May 16, 2006

Cleveland, Ohio -- Twenty-two highly-respected athletics administrators were selected for induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame, it was announced by NACDA President Tim Curley, director of athletics at Penn State University.

The 2006 Hall of Fame class includes: Marino Casem, Alcorn State University; George Chryst (deceased), University of Wisconsin Platteville; Vin Cullen, Community College of Rhode Island; Merrily Dean Baker, Michigan State University; Bob Dinaberg, Santa Barbara City College; Jack Doyle, University of South Dakota; Paul Durham, Linfield College/University of Hawaii; Art Eason, William Paterson University; Herb Eisele (deceased); John Carroll University; John Gagliardi, St. John's University (Minn.); Fred Gruninger, Rutgers University; James Houdeshell, University of Findlay; Betty Jaynes, James Madison University; Karol Kahrs, University of Illinois; Don Landry, Nicholls State University; Frank Lignelli, Clarion University; Ron Maestri, University of New Orleans; Ray Nagel, University of Hawaii/Washington State University; Frank Rienzo, Georgetown University; Bill Steinbrecher, Valparaiso University; Dick Tamburo, Arizona State University; and Charlotte West, Southern Illinois University.

The inductees will be honored in June at NACDA's 41st Annual Convention, June 20-23. Winners will receive their awards during the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Luncheon at NACDA's 41st Annual Convention at the New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.

A brief biographical sketch of each of the inductees follows:

Marino Casem, Alcorn State University
Beginning in 1966, Marino Casem served in the dual role of athletics director and head football coach for close to 20 years at Alcorn State University. He was responsible for the construction of the athletics complex and was instrumental in the design and planning of the football stadium. His football team captured seven conference championships and seven National Black College (NBC) championships, while he was named the NBC and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Coach of the Year seven times. From 1986 until his retirement in 1999, he served as athletics director at Southern University, which quickly became the top overall program in the SWAC, winning seven SWAC Commissioner Cups, six SWAC men's all-sport trophies, nine SWAC women's all-sport trophies and 62 championships. Casem served on many national committees, including the NCAA Executive Committee, NCAA Special Events, Division I-AA Football, NCAA Football Television and NCAA Football Rules. He was also on the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFFCHOF) Honors Court. Casem was inducted into several halls of fame including the NFFCHOF's Divisional, SWAC, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Sports. He also received the All-America Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, Football Writers Association of America Citation of Honor, NFFCHOF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award and the Louisiana Association of Athletic Directors' Carl Maddox Award. He earned his bachelor's degree from Xavier University (La.) and his master's degree from Northern Colorado University.

George Chryst, University of Wisconsin Platteville
The late George Chryst was a man of special character. He was mainly known for his successful style of coaching, but was also known for trying to better the game of football. As the athletics director at the University of Wisconsin Platteville, Chryst oversaw the expansion of the Williams Fieldhouse and the hiring of Bo Ryan, the coach that took the Pioneers to four NCAA Division III National Basketball Championships. An advocate for the game of football, Chryst was one of the leaders for the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. He coached football at UW Platteville from 1979 until his sudden death in 1992 at the age of 55. He guided the Pioneers to a 79-60-2 record, with winning records in nine of 14 seasons. He led UWP to its last league championship in 1980. That championship run included a 54-43 victory over UW Eau Claire, in which the Pioneers overcame an NCAA record 33-point deficit to win the game. Chryst was a major player in the formation of the "Cheese League", which featured five NFL teams training in Wisconsin, including the Chicago Bears in Platteville. To honor Chryst, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) titled its annual Coach of the Year Award in his name and the annual UW Whitewater and UW Platteville game is also titled in his honor. Chryst is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he played football. Chryst's three sons carry on the football tradition. Rick is the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference; Geep has coached with the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers; and Paul is the offensive coordinator for the University of Wisconsin.

