In each of his five years as head football coach at Fairview High School in Colorado, his team took first and second place conference finishes, and went to the state championships. Rod also was NCIVAC Coach of the Year in 1977 and every year between 1983. Not only was Rupe a standout on the football field, he excelled on the baseball diamond as well. Syd again anchored Graceland's defensive attack as a junior captain. In game one of the Kings quarterfinals appearance in 1989, Davies scored a game-high 30 points in just 18 minutes. Defensive Run Game and Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Line. Select College/Full Roster View: . He finished his Graceland career as a two-time All-American, a three-time MAIVA Conference MVP, three-time MVP of major tournaments, and he served two seasons as a captain for the Yellowjackets. In 1957, Parker was elected co-captain and earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. Throughout his career, Seefeldt was a two-time NAIA All-American, District 15 linebacker and first team all-conference player. He is now professor of physiology, biophysics and ophthalmology at the Mayo Foundation in Rochester, Minnesota. O'Daniels was awarded the Charles Morris Award as the NAIA Administrator of the Year for 2000-2001. The majority of athletes he trains compete on junior high, high school and USA Volleyball club teams in Missouri and Kansas. She qualified for Nationals in the Distance Medley Relay her freshman indoor season. In volleyball, she stared as a freshman; received All-Conference, All-District, and All-Tournament honors the next three years; and finished her senior year with an All-American nomination on a team the placed ninth in the nation. The lab offered her a job upon graduation, and Thomas has become a pillar of the Hawaiian community in the subsequent forty years. Moving back to the mainland, Tom was head coach for the Emmetsburg, IA team during the 1967-68 season, winning Emmetsburg's only District championship in 20 years. NFL. In this role he developed an eight team youth and adult club program that competed in USA Volleyball settings. On the football field he started at left end and played both ways on offense and defense. 2023 Football. Both his junior and senior years, Seefeldt was recognized as the team's most valuable player. Acosta was selected as the runner up for conference MVP as a senior and that year also was selected to the All-American Second Team (after an Honorable Mention in 2001-2002), Graceland's first ever women's basketball All-American. Gamet was also active in other campus activities by serving as business manager for the Acacia in 1929. Dr. Hutchins also has an older daughter, Michelle, from his first wife, Gale Shirky Hutchins(Graceland 1970), now deceased, who is the mother of two children, Emma Gale and John William Hertlein IV, who resides with her husband in Sherman Oaks, California. He also was a two time All-American wrestler, winning second place in the NAIA national wrestling tournament, as a junior and third place is senior year. Other coaching experiences include his role as Assistant Football Coach at Washington State University from 1962-1964 and Assistant Football Coach at Stanford University from 1966-1968. Dava currently resides in Knoxville, Tenn. with her husband Jason, a former three-sport athlete at Graceland. He led the Yellowjackets in multiple pitching and offensive categories throughout his career. Clayton co-coached the Wyandotte Basketball Team to the Kansas State Championship. She received First Team All-Conference and MVP/CO-MVP team honors her sophomore, junior and senior years. He ran in four events for a total of three mile, winning the mile at 4:15.2 and anchoring three winning relay events. Stew served 10 years on the national board of directors of USA volleyball where in 1991 he was chosen as one of the five elected officers of the association. Graceland College (IA) Alumni Pro Stats. After graduating in 1961 with his bachelor's degree, C.R. 2021 Football Coaches | Grand View Athletics from Pepperdine College, and an A.A. from Ventura Junior College. As a sophomore and junior, Neumann earned first team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference, first team all-district and the Eastern Iowa Team. Also during her days at Graceland, Dava was invited to play on Team USA's international tour through Belgium and the Netherlands in 1995. Graceland Kicks Off Women's Flag Football Program Currently, Lester is the Director of Athletics at Rochester Community and Technical College. Following his illustrious career with the Jackets, Jones returned home to Canada to join the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern Baseball League. Cricket. