For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release

BURNSVILLE, Minn. —  The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has announced its 2016 Hall of Fame Inductees.  The induction ceremony will be held Tuesday, July 12 at the Best Western Premier in Burnsville, Minnesota at the NSIC’s 17th annual Summer Kickoff event.  A social will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 7 p.m.  Reserve your tickets for the banquet by visiting www.NorthernSun.org/SummerKickoff and filling out the online Hall of Fame Banquet Registration Form.  Registration is due by June 26 as space is limited for this event.

The class of 2016 includes: Jane Dusich, Bemidji State University; Sara Lee, Minnesota State University Moorhead;  Bob Olson, Northern State University; Alvin Ashley, Southwest Minnesota State University; John Manganaro, Wayne State College; and Larry Holstad, Winona State University.

Founded in 1986, the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC - the former men’s conference) Hall of Fame was established to recognize and honor those who made significant contributions to the conference, to create favorable publicity and public relations for the league and to help preserve the history of the NIC, its member institutions, student-athletes, and other significant individuals affiliated with the league.  For the first two inductions (1986 and 1990) each selection hailed from the NIC.  In 1993, the Northern Sun Conference (NSC - the former women’s conference) and the NIC merged, creating the current Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  After annual inductions since 2000, the NSIC Hall of Fame now boasts 189 members and one team.

The 23-member Class of 2000 was the first to include standout female student-athletes in the former NSC.  The 2000 inductees entered the Hall at the inaugural NSIC Summer Kickoff Event in Becker, Minnesota. The distinguished class of 2001 was enshrined in Willmar, Minnesota, as the conference moved the annual Summer Kickoff Event.  This year’s NSIC Hall of Fame includes six prominent inductees that are being recognized at the 17th annual NSIC Summer Kickoff Event, at its new home in Burnsville, Minnesota.  

Each NSIC school (who has been a league member for at least ten years) is asked to submit one candidate  per institution for induction into the Hall.  Each of the selectees are derived from individuals who have been affiliated with the NSIC, NIC, NSC and their member institutions.

In order to be eligible for the NSIC Hall of Fame, candidates must have made their contributions in one of the following areas: 1) former student-athletes, 2) administrator/coach, 3) official/supervisor/coordinator, 4) contributor/supporter, or 5) team. The conference provides two plaques, one of which will go to the inductee and one to the institution represented.  A history of each inductee will be kept in the league office and each institution will prominently display the plaques of their respective NSIC Hall of Fame inductees.  
Jayne Dusich was a standout on the cross country and track and field teams at Bemidji State University. After transferring to BSU from Vermilion Community College, Dusich became a six-time letter winner. She had an instant impact at BSU earning an individual Northern Sun Conference championship and first place finish at the District 13 cross country meet, while leading the Beavers to the NSC Championship and a District 13 title in 1989. She went on to place 30th at the NAIA national championships. That same year she was selected as the District 13 Most Valuable Athlete and earned BSU’s Most Valuable Female Athlete award. She became the first female to win back-to-back NSC cross country championships in 1990 before again being named NSC Most Valuable Athlete, earning all-district laurels by placing first at the District 13 meet and becoming the first BSU runner to be selected NAIA All-American, placing 18th.

While at BSU she also set school track and field records in eight events. She established indoor marks at the 1,000-meter (3:04.24), 1,500-meter (4:42.09) and 3,000-meter (10:27.85) distances, while posting records at 1,500-meters (4:46.80), 3,000-meters (10:31.90) and 5,000-meters (18:19.44) distances outdoors, five of which still stand today. In addition, Dusich competed in NAIA Nationals both years for indoor and outdoor track, was named NAIA All-American, garnered an NAIA Track and Field Scholar Athlete Award and was a two-time Academic All-American (1989 and 1990).

Dusich was the recipient of the NSC’s prestigious Willis R. Kelly Scholar Athlete Award in 1991, was named one of BSU’s 60 Outstanding Women Athletes and was a member of the BSU 30th Anniversary team.

Post BSU, Dusich returned to Ely, Minnesota where she started the girls cross country running team in 1995 and the boy’s in team in 2010. She has served as head girl’s track and cross country coach at Ely High School and earned Section 7A Coach of the Year honors for cross country in 2004 and 2006 and track and field in 1997 and 1999. In 2015, both the girls and boys cross country teams earned a trip to the state meet where the girls placed 12th and the boys 14th.
Jayne and her husband  Dan retired a year ago after they sold their family business, which they had run for the past 38 years in Ely, however, Dusich still coaches cross country and track at Ely High School. Jayne and Dan have three daughters; Crystal and her husband Jeff live in San Diego; Letitia and her husband Dominic live in Colorado Springs; and Brittany and her husband Steve live in Plymouth, Minnesota with their daughter, Violet.
 