Vin Cullen, Community College of Rhode Island
As the Community College of Rhode Island's first director of athletics in 1965, Vin Cullen built the program from the ground up, until his retirement in 2002. Today, CCRI is a national model for all junior colleges, with 13 men and women's intercollegiate sports in Region XXI and the Northeast District, an intramural program for a three-campus system and a community recreation program. Cullen was an active member of NACDA for 33 years, serving on the Executive Committee, Kickoff Classic Committee and as chair of the Continuing Education Committee. He was NACDA's secretary from 1984-89, making him the second community college administrator to have ever held a NACDA office. Cullen was one of the founders of the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA), serving on the Executive Committee as third, second and first vice president and was president in 1995-96. Cullen also served as CCRI's first basketball coach. In 37 years, he posted a record of 711-258 and, at the time of his retirement, was the most victorious intercollegiate coach in New England. In 1999, Cullen was NACDA's first National Community College Athletics Director of the Year. He was also honored by NATYCAA with the L. William Miller Award in 1997. At CCRI, the field house bears his name, as well as the athletics enhancement fund, while at Rhode Island College, his alma mater, his name adorns the locker room. Including NACDA's, Cullen has been inducted into eight halls of fame - NATYCAA, CCRI, NJCAA Basketball, New England Basketball, International Scholar-Athlete, Rhode Island Heritage and Rhode Island College Athletics.

Merrily Dean Baker, Michigan State University
In 1992, when Merrily Dean Baker was selected as athletics director at Michigan State University, she was the first woman in the Big Ten Conference and only the second in the country to hold that position at a Division I-A institution. From 1992-95, Baker oversaw MSU's 25-sport, $18 million athletics program that provided services for more than 800 student-athletes. During her tenure, MSU increased its focus on student-athlete support services. She developed the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a student-athlete community outreach program and initiated the student-athlete mentor program. In addition, Baker supervised the implementation of MSU's Athletics Hall of Fame. Baker was the interim AD at Florida Gulf Coast University from 1998-2000, initiating a new athletics program at a new university while helping lay the groundwork for a department that recently announced its decision to move up to Division I. Prior to her arrival at MSU, Baker was the assistant executive director at the NCAA from 1988-92. She had also the women's AD at the University of Minnesota. The former president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), Baker received the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators' (NACWAA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. In 1988, her last year in Minnesota, she was named one of the "100 Most Important Women" in America by the Ladies Home Journal. Last year, she was inducted into Minnesota's M Club Hall of Fame. Baker was a six-sport athlete at East Stroudsburg University where she received her bachelor's degree. She earned her master's degree from Temple University.

Bob Dinaberg, Santa Barbara City College
Bob Dinaberg retired from Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in 2000 after serving as athletics director for 22 years and as a professor of physical education for 31 years. During his tenure, he was president of the Western State Conference, Western State Football Conference, California Community College Athletic Directors Association, California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) and National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA); and on NACDA's Executive Committee. He spearheaded a substance abuse prevention program in 21 California community colleges and was the first Hall of Fame and first All-State chair for the CCCFCA. He has been inducted into the NATYCAA and CCCFCA halls of fame. He was also enshrined in the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Hall of Fame and honored as their Collegiate Coach of the Year three times. Additionally, he was the California Coaches Association Athletic Director of the Year. He received the California Community College Athletic Director Association Lifetime Achievement Award and NATYCAA's L. William Miller Award. Dinaberg earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA and his master's degree from Fresno State.

Jack Doyle, University of South Dakota
Jack Doyle was the director of athletics at the University of South Dakota for 15 years before retiring in 1998. He currently serves as a fund raiser of special projects for the university's foundation. Doyle began his career at USD in 1971 as an assistant basketball coach, becoming the head coach two years later. He is ranked fourth on the university's all-time wins list with a 106-119 record in nine years. In 1981, he added the duties of executive assistant athletics director and was in charge of fund raising. He became the director of athletics in 1983. During his tenure as AD, the program won 21 North Central Conference championships, seven regional titles and advanced to the NCAA playoffs several times. In 1986, the football team was invited to play in the NCAA football title game, while the men's basketball team made consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. In 1996, Doyle secured funding to install a new eight-lane, 200-meter track and an artificial turf football field. He was chair of the NCAA Division II Basketball Committee, North Central Region Advisory Committee in Basketball and also served on NACDA's Executive Committee and the NCAA President's Commission Liaison Committee. He currently serves on the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame Committee. Doyle earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wyoming.

