Dale M. Race

"Coach" Dale Race, age 78, of New Franken, passed away on April 25, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and finally at peace after a long battle with prostate cancer. Born on March 31, 1947, in Marinette to Helen and John Race, Coach was a devoted and loyal husband, father, son, brother and friend.
Coach was an accomplished athlete in high school who played football, baseball and ran track in addition to an amazing four seasons of basketball. Coach was the first Marinette Marine to score over 1,000 points in his career and was All-State in his junior and senior year. However, Coach's greatest accomplishment in high school was saying "yes" to an invitation to the Mariner Dance from classmate Margaret Holz. This was the start of a love story that has lasted over 60 years and will never end.
Coach played four years of collegiate basketball at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and was a member of the 1968 team that took third place in the NAIA National Tournament. Coach and Margaret were married in Marinette on August 8, 1970 and she was by his side as his coaching career took off and every step of the way since. Coach's career included stints at Milton College, the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, the University of Minnesota – Duluth and the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. In 14 years as the Head Coach at UMD, Coach earned conference Coach of the Year honors eight times and guided the Bulldogs to eight NAIA National Tournament appearances, as well as one NCAA Division II playoff berth. Coach ended his 40-year-plus career at UWGB as an assistant coach to one of his former players, and that player's desire to have Coach by his side as an assistant was a testament to the lifelong loyalty and devotion Coach inspired in his players. Coach's athletic accomplishments culminated in inductions into the Marinette High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame, the Milton College Hall of Fame, the UMD Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Though many may remember Coach for his career in athletics, those that were blessed to know him personally know that his athletic accomplishments were just one part of a long and beautiful life of love and service. Coach and Margaret welcomed two daughters, Jennifer and Kari, and Coach was a dedicated and supportive husband and father above all else. Coach loved his family unconditionally and fiercely and taught his daughters so many important life lessons, including how to laugh without pause, that loyalty and integrity are more valuable than any amount of money, and that spreading kindness and love as you move through life is more rewarding than any other accomplishment you may achieve.
Coach's family expanded over the years to include all of his players, and Coach's devotion to them did not end with their college careers. Coach continued to be a friend and mentor to those hundreds of men until his dying day; his devotion and love was returned tenfold. Coach's mentoring expanded well beyond his players on the basketball court. Coach was an ardent supporter to the children of his former players, young people he knew in the community, and anyone who asked for his guidance. Coach's family also included countless numbers of friends, spanning from elementary school buddies he still talked to every day to all of his golfing buddies. Coach would do anything for a friend and was the champion of many charitable projects over the years and parlayed his love for golf into organizing golf outings that raised funds for athletic scholarships at every level.
Everything Coach accomplished was shared with Margaret and he always praised her as the perfect coach's wife and as the most supportive partner he could wish for. When he was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and was asked what team name or city he wanted included on the ring he was awarded, he asked for "Margaret" instead. Coach was a loving and devoted husband until the very end. In a letter he wrote to his daughters before his passing, Coach said his greatest wish was that they would honor their mother always.
Summing up such an extraordinary life in an obituary is impossible. The impact Coach had on so many over the years could never be measured. That impact will only continue to grow as those he knew and loved will follow in his footsteps, live his lessons, and pass his wisdom on and on and on
Coach is survived by his wife Margaret, his daughters Jennifer (Wally) and Kari (Nick), his brother Paul (Karen), Margaret's sisters and brother, nieces, nephews, friend Gary Holquist (who followed him from Marinette to Milton to Eau Claire to Duluth as a player, assistant and most importantly, loyal friend), and many other loving family members, whether they were related by blood or Coach had simply taken them into his heart.
There will be no services at this time. A Celebration of Life will take place on May 30th at Black Sheep Event Center (2638 Bay Settlement Road, Green Bay WI.) Starting time 5P.M. with Tributes at 6:30P.M. Those who wish to honor Coach are asked to donate to the UMD Dale Race Basketball Scholarship, care of the University of Minnesota Foundation, P.O. Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266.