IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11-30-05 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

SILVER CITY—Western New Mexico University will dedicate the basketball court located in the Brancheau P.E. Complex after legendary coach Richard “Drag” Drangmeister on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. The basketball court will be officially named “Drag’s Court.” Members of the family as well as former players are scheduled to participate in the ceremony. The public is invited to attend.

A reception will follow the ceremony. Later that evening at 7:30 the WNMU men’s basketball team will face off against the NM Highlands University Cowboys. Admission to the game will be free.

Richard “Drag” Drangmeister graduated from WNMU in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education and in 1962 with a master of arts degree in guidance and counseling. He became the head basketball coach for the WNMU Mustangs in 1969. During his tenure, he led the WNMU Mustang basketball team to six Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, two NAIA District 7 Titles, and two trips to the NAIA National Championships.

In 1984, Drangmeister became head basketball coach at the University of Southern Colorado and then at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo. He returned to WNMU in 1992 as head men’s basketball coach and athletic director. He stepped down as coach in the fall of 1995 and retired as athletic director at WNMU in July of 1997.

Drangmeister was selected five times as the NAIA District II Coach of the Year and was ranked 21st in the nation among NCAA Division II winning coaches. He was inducted into the WNMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

He passed away earlier this year.

For more information on the dedication ceremony, contact WNMU Associate Athletic Director Barbara Flores at 538-6223.

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