Paul Durham, Linfield College, University of Hawaii
Before becoming the director of athletics at the University of Hawaii, Paul Durham coached and served as the director of athletics at his alma mater, Linfield College. He was one of the founding fathers of the college's athletics program. As Linfield's football coach for 20 years, he guided the Wildcats to six conference titles, two NAIA championship games and posted a record of 122-51-10. He is ranked second on the college's all-time list for victories. Durham's 1961 team, which was the first undefeated team in college history, was inducted into the Linfield College Hall of Fame in 2005. At one point, Durham was the director of athletics, football coach, a faculty member and sports editor of the News-Register. In the summer, he ran the city recreation program, taught summer school and coached softball. Durham moved to the University of Hawaii in 1968 as the university's first AD. He grew the university's athletics from a club program to the threshold of Division I and played a major role in moving the Rainbows into the Western Athletic Conference. Although he retired from the athletics department in 1975, Durham continued to teach classes in the College of Education until 1981. He was inducted into Hawaii's Circle of Honors in 1997 and into Linfield's Sports Hall of Fame in its inaugural year. The foyer into Linfield's athletics complex bears his name. In 1962, he earned the NAIA Coach of the Year and Oregon Man of the Year awards. He was also inducted into the Los Angeles Football College Hall of Fame in 1975. Durham graduated from Linfield College in 1936 and is one of the few student-athletes in college history to earn 10 or more varsity letters.

Art Eason, William Paterson University
Art Eason's tenure as the director of athletics at William Paterson University is decorated with many postseason championships. The baseball team won national championships in 1992 and 1996. The Pioneers won two individual track and field national titles and 27 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) team championships. Additionally, each of the Pioneers' 17 athletics teams qualified for NCAA postseason play, including Final Four appearances for the men's basketball team in 1999 and 2001, a third-place finish for the baseball team in 1999 and the softball team's victory in the East Regional in 2001. Eason was chair of the NCAA Nominating Committee and Division III Self-Study Committee. He was NACDA's secretary and was on its Executive Committee and Kickoff Classic Games Committee. He was president of the Collegiate Athletics Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ); was president, vice president and treasurer of the Metropolitan Athletic Directors Association; and football chair of the NJAC. In 1994, he received the CAANJ's Garden State Award for Outstanding Service. Eason earned his bachelor's degree from Montclair State University and his master's degree from William Paterson. Prior to his tenure as AD, Eason was WPU's assistant director of financial aid.

Herb Eisele, John Carroll University
In 23 years at John Carroll University, Herb Eisele served as varsity football coach and director of athletics. He became JCU's head football coach in 1947 and, in 12 years, compiled a 60-37-4 record, including a remarkable 21-16 victory over Syracuse University in 1950. The following year, he was named director of athletics and, during his 19-year tenure, oversaw the addition of men's wrestling and soccer, plus the addition of a women's athletics program. He spearheaded the construction of an on-campus football field, track and tennis facility. He retired as head football coach in 1970 to focus on his administrative position, retiring as AD in 1970. Eisele was honored by the Greater Cleveland Coaches Association, Catholic Youth Organization and the Cleveland Touchdown Club. He was also named the All-Time Great Athlete of Cathedral Latin High School. In 1963, he was inducted into the University of Dayton Hall of Fame and, in 1969, the John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame. Prior to his tenure at John Carroll, Eisele was a high school football coach. In 19 years at Cathedral Latin High School in Cleveland, Ohio, Eisele compiled an impressive record of 131-33-18, including a 36-game winning streak, nine consecutive city championships and three state crowns. Shortly after his death in 1985, former players and alumni of John Carroll raised funds to construct a multi-purpose meeting room in the athletics department in honor of Eisele's memory. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton where, as a football player, he was a Little All-American, All-Ohio and All-Catholic selection.

