Cresap is in his second year at M State in Fergus Falls

Photo by Tom Hintgen
Head Coach Dave Cresap spoke prior to the sendoff of his Fergus Falls Community College (M State) men’s basketball team to the national tournament in New York state.

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Dave Cresap, former Perham High School boy’s basketball coach and now the head men’s basketball coach at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Fergus Falls, was named the MCAC South Division Coach-of-the-Year for 2025.

Cresap led his M State Spartans’ team to a 26-2 overall record and an 11-1 record in the MCAC South, claiming the MCAC South title. The Spartans then won the regional tournament leading to participation in the national junior college men’s basketball tournament in New York state.

Best known for his award-winning 28-year coaching career with the Perham High School Yellowjackets, Cresap’s record in Minnesota included five state tournament appearances (between 2011 and 2022) and more than 660 wins.

  Cresap is an eight-time Section Coach of the Year and two-time Minnesota Coach of the Year. In 2022, he was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Cresap is a 1980 graduate of M State. He studied at the Fergus Falls campus and played on the Spartan basketball team under Spartan Hall of Fame coach Dave Retzlaff. In his two years of play, Cresap led the conference in assists while breaking the Spartans’ career assist record. 

Returning to the team as head coach now, more than 40 years later, is a satisfying homecoming for Cresap. Dave resides in Perham with his wife, Teri.  They have 3 children, Brandi, Jordan and Carter.