National Awards Day - 2020 Winners
22 Honored at NAIA National Awards Day
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced 22 honorees with the association’s highest individual honors as part of its annual NAIA National Awards Day on September 15, 2020. Achievements of NAIA student-athletes, administrators and coaches were recognized, as well as the introduction of seven outstanding student-athletes and administrators who will be inducted into the 2019-20 NAIA Hall of Fame Class.
2019-20 NAIA National Award Winners:
A. O. Duer Scholarship Award: Phoebe LaCroix, Cornerstone University; Josh McKnight, Valley City State University
Named in honor of the NAIA’s former executive secretary for his service of 26 years to the association, this scholarship recognizes academics, character and citizenship by junior student-athletes in any sport. Presented by Daktronics, the A.O. Duer Scholarship has been awarded to one male and one female junior athlete since 1967. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship.
Phoebe LaCroix, from Zeeland, Michigan, is a senior midfielder for the Cornerstone University women’s soccer team. A captain of her Golden Eagles team, LaCroix is a two-time first-team all-conference selection and two-time reigning team Most Valuable Player. While excelling on the field, LaCroix has also maintained a 3.90 GPA while pursuing a degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Occupational Therapy. She has been named an Academic All-WHAC recipient, as well as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and CoSIDA Academic All-American. LaCroix has also been a very active member of the Cornerstone campus community, serving as one of the core leaders on the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT). She has been a driving force in several campus initiatives to bring the student body together. From a young age, LaCroix’s character has been evident when she started helping those less fortunate, and now most recently, in assisting the elderly. She is a person who is committed to her community, those less fortunate and her teammates. LaCroix is described as a humble, compassionate, selfless, respectful and virtuous young woman. As her head coach Randy Strawser stated, “Phoebe is the type of player every coach would want on their team.”
Josh McKnight, from New Rockford, North Dakota, is an exemplary student-athlete and a standout football player at Valley City State University. McKnight is a Business Administration major garnering a perfect 4.0 GPA and is known for his work ethic and selflessness both on and off the field. He has been recognized on the VCSU President’s Honor Roll every semester and has earned recognition on the North Star Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Team. As a running back on the Vikings football team, McKnight is a highly respected leader amongst his teammates and finished as the second leading rusher and sixth leading receiver during the 2019 season. McKnight is an incredibly valuable member of his team, campus and community, as he is involved in numerous campus activities. He is an active member of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success, the VCSU Chi Alpha organization and the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. McKnight also assists with Special Olympics, coaches at youth football camps and volunteers for blood drives at every opportunity. He has an extensive history of helping those around campus who are in need, whether it is a fellow student struggling in class or a transfer athlete trying to understand their new campus. It is clear that Valley City State is lucky to have McKnight as one of their own. As his coach Dennis McCulloch stated, “Josh is a glue guy whose value extends far behind his statistics. He has brought an unmeasurable amount of worth to our team in his selfless attitude and his willingness to never miss an opportunity to do anything he can do to help our program.”
Emil S. Liston Award: Reagan Turner, Lindsey Wilson College; Riley Costen, Cornerstone University
Presented by Daktronics, the Emil S. Liston award recognizes both academic and athletic excellence by junior student-athletes in men’s and women’s basketball. The scholarship is named in honor of the NAIA’s first executive secretary who was also a prime mover behind the men’s basketball tournament. This award has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men’s and one junior women’s basketball student-athlete. Each student is awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Reagan Turner, a three-year captain on the women’s basketball team at Lindsey Wilson College, has been a standout on the court as well as in the classroom. The Gamaliel, Kentucky, native has maintained a 3.91 GPA while majoring in Human Services and Counseling with a minor in Psychology. Her outstanding accomplishments on the court are notable, including being named a two-time NAIA All-American, Mid-South Conference Player of the Year (2018-19), Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year (2017-18) and a three-time Mid-South All-Conference Team recipient. She eclipsed the 1,000 career point total as a sophomore and is on pace to become the program’s all-time leading scorer as she has currently totaled 1,818 points heading into her senior season. Turner is selfless with her time, most recently immersing herself in assisting with COVID-19 relief. She spent her summer working at Stitches, Inc., a locally owned business that sews medical gowns for personal protective equipment use and helped in the distribution to supply doctors and frontline health care workers. Additionally, Turner has offered her time to annual youth basketball camps, assembled boxes for Operation Christmas Child, participated in local shoe drives and volunteered 250 hours at a local daycare. Turner truly exemplifies what it means to be a leader and has garnered the respect and admiration of many on campus and throughout her community.