John Gagliardi, St. John's University (Minn.)
Though John Gagliardi was the athletics director at Carroll College and St. John's University, he is best known as the most successful college football coach in history. In 57 years, Gagliardi has a record of 432-118-11 (.780) and is 408-112-10 (.777) at St. John's. His coaching career began in 1943 at the age of 16 when his high school coach was drafted into World War II. As captain, Gagliardi took over coaching. His teams won four conference titles in his six years of coaching high school football. In 1949, he graduated from Colorado College and began coaching at Carroll College, leading them to three conference titles in his first four seasons. In 1953, Gagliardi moved to St. John's University and, in his first season, the team won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) title. At SJU, he coached four national championship teams, a national runner-up, six semifinalists and five quarterfinalists. In 2001, he became the third NCAA college football coach in history to coach 500 career games. His teams have won 27 conference titles and have appeared in 51 postseason games (36-15). In 39 years, SJU has been nationally ranked 38 times. An astute judge of talent, Gagliardi's coaching philosophy focuses on "Winning With Nos" - no blocking sleds or dummies, no scholarships, no spring practices, no compulsory weightlifting program, no whistles, no "coach"- players call him John, no tackling in practice and no long practices. The Gagliardi Trophy for the nation's most outstanding Division III player was unveiled in 1993.

Fred Gruninger, Rutgers University
For more than 36 years, Fred Gruninger served Rutgers University, the last 25 as the director of athletics, retiring in 1998. Gruninger's main focus was the student-athletes. He was committed to ensuring that each student-athlete had the most rewarding college experience by developing strong student relationships between teams, communities and the university. During his tenure, he led Rutgers into the Big East Conference and created the Scarlet R Club, a branch of annual giving. He led a period of facility growth, including a new football stadium in 1994 that nearly doubled the capacity of the old stadium; the athletics center for men and women's basketball; and new facilities for soccer, lacrosse, track and field, baseball and softball. The baseball facility bears his name. In 1976, Gruninger hired the nation's first full-time women's basketball coach. He was known as a pioneer in the recognition of the potential of women's college basketball. NACDA's first vice president in 1997-98, Gruninger was on NACDA's Executive Committee, was a member of the NCAA Council and helped spearhead the College Athletic Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ). He was president of the CAANJ prior to his retirement. He also served as chair of the University Golf Committee for 35 years and oversaw the development of the Rutgers Golf Course from a 9- to an 18-hole facility. Gruninger earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Rutgers. He started at Rutgers in 1959 as an alumni relations officer and director of the Rutgers Fund, before moving to the athletics department in 1966.

James Houdeshell, University of Findlay
James Houdeshell served as the director of athletics at the University of Findlay from 1955-59 and again from 1971-86. He was also the dean of University College from 1992-94 and, since 2000, has been special assistant to the university president. Additionally, for the last 13 years, Houdeshell has been commissioner of the Mid-States Football Association; and for the last 10 years, commissioner of the American Mideast Conference. Through the years, he had also been the cross country, men's basketball, track and field, baseball and football coach. He won a conference championship in each sport he coached. Basketball was his defining sport with 430 wins in 30 years. Houdeshell developed the health and physical education major in 1968, and was chair of the Building Committee to plan the Croy Physical Education Center. He also spearheaded the creation of the Oilers Club, the university's booster organization. Houdeshell had served as the president of the NAIA, the NAIA Athletics Directors' Association and in many other facets within the NAIA. In addition, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame as a coach in 1980. He also received the association's Athletics Administrator of the Year Award in 2001-01 and was elected to the Hancock County Hall of Fame. He earned his bachelor's degree from Findlay, his master's degree from Bowling Green State University and his doctorate from Indiana University.