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. A three time captain, she helped to lead the Jackets to 53 victories over the course of her career, including a school-record 18 wins and a conference quarterfinals appearance during her senior year. Soccer. Mark Martin came to Graceland University by way of Lamoni High School in 1975. Gary won numerous medals as a member of relay teams anchored by Hall of Fame member Rich Simmons. Joe Shelton is being honored and recognized for his distinguished service to Graceland Athletics. In 1979, Pam's second year ever having played the sport, the team scored a record 42 goals-19 of which were credited to Pam. She remains one of the finest players to ever play for Head Coach Stew McDole. Shane and Deb have a daughter, Samantha, who is currently a sophomore in high school, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. NBA. After Graceland, Casey's basketball career continued. After retiring, he was inducted as a member of the NBL Hall of Fame in 2001. For the rest of the season, McCracken and fellow Hall of Famer Rich Harrop battled for the single-season record, and in the end it was Harrop who emerged with the record, having scored three more points than McCracken. She qualified for the U.S Track and Field Championships four separate years: 1990, 1993, and 1994 in the Long Jump and 1993, 1994, 1995 in the Heptathlon. She earned her first All-American award that season (4, After an amazing cross country season her senior year, she stepped on the indoor track again setting new records in the 1000m, 1500m, mile, 3K, and the 5K and running qualifying marks in all events from the 800m to the 5K including the 4x800. In 1956, Cochran served as starting catcher on the United Olympic Baseball Team. Jack Scott enrolled at Graceland in 1947, starred as a running back and receiver in football, and ran the 100, 220 and relays in track. An end on the gridiron and post player on the court, he excelled at both sports. He received much respect from opposing players, coaches, community members and all of the Graceland family. Moving uptown to Graceland College in 1991, Billy was an immediate hit for the Jacket baseball team. As Graceland's director of athletics and vice president for student affairs has overseen major renovations in athletics and other areas of campus. After graduating in 1976 with a BA in health, physical education and recreation, Hughes started a construction company and has remained in the construction industry since. For the 1982 season, Davies moved to the Newcastle Falcons, where he played in 105 games. Closson came to Graceland as a student in 1923 and participated in all of the available womens sports. Family difficulties forced Hutchins to abandon his Olympic dreams late in the summer of 1970. Ken Cochran, a 1952 Graceland graduate, competed in Yellojacket football, basketball and tennis. In her four years, Neumann and the Yellowjackets compiled a record of 165-60-1. Jerry is only the 24th person in the USA Volleyball's 67 year history to be honored with this prestigious award. Graceland University Athletics: Home of The Yellowjackets | Graceland For her many accomplishments on these teams, Phyllis was awarded with the Graceland Seal for Athletics in May of 1965. At NWMSU he coached many All-Americans including two NCAA Division II national champions and won several team conference championships. Dr. Collins coached wrestling at Northwest Missouri State University from 1965-1970 and again from 1978 to 1985. 2022 NCAA Football . Functions, Sorts, Exports & More for more than 25 Major Clients the past 15 Years. Closson was always a supporter of Graceland, the colleges ideals and the college community. Both Steve and his wife, Pam, have always been amazing supporters of the university. Bravely facing those challenges, Thomas proved to be a standout high jumper and, at 17, won the AAU championship and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Gamet has been active with Graceland athletics throughout his adult life. Jones bookended his Jacket career with a monster senior year where he hit .409 with 15 doubles, 6 home runs and 48 RBIs in a season that saw him make the All-Region 5 team and pick up a fourth All-Conference honor as well as earning Second Team All-American honors. Harmon is in his 40th year of covering major sporting events on both radio and television. Tommy DeVito. Since his graduation, McCracken has gone on to coach basketball in a successful career that has spanned four decades and every level of competition from high school to NCAA Division I. McCracken started every game in his basketball career with the Jackets, giving Graceland three years of exceptional play even after having to sit out his sophomore year with a heart condition. Graceland Uni Flag Football (@GracelandU_WFF) / Twitter He has aspirations if running a shelter for abused women and children in the future. Gary was named District Coach of the Year in 1972 for his work with the wrestling program at Lee's Summit. Matching that performance, Christel Brown, Nancy Crawford, Deena Miller and Caren Horstmeyer came in first in the 880 meter medley with yet another record time of 1:47.82. In the first, she finished fifth in the discus, and in the second championship placed third in the discus, this in the javelin and fifth in the shot put. Erwin was also an active member of the Black Student Union for four years at Graceland. Employed as an adjunct math instructor at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Clayton was exposed first hand to Indiana High School Basketball as an assistant coach to Rex Rudicel. In track and field, Dr. Hutchins credits Hall of Fame coach L.D. After college, he served in the Marines where he was a player and coach for the "Camp Caitlin Bulldogs" who boasted a 37-1 record. She coached women's teams in field hockey, basketball, softball, tennis and track. She was also recognized during that campaign as District #15 Player of the Week and as a Russell Athletic All-American Second Team member. In volleyball she was named All Tournament team three times at the Graceland Invitational, the NAIA Classic twice, and once at the Emporia State Invite. Upon leaving Graceland, Hughes taught Junior High School Physical Education in her hometown of Torrington, WY before moving to Berthound, CO where she started