Marlowe "Red" Severson (2003) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

Marlowe "Red" Severson

Induction:
2003
Class:
1953

Scottsdale, AZ In 11 seasons as head coach from 1958-1969, Marlowe "Red" Severson helped establish St. Cloud State University as a collegiate men's basketball powerhouse. His teams posted an impressive 209-67 record during that stretch and won 10 conference titles in those 11 years. Severson attended Augustana and Northern State, and then attended SCSU from 1951-53. Upon graduation, Severson coached at Browns Valley (Minn.) High School and moved to Buffalo (Minn.) High School in 1956. At Buffalo, Severson's teams won two conference titles and a district championship. At SCSU, Severson helped the Huskies make six NAIA playoff appearances, win three NAIA district titles and make three trips to the NAIA national finals. In 1967-68, the Huskies posted an impressive 25-4 record. Severson was named the NIC coach of the year several times during his career and gained NAIA District 13 coach of the year honors three times. Severson added his expertise to the construction of Halenbeck Hall in the mid-1960s. Additionally, he was the driving force along with Athletic Director, Ed Coletti, for the creation of the Granite City Classic, an eight-team tournament in St. Cloud featuring many of the nation's top collegiate teams. He helped arrange an NAIA All-Star game in Halenbeck for the Pan-Am games. In 1969, Severson moved to Mankato State and coached there for four seasons. SCSU's campus teacher of the year in 1956, Severson has also been a featured speaker in coaching clinics around the country during his career.