Don Breese came to New Mexico State Teachers College in 1954 from Noblesville, Indiana. In his first year playing basketball, he was the most valuable player, and during the 1955-1956 season, he was all-conference. He repeated as most valuable player and all-conference in 1957. In 1958, he was chosen all-conference for the third time.
In his senior year, Breese was the varsity record smasher, scoring 1323 points in four years, scoring 480 points his senior year, averaging 16.5 points per game for four seasons, and averaging 19.2 points per game his senior year.
He also was the leading rebounder his junior and senior years while topping the free throw record all four years.
Additionally, Breese held the school’s high jump record at 6-7 ½ for a number of years. He was third in the high jump at the Kansas relays, behind Wilt Chamberlin of Kansas University, who came in second. He also was third in the NAIA national high jump competition held at Abilene Christian College.
During his four years at NMSTC, Breese was active in the Future Farmers of America Club, “W” Club, the Industrial Education Club, and was sophomore class vice president. He also was intramural ping pong tournament champion his senior year.
After graduation, Breese went on to serve on the Colorado High School Activities Association and was elected president of the association in 1984.
Breese taught and coached in Colorado at the Bethune Public School and Lewis-Palmer High School. He was principal of Lewis-Palmer for over 24 years.
Among his awards, Breese received the Lewis-Palmer School District’s Administrator of the Year award in 1975, the 1085 Bronze Brick award from the Colorado High School Activities Association, the 1985 Principals Burger King Excellence award from the National Association of Secondary Schools, and in 1986, was inducted into the Colorado Hall of Fame by the Colorado Coaches Association.