Riley Costen, from Hudsonville, Michigan, has been an outstanding student-athlete on the Cornerstone University men’s basketball team. A two-time captain and winner of the team’s Golden Eagle Award, a seasonal award given to the person on the team who best represents the core values of integrity, leadership, work ethic and servant leadership. Costen was also named an All-WHAC second team all-conference player and to the All-WHAC Defensive Team as a junior. He has also excelled academically, where he has maintained a 3.98 GPA as a Pre-Med major, earning the prestigious CoSIDA first team Academic All-America honors last year. Costen has served as a lab assistant in the Biology Department for the past two years and is a tutor for students in the subjects of Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. In addition to his excellence on the court and in the classroom, Costen has been the head of the Community Service Committee of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team, volunteered at the 3 Mile Project and the Feed My Starving Children Center and assisted in summer basketball camps. As his head coach Kim Elders stated, “He is an exceptional young man who has excelled both academically and athletically, as well as being a person with very high character.”
Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award: Savannah Gregory, Campbellsville University
Named in honor of Dr. LeRoy Walker, former NAIA president and president emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee, this award recognizes a junior or senior student-athlete who displays the NAIA Champions of Character® Five Core Values, demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and models excellence in campus and community leadership.
Savannah Gregory, women’s basketball and track & field student-athlete at Campbellsville University, has exemplified what it means to be a servant leader through her work in the classroom, community and everyday life. Her passion for service is evident through her involvement with the NAIA’s Association of Student-Athletes (ASA) as a representative for the Mid-South Conference and as president of Campbellsville’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Gregory believes that servant leadership allows her to tie together all of the five core values to positively influence her environment. Gregory has helped impact her local community through her love of sport and her commitment to the church as their sports outreach coordinator. In addition, Gregory supports the efforts of track & field Special Olympics athletes in their experience qualifying for State events. As a two-time Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year, her work ethic is unparalleled. Gregory is a tremendous example of what it means to live consciously with integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
Gregory has maintained a 3.92 GPA while balancing two intercollegiate sport seasons as she pursues a career in teaching. Her passion for others is interwoven in the life she hopes to build beyond athletics, as her peers value and take notice of her high character. She has been on the Dean’s List, the President’s List and awarded as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete while a student-athlete at Campbellsville University.
NAIA Coach of Character Award: Ashlee Pritchard, Marian University
The NAIA Coach of Character Award is presented annually to an NAIA head coach who is dedicated to teaching character through sport.
Ashlee Pritchard, head women’s volleyball coach at Marian University, has been selected as this year’s NAIA Coach of Character. Pritchard is in her eighth season at Marian and has an overall record of 169-95. She integrates character coaching strategies through planning thoughtful community service projects, encouraging an academic focus and offering numerous team and character-building activities.
Former student-athletes say that Coach Pritchard is as committed to their personal successes as she is to their athletic achievements. Her day-to-day focus is on how small moments of character can compile to create significant change. One of her teams’ customs is to practice self-accountability throughout their drills. This activity teaches student-athletes to understand that integrity also occurs when no one is watching, and it is in the hands of the individual to choose to do what is right.
Pritchard has impacted the lives of numerous young women she has coached and mentored. Pritchard has brought success to the program through both athletic and academic recognition as the 2018-19 Team of Character Academic Award, and even the program’s first NAIA National Championship. Her transformational leadership extends beyond the court into the community, and Marian’s ability to soar is a vibrant example of that.
Athletics Director of the Year: Jason Horn, Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana’s Jason Horn has been selected as the 2020 NAIA Athletics Director of the Year for his contributions and achievements within his institution’s athletics department and at a national level. This prestigious honor is awarded to an athletics director for their success and development within all facets of athletics administration over the course of the previous academic year.
In six years as the athletic director at Xavier University of Louisiana, Horn has reached impressive levels of success through his ability to empower his staff, coaches and student-athletes to thrive during competition, in the classroom and throughout the community. Under Horn’s leadership, the department has grown in size and achievement, expanding from six sports back in 2008-09 to sponsoring 13 sports heading into the 2020-21 season. Xavier will bring back baseball for the first time since 1960 and will debut a softball team for the first time ever this year. In 2019-20, women’s indoor track and field returned to XULA, while competitive cheer was introduced for the first time in Xavier’s history.
In 2019-20, Xavier won the Thomas Howell Cup, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference all-sports award, for the fifth time in Horn’s six-year tenure, earning six GCAC team championships last year. Horn was also named the league’s Athletic Director of the Year for the third time in the last four years. Horn saw a school record 167 honorees on the Sister Grace Mary Flickinger Honor Roll in 2019, which has nearly tripled from its 66 honorees in 2016. Additionally, the Xavier student-athletes collectively earned a 2.99 GPA for the 2019-20 academic year, the highest mark in the past 10 years.
