Carl Blythe Hoy

Carl “Rube” Blythe Hoy was born to Albert Hoy and Emma Blythe on October 17, 1893 in Spink County, South Dakota.  As a farmer’s son, his family did not expect him to get more than an eight-grade education, but a friend told him about football and Hoy was convinced that he had to try the sport.  In 1911, he enrolled at Huron High School.  He had planned to stay in school until the football season was over but he soon discovered that he enjoyed other sports such as basketball and track.  Hoy graduated from Huron High School in 1915 and enrolled in the University of South Dakota that fall.  He graduated from USD in 1919 with a degree in Business Administration and Law.

After graduation, he taught social science and boys’ athletics at Gregory, SD from 1920-1926.  When he was in Gregory, he met Hazel Bergman.  They married in 1923 and they had three children: Carlton, Richard and Nancy.  In 1926, he became the principal in Platte, SD.

Hoy was offered the position of head basketball coach at USD in 1927 and he served in that position until 1953.  He was also head track coach from 1941-1946 and USD athletic director from 1934-1959.  In 1956, Hoy had his own weekly radio program “According to Hoy”.  This program prompted Hoy to start writing his memoirs.  The University of South Dakota published his memoir According to Hoy: Memoirs of an Athletic Director in 1960.  Carl Blythe Hoy died on November 4, 1973.