Sara Lee was a four-year letter winner in volleyball, basketball and softball at Minnesota State University Moorhead from 1982-86.  In volleyball, Lee earned all-conference and all-district recognition as a setter her junior and senior years and was twice named as her team’s most valuable player. She earned the MSUM Palmer Volleyball Award as a senior.

Her senior year, Lee served as a basketball captain and was an all-district selection in softball.
Lee’s honors as an undergraduate include the NAIA Scholarship which is awarded annually by NAIA athletic directors. Lee was also honored as the recipient of the MSU Moorhead Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award her senior year.  She was inducted into the MSUM Hall of Fame in 1995.

Lee earned her B.S. in physical education from MSU Moorhead in 1986 and went on to begin her coaching career at Lake Erie College.  In 1989 she moved to Denison University (Ohio) where she was the head volleyball coach for 18 seasons and women’s basketball coach, a position she still holds today.  Lee enters her 28th season as Denison head women’s basketball coach and her sixth year as the department’s Associate Athletic Director.  Lee boasts a career record of 428-281 (.604) in 27 seasons at Denison where she has led her squad to seven NCAA tournaments and 10 conference titles.  Entering the 2015-16 season she ranked 29th in victories among active Division III coaches.  She is one of just 50 coaches in Division III history to reach the 400-win milestone. In addition to her coaching and administrative duties, Lee holds the title of Professor at Denison University.
 
Bob Olson had dedicated his career to Northern State University and the city of Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Olson led Aberdeen Central to a third place finish in the 1972 State A basketball tournament before going on to attend NSU in the mid-1970s and play basketball for legendary coach Bob Wachs. Olson earned a bachelor’s degree from NSU in 1977 and served as a graduate assistant under Wachs while earning a master’s degree in 1980.

When Coach Wachs retired in 1985, Olson was selected as NSU’s 19th men’s basketball coach. For the next 14 years, Olson led NSU teams to national prominence at the NAIA and NCAA levels, compiling a 305-129 career record and coaching 27 all-conference players, five NAIA All-Americans, one NCAA First-Team All-American and eight Academic All-Americans. NSU made five NAIA National Tournament appearances, making championship runner-up campaigns in 1994 and 1995. The program’s success was seamless as NSU made the move up from the NAIA ranks to NCAA Division II for the 1995-96 season. The Wolves earned national post-season berths in their first four seasons under the new umbrella, highlighted by a North Central Region Championship and Elite Eight berth in 1997-98.  The Elite Eight appearance was the first by an NSIC institution in men’s basketball.  

Olson’s success with NSU athletics expands far beyond the hardwood. While most known for building a nationally-respected men’s basketball program, Olson has also made his mark within NSU’s athletic department as an administrative assistant to the athletic director, compliance coordinator and assistant football and track coach. Olson also was an instructor in NSU’s Health and Physical Education department since 1983 and worked as an admissions counselor from 1979-81.  In 1999, Olson took over for Jim Kretchman as the school’s athletics director.  For 13 years Olson led the Wolves athletic programs while also serving a term on the NCAA Championships Committee. Olson was recognized as the recipient of the Kretchman Coaching Award by the NSU Foundation at the 2011 Gypsy Day celebration, was inducted into the Aberdeen Central Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013 and the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in spring of 2016.  

Bob and his wife, Cheri, are the parents of daughter Stephy. Stephy and her husband, Tim Hanigan, have two sons, Colton and Kyler.
 
Alvin Ashley was a two-sport standout at Southwest State University from 1990 to 1994 excelling in both football and basketball for the Mustangs.  A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Ashley finished his football career with 252 receptions for 4,335 yards and 59 touchdowns, all three of which are still school records.  His 59 career receiving touchdowns is still an NAIA national record.  Along with his seven scores on two-point conversions, he ended his four-year career recording a school record 392 career points, 174 more than the second place individual.

Ashley earned first team NAIA All-America honors in both 1992 and 1993, while he was an honorable mention NAIA All-America in 1991.  He was a second team AP Little All-America in 1991 and earned all-conference accolades all four seasons of his career.

Ashley still holds more than 20 single-game, single-season or career records at SMSU, including single-game records for receiving yards (320 vs. Minot State, 1991), touchdowns (six vs. Michigan Tech, 1993) and all-purpose yards (397 vs. Minot State, 1991).

In 1991, Ashley set an NAIA single season record with 21 touchdown receptions while also setting a conference record with 13 receiving touchdowns.  In 1992, Ashley tied for the NAIA receiving title (9.0 receptions/game) and ranked third in scoring (9.7).

Following his senior season in 1993, Ashley became the first ever SMSU player to play in the Snow Bowl, an all-star game for NCAA Division II players.  He then spent 10 seasons in the Arena Football League where he still is among the all-time leaders in kickoff returns, combined returns, kickoff return yards, combined return yards, all-purpose yards, receptions, receiving touchdowns, receiving yards and points scored.

