Inductee Highlight | Robert Punter 🏀
Robert Punter, a 1965 DeMotte High School graduate, is best known for his 18 seasons as varsity boys’ basketball coach at Valparaiso High School, where he compiled a 302–117 record. His teams won nine Duneland Conference titles, nine sectional championships, two regionals, and one semi-state, highlighted by a 28–1 season and state runner-up finish in 1994.
Punter coached four Indiana All-Stars, including 1994 Mr. Basketball Bryce Drew, a 2025 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and earned multiple Coach of the Year honors during his career.
A three-year letterman at DeMotte, Punter earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana State and a master’s from Valparaiso University. He spent 38 years teaching and coaching in Valparaiso Schools, including time leading JV and middle school teams.