both school's girl's sports programs, coaching volleyball, basketball, and track. Jenny currently serves as the head volleyball coach at Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana. He won both Graceland and Northwest Missouri State Tournaments at the 115lbs. In his junior year, Chaz received the Doc Hughes Defensive Player of the Game award for his stellar execution in the 1982 homecoming football game. Pam was born in Leon, Iowa and attended Grand Valley High School where she excelled in basketball, softball and track and field. return to top, Charles Richard starred as a track athlete at Graceland. In 1979, Pam's second year ever having played the sport, the team scored a record 42 goals-19 of which were credited to Pam. She qualified for the U.S Track and Field Championships four separate years: 1990, 1993, and 1994 in the Long Jump and 1993, 1994, 1995 in the Heptathlon. He formed "O-Line Limited", a charitable marketing firm and initiated the "Boomer's Body Guards" campaign to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He was also participated in events such as the Goodwill Games, the Pan-American Games and the U.S. Olympic Festival. Jack Eskridge was an outstanding athlete for the Yellowjackets from 1941-1943. Since completing graduate school, Dr. Hutchins was selected teacher of the year in 1985 and was elected Region Coach of the Year for Track and Field in 1986. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Weldon himself was captain of the Iowa track team and a two-time winner in the javelin at the Drake and Kansas relays. An unprecedented seven time All-American in both indoor and outdoor track, Wendi was a four time NAIA National Champion. Regarded as the best fielding pitcher at any level by former head coach Bill Dudek, Dava turned in a remarkable two-year career at GU. [2] Criswell attended Lynnville-Sully High School and Graceland University. Two sport star Cara Warner was born in Kansas, but she truly grew up on the Graceland campus after moving to Lamoni at age 11. Rod is also known for helping volleyball technologically with his computer know-how. He came to Graceland in 1982 and was a 4-year starter for the Yellowjackets as an offensive lineman. Billy Barns, an assistant to Sanders, was directly responsible for Russ's three college coaching jobs including Citrus Junior College, Washington State and Stanford. Carver added softball to her schedule during her sophomore year, earning All-Conference honors for her outstanding second base performance. After graduating from high school, Alphie attended Indian Hills Community College where he had a decorated junior college career, receiving All-Conference and 1st team All-NJCAA accolades in his sophomore year. He was also named to the Graceland baseball team's Most Valuable Player in 1974 and 1977. Ross served as the head football coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas from 2002 to 2003 and Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri from 2004 to 2016. He is now professor of physiology, biophysics and ophthalmology at the Mayo Foundation in Rochester, Minnesota. Alphie is married to Kathy and they have four grown children; Christy, Jay, Matt, and Amanda . An end on the gridiron and post player on the court, he excelled at both sports. As official head trainer and manager of Clossen Center, and "unofficial" counselor to Graceland athletes, Brunner become knows as a dedicated "Coach of All Sports." the Draft Scout Database is a CPC and Search Engine Magnet for All things . 2022 Graceland University Yellowjackets Schedule | ESPN Casey finished his career as Lamoni's all-time leading scorer with 2,176 points, which at the time was the 6th most points in Iowa's history. In his second year as the head coach at Graceland, Harrop was selected as the 1991-92 Heart of America conference "Coach of the Year". She also narrowly missed the Olympic trials. Seefeldt was the Best Defensive Lineman on the District 15 Championship team, and was the Most Valuable Linebacker and a team captain for the squad his senior year. He also earned a M.S. Phyllis currently works as the Faculty Athletics Representative to the NAIA, a job she began in 1988. Eastern New Mexico University was his next stop, and his teams were ranked in the NAIA Top 20 for four consecutive years. After his successful collegiate career, Russ played football at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California in 1956, before becoming an assistant football coach at UCLA in 1959. return to top, Tom Powell graduated from Graceland in 1973 with a B.A. In 1959 she began her Graceland career as an instructor of physical education for women at Graceland. In 1962, he finished third in the nation (NAIA) in the 177 pound class and he was second in the nation in the 191 pound class in 1963. Peck spent ten years teaching and coaching at Lamoni High School before spending 25 years teaching and coaching at Raytown South High School in the Kansas City, Missouri metro area. The flexibility of Cara's athletic gifts truly shone in track and field where she excelled in the high jump and middle distance runs. Employed as an adjunct math instructor at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Clayton was exposed first hand to Indiana High School Basketball as an assistant coach to Rex Rudicel. Dennis Paul Thompson is a life-long resident of Lamoni and is currently the co-owner and manager of a local farm related business. Upon graduating, Gray decided to take a hiatus from athletics. No matter how the season