Chadron State College Athletics

At just 5-foot-7, 158 pounds, Mathis was a mighty mite for the 1958 CSC football team that went 8-0. He was the center for the Eagles’ single-wing attack. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the insistence of his coach, Bill Baker.
“It all started with the center,” said Baker, “and Don was a good one. I don’t think I ever had a better one. He was small, but he was mighty.”
Mathis played fullback and did the placekicking for Chadron High’s undefeated football team in 1954. He averaged eight yards a carry and scored 110 points his senior year. The latter was a school record for 34 years.
After graduating from CSC in 1959, Mathis taught and coached at Taylor, Neb., for two years, at Hot Springs, S.D., for eight and Fort Dodge, Iowa, for 10 before going into administration. In the early 1980s, he moved to Meridian, Miss., to become head master, or principal, at a private school, then joined his brother in a variety of business ventures. Don’s wife, the former Wyoma Brown, is also a Chadron native.
During his career as a teacher and coach, Mathis led teams at Hot Springs and Fort Dodge, Iowa, to undefeated seasons.