Year Inducted: 2006
Nominated By: David A. Socier
Sports Competed In: Basketball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach, Administrator
High School
Attended Sterling, CO H.S., graduating in 1961...Won three letters each playing basketball (guard) and golf/tennis.
College:
Went to Northeastern Junior College where he played basketball (guard) and was a member of the golf team for two seasons (1961-63)... Folda transferred to the University of Northern Colorado (where he graduated in 1966), and played two seasons as a guard on the Bears' basketball team (1963-65).
Achievements:
Coaching:
● Coaching career spanned 38 years with his first 16 years being at the high school level.
● Folda began at Siebert H.S. (1967-68) then moved to Holy Family H.S. for three years (1968-71).
● Longest tenured coaching in high school was at Sydney, Neb., H.S. where he spent eight years (1971-78).
● Concluded his H.S. coaching at his alma mater, Sterling H.S. for four seasons (1978-81).
● Moved on to Eastern Washington University (EWU) where he coached for three seasons (1984-87).
● Returned to Colorado to take the reins of the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo) for 19 years (1987-2005).
● Posted a career college record of 355 wins and 237 losses, winning 313 of those games while at CSU-Pueblo (against 195 losses).
● Led the Thunderwolves to three Colorado Athletic Conference (CAC) titles in 1991, 94 and 96.
● Folda's 1998 team won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC - conference renamed from CAC) West Division, earned a No. 20 National Ranking and a berth in the NCAA North Central Regional.
● His 1991 squad earned a berth in the NAIA National Tourney and ranked as high as No. 12.
● Notable athletes coached: Guy Taylor, Bob Carmody, Damon Williams, Maurice Blanding, Tommie Robinson, Anthony Bird, Reco Burt, Alfred Sanchez, Matt Michael, Kelly Dorenkamp.
● Recorded an even 42-42 record at EWU.
Achievements:
Administration:
● Served as the interim Athletic Director twice at CSU-Pueblo, first from 2000-01 (six months) and again from 2002-03 (eight months).
● Took over the reins of the Thunderwolves athletic program permanently in 2005.
Occupation:
● Basketball Coach/ Athletic Director Colorado State University - Pueblo.
Personal:
Lives in Pueblo with his wife, Rosalie.