Horn has quickly ascended to leadership positions within the NAIA, serving on and contributing to numerous committees on the campus, conference and national levels. He has been an instrumental part of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, most recently heading up the COVID-19 Task Force, while also serving on the Awards Policy, Constitution and Bylaws and Membership Expansion committees. Horn has chaired the GCAC’s Council of Athletic Directors and is completing a two-year term as the conference President. On a national level, Horn was recently appointed as the 3rd Vice President of the NAIA-Athletic Directors Association Board Directors and also is an active member of the NAIA’s National Administrative Council. Additionally, Horn is a board member of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.
Horn’s wealth of experience and knowledge has been vital to Xavier’s growth and continued success, supporting its athletic and academic mission in creative and impactful ways. He inspires everyone around him to reach higher, instilling in his department staff and student-athletes the motto, “Win, grow, graduate.”
Charles Morris Administrator of the Year: Patsy Livingston, California Pacific Conference and Golden State Athletic Conference
The 2020 Charles Morris Administrator of the Year award winner is Patsy Livingston of the California Pacific Conference and the Golden State Athletic Conference. This honor, which was created in memory of the former NAIA Associate Executive Director Charles Morris, recognizes an NAIA member who has made significant contributions as an administrator of intercollegiate athletics, while also exemplifying the loyalty and enthusiasm that Mr. Morris had for the association.
Livingston serves as the NAIA Eligibility Chair for both the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) and California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac), overseeing student-athlete eligibility processes at 25 institutions across 32 different sports. She has been a part of the Golden State Athletic Conference since 1994 when she worked as the Faculty Athletics Representative at former NAIA member institution Point Loma Nazarene University. Livingston continued to work as the GSAC’s Eligibility Chair even after Point Loma left the NAIA and she retired from her teaching duties. Livingston also took over those same duties for the Cal Pac in 2016 following the unexpected passing of NAIA Hall of Fame member Dr. Jim Davies of William Jessup University, who had served as the league’s Eligibility Chair for nearly 20 years.
In addition to her duties as the Eligibility Chair, Livingston has also worked on various national committees, most notably an 11-year stint as a member of the NAIA Conduct and Ethics Committee, serving as the chair from 2001-05. She also was a part of the NAIA’s Council of Faculty Athletic Representatives in 2011-12. As a very active Faculty Athletics Representative, Livingston has been a part of seven site visit teams for potential new NAIA members, including five institutions that are now members of the Cal Pac. She has also traveled to nearly every conference member institution in both the GSAC and Cal Pac to provide a Rules Education Workshop for coaches.
She has shown a deep dedication and expertise in her role with the NAIA eligibility process. She has built close working relationships with administrators, coaches and student-athletes throughout her career. Her passion and level of care for each person she interacts with is evident in her everyday life. Livingston is truly a woman of character, professionalism and commitment who truly reflects all that the Charles Morris Administrator of the Year Award stands for.
Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year: Marsha Lashley, Missouri Valley College
Marsha Lashley of Missouri Valley College is the 2020 Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year. In honor of past vice president of NAIA Legislative Services and NAIA Hall of Famer Wally Schwartz, this prestigious award recognizes a faculty athletics representative who exemplifies the loyalty, enthusiasm and honesty that Mr. Schwartz showed on behalf of the NAIA.
Lashley has significantly contributed to Missouri Valley College for over 30 years in a variety of roles. Her most valuable contribution has been in her role as registrar and faculty athletics representative for the past 25 years. In addition, she serves on numerous NAIA committees, including chair of the National Competitive Experience Committee, member of the Council of Faculty Athletic Representatives and as a representative of the NAIA on campus visits with potential members.
Along with her roles at the national level, Lashley holds important roles with the Heart of America Athletic Conference. For the past eight years, she has served as the Heart Eligibility Chair and currently serves in the important capacity as a member of the Heart’s COVID-19 task force.
Lashley’s peers can attest that she truly embodies the NAIA values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. She exhibits all of those qualities daily as she works with the student-athletes of Missouri Valley College. Lashley has developed lifelong relationships and made a positive impact in the lives of thousands of young people throughout her 35 years working for Missouri Valley College.
Sports Information Director of the Year: Tommy Chasanoff, University of the Cumberlands
The NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year is awarded annually to one SID based on accomplishments during the previous year in the areas of athletics communication, sports information, strategic communication and service to the NAIA.
The 2020 recipient of the NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year is Tommy Chasanoff from the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.). Chasanoff has led the communications and media efforts for the Patriot’s athletics department for the past four years. In that time, he has managed the communications of 28 varsity sports with both written and digital mediums, in addition to garnering both local and national publicity for his teams.
