2011 Coyote Sports Hall of Fame

The 2011 Coyote Sports Hall of Fame Class includes from left: Craig Austin, Nate Blessen, Lionel McPhaull, Julie Tolstedt-LaFleur, Jason Leber, Chad Lavin and Jim Houtz.

2011 Hall of Fame Photo Gallery

VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota athletic department held the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sept. 17, 2011 at the Muenster University Center on the USD Campus. Five former Coyote athletes, along with long-time women's basketball head coach Chad Lavin and special contributor Jim Houtz, were inducted at the ceremony, while the 2007-08 Coyote women's basketball team was recognized in the Special Achievement Category.

Craig Austin of Lone Tree, Colo., Nathan Blessen of Gold River, Calif., Jason Leber of Lancaster, Pa., Lionel McPhaull of Omaha, Neb., and Julie Tolstedt-LaFleur were the athletes inducted in the 2011 Hall of Fame Class.

Here is a look at the 2011 inductees

Craig Austin, Football (1978-81)
Austin, a native of Watertown, S.D., had an outstanding career as a linebacker for South Dakota. He was a two-time All-NCC honoree and a multiple-time NCC Defensive Player of the Week. He ranks fifth in career tackles with 331 and his 145 tackles in 1980 is the second-most in a season in USD history. In 1981, he recorded 138 tackles, sixth-most in a single season in South Dakota history. Austin was a 10th-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1982 and played for the USFL’s LA Express in 1983 and Memphis Showboats in 1984. Austin, a 1982 South Dakota graduate, lives in Lone Tree, Colo., where he owns Alwyn Consulting LLC.

Nathan Blessen, Men’s Basketball (1996-2000)
Blessen, a native of Columbus, Neb., was a dominant men’s basketball player during his four seasons at South Dakota. He was a second-team All-American in 2000 and was named the North Central Conference MVP in 2000. Blessen was a two-time All-NCC selection and as of 2011, ranked ninth all-time in USD scoring with 1,523 points. Blessen also finished 419 rebounds and 192 career assists and shot 53.7 percent from the field, including 42 percent from three-point range. Blessen was part of back-to-back NCC Championship teams. He graduated from USD with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2000.

Jason Leber, Football (1993-96)
Jason Leber, originally of Vermillion, S.D., had a strong playing career as a running back at South Dakota. Leber was an All-NCC pick in 1996 and was a two-time All-Academic NCC pick. Leber ranks sixth all-time in all-purpose yards in USD history with 3,355, and ranks sixth all-time in rushing yards at 2,238. He is also tied for first in school history in points scored (236) and has the most touchdowns scored in school history (38). Leber is seventh all-time in rushing touchdowns. Leber is a 1997 South Dakota graduate and works as a chiropractor in Pennsylvania.

Lionel McPhaull, Track and Field (1994-98)
McPhaull, originally from Omaha, Neb., was one of the greatest individual competitors ever for the South Dakota men’s track and field team. While at South Dakota, he was a 13-time conference champion, 10-time all-american, the NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year in 1996 and the National Indoor Runner-Up in the 400m dash in 1997 with a time of 47.07. Is one of only six athletes to win the same events four times as he was a four-time NCC Champion in the 400 (outdoor). McPhaull is currently a State Farm Investigator in Omaha, Neb. McPhaull is also the President and Head Coach for the Midwest Striders summer track and field team and the Sprint Coach for Brownell Talbot High School in Omaha, Neb.

Julie Tolstedt-LaFleur, Track and Field/XC (1978-83)
Julie Tolstedt-LaFleur, originally of Burke, S.D., had an outstanding track and field/cross country career at South Dakota, including setting the all-time state record in the 1,500 meters at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays. An AIAW champion in the 1,500 meters, she anchored the 3,200-meter relay to an all-time state record. When she left USD, she held school records in cross country and indoor and outdoor track records in the 800, 1,000, 1,500, 1,600, 3,000 and 5,000 meter events, as well as a member of the record-setting 3200 meter relay. Tolstedt-LaFleur was the first USD women’s cross country runner to compete in nationals (1981), taking 77th in 22:24. She set a school record in the 1,500-meter run with a clocking of 4:51.7 in 1981. In 1980, Tolstedt set USD’s 3,000-meter record with a 10:26.36 clocking. Julie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education (physical education) from South Dakota in 1983. She runs a daycare in Rapid City, S.D.

Chad Lavin, Women’s Basketball Coach, (1982-86, 1998-2008)
Lavin, a native of Clear Lake, S.D., served as South Dakota’s women’s basketball coach from 1982-86 and from 1998-2008, compiling a record of 273-141 (.659). Lavin is the school’s all-time leader in women’s basketball coaching wins. Lavin also compiled a record of 112-88 against North Central Conference, guiding the Coyotes to five conference titles. Lavin also guided South Dakota to its best season ever in Division II in 2007-08, leading the Coyotes to a 33-2 overall record and berth in the national championship game. Lavin was a four-time NCC Coach of the Year and had 25 players receive All-NCC honors during this tenure. He also led USD to seven national playoff appearances before retiring in 2008. Lavin, a South Dakota graduate, lives with his wife Cindy in Vermillion.

Jim Houtz – Special Contributor
Houtz, a 1958 South Dakota graduate, has been a long-time supporter of Coyote athletics and the university as a whole. Houtz has been heavily involved in supporting the Great Expectations Scholarship campaign, which is helping USD athletics offer the scholarships necessary to compete at the NCAA Division I level. After graduating from USD, Houtz worked at IBM for several years before becoming a health systems information entrepreneur. In 1983, Houtz received the Alumni Achievement Award from USD. The auditorium at the new Beacom School of Business on the USD Campus is named after Houtz. Houtz and his wife Joyce live in Scottsdale, Ariz.

2007-08 Coyote Women’s Basketball Team – Special Achievement
The 2007-08 South Dakota women’s basketball team enjoyed a season of historic proportions in 2007-08. The Coyotes finished 33-2 and advanced to the Division II National Championship game before falling to Northern Kentucky in the finals. South Dakota finished the season ranked No. 2 in the USA Today/Division II Coaches Poll, the highest ranking in school history. South Dakota won the North Central Conference with a 12-0 record and set a school record with a 31-game winning streak. The Coyotes captured the North Central Region title for the first time ever and earned a berth in the national championship game with two thrilling wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Senior Jeana Hoffman earned all-american honors and was named the co-MVP of the North Central Conference, while veteran mentor Chad Lavin earned WBCA National Coach of the Year Honors and was the NCC Coach of the Year. Senior Jenna Hoffman was named the NCC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year while Amber Hegge was named NCC Co-Freshman of the Year.

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