Ronald D. Ekker
Ronald Duwayne Ekker, who passed away peacefully on July 6, 2025 at the age of 90, was a beloved husband, father, coach, and basketball visionary. He was born Oct. 3rd in Mabel, Minn. to Clara and Calmer Ekker. In the United States Army, while stationed at Fort Polk, LA, he managed the baseball team that went to the Championship at Fort Hood, TX. Ron had a deep love for his family and the game of basketball, having devoted his life to coaching and mentoring players. He graduated from Winona State University where he played basketball and baseball, and later returned to be head coach of the basketball team. Ron had an illustrious coaching career at all levels, which spanned more than 5 decades. He was a head coach at the college level for more than 15 years. He recruited and coached Hall of Famers like Maurice Cheeks, won numerous conference championships and competed in the NCAA tournament on several occasions, earning Coach of the Year accolades at various colleges and was inducted into the Hall of Fame at West Texas State. Ron coached in the Continental Basketball Association for 9 years for several different teams. While in the NBA, he was the Director of Scouting and Assistant Coach for the Dallas Mavericks under Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson, and Assistant Coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic under John Lucas and Johnny Davis. In 2011, NBA commissioner David Stern asked Ron to start an NBA sponsored basketball school in China to train coaches and develop players. When his time on the court was finished, Ron became an accomplished author, writing 10 basketball books as well as launching Basketball Talk Pro, an online coaching training program. He never stopped sharing his passion, knowledge, and expertise for the game he loved.
Ron left a lasting impact on the game of basketball and, most importantly, his family. He will be forever remembered as a loving, kind, optimistic man who was always ready to lend a helping hand to those he loved. A lifelong learner, Ron never stopped growing and embracing new challenges. His passions outside of basketball included reading, boating on the Mississippi River, Jazz music, and playing the saxophone. Ron will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 43 years, Ginger, his three daughters Kelsey, Lisa (Marco) Molinari, and Carissa (Bruce) Nustad, his 7 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gerald, sister Marion Womble, son Brett, and twin infant sons Erik and Leof.
Coach was the greatest. I’m gonna miss him. Good role model for everybody. I love you coach
My wife and I have had the privilege of knowing Ron, along with his wife, Ginger, as neighbors over the last few years. I have enjoyed my conversations with Ron and will miss chatting with him about sports, weather, life and especially coaching. As a coach and trainer myself (for youth baseball), I have greatly appreciated some of the terrific insight as to how the mind works in sports and how you can mentally train yourself to do almost anything. With this knowledge, I have and will continue to use it to enlighten & motivate my own players.
Lastly, Ron introduced me to a quote that I use consistently now by philosopher, Emile Coue. “Every day in every way, I’m getting better and better.”
My wife and I will surely miss him.
Craig (& Nancy) Z.
Ginger,
You all are in my prayers. Ron is now in the light with the Lord.
☮️🙏❤️
Coach Ekker was an inspiration to all he coached through his life.
Please reach out anytime.
God Bless you and your family.
Truly,
Rosemary and family
Coach Ekker was my coach W.T. State in the mid 1970. He was a great coach and educator. Thanks to coach I had a coaching career with New York State special Olympics for 42 years. Rest in peace Coach Ron Ekker. Wishing family and loved ones condolences
Coach took a chance on me, and I had the opportunity to play on of the best teams in WT history , with some great teammates and success . He expected no less effort than he gave. Ginger, my thoughts and prayers are with you and family. Ron has already found a team to coach in his final resting place.
Mr Ekker was the first coach ever of my hometown CBA, now NBA GLeague, team the Sioux Falls Skyforce. I was a high school kid who loved basketball and the mew Skyforce and got to meet and know Coach and he was a great coach, but an even better person. He treated this young kid and everyone in Sioux Falls with respect and was always willing to talk basketball and pay forward his amazing knowledge of the game. All these years later, I’ve never forgotten Ron Ekker and I never will. Condolences to his family and loved ones. I am very sorry.
My sincerest condolences to Ginger, Kelsey and the rest of the family. I knew Ron for a few years in the early 2010’s. Ron’s passion for Jazz evolved into studying Saxophone with me. We often talked about the parallels between sports and music. The dedication and training it took to reach your highest potential. And Ron never got tired of discussing Thelonius Monk. Not too long ago Ron came up in a conversation with my wife. I learned as much from him as I hope I taught him.
Rest in Peace, Ron.
Kevin Scalley
Knew him only by his books, videos and programs and it was unbelievablely insightful and helpful. Through the years always want to re-read, re-watch what he shared. Really he made the world better as far as giving his knowledge and experience. Example to follow for everybody…
I got to know Coach Ekker as an 8 year old running WT’s basketball practice in the box on campus. My brother and I would hang out the in gym watching them practice. We would sometimes get on the court but he didn’t mind too much. I talked to him again almost 45 years later at the HOF and he was nice and genuine as he was at West Texas. I learned a lot from him and watching his teams play. My prayers go out to his family. Rest in Peace Coach.
I’m so sorry to hear of this news. I referree’d Ron’s teams in both the CBA and the NBA. As a head coach in the CBA Ron was more generous with my substantial learning curve than my work warranted. Our chosen professions, of course, kept a certain wall in place but I was the recipient of his decency and character. Those that shared time in the CBA share a bond I’m proud of and I always tried to pay Ron’s kindness back with a gentle greeting when our schedules crossed paths. I’m grateful I came to know him through his character and integrity. All my best to his loved ones and family. A truly wonderful man.
I graduated WT State in 78,m went to almost every home game from 74 to 78 and watched him coach some great players that other teams passed up such as Mo Cheeks , Dallas Smith and some other great ones,, to beat Louisville when they were number 1 at Louisville and lost to Louisville the previous year by just one pt on a last second steal by Louisville, was some great coaching and players fund to watch. WT would of made the tournament the way the bracket is today, it was a tough conference then with strong teams from Wichita State, Louisville and SIU. I also remember seeing him at Amarillo College BB games looking over the Jr College players.
Condolences to his family and players was really special watching his teams.
Ron was totally committed to basketball and gave it his all for the majority of his long life. He affected the lives of the thousands whose lives intersected with him. As a Winona.State baseball player in the early 1960’s he hit a home run for the only run we scored in one of the few losses we had. In 1984 at the summer NBA league in San Diego he asked if I was sure I knew what I was getting into when Iold him I was coaching high school basketball.
Ron deserves a Mr. Basketball title for coaching the sport at all levels, scouting and coaching in the NBA, and authoring excellent books on coaching both at practice sessions and in games, and compiling research on which statistics are the best keys to victory.
I enjoyed corresponding with him by phone about basketball, years after we worked together when he coached the LaCrosse Catbirds and I served as play by play broadcaster 1985-88.
Anyone who knew him is grateful for him and will miss him.