ONU Hall of Famers George Killian, Julie Lenhart inducted into national coaches Halls of Fame
By Tim Glon
ADA — Ohio Northern alumni and Athletic Hall of Famers George Killian ('49) and Julie Lenhart ('80) were recently inducted into their respective national coaches association Halls of Fame.
Killian, a 1979 inductee into the ONU Athletics Hall of Fame, was recently inducted into the National Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Lenhart, a 1997 inductee into the ONU Athletics Hall of Fame, was announced as a 2014 inductee into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Killian, who led the NJCAA for 35 years as its executive director, was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday, Nov. 24, in Kansas City, Mo., as part of a three-day celebration that also includes the CBE Hall of Fame Classic featuring Texas, BYU, DePaul and Wichita State at the nearby Sprint Center.
Killian is one of nine individuals and one team that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, including renowned coaches Gene Keady and Rollie Massimino. The induction ceremony aired on ESPNU.
Killian began his career in the NJCAA as the athletic director and head men's basketball coach at Erie Community College (N.Y.) in 1954. He was elected president of the NJCAA in 1967 and two years later was tabbed as the organization's first executive director – a post he held until 2004. His vision, dedication and leadership helped establish the NJCAA as the second-largest national collegiate athletic organization in the United States. He was instrumental in fostering the organization's special role in providing athletic and academic opportunities to student-athletes and lifted the NJCAA's men's basketball championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., to national prominence.
"George dedicated his entire career advancing men's and women's collegiate athletics," commented current NJCAA Executive Director Mary Ellen Leicht. "His induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame is a great honor for him and the NJCAA alike. I speak for the entire NJCAA when I say congratulations and thank you."
In addition to his leadership with the NJCAA, Killian was a key figure on the international stage. From 1990-98, Killian served as the president of FIBA, the international governing body of basketball. He also was a member of the United States Olympic Committee's Board of Directors from 1967-2004 and had a seat on the International Olympic Committee from 1996-98. In 1999 he was elected president of FISU (International University Sports Federation) and served two terms before resigning in 2011.
Lenhart will be one of four members of the 2014 NFCA Hall of Fame class and will be formally inducted at the NFCA's convention in 2014 in Las Vegas. Her induction, along with Oklahoma City University head coach Phil McSpadden, Alabama-Huntsville head coach Les Stuedeman and NFCA Executive Director Lacy Lee Baker will increase the NFCA Hall of Fame to 66 members. The 2014 induction class was announced at the end of the 2013 NFCA Hall of Fame banquet in San Antonio, Texas, on December 6.
Lenhart began coaching at Cortland in 1995 and in 19 years has a record of 637-240-2 (.726), which makes her the most successful coach in Red Dragon softball history. In 2012, she became just the seventh softball coach in Division III history to surpass 700 career wins, and her overall record through the 2013 season stands at 757-317-2 (.704) in 24 campaigns. Her 757 victories rank sixth all-time in Division III history. She has led Cortland to 30 or more wins 14 times, including five seasons of 40 or more victories.
Her Cortland teams qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs seven straight years from 2007-13 and three consecutive years each from 1997-99 and 2003-05, including World Series appearances in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013. She led Cortland to a national runner-up finish at the 2013 World Series and a fourth-place national showing in 2011, along with a tie for fifth place in both 2003 and 2008 and a tie for seventh place in 1998, 2004 and 2009.
Lenhart has been named State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Coach of the Year four times (1997, 2005, 2007 and 2010) and has led the Red Dragons to eight league titles. Lenhart has led the Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year seven times, most recently in 2013, and she was also named East Region Coach of the Year in 1997.
Lenhart A native of Findlay, Ohio, Lenhart is a 1980 graduate of Ohio Northern University. A Dean's List student, she lettered in basketball, softball and volleyball. She has also taught and coached at the North Central Schools in Pioneer, Ohio, and at Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio.
Killian is one of nine individuals and one team that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, including renowned coaches Gene Keady and Rollie Massimino. The induction ceremony will air on ESPNU on Wed., Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. (Eastern).
Killian began his career in the NJCAA as the athletic director and head men's basketball coach at Erie Community College (N.Y.) in 1954. He was elected president of the NJCAA in 1967 and two years later was tabbed as the organization's first executive director – a post he held until 2004. His vision, dedication and leadership helped establish the NJCAA as the second-largest national collegiate athletic organization in the United States. He was instrumental in fostering the organization's special role in providing athletic and academic opportunities to student-athletes and lifted the NJCAA's men's basketball championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., to national prominence.
"George dedicated his entire career advancing men's and women's collegiate athletics," commented current NJCAA Executive Director Mary Ellen Leicht. "His induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame is a great honor for him and the NJCAA alike. I speak for the entire NJCAA when I say congratulations and thank you." In addition to his leadership with the NJCAA, Killian was a key figure on the international stage. From 1990-98, Killian served as the president of FIBA, the international governing body of basketball. He also was a member of the United States Olympic Committee's Board of Directors from 1967-2004 and had a seat on the International Olympic Committee from 1996-98. In 1999 he was elected president of FISU (International University Sports Federation) and served two terms before resigning in 2011.
- See more at: http://www.njcaa.org/newsArticle.cfm?articleId=20468#sthash.Yx2gkpgJ.dpuf
Killian is one of nine individuals and one team that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, including renowned coaches Gene Keady and Rollie Massimino. The induction ceremony will air on ESPNU on Wed., Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. (Eastern).
Killian began his career in the NJCAA as the athletic director and head men's basketball coach at Erie Community College (N.Y.) in 1954. He was elected president of the NJCAA in 1967 and two years later was tabbed as the organization's first executive director – a post he held until 2004. His vision, dedication and leadership helped establish the NJCAA as the second-largest national collegiate athletic organization in the United States. He was instrumental in fostering the organization's special role in providing athletic and academic opportunities to student-athletes and lifted the NJCAA's men's basketball championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., to national prominence.
"George dedicated his entire career advancing men's and women's collegiate athletics," commented current NJCAA Executive Director Mary Ellen Leicht. "His induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame is a great honor for him and the NJCAA alike. I speak for the entire NJCAA when I say congratulations and thank you." In addition to his leadership with the NJCAA, Killian was a key figure on the international stage. From 1990-98, Killian served as the president of FIBA, the international governing body of basketball. He also was a member of the United States Olympic Committee's Board of Directors from 1967-2004 and had a seat on the International Olympic Committee from 1996-98. In 1999 he was elected president of FISU (International University Sports Federation) and served two terms before resigning in 2011.
- See more at: http://www.njcaa.org/newsArticle.cfm?articleId=20468#sthash.Yx2gkpgJ.dpuf