Betty Jaynes, James Madison University
Betty Jaynes was a leading figure in women's basketball for 25 years. She became the Women's Basketball Coaching Association's (WBCA) first chief executive officer in 1996, after serving 15 years, since its founding, as its executive director. Under her guidance, the association grew from a 212-member group to a national organization with more than 5,000 members. It is a leading resource, voice and advocate for women and girls' basketball at every level. Jaynes had previously been the head women's basketball coach at James Madison University from 1970-82, posting a record of 142-114 and winning the 1975 Virginia Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) state championship. Jaynes chaired the U.S. Girls' and Women's Basketball Rules Committee, was tournament director for the 1975 AIAW Large College National Basketball Championships, which boasted the first sell-out championship game in the modern era of women's college basketball. Jaynes served on NACDA's Executive Committee, was vice president of the Atlanta Tip-Off Club and vice president of the Women's Sports Foundation. Jaynes was the recipient of NACDA's Award for Administrative Excellence; the Pioneer Award, presented by the Georgia Women's Intersport Network; Top Atlanta Sports Champion, by the Atlanta Business to Business magazine; Georgia College Distinguished Alumnus Award; and the state of Georgia Outstanding Citizen Award for Excellence. She has been inducted into the Women's Basketball and Communiplex Women's Sports halls of fame. Jaynes earned her bachelor's degree from Georgia College and her master's degree from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Bill Marshall, Franklin & Marshall College
Bill Marshall was the director of athletics and recreation at Franklin & Marshall College from 1971 to 1998. During his tenure, Marshall participated in the planning and construction of the $13.5 million Franklin & Marshall College Alumni Sports and Fitness Center which opened in the summer of 1995. Marshall also oversaw the planning and construction of a baseball stadium, the reconstruction of the football/lacrosse field, the installation of an eight lane all-weather track and the addition of four international squash courts. After Franklin & Marshall became coeducational, Marshall was instrumental in introducing 11 sports for women. In addition, he promoted women's varsity sports on the conference, regional and national levels. Along with his administrative duties, Marshall was a coach for basketball, tennis and squash. Marshall attended the University of Wisconsin for his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, then worked in the Wisconsin system for 11 years before joining Franklin & Marshall. Marshall was on the NCAA Division III Steering Committee, the ECAC Committee on Eligibility, the NCAA Committee on Eligibility, the NCAA Interpretations Committee and the ECAC Executive Committee, among others. He was elected to serve as the ECAC president in 1999. When Marshall was elected to the Franklin & Marshall Hall of Fame last year, it marked the first time a single new member was inducted, as he was "In a Class by Himself."

Karol Kahrs, University of Illinois
As a trail blazer in women's intercollegiate athletics, Karol Kahrs was responsible for the creation and development of a women's athletics program at the University of Illinois in 1974. She began with seven sports and a budget of $83,500 and, when she retired in 2000, Illinois had 10 women's teams with nearly every program nationally ranked. In 1981, Illinois was one of the first institutions reviewed by the Office of Civil Rights and was found to be in compliance of Title IX. Kahrs began her career at Illinois in 1966 as an instructor for the College of Physical Education and coordinator for the Women's Extramural Sports Association. She also served as assistant athletics director, associate athletics director and senior woman administrator. She was a past president of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA); a member of the Executive Committee of NACDA and the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW); and a member of the NCAA Cost Containment Committee. She served as the Illinois and NCAA representative to the Senate Subcommittee Hearings on the Tower Amendment and Title IX. She was the first chair of the Big Ten Women's Athletic Administrators and chaired seven other Big Ten committees. She was the recipient of the NACWAA District 5 Administrator of the Year Award in 1992, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Georgia in 1988 and the Outstanding Associate Athletics Director Award by the All-American Football Foundation in 1999. Kahrs earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and her master's and doctorate degrees from Ohio State University. NACDA

