35|35 Anniversary Website
This is the 15th installment of a series of 35 moments, milestones, and facts that will be featured throughout the 2013-14 academic year to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Earlier today the 14th induction class of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame was announced, with six honorees earning the league’s highest distinction. Among the six inductees was Northern Kentucky University legendary women’s basketball coach Nancy Winstel.
Her honor gave NKU a conference-record 11 GLVC Hall of Fame selections, one more than the University of Southern Indiana. Perhaps it was fitting that Winstel, a six-time GLVC Coach of the Year and two-time NCAA Champion, gave the Norse the overall lead since her former NKU colleague and faculty athletics representative (FAR) Dr. Tom Kearns was the key figure in establishing the criteria for GLVC Hall of Fame induction.
Kearns, who joined three other conference representatives in the Class of 2010, is not just tied to the Hall of Fame as he had an impact on several other major areas that enabled the league’s growth. He spearheaded the GLVC’s first major expansion in 1995 as president and assisted the league in transitioning from a part-time to full-time commissioner and to presidential control. He developed the conference handbook and maintained the document along with the Constitution and Bylaws each year. Kearns also served on the league’s initial awards committee and put in countless hours developing conference schedules and an evaluation tool for officials.
In addition to Kearns and Winstel, nine other Northern Kentucky representatives made up of six student-athletes and two coaches and an administrator, have entered the GLVC Hall of Fame based on Kearns’ criteria.
One of those individuals is Jane Meier, one of the nation’s first female athletic directors. Meier began her career at NKU in 1978 as head volleyball coach and guided the Norse to the GLVC Championship in 1985 – the first conference title in school history. She would later become the softball and women’s basketball coach before becoming NKU’s athletic director in 1988. Under Meier’s leadership, NKU won two NCAA Division II national titles and captured 20 regional crowns. The Norse also won 61 GLVC regular-season or tournament championships during her tenure. Meier was also lauded for her leadership in the improvement in NKU basketball, softball and tennis facilities, as well as the six GLVC All-Sports Trophies and 11 postgraduate scholarship winners earned under her watch. She has long had the respect of her peers as well. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) chose Meier as a recipient of the 2003-04 Athletic Director of the Year Award, while the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association named her the 2000-01 National Administrator of the Year.
The year in between the induction of Kearns and Meier, another key league administrator was named as part of the Class of 2011. Dr. John Meisel served the GLVC in a leadership role for 13 years while fulfilling his duties as SIU Edwardsville’s FAR. Meisel served more than 30 years in that role and was instrumental in SIUE’s efforts to join the GLVC in 1994. He served as the GLVC president from 2005-07 after taking on the treasurer role from 2000-05. Meisel was also a member of the GLVC Executive Committee during the seven-year span. He was actively engaged in GLVC Championship events and represented the GLVC on the NCAA Division II Management Council from 2005-07. In addition to serving on key GLVC investigative committees, Meisel played a key role in the conference expansion efforts in 2004 and the evolvement of the conference office staff.
While the three aforementioned administrators contributed greatly to the modern-day shape of the conference, several early entrants to the GLVC Hall of Fame have long been associated with the actual formation of the league in 1978.
The inaugural Class of 2002 included Saint Joseph’s Richard F. Scharf and Bellarmine’s Jim Spalding, the two men commonly referred to as the “Founding Fathers” of the GLVC. However, several GLVC Hall of Fame inductees who followed were either athletics directors or faculty athletics representatives with the six charter members in 1978.
Dr. Charles Bertram was a longtime FAR at Southern Indiana and served as the conference’s treasurer and president during his tenure. Bertram was recognized for his efforts in 2003 when he was inducted into the league’s second Hall of Fame class. Two additional administrators were also honored that year, including University of Indianapolis AD Bill Bright and Bellarmine FAR Dave O’Toole, who served as the league’s first president and later became the school’s AD.
Fred Martinelli was also one of the sitting athletics directors in 1978, heading up the Ashland University department. During his time in the GLVC, Martinelli served on numerous institution, conference, and national committees and provided much of the vision and leadership that helped make the GLVC what it is today.
Including the Class of 2014, 40 student-athletes have been elected to the GLVC Hall of Fame. Two of those representatives have remained close to the conference and now serve as head coach of the sport in which they excelled as a student-athlete.
USI basketball icon Stan Gouard was simply was one of the best men's basketball players the GLVC has ever seen. He was named National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Player of the Year in 1994-95 and 1995-96 and earned first team All-America honors both of those seasons as well. With Gouard's leadership, USI won a pair of GLVC titles (1993-94, 1995-96) and won the NCAA Division II Championship in 1994-95 under the direction of head coach Bruce Pearl – a Class of 2008 inductee. Since the 2008-09 campaign, Gouard has served as head men’s basketball coach at UIndy.
Josh Rabe was inducted as a member of the Class of 2007, having spent three years on the baseball team at Quincy from 1998-2000 before beginning a professional career in the Minnesota Twins organization. A three-time All-GLVC First Team selection, Rabe helped the Hawks compile a 104-54 record during his stay and was named the 1998 GLVC Freshman of the Year and 1999 GLVC Player of the Year while building up to the school’s first-ever GLVC Championship in 2000. Following his professional career with the Twins, Rabe returned to Quincy as the Hawks’ head coach in 2011 and promptly led QU to its second GLVC Championship in his first year.
Additionally, one other former GLVC student-athlete, who was elected to the GLVC Hall of Fame for his pitching efforts at Bellarmine from 1986-89, has gone on to establish himself as a league administrator. Scott Wiegandt, a Class of 2013 inductee, is currently in his ninth year as his alma mater’s director of athletics. This past summer, he was honored for his contributions as an administrator when he was named the 2012-13 Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year by NACDA.
For a complete breakdown of the 58 inductees of the GLVC Hall of Fame, click here. You can also click here to visit the online home of the GLVC Hall of Fame, which features all 58 bios including the six members of the Class of 2014.
NOTE: 35|35 will return with the 16th installment in the series on Wednesday, Jan. 8.