New Book on Legendary Coach

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

Travels and Tribulations-A Coach’s Journey Available In Early-December

Minnesota’s most winning coach and 2014 National High School Hall of Fame inductee, Bob McDonald, spent 59 years coaching boys’ basketball. His story is told in the new book Travels and Tribulations-A Coach’s Journey by Coach McDonald and area author Melody Swenson. History and life in northeastern Minnesota provide the back drop for this book, which is as much a human interest story as an accounting of the life of a legendary Minnesota coach and sports personality.
In Travels and Tribulations-A Coach’s Journey, Coach McDonald recounts his early struggles with his own personal history; growing up on Minnesota’s Iron Range; his thoughts on the game of basketball; and his beliefs in the value of community and family.
Bob McDonald graduated from Chisholm High School in 1951, where he played basketball and was selected to the District 28 All-Tournament Team. After briefly attending the University of Michigan, he attended Hibbing Junior College. While there, he was a member of the 1952 basketball squad which was the National Junior College Runner-Up. He graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1955, where he played forward for the Bulldogs. Coach McDonald taught and coached in McGregor for four years, followed by two years in Barnum, before returning to his hometown of Chisholm. He coached the Bluestreaks from 1962 through the 2014 season and compiled a career record of 1,012-428.
In Chisholm, Coach McDonald led his basketball teams to eleven Minnesota State Tournaments and claimed three State Championships. Basketball was a focus for the entire McDonald family, as each of Bob’s (and his late wife Darlene’s) six children were All-State selections and have pursued careers in education and athletics. With some of Coach McDonald’s grandchildren now following suit, the impact and influence of the game of basketball continues for another generation of McDonalds. Today, Bob and his wife Carol (who had been his high school classmate and prom date), enjoy their life together in Hibbing, Minnesota.
Melody Swenson is the author of two previously released area sports history books, Champions of Carlton County-State Tournament Teams (2008) and Champions of Minnesota’s Arrowhead-Boys Basketball State Tournament Teams (2013). Ms. Swenson is a graduate of Barnum High School and Concordia College (Moorhead). She is currently a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and resides in Cotton, Minnesota.
Travels and Tribulations-A Coach’s Journey will be available by mail or at one of the events below. More information regarding the book and events can be found at http://savelms.wix.com/travelstribulations; on Facebook at Travels and Tribulations-A Coach’s Journey; by emailing savelms@msn.com; or calling 218-750-1446. The authors are scheduled to appear at the following locations (weather permitting):

December 11, 2014 Valentini’s (Rose Room), 31 West Lake Street, Chisholm, 4:00-7:00 p.m.

December 16, 2014 Barnum vs. McGregor basketball game-Barnum High School, 5:00-8:30 p.m.

December 20, 2014 UMD vs. St. Cloud State basketball games-Romano Gym, UMD, 1:30-5:00 p.m.

December 29-31, 2014 Hibbing Holiday Basketball Tournament-Lincoln School, Hibbing-throughout the tournament

January 15, 2015 Virginia Public Library, Virginia-Noon to 1:00 p.m.

January 24, 2015 Lakeview Christian Academy vs. Ely basketball game, Old School Lives (Cotton)-6:30-8:30 p.m.