Don Landry, Nicholls State University
Don Landry, athletics director at Nicholls State University from 1979-87, served in college athletics as basketball coach at Louisiana State University and at Nicholls State; and as commissioner of the Southland Conference for three years and the Sunshine State Conference for 10 years. He is a founder of the Louisiana Athletic Directors Association (LABC) and played a role in the development of the Gulf State Conference and the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic. He was president of the Division II Commissioners Association, chair of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Committee and many other NCAA Committees. He had also been executive director of the National Cutting Horse Association and director of special projects for the Texas Rangers. Landry was inducted into the Louisiana Basketball, Nicholls State University and Sunshine State Conference halls of fame. Landry was honored by the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches, which created an award in his name for outstanding contributions to Louisiana basketball. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Frank Lignelli, Clarion University
Clarion University's third director of athletics, Frank Lignelli devoted 33 years to his alma mater, 23 as athletics director. He began working for Clarion in 1957 as an assistant football coach, intramural director and teacher. In 1959, he reinstated wrestling and served as its head coach for seven years, compiling a 69-11-1 dual meet record. He also coached the golf team for 10 years. Additionally, Lignelli was director of housing, dean of men, financial aid director and scheduling officer from 1960-66. He was chosen as AD in 1966 and created the W.S. Tippin Scholarship Fund, one of the driving factors in Clarion's athletics success, raising more than $1 million before his retirement. During his tenure, Clarion won 12 national championships and 59 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) team titles. Lignelli is a past president of the PSAC and Tri-State Intercollegiate Association; and was a member of the Executive Committees for NACDA and the NAIA District 18; and on the golf and wrestling committees. In 2001, Lignelli was recognized by the PSAC and Clarion as one of its Top 8 All-Time Success stories. He was inducted into the NAIA, Western Pennsylvania Sports, PSAC Wrestling and Eastern Wrestling League halls of fame. He is a past president of the Kiwanis and was on the Board of Director of the Clarion Area Chamber of Commerce and the Clarion Borough Council. He continues to serve on the Clarion Hospital Board. Lignelli earned his bachelor's degree from Clarion and his master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Ron Maestri, University of New Orleans
Ron Maestri's career at the University of New Orleans began in 1972 as the head baseball coach (1972-85). He added duties as athletics director in 1979, serving until 2000. While coaching, he compiled a record of 518-247-1 and qualified for the NCAA tournament nine times. The Privateers never had a losing season during Maestri's tenure. In 1974, his team finished second in the Division II College World Series and, in 1984, tied for fifth place in the Division I College World Series. As the AD, Maestri spearheaded efforts to develop the UNO athletics facilities, which included a 10,000-seat lakefront arena and a 4,200-seat baseball park. He was co-chair of the 1987 and 1993 NCAA Final Four Host Committees in New Orleans and directed UNO's bids to host the 1990 men's NCAA Southeast Regional basketball tournament, 1991 Women's Final Four, 2001 men's basketball South Region First and Second Rounds, 2002 women's volleyball Final Four and the 2003 Men's Final Four. He also chaired the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee from 1994-97 and served on the NCAA Pro Sports Liaison Committee. He is currently in his second year as the executive director and COO with the Zephyrs, New Orleans minor league baseball team. He also serves as executive director of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. He has been inducted into several halls of fame, including the American Baseball Coaches Association, Bradley University, UNO Athletic Association, New Orleans Sports, Louisiana Sports and Louisiana Italian-American.

Ray Nagel, University of Hawaii, Washington State University
After 20 years as a football coach, Ray Nagel was appointed the director of athletics at Washington State University in 1971. He spearheaded the creation of the Cougar Club, coordinated fund raising and served on the NCAA Football Rules Committee from 1973-76. He moved on to the University of Hawaii to serve as its director of athletics from 1976-83. He also worked as executive vice president for the Los Angeles Rams, vice president for public relations at the Bank of Hawaii and executive director of the Hula Bowl. He began his career as a graduate assistant football coach at UCLA. He also coached with the Chicago Cardinals and at the University of Oklahoma before becoming the head football coach at the University of Utah for eight seasons. At the age of 29, he was the youngest major college head coach at the time. He then served as the head coach at the University of Iowa for five years. He completed his coaching career with a record of 58-71-2. Nagel earned his bachelor's, master's and law degrees from UCLA. A tailback and quarterback at UCLA, Nagel was named All-West Coast Conference and UCLA's Most Improved Player.