went, Hoffman spent precious time with many fine young adults and their families, supporting the team. Along with teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Gary Collins, Auxier's exploits helped to cement the Yellowjackets as a perennial wrestling power for the rest of the decade. E++ subscribers can access ESPN.com's complete NFL draft coverage, plus exclusive player grades, rankings and . She is currently in her 18th year of teaching in Stockton, California. During the next two years, Hughes would be coached at that position by another Hall of Fame inductee, Dr.Gary Collins. Before leaving teaching and coaching to work for the RAND Corporation, where he helped develop and program a computerized air defense system for the U.S. Air Force in the mid 1950's, Clayton accepted a position at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas. weight class. He set many practical records, including 286 consecutive free throws (four-year average 99%) and 499 jump shots in a row from the head of the circle. He is has six children (Courtney, Carinea, Caprica, Conner, Cameron and Cole). The Coal Valley, Illinois, native attended Graceland from 1991-95, graduating with a bachelor's degree in social science. He was First Team All-American Offensive Tackle for the NAIA. 1968-1972 were spent in the full time service of the Center Stake jurisdiction of the now Community of Christ as Director of Youth and Leisure Ministries. MLB. Her family includes her husband Jim, daughter Amy, son Tim, daughters-in law-law Mindy and Abbey, and four grandsons - Baylor, Kholt, Kashen and Kannon. Leading the team in tackles and recording three interceptions, one for a touchdown, he was a unanimous choice to both the All-District 15 and the All-HAAC teams. He has continued to participate in athletics by coaching baseball and basketball at the high school and college levels inn Missouri and Kansas. Over the next four years, McCracken was coach of the Camanche, Iowa team, going 70-16 and qualifying in 1970-71 for their first trip to the state tourney. As a Co-Captain of the team in 1964, Gary finished the season ninth in the nation in rushing. His men's track team won numerous Heart of America Athletic Conference championships. He has two children, Kirt and Krisanne. In addition to his NAIA success, he played on teams that won over 40 USA Volleyball tournaments in his playing career, many of which occurred after his Graceland playing days were done. He then worked as a salesperson before coming to Lamoni in 1970. Upon graduation from Graceland College in 1964, Gary taught and coached at Lee's Summit High School in Missouri. As Graceland's director of athletics and vice president for student affairs has overseen major renovations in athletics and other areas of campus. As a sophomore, he was First Team All-Conference in the Interstate Conference in football. His mark stood as the world record until 1980, and as the Olympic record from 1976-1984. As a sophomore Syd led the team in tackles and was named first team All-District, and first team All-HAAC at linebacker. While there, he was in charge of golf, swimming, archery, and boating facilities. The 1965 and 1966 co-ed tennis team was undefeated in conference play and won the conference tournament. After leaving Graceland, McKain was a coach and teacher at the University Northern Colorado from 1966-88. Mrs. Joyce and her husband, Tom, have one daughter, Alyssa. She has served the Graceland community in various ways. Casey Dudek arrived at Graceland after an illustrious career as a student-athlete at Lamoni High School. Douglas has also spent time as the head coach of baseball and girl's basketball at I-35 High School in Truro, Iowa. The next eleven years were passed in Macomb, IL as an Associate Professor of Leisure Services and Graduate Studies Chair at Western Illinois University. In her second year at Graceland, Pam combined her basketball quickness, keen eye at the plate and shot put strength to become a dominate player on the Graceland Field Hockey Team coached by Graceland Hall of Fame Coach Betty Welch. Dr. Hutchins also has an older daughter, Michelle, from his first wife, Gale Shirky Hutchins(Graceland 1970), now deceased, who is the mother of two children, Emma Gale and John William Hertlein IV, who resides with her husband in Sherman Oaks, California. As a student/athlete at Graceland, he earned six letter, two each in football, basketball and track. He captured four Wheaton College Invitational Championships, where he was named outstanding wrestler in 1971 as well as the Southwest Missouri State and 1997 NAIA Iowa District Championships. Rich came back to Graceland in 1990 to coach the men's basketball team following his 25 years at the high school level, including 13 seasons at Watkins Memorial in Pataskala, Ohio and 12 years at Lamoni High School in Iowa. Coach Joe Kegler, his basketball coach from Bakersfield High School and Graceland College's Dick Carter who he felt taught him the most in terms of fundamentals and effort. His numerous achievements in the field of health, physical education and recreation, coupled with his lifelong dedication to helping young people develop physically, mentally and spiritually have earned him the honor and respect of those whose lives he has touched. After spending time as a probation officer and teaching at an alternative high school, she now works for Bolt Supply. colinm1@graceland.edu. In 1981, he was a member of the Casino Citys NBL championship team, where he finished sixth in the league in scoring.