Chasanoff has invested heavily in the Cumberlands’ social media presence for its department and that investment has paid significant dividends. UC Athletics gained nearly 900 new Twitter followers, over 1,100 Instagram followers and just shy of 1,000 Facebook followers, all over the course of the year. Many of these wins are due to new and exciting social media campaigns he has implemented including the “Most Memorable Moment Challenge” on Twitter. Additionally, in perhaps the most challenging year in college sports history in terms of content in the spring semester, the communications veteran both developed the concept and implemented several campaigns after the halt of sports including “This Day in History” and “Senior Spotlights” in March and April.
In addition to his contributions to his institution, Chasanoff has made similar outstanding contributions to the NAIA through his work on the NAIA-Sports Information Directors Association Board of Directors (NAIA-SIDA). His work throughout his career has made Chasanoff one of the most well-respected athletics communications professionals in all of college athletics. He currently serves the board in an at-large position and is the liaison to the statistics committee, where he lobbies for improvements in all facets of statistics collection and submission on behalf of the association. Additionally, he also serves on the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Health and Wellness Committee in addition to the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
A two-time recipient of the Mid-South Conference Bill Sergent Sports Information Director of the Year award, Chasanoff was also honored on his campus for his work. In 2019, he was named the Staff Member of the Year by the Student Government Association.
University of the Cumberlands Provost, Dr. Emily Coleman stated: “Even with sports coming to a grinding halt in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Chasanoff found creative ways to highlight graduating student-athletes whom were not able to compete in their final season through the web production of the 2020 Pats Awards. With (his) demonstrated leadership and talent coordinating our sports information department, I am excited to see what the future will bring at UC.”
Clarence "Ike" Pearson SID Award: Cindy Potter, Columbia College
Given annually to a member of the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA), the Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award honors outstanding contributions to the profession. The award is named in honor of the former statistical crew chief of the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in Kansas City, Mo.
The 2020 recipient of the Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award is Cindy Potter, whom has been at Columbia College since 2006, currently serving as the Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations and Compliance. Additionally, Potter served as the Co-Conference Sports Information Director of the American Midwest Conference with past Ike Pearson Award Recipient Steve Wilson from 2011 through 2015. She was also the Region V Sports Information Director from 2007 through 2008.
Potter is perhaps the most decorated Sports Information Director (SID) in the history of the NAIA. In June of 2021, she will become the first NAIA SID to become president of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). In addition to also serving as the NAIA-Sports Information Directors’ Association President previously, she is also a past winner of the CoSIDA Rising Star Award in 2008, awarded to the SID with 10 years or less of service that is making the greatest impact in his or her profession at a young age.
In addition to her longstanding tenure with Columbia College as an administrator, Potter was inducted into the Columbia College Hall of Fame for her work on the softball diamond while a student-athlete there.
Former Ike Pearson Award winner and current Kansas Wesleyan Director of Athletics Steve Wilson said of Potter, “No other communications professional, outside of those whom work at the national office, has ever given the NAIA such a strong, powerful voice at the national level in the College Sports Information Directors of America. Cindy is everything we, as either current or former NAIA administrators, should want in our national body. Honesty, integrity, character, and a big heart.”
Athletic Trainer of the Year: Katie Pierce, University of Saint Mary
The NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year recognizes an athletic trainer at an NAIA institution who has distinguished themselves as a model of the profession in personal conduct and professional service to NAIA student-athletes.
The 2020 recipient of the NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year is Katie Pierce of the University of Saint Mary. In 2019, Pierce came to Saint Mary after serving as an athletic trainer at Kansas Wesleyan University for 10 years. In just one year at Saint Mary, she conducted research on athletic training internships and graduate assistants and was an integral part in USM’s administration, converting one GA position to two full-time athletic training positions.
Since beginning her position as the Secretary of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Athletic Training Association in the fall of 2019, Pierce created a survey regarding Junior Varsity teams and athletic trainer coverage. She also created and sent out the first-ever KCAC ATA Newsletter, informing the league’s athletic trainers of the conference's happenings. Pierce also serves on the NAIA-Athletic Training Association Newsletter Committee.
Pierce is an adjunct faculty member with the Master of Athletic Training program at Saint Mary, teaching Pharmacology and the Organization and Administration of Athletic Training, and serving as a lead preceptor within our clinical site. While at Kansas Wesleyan, Pierce also worked as an adjunct faculty member in the Sport and Exercise Department, overseeing the SPES club for eight years. Pierce has volunteered her time for several events, including Coyotes for the Cure cancer campaign, the American Heart Association Red Out and various events held through the SPES club.
Pierce is always willing to go the extra mile, with anything from her athletic training duties, teaching and volunteering. Pierce is dependable and trustworthy and truly cares about her athletes and their health. In addition to her professionalism, she makes the Saint Mary athletic training room fun with her sense of humor and is a great leader and mentor to the other athletic training staff and students.
