The Hall of Fame inductees at the Homecoming game | Courtesy: Reva Ludwig
Hillsdale College welcomed six Charger alumni into the 26th Athletic Hall of Fame class during the annual ceremony Sept. 26.
Keith Otterbein ’79, Michael Michno ’84, Michael Nugent ’85, Cleves Delp ’86, Troy Weatherhead ’11, and Emily (Oren) Newcomb ’16 will join 96 individuals and 17 teams in the Hall of Fame. The six athletes share 12 national championships and 21 All-American honors between them.
“When you look at all six of the individuals, the first thing that you recognize is their excellence while they were here, what they did as a Charger,” Athletic Director John Tharp said. “The second thing you realize is how excellent they’ve been in their lives and how much they have appreciated their experience and time at Hillsdale, and that they’ve credited some of their subsequent success to the four years here.”
Weatherhead set NCAA all-division records for single-season completion percentage (76.9%) and career completion percentage (70.2%) during his three years as the starting quarterback for the Charger football team. In 2010, he received All-American honors and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year when he led the team to its first conference title in nearly two decades.
“I was extremely humbled to receive this honor, and I truly believe that the recognition is a testament to my teammates and coaches,” Weatherhead said. “I was blessed to be surrounded by incredible men during my time at Hillsdale who elevated my play, and we were able to accomplish great things as a team.”
Weatherhead said his time at Hillsdale shaped how he lives the rest of his life, and he hopes that current and future students will learn the same values he developed from his experience.
“I am forever indebted to Hillsdale College,” Weatherhead said. “The lessons I have learned have helped shape me not only as an athlete but now as a working professional and a husband and father. The lessons of accountability, responsibility, integrity, and trust are values I try to live by every day, and it’s because of Hillsdale that I see the importance of doing so.”
Otterbein, who served as head football coach for 22 seasons, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. Otterbein played for the Chargers in the late 1970s, was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American, and won linebacker of the year three times during his football career. During his time coaching, he won 133 games, led the team to four conference championships, three NCAA Division II playoff appearances, and the only two Hillsdale football playoff victories. The student section was also known colloquially as “Otter’s Army,” illustrating the impact he had on more than just the athletes playing on the field.
Otterbein said it is an honor to be recognized in the Hall of Fame, not just for his time as an athlete, but also for his service as a coach.
“Coaching provides a great platform to help build character and a work ethic that allows our players to become better fathers, husbands, and community members who positively change the world,” Otterbein said. “Modeling the hard work, dedication, and discipline needed for success has made me a better man.”
Delp was recognized for his athletic achievement on the Hillsdale baseball team, as well as for his meritorious service to the college. Delp was the team captain and led the team in slugging percentage for two consecutive years. Post graduation, he built his father’s company, TFO Partners, into a Forbes Top 25 wealth management company. He continues to give generously to Hillsdale College, funding many new athletic facilities in the past decade, and also supporting many athletic scholarships.
The three remaining inductees — Michno, Nugent, and Newcomb — represent Charger cross country and track and field.
Michno was the NAIA National champ in 1984, racing the outdoor 1,500-meter run and a two-time All-American.
Nugent won back-to-back NAIA national championships in the indoor 3-mile run in 1984 and 1985, was a three-time All-American, and won GLIAC two titles in the 5k in 1983 and 1984.
Newcomb was the youngest inductee and is the most decorated Hillsdale athlete ever, boasting nine national championship titles and 14 All-American honors. She dominated the steeplechase and distance events. She set school records in the indoor mile, indoor 3k, outdoor steeplechase, and distance medley relay that still stand, and she still holds the indoor mile record at the NCAA DII National Championships. After graduation, she ran professionally and competed in multiple U.S. Olympic trials in the steeplechase.
Tharp said he sees the commemoration of athletes in the hall of fame as a way to remember their greatness and to inspire future generations.
“I think, like anything great, their stories need to continue to be told,” Tharp said. “The most important thing is sharing the legacy that they have left here. We as a college need to continue to share their stories, not so much for the people that were inducted, but for current student-athletes and coaches to know what people have done before.”