Frank Rienzo, Georgetown University
Frank Rienzo came to Georgetown University in 1969 to revitalize the inactive track and field program and, 30 years later, retired as one of the university's most successful athletics directors. Rienzo spearheaded the planning and construction of the $7.9 million student recreational facility and initiated the most successful licensing program in the country in 1984. He increased the athletics program to 25 teams, each with full-time coaches. Georgetown's teams produced more than 250 All-Americans. He was president of IC4A and was a member of the NCAA Track and Field, NCAA Cost Reduction and NCAA Federation by Sport committees. Rienzo was on the forefront of the formation of the Big East Conference, serving as chair of the Executive Committee for nine of the conference's first 13 years. Georgetown earned the Big East Commissioner's Trophy five times. Rienzo was the NACDA/NIT Athletics Director of the Year in 1998; received Georgetown's Patrick Healy Award, the university's highest award for a non-alumnus, in 1988; and the Georgetown Vicennial Medal for 20 years of service to the university in 1989. He was also awarded the ECAC Distinguished Service Award. Prior to his tenure at Georgetown, Rienzo was a teacher of English, Latin and religion and was also a highly successful track coach at Archbishop Molloy High School in New York City from 1957-59.

Bill Steinbrecher, Valparaiso University
Bill Steinbrecher has been an integral part of the Valparaiso University athletics department since his first tenure from 1959-70 when he served as the head wrestling and golf coach and the assistant football coach, while teaching for the physical education department. From 1970-79, Steinbrecher was on the faculty at Appalachian State University. He returned to Valparaiso in 1979 as the director of athletics. He planned the construction of the new Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC) and assisted with the fund raising through the founding of the Gauntlet Club. He also created the Crusader Club, VU's athletics donor organization. He was instrumental in the development of the Mid-Continent Conference, North State Conference and Pioneer Football League. He served two terms as chair of the Mid-Continent Conference Directors' Council and was chair of the Pioneer Football League. He also served five years on the NCAA Division I Championships/ Competition Cabinet. Steinbrecher was honored in 2002 as the NACDA Central Region AD of the Year. He also received the Neyland Award from the American Football Foundation in 2002. In 2005, he was inducted into the Valparaiso University Hall of Fame. He was also honored by the Mid-Continent Conference, when he was chosen as the namesake for the Men's All-Sports Award. He received VU's Distinguished Alumnus Award and was inducted into the Lutheran Basketball Association of America Hall of Fame. Steinbrecher earned his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University, his master's degree from Indiana University and his doctorate from Florida State University.

Dick Tamburo, Arizona State University
As the athletics director at Arizona State University, Dick Tamburo spearheaded the building of the nation's finest complex for women's softball at the time, resurfaced the running track at Sun Angel Stadium, installed lights on the football practice fields, completed a baseball lounge at Packard Stadium, added a physical therapy room, completed the finishing touches on one of the country's finest outdoor aquatic centers and developed an academic guidance program. During his tenure, ASU won national championships in baseball, archery (three) and badminton; Pac-10 Conference titles in baseball (twice), men's track and field and golf; and Western Collegiate Athletic Association women's crowns in swimming, gymnastics and golf. He was on NACDA's Executive Committee and was a member of the NCAA's Volunteers for Youth Program. Tamburo earned his bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. A member of the football team, he earned All-American honors, was voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates and led his team to a national championship in 1952. He was the number two draft choice of the Cleveland Browns, but turned it down to complete his degree. In 1958, Tamburo became a football coach at Arizona State for eight years before he moved to the position of defensive coordinator at Iowa. In 1970, he took his first administrative position at Kent State University as an assistant athletics director. In 1979, he was named the director of athletics at Texas Tech before returning to Arizona State in 1981 as its athletics director.

Charlotte West, Southern Illinois University
Charlotte West has experienced athletics as an athlete, official, coach and administrator. She retired from Southern Illinois University in 1998 as the associate athletics director. As a coach, her Southern Illinois University golf team won the national golf championship and her basketball team placed fifth in 1969. She was one of the first female members of NACDA and later served on its Executive Committee. Additionally, West was chair of the NCAA Committee on Financial Aid and Amateurism and chair of the Athletic Certification Committee. She was also on the NCAA Council, NCAA Management Council and NCAA Gender Equity Task Force. She was president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and was a member of the United States Olympic Committee. In the 1970s, she was a consultant for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) on Title IX and, in the 1990s, was a consultant to the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics. West has earned the Honda Award for her outstanding achievements in women's college athletics and the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) Woman of the Year Award. She also received the Senior Sports Administrator Award from the All-American Football Foundation and was part of the initial class of women to be inducted into the SIU Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame. West earned her bachelor's degree from Florida State University.