Larry Lady Officiating Award: Bill Gomoluch, NAIA Softball National Coordinator of Umpires
The Larry Lady Officiating Award, named in honor of the former NAIA Coordinator of Officials for basketball, football and baseball, recognizes officials of outstanding moral character, quality officiating ability and who are held in high esteem by their colleagues, administrators and athletes.
The 2020 Larry Lady Officiating Award recipient is Bill Gomoluch of Deerfield, Michigan. Gomuluch has served as the National Coordinator and umpire-in-chief for the NAIA World Series for the past 14 years. During the past five years, he has also added the duty of Softball Resource Advisor to the NAIA. Since 2011, Gomoluch has been the Wolverine-Hoosier Conference supervisor of umpires while also coordinating officials at various NCAA Division II and III conferences.
Gomoluch umpired in the NAIA World Series from 2004 through 2007 and he continues to umpire in multiple collegiate conferences during the regular season. He has been assigned to numerous postseason games at all levels of the NCAA, including the Division I World Series Championship game in 2014. Gomoluch was also named the 2018 National Pro Fast Pitch “Umpire of the Year.”
Gomoluch was instrumental in founding a local officiating association where he serves as the secretary/treasurer to give back to the game. This association has grown to include multiple sports, and he also assists with required mandates from the Michigan State High School Activities Association. Gomoluch also leads several clinics throughout the year, where he mentors umpires to enhance and grow the world of softball umpiring.
Grand View University head coach Lou Yacinich says, “Bill is a true steward of the game. His passion for and his commitment to the game is exemplary. Bill takes great pride in all of his roles with thought, insight and humor.”
Laura Klutsarits of Siena Heights University, who has served as an NAIA World Series Tournament Committee member throughout the years, states ”When everything is at stake, Bill shows grace and humility with coaches, students and fans alike to help ensure a strong experience for all involved.”
As Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Commissioner Rob Miller has noted, “Bill’s professionalism is second to none. His relationships with our coaches and athletic directors are so positive and the respect for him is real. I truly feel that Bill is one of the top people in the profession and one of the great people to receive this award. While showing his incredible commitment to the NAIA, he demonstrates the class and character in which this award is intended for.”
2019-20 NAIA Hall of Fame Inductees
The Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor presented by the association. Nominees must have outstanding character and leadership ability, and be held in high esteem by their colleagues, former coaches and athletes. The Hall of Fame consists of an athlete and coach category for each sport and a category for general meritorious service.
Tim Bishop, Black Hills State University, Cross Country/Track & Field – Athlete
A native of Lindsborg, Kansas, Tim Bishop paved his way to Black Hills State University following a standout two-year stint at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. After transferring to Black Hills State in 2000, Bishop played an integral role in the growth and continued success of the Yellow Jacket cross country and track & field programs.
Bishop was a nine-time NAIA All-American, earning the honor once in cross country (2002) and a combined eight times in indoor and outdoor track and field. He brought three individual NAIA national titles, including the indoor 1,000-meter run (2002), indoor mile run (2002) and outdoor 1,500-meter run (2003), while also adding one team NAIA national title in the indoor distance medley relay (2001).
Bishop set numerous Black Hills State track and field records, including seven indoor (600-meter, 800-meter, 1,000-meter, 1,500-meter, mile, 4x800-meter relay and distance medley relay) and four outdoor (800-meter, 1,500-meter, 4x800-meter relay and distance medley relay). He won six Dakota Athletic Conference titles and was named the Dakota Athletic Conference Most Valuable Senior in cross country in 2002 and track & field in 2003 at the DAC outdoor championship.
Bishop also earned Dakota Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete honors each season he competed as a Yellow Jacket and was a five-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Bishop was inducted into the Black Hills State University Athletic Hall of Fame on two different occasions, in 2012 as a member of the 2000 NAIA Cross Country National Championship runner-up team and in 2014 for his individual accomplishments in cross country and track.
Upon graduation, Bishop remained at Black Hills State University, serving two years as an assistant coach before beginning his teaching career at Spearfish Middle School in Spearfish, South Dakota. From 2005-2012, he taught middle school Physical Education and was an assistant coach on the Spearfish High School track team.
Bishop currently resides in his hometown of Lindsborg, Kansas, with his wife Wesleigh, and three boys – Kaden, Evan and Kallen. He works as a Physical Education and Health teacher at Salina Middle School in Salina, Kansas, and is also an assistant coach for the cross country and track and field teams at Salina South High School.
Brian Charles DeRoo, University of Redlands, Football/Track & Field – Athlete
A native of Redlands, California, Brian Charles DeRoo was a three-sport athlete at Redlands High School, excelling in football, basketball and golf, before becoming an All-American in both football and track and field at the University of Redlands.
