Dave DeWitt returns for his 6th year as a member of the North Central University men’s basketball staff. He is certainly no stranger to the coaching profession as he begins his 52nd season of coaching basketball. This makes him one of the longest tenured coaches in the State of Minnesota.
Since joining the Basketball staff at North Central University, the Rams have experienced unprecedented success culminating with their first regular season conference championship, their first NCCAA National Championship, and a school record 21 wins in the 2024-25 season.
Prior to North Central, DeWitt spent 16 years as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Fielding teams for 14 of those 16 years, he compiled a record of 315-103, which makes him the winningest coach in the history of Anoka-Ramsey Women’s Basketball.
At Anoka Ramsey, DeWitt has led his teams to eight National Tournament appearances in his 14 years which include two National Championships (2007, 2011), a pair of 3rd place finishes (2010, 2012), two 4th place finishes (2013, 2017), a 5th place finish in 2014, and a 6th place finish in 2016. He developed 12 All-Americans, 4 Honorable Mention All-Americans, 35 All-Region players, 37 All-State players, 37 All-Division players, and 13 Honorable Mention All-Division Players. He has also accumulated numerous Conference, Region, District, and National Coach of the Year honors.
DeWitt retired from Anoka Ramsey in July of 2021 to become a permanent and regular member of the North Central University basketball staff, which at the time was coached by his son, Dan DeWitt.
Coach DeWitt started his coaching career at Hamline University in the Fall of 1974 as an assistant men’s coach under legendary coach Don Meyer, helping the Pipers to a quarterfinal appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. That same year, he also started up and served as Head Coach of the first Women’s Intercollegiate Basketball Team at Hamline.
Following that year, DeWitt joined the United States Peace Corps and served as Head Coach of the Ghanaian National Women’s team of Ghana, West Africa. He led them to their first gold and silver medals ever won in International competition while serving as their Head Coach.
In the fall of 1976, Coach DeWitt returned to his alma mater, where he served as an assistant men’s coach for the next four years. In the process, he again helped the Pipers reach the NCAA Division III National Tournament, only this time they advanced to the Final Four.
In the fall of 1980, DeWitt accepted a position as Health and Physical Education teacher at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Richfield, MN. He served as Head Boys and Girls Cross Country Coach, Head Boys Track Coach, and assistant Boys Basketball Coach. He also served as the school's Director of Admissions from 1982-1985.
In 1985, he accepted a teaching and Head Coaching position of Boys Basketball at Centennial High School, where he became the winningest coach in the history of boys’ basketball at the school. DeWitt worked at Centennial for 32 years, where he taught Health and Physical Education and served as Department Chair. He retired in June of 2017 after a 43-year teaching career.
A 1970 graduate of Minneapolis Marshall-U High School, DeWitt was a standout performer in both basketball and track and field. Continuing his education at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, he earned All-Conference honors while playing basketball for the Pipers. He graduated in 1974 with BA Degrees in Psychology, Health and Physical Education. Just prior to his junior year at Hamline, a new young head coach by the name of Don Meyer was hired to lead the Pipers. Don Meyer went on to become the winningest coach in the history of NCAA men’s basketball in February of 2009.
In 1985, Coach DeWitt received his Master’s Degree from the University of St. Thomas in Athletic Administration.
Coach DeWitt has been married to his wife Karen (a retired Special Education teacher) for 43 years. Together, they raised six children. Coach DeWitt and Karen reside in Lino Lakes, MN, and have 10 grandchildren.