Ashley also played basketball for three seasons (1990-91, 92-94) scoring 692 career points in 69 career games, while also racking up 224 rebounds, 179 assists and 114 steals.

Ashley’s high school jersey was retired for football at Mariner High School in Cape Coral, Florida., in fall of 1995 and he was inducted into the SMSU Hall of Honor in 2007.

Ashley lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with his wife Stephanie, they have two children Shaunteva (Ashley) Pruett and Taylen. Ashley has worked for Frito Lay Corp for the last seven years as a Route Sales Rep and has coached football with Dakota State University, Sioux Falls Storm along with a few AFL teams. Alvin currently coaches in the South Dakota Junior Football League and on his son’s traveling basketball team
 
John Manganaro served 20 seasons as a coach with the Wayne State College baseball program, including 17 as head coach.  As head coach from 1993 to 2009, Manganaro built Wayne State into one of the top programs in NCAA Division II, winning six NSIC regular season titles while guiding the Wildcats to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2004 to 2009.  WSC also made seven trips to the NCAA Tournament over a nine-year span.  Manganaro accumulated a 506-309-1 record (.620) and was 198-54 (.785) in NSIC games.  Wayne State was the 12th winningest team of the 2000’s in NCAA Division II baseball under Manganaro, going 368-157-1 (.701).

Manganaro was a four-time NSIC Coach of the Year Award recipient (2001, 2006, 2007, 2009) and led the Wildcats to five NSIC Tournament titles (2001, co-2003, 2004, 2005, 2006).  He coached the Wildcats to a pair of NCAA Regional championship games.  Wayne State produced All-Americans in six of the last seven seasons under Manganaro and two players were selected in the Major League Baseball draft.  The Wildcats also excelled in the classroom as 12 different players were named Academic All-District under Manganaro with Dustin Jones named Academic All-American in 2006 and 2007.

Manganaro also helped develop one of the finest baseball facilities in the Midwest, the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex. Thanks to fund-raising and donations and hundreds of hours of work by players and coaching staff, the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex is one of the finest fields in the Midwest for college baseball.

Following his retirement from WSC in 2009, Manganaro moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he served as director of the Ultimate Baseball Academy indoor complex from 2009 to 2013, but remains active as an instructor/consultant there.  He has also served as the Dean of Coaches for the Pacesetter, Gladiator and Bandit youth baseball organizations since 2012.  John and his wife Janice have five sons, Tony, Nick, Ross, Marc, Kyle and a daughter Carly.  They also have eight grandchildren.   
 
Larry Holstad served as Winona State University’s Director of Athletics from 1997 to 2012 and developed the Warriors’ athletics programs to a national power during his tenure. During his time at the helm, Winona State won two NCAA team national championships in men’s basketball. During a three year span the Warriors posted a 105-6 record, won an NCAA record 57 consecutive games, won titles in 2006 and 2008 while also playing in the national championship game in 2007. The 2006 NCAA National Championship was the first team national championship in the NSIC since it joined the NCAA Division II ranks in 1995.

The Warriors also had two NCAA individual national championships in track and field, two NCAA team national runner-ups, one each in men’s basketball and baseball, five NCAA regional championships, 35 NSIC regular season championships and 27 NSIC tournament championships during Holstad’s term.

Holstad also hired numerous coaches that have served 10 or more years with Winona State and turned their respective programs into consistent national contenders. Holstad also served as the softball coach during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, was a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council, served on the DII Football Committee and was a member of the Minnesota state Title IX task force.

Holstad oversaw many facility improvement projects, including the renovation of what is now Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. Holstad partnered with the City of Winona to construct a softball field and with the community and Winona Senior High School for the completion of a new track and field facility. Holstad also played an integral part in the completion of the new Integrated Wellness Facility on the Winona State campus, as well as the Winona State Athletic Hall of Fame.
The support offered to Winona State student-athletes expanded significantly under Holstad. The Warrior Club Academic Success Center provides academic support to all Warrior student-athletes. These efforts helped Winona State set a program academic record during the spring semester of 2011 with WSU teams averaging a 3.24 cumulative grade point average.

Holstad graduated from Winona State in 1967 with a degree in Biology and Physical Education while also competing on the Warrior  Championship football team in 1964 and was a captain on the 1966 team.  He earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration in 1981. He was inducted into the WSU Hall of Fame on September 26, 2015 and the “Larry Holstad Warrior Club Endowed Fund” was established through the WSU Foundation to help support student-athletes into the future.

Larry and his wife Serena have been married for 50 years and have three daughters, all WSU graduates. His life now consists of watching his seven grandchildren participate in sports, golfing and continuing to watch the Warriors.