On the football field, DeRoo led the University of Redlands to four-straight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championships (1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977). The Bulldogs finished as the runner-up in the NAIA Division II National Championship game in 1976, where DeRoo was named the Outstanding Player of the Game. He was a three-time All- SCIAC First Team honoree (1975, 1976 and 1977), earned three consecutive All-District First Team honors (1975, 1976 and 1977) and was named a two-time NAIA All-American (1975 and 1976).
DeRoo also was a standout in track and field, excelling in both the decathlon and the triple jump. He won the SCIAC triple jump title in 1975, was a three-time District champion in the decathlon (1976, 1977 and 1978) and was a two-time NAIA All-American after two third-place finishes in the National Championships decathlon (1977 and 1978).
DeRoo was a fifth-round pick by the New York Giants in 1978, where he played for more than four seasons with the Giants and the Baltimore Colts before spending three more seasons playing in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Concorde. In 1979, DeRoo was named the Special Teams Player of the Year by the Baltimore Colts and recorded the season’s longest touchdown reception in a game against Tampa Bay.
DeRoo was inducted into the University of Redlands Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984 and his Bulldogs’ No. 2 football jersey was retired in 1978. He was also inducted to the Redlands High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
Following his highly successful athletic career, DeRoo returned to Southern California where he served as a teacher and coach for more than 30 years. He has taught Physical Education, Math and Science, while also serving as a Counselor. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University (1988) and received his Education Services Credential from Chapman University in 1998. DeRoo currently resides in Indio, California, with his wife Penny and twin children – Shianne and Nicholas.
Hillary Holt, The College of Idaho, Cross Country/Track & Field – Athlete
A native of Boise, Idaho, Hillary Holt dominated the NAIA track middle-distance and cross country events during her College of Idaho career, becoming one of the most decorated athletes ever to don a Coyotes uniform.
Holt’s list of accolades at The College of Idaho are impressive, including earning 17 NAIA All-America honors, nine individual NAIA national titles and two additional relay national championships. She also produced eight total Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) individual championships. Holt was named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Year twice (2012, 2013) and Track & Field Athlete of the Year twice (2013, 2014), while earning CCC Athlete of the Year (all sports) in both 2013 and 2014.
In Cross Country, Holt was dominant during both the 2012 and 2013 seasons, winning nine individual races, including two-straight NAIA National Championship titles. She also helped her College of Idaho team to two consecutive national runner-up finishes.
In Indoor Track, Holt recorded a rare three-peat in back-to-back NAIA National Championships, winning the 3,000-meter and mile run in 2013 and the mile and 800-meter run in 2014, while also anchoring the College of Idaho’s distance medley relay to national titles in both years.
In Outdoor Track, Holt won three-straight 1,500-meter NAIA National Championship crowns. Her victory at the 2013 Oregon Relays established the fastest 1,500-meter time in NAIA history (4:11.62), while also meeting the standard for the U.S. Track and Field Outdoor Championships, where she was one of only three collegiate athletes to advance to the 1,500-meter final.
In addition to her numerous honors on the track and cross country course, Holt was also an exceptional student in the classroom. She received a degree in Exercise Science in 2014, while also earning minors in Spanish, Political Economy and Coaching. Holt was named to the Cascade Collegiate Conference All-Academic Team six times and also earned four NAIA Scholar-Athlete plaudits. Holt is also only one of two College of Idaho student-athletes to be honored as a two-time first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Following her standout career as a student-athlete, Holt ran professionally for Adidas in Austin, Texas, before returning home to run for the Idaho Track Club, a group led by her former College of Idaho head coach, Patrick McCurry. After several injuries ended her running career, she spent time as an assistant coach at Concordia-Irvine. Holt currently resides in Costa Mesa, California, where she works as an instructor at SoulCycle.
Scott Morgan, Dakota Wesleyan University, Men’s Basketball – Athlete
Hailing from Mitchell, South Dakota, Scott Morgan left an imprint on the history of basketball in his hometown, starring first at Mitchell High School before becoming one of the most dominant players in the history of Dakota Wesleyan University.
Morgan totaled 2,810 career points in four years at Dakota Wesleyan, which stands as the second-most points in Tiger program history and remains as the fourth most points scored in the state of South Dakota collegiate basketball history. As a junior at DWU, Morgan led the NAIA Division II in scoring, averaging 30.6 points per game, while his rebounding average of 12.8 ranked fourth in the NAIA. He still holds the state record for most points scored in a college game (57) and his 887 points in the 1991-92 season are the second most points scored in a season in program history.
Morgan was a four-time South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) first-team All-Conference selection and was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player three times. He led the Tigers to two SDIC championships, in both 1990 and 1992. Morgan was named to the South Dakota All-College Team three times and was selected as the South Dakota College Male Athlete of the Year in 1993.
Morgan was a two-time NAIA first-team All-American (1992, 1993) and recognized as the NAIA Division II National Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (1991-92 and 1992-93).
