Minnesota’s winningest high school sports coach, Bob McDonald, dies after testing positive for COVID-19

Tommy Wiita
Bob McDonald.[Courtesy of WDIO.]

In a blog post by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), Bob McDonald, the winningest high school basketball coach in the state’s history, has passed away at the age of 87. He had recently tested positive for COVID-19.

McDonald won more games than any coach in any sport in Minnesota’s history. The Chisholm native coached high school boys basketball in Minnesota for 59 years, compiling a record of 1,012 wins and 428 losses.

According to the MSHSL, he began his coaching career in 1959 with four seasons at McGregor, then two at Barnum before returning to his hometown of Chisholm for the 1961-62 season. He proceeded to lead the Bluestreaks through the 2013-14 season, spanning over 53 years that included three state championships and 11 state tourney appearances.

The MSHSL says in 1,440 games he was never whistled for a technical foul. He was also noted to have never tasted alcohol or smoked tobacco.

All of McDonald’s children were all-state, won basketball scholarships and followed their father’s footsteps into coaching careers.