Fans, players and coaches bid farewell to Hyslop Sports Center

GRAND FORKS — Rich Glas returned to Hyslop Sports Center on Friday afternoon and began reminiscing.

He pointed out “Section D, three rows up,” where he sat as a child, attending basketball games.

The former UND men’s basketball head coach went through a list of memorable games during his 18-year tenure.

He also told a story about when he came to Hyslop as an opposing coach for Minnesota Morris on Dec. 13, 1978.

It was his fifth season at Morris and his second trip to Hyslop. The first time, UND blew out Morris. In 1978, Morris pushed UND to overtime. UND won by two.

After the game, UND coach Dave Gunther walked across the arena to the visiting room.

Gunther sat down next to Glas, smiled at him, put his arm around him and said, “Well, young fella, you’re doing a hell of a job coaching that basketball team. I’m very impressed.”

Gunther then got up and walked out.

“I swear, to this day, that meeting we had is the reason why on April 6, 1988, Gino Gasparini offered me the job as head coach,” Glas said. “I almost get choked up thinking about that.”

Fans, coaches, athletes and administrators gathered to say goodbye to Hyslop Sports Center during a special UND fan luncheon Friday.

Hyslop, the longtime home of UND basketball, swimming and track and field, is scheduled to be torn down in 2025.

About 500 people attended the luncheon. It’s believed to be the largest luncheon they’ve done.

Concession foods — hot dogs, chips and popcorn — were served. Old trophies were brought out of cases and set as table centerpieces.

The keynote speakers were Glas, track and field/cross country coach Dick Clay and Cierra Roebuck Hangsleben, the daughter of longtime UND women’s coach Gene Roebuck and a former player.

Clay told stories about the facility.

Cierra relayed stories from many of UND’s all-time greats — Darcy Deutsch, Sheri Kleinsasser, Tracey Pudenz, Becky Moen, Jenny Krause and Jenny Boll.

“Coming from a simple farm background, the Hyslop brought out the best part of me,” Boll’s statement said. “It was a place I could raise my arms in celebration and look forward to thousands of people screaming in response. It was a place we became a close-knit family, sharing struggles and triumphs. We felt free to be women who just stepped on the floor and kicked ass.”

UND won its first women’s basketball national championship in Hyslop in 1997.

“It was home to countless memories,” Krause’s statement said. “Home to tears and heartbreak, smiles and joy, wins and losses. Going to Hyslop was, and still is, like going home.”

Cierra said she had trouble finding words to describe Hyslop.

“I grew up in this place,” she said. “I spent countless hours of my childhood here. I celebrated many of my birthdays right here on this floor.

“There are many people who helped shape the Hyslop. And in the end, the Hyslop shaped us into the people we are today.”

Glas finished by talking about the back-to-back tenures of Gunther and himself.

They coached a combined 36 years. Glas said they won 82 percent of their games in Hyslop.

Glas became emotional when talking about Gunther, who died in March at age 86.

“My dream would be if I could walk onto this court with Dave,” Glas said, “go into that locker room, put my arm around Dave Gunther and say, ‘Well, old fella, we did a hell of a job in Hyslop Sports Center.'”

Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year once. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.