overall 18–12 record. He repeated this feat during the 1997–98 season, guiding the Lancers to another SDIC title as the team finished with a 23–9 record. Over his career at Mount Marty, Thorson won 18 or more games in a season on seven occasions.
His greatest coaching triumph came during the 1997–98 season, when he led Mount Marty to the NAIA Division II National Tournament semifinals. That team, which received an at-large bid, made one of the most storied postseason runs in program history—defeating three opponents on the national stage before falling to eventual champion Bethel (Ind.).
Coach Thorson’s impact went far beyond wins and losses. He was renowned for mentoring players with tenacity, care, and integrity, helping many overlooked athletes become all-conference and All-American talents.
Before joining Mount Marty in 1995, Thorson built a strong coaching career at the high school and collegiate levels in South Dakota. A native of Willow Lake, he coached in Sisseton, Gettysburg, and Webster before serving as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University (1977–79) and later as head coach and athletic director at Yankton College (1979–84). He returned to SDSU as head coach from 1985–93, guiding the Jackrabbits to a 1992 North Central Region title.
