Hall of Fame
Dave Johnston was a two-sport star at Coe, earning three varsity letters in both basketball and baseball. Basketball was his real love, and eventually became his life's work. During the 1953 season, he led the nation's small colleges in free throw shooting percentage, although he did not have enough attempts to qualify for the national title. In his senior year he was a key part of a Kohawk team that went 18-4 and won the Midwest Conference, placed first at the Sioux Falls Invitational and took second in the Iowa NAIA Tournament held at Coe. Nearly 30 years later, longtime NBA coach and fellow Coe Hall of Famer Bill Fitch said, "Dave is still the best shooter I've ever seen.' In three seasons as a pitcher and shortstop for the Kohawk baseball team, Dave was named All-Midwest Conference in 1953 and Coe won the conference title in 1954. After receiving his bachelor's in physical education, Dave played semi-pro baseball and basketball throughout Iowa. He was offered a contract with the Chicago Cubs farm team in Iowa but declined in order to attend medical school at the University of Iowa. Dave was in private practice in Cedar Rapids for several years while also serving as deputy Linn County medical examiner. He was a staff physician at the University of Iowa's Student Health Service from 1966 to 1990, serving for many years as chief of staff. As the team physician for the Iowa men's basketball team from 1975 until his retirement in April, Dave sat courtside at all Hawkeye games - home and away - traveling throughout the world with the team. Over the course of nearly 30 years, he cared for injured Hawkeye hoopsters during the Lute Olson, George Raveling, Tom Davis and Steve Alford eras. Dr. Tom has campaigned for Dave's Hall of Fame induction for many years, and we are thrilled to honor his wishes tonight. A charter member of the University of Iowa Sports Medicine Service, Dave served on the staff for nearly 30 years. He taught courses in the Student Athletic Trainers' Program at Iowa for many years and was inducted as an honorary letter winner into the National Iowa Varsity Club in 2003. For his outstanding contributions to athletics and for his superior service to coaches, administrators, parents, student-athletes and student trainers, I take great pride in presenting Dr. Dave Johnston as a Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