He became the fifth player in Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball history to have his jersey retired and was also elected to the DWU Hall of Fame in 2000.
Following his storied career at Dakota Wesleyan, Morgan remained in his hometown of Mitchell, South Dakota, with his wife Stacy, and three children – Cole, Connor and Payton. As an alumnus, Morgan is a key contributor to Dakota Wesleyan as a local business owner in Mitchell, frequently giving back to the Tiger athletic program and is a significant member of the DWU Booster Club.
Bruce Polen, William Penn University, Football – Athlete
A native of Dennison, Ohio, Bruce Polen was arguably the best defensive back in the history of William Penn University football. Polen was a key component on the Statesmen’ defense from 1969-1972, as he was known for covering the opposing teams’ best receiver and completely taking them out of the game.
Polen was a starter on one of the best defensive units in a four-year span at William Penn. In 1970, Polen played an important role on the Statesmen defense that allowed an average of 126 yards per game, which still remains an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record. That same year, the Statesmen defense set two other school records, including fewest yards allowed in a game (3 yards) and lowest average rushing yards allowed in a season (68.5 yards). In 1972, Polen was on one of the winningest teams in WPU football history (10 wins), while the Statesmen’ 76 points allowed that season is also a William Penn school record.
Individually, Polen was a three-time first-team all-conference and all-region player at William Penn, while also being named a two-time NAIA first-team All-American. His 14 career interceptions are tied for the fifth most in Statesmen football history, while his seven interceptions in 1972 also rank tied for fifth all-time at William Penn.
Polen was drafted in the 14th round by the Oakland Raiders in 1973 and played on both the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders squads.
Following his playing career, Polen earned his Master of Arts degree at Central Missouri State University. He then entered the coaching ranks, serving as the defensive coordinator at Pittsburg State University for their 1981 National Runner-Up team. He also served as the Gorillas’ head coach during the 1982 and 1983 seasons, compiling a record of 13-6.
Polen was inducted into the William Penn University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
After his coaching career, Polen became a successful business owner. Polen is currently retired and resides in Pittsburg, Kansas, with his wife Vicky. They have two children, Jenny and Drew, and four grandchildren.
Jeff Bain, Martin Methodist University – Meritorious Service
Jeff Bain, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, has been a mainstay on the campus of Martin Methodist College (MMC) for nearly 30 years. Bain first came to Martin Methodist in 1993 as the special assistant to the president with the responsibility of overseeing the transition of MMC from a two-year institution to a four-year institution before taking over as Athletic Director, a position he has held for 27 years.
Throughout his career at Martin Methodist, Bain has spearheaded many different campus initiatives, including the creation of the MMC Sports Hall of Fame, the development of the MMC Intercollegiate Athletic Policy and Procedure Manual, the startup of the RedHawks’ Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Champions of Character program, Student-Athlete Enhancement Program and Sport Management academic and intern program. He has also taken a lead role in the acquisition of land and the building of athletic venues at the school's East Campus Athletic Complex, the development of creative marketing and funding opportunities for Martin Methodist sports, while also launching eight new intercollegiate sport teams during his tenure.
Under Bain’s leadership, RedHawk athletic programs have captured over 30 conference championships, four NAIA National Championship crowns, four SCTP Clay Target National Championships, as well as had several National Coaches and Players of the Year.
Bain has been recognized by his peers on numerous occasions for his leadership at Martin Methodist, most recently named the NAIA Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year in 2014-15. In addition, he has been the TransSouth Athletic Conference Athletic Director of the Year five times, the NACDA Athletic Director of the Year on three occasions and the Southern States Athletic Conference Athletic Director of the Year once.
Bain’s most notable work has been his involvement and leadership within the NAIA. He helped initiate the development of a new NAIA-Athletic Directors Association (NAIA-ADA) structure that provided athletic directors a greater voice throughout NAIA membership. Bain helped foster a very strong relationship with the NAIA-ADA and the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA), which brought the NAIA within NACDA’s official membership body.
Bain has also served on various NAIA committees, including the NAIA Region XI Management Committee, President and member of the Board of Directors of the NAIA-Athletic Directors Association and the National Administrative Council (NAC). He has also been heavily involved in the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), where he served on their Board of Directors culminating to his tenure as president in 2009-10. During his involvement with NACMA, Bain brought significant programming to the NAIA Convention each year in which he served.
Bain has been an important member in helping shape and guide the membership in important decisions and changes and his loyalty to Martin Methodist College and the NAIA have made him one of the most respected administrators in the NAIA.
Prior to joining Martin Methodist, Bain served the State of Tennessee for 15 years as a classroom educator and football and track coach at Tullahoma High School, Farragut High School and Giles County High School. Currently, Bain resides in Pulaski, Tennessee, with his wife, Donna, a retired teacher at Southside Elementary School. Bain and his wife have two children, Nathan and Rachel.
John Reynders, Morningside College – Meritorious Service
John Reynders came to Morningside College as its 12th president in 1999 and is now the longest serving president in the history of the institution. Reynders brought his successful approach to strategic planning and his philosophy of the relentless pursuit of excellence to Morningside, and has been the driving force for a period of great transformation for the campus throughout his 21-year tenure.
Reynders spearheaded Morningside’s transition from a struggling NCAA Division II institution to a flourishing NAIA success story. He developed a plan and worked tirelessly to execute those ideas to enhance the overall experience at Morningside College throughout many aspects of the campus community, including athletics, academics, fundraising, enrollment and facility renovations, ultimately making Morningside more attractive to prospective students and the community.
Under Reynders’ leadership, Morningside has thrived in athletics since moving to the NAIA, expanding from 12 varsity sports in 2000-01 to 28 varsity sports in 2019-20. The Mustangs have won six NAIA National Championships since 2004, including four in women’s basketball (2004, 2005, 2009 and 2015) and two in football (2018 and 2019), while also garnering numerous individual national honors in track and field, swimming and wrestling. Morningside has received the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) All-Sports trophy in six of the last nine years.
Over the last 20 years, Reynders helped raise more than $125 million, with $70 million dedicated to new and renovated facilities. He increased full-time enrollment by 75-percent and graduate enrollment by 700-percent and supported the successful launch of expanded research opportunities and opportunities for students to study abroad. Reynders introduced several new academic program offerings at Morningside, including Applied Agriculture and Food Studies, Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Nursing program and the college’s first-ever doctoral program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Reynders’ guidance extends well beyond the campus at Morningside College, as he has been very involved at both the conference and national level. His involvement and leadership on numerous committees has greatly impacted the NAIA, including the NAIA’s Council of Presidents Executive Committee, Growth Advisory Panel, Drug Testing and Education Committee, Membership Committee, Competitive Experience Committee, Eligibility Task Force and the Football Championship Task Force.
The success of Morningside College during Reynders’ career is clearly visible from the outside, but more importantly, he has invigorated a sense of community that helped to build a culture of pride that continues to permeate the campus today.
Currently, President Reynders and his wife Robin, reside in Sioux City, Iowa, where they are dedicated supporters of Morningside College athletics and many other campus programs. Reynders and his wife have three sons – Matthew, Chuck and Jeremy.
Conference Commissioners Association Champions of Character® Team Award
The Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) Champions of Character® Team Award is given annually to one men’s and one women’s team for their exemplary character on the field, on campus and in the community. This year’s award winners are Williams Baptist University men’s wrestling and Warner Pacific University women’s basketball.
Williams Baptist University, Men's Wrestling
During the 2019-20 academic year, the Williams Baptist University men’s wrestling team completed 1,488 man-hours of community service in their local area. The team helped with a several different events ranging from youth wrestling clinics to physical labor.
The Eagles kicked off the 2019-20 academic year with a community cleanup project on a section of the Lawrence County Rail-Trail. The rail-trail is a 6-mile walking/biking trail that stretches from the Williams Baptist campus through Walnut Ridge, Ark. The team spent time trimming weeds and picking up debris from the trail to allow runners/bikers an easier route between campus and downtown Walnut Ridge.
Williams Baptist also volunteer much of their time in the local wrestling community, hosting three different youth clinics and serving as table workers for the Arkansas State Duals, which is an annual high school event.
“It is never our intention to be praised for the servant leadership our men display, it is just inherent to the culture of our program,” said head coach Todd Allen after winning the American Midwest Conference Team of Character award. “These guys selflessly give their time and effort throughout the community and campus.”
Warner Pacific University, Women's Basketball
The Knights, led by head coach Matt Gregg, were constantly putting the association’s core values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership into action during the 2019-20 academic year.
For the last four years, the Knights have honored Lexi De Los Reyes as their “Sixth Man.” Lexi, who has a brain tumor that has left her blind, is the most faithful fan of the Knight’s women’s basketball team. When Lexi is able to attend a WPU home game, she is announced with the starting lineup and sits on the bench to cheer the Knights to victory. She is an integral part of the team.
Once a month, the women’s basketball team partners with Potluck in the Park to provide warm meals to the homeless community in downtown Portland, Ore. On average, the Knights serve between 400-500 people.
The Knights also put on “Hoopin’ for the Homeless” every February in conjunction with the Warner Pacific men’s basketball team. During this event, socks are collected at home contests over a weekend and then donated to the community.
The Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized throughout the year at their respective NAIA National Championships, national coaches’ association meetings or at the 80th NAIA National Convention. More detailed information about each inductee will be released prior to these ceremonies. View the complete list of NAIA Hall of Famers.
