During the 2019-2020 season, Green Bay Athletics is celebrating its 50 year anniversary. Since 1969, UW-Green Bay student-athletes competed across multiple levels including NAIA, Division II and now at the NCAA Division I level since 1980.
 
With input from past and present administrators, staff, coaches, student-athletes, University communications staff and community members, the Athletic Department is releasing a list of the "Top 50 Most Influential Leaders in Green Bay Athletics History" as a way to commemorate the occasion. The task to narrow down to just 50 representatives was difficult, but the advisory groups selected people who helped change the trajectory of the department, shaped the brand of the Phoenix program, set a standard for excellence and/or provided key investment that changed the program for the better. The athletic department will release individuals in a non-ranked alphabetical lineup on a weekly basis throughout the upcoming academic year.

Top 50 Most Influential Leaders in Green Bay Phoenix Athletics

Mark Murphy, Green Bay Packers President and CEO
Mark Murphy is the current president and CEO for the Green Bay Packers, serving in this role since 2008, and is a critical voice of support for Green Bay Athletics throughout the Green Bay Community. Murphy knows the business of Division I collegiate athletics well as he served as athletics director for Colgate and Northwestern for a combined 16 years. He is a vocal supporter of Athletics on UW-Green Bay's Council of Trustees and has been a trusted council for Green Bay AD's and department leadership throughout his tenure aiding with strategic direction as well as fundraising efforts such as the Phoenix Packers Steak Fry critical to the program's success.

Green Bay Women's Basketball
No program in Green Bay Athletics history has had the level of success women's basketball did in the last 20 years. As a program, they won 20 straight conference championships from the 1998-1999 to the 2017-2018 seasons, made 17 NCAA tournament appearances (since '98) and is also featured in the nation's top 10 for winningest college basketball programs in the country. While almost impossible to list out individual players, the program produced 19 professionals in last 20 years including Chari Nordgaard, Chandra Johnson, Sarah Boyer, Mandy Stowe, Abby Scharlow, Natalie Berglin, Nicole Soulis, Lavesa Glover, Kati Harty, Celeste Hoewisch, Kayla Tetschlag, Julie Wojta, Lydia Bauer, Sarah Eichler, Adrian Ritchie, Stephanie Sension, Mehryn Kraker, Jessica Lindstrom, Allie LeClaire and Laken James plus an Olympic medalist Megan Lukan in rugby. Only three names held the head coach title in program history including Carole Hammerle, Kevin Borseth and Matt Bollant.

Green Bay Men's Basketball
Green Bay Men's Basketball experienced a renewed competitive success in the past decade with an overall team record of 214-153 and 118-74 in the Horizon League from the 2008-2009 season to the 2018-2019 seasons. This 11-year span includes a 2014 Horizon League first place finish, eight post-season appearances, nine top-4 league finishes and a return to the NCAA tournament in 2016 after a 20-year drought. This era includes some of the program's most successful Green Bay Division I players including (in chronological order) Ryan Tillema, Troy Cotton, Rahmon Fletcher, Alec Brown, Keifer Sykes, Alfonzo McKinnie, Jordan Fouse, Carrington Love, Khalil Small and Sandy Cohen III. Head coaches for this highly successful period included Tod Kowalczyk, Brian Wardle and Linc Darner.

Jess Miller, Phoenix Fund Board Member
Jess Miller has been a Phoenix Fund board member for over 20 years and a season ticket holder since 1988 serving as president of the board and also credited for helping to start the Phoenix Packers Steak Fry. Miller is an influential member of the sports community in Green Bay as owner of The Bar franchise, Graystone Ale House and Hagemeister Park. In addition to his key role with the board and Phoenix Packers Steak Fry, Miller has been influential to help connect coaches in the community and provide strategic direction to athletic department leadership throughout the years.

Dr. Gary Miller, Chancellor
Dr. Gary L. Miller served as UW-Green Bay's sixth chancellor from 2014-2019. During the start of his tenure, the State of Wisconsin experienced an era of immense change and uncertainty in higher public education. Amidst that change, Miller carried a torch for the importance and value of Division I Athletics. He expanded partnerships, introduced innovative programming and provided a renewed sense of purpose for Athletics on Green Bay's campus. Under Miller's direction, Athletics elevated three programs (golf, tennis and softball) to include full-time coaches and provided national perspective by serving on the NCAA's infractions committee. Miller now serves as president for the University of Akron.

Jim Merner, Swim & Dive Head Coach
Former 25-year head coach Jim Merner led the Phoenix swimming and diving program to 10 Horizon League championships and garnered Coach of the Year honors in 11 different seasons. Merner led the program to new heights including seven consecutive women's titles from 2005 to 2011 plus 1998 and 2000 prior to that and a men's title in 2002. Merner started his Green Bay tenure in 1990 as the women's head coach and then reinstated the men's team in 1992. He impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes and created a culture of success in the pool and in the classroom.

Mike Meeuwsen, Green Bay Phoenix Athletics Supporter
Mike Meeuwsen has been a volunteer leader and supporter of Phoenix Athletics for more than three decades.  He joined the newly formed Phoenix Fund Board in 1990, serving in various leadership roles, including president of the board. He also played a major lead role in the campaign for the Kress Events Center as he was an indispensable force in garnering community support through countless donor visits and follow up calls to get the project across the finish line. Meeuwsen, along with his wife Kate (Class of '76 and past member of the UWGB Council of Trustees), and daughters Emily (former Phoenix athletic trainer and human biology instructor), Gretchen and Ellen have been incredible supporters of Phoenix Athletics and the entire University throughout the decades.  They continue to attend games and provide council and guidance to University and Athletics staff today.

Marilyn McCarey, Director of Ticket Sales
Marilyn McCarey worked for the athletics department for nearly 40 years, serving first as the lead secretary and later as the Director of Ticket Sales for almost three decades. McCarey was instrumental in the department's transition to division I athletics and always offered to help in areas outside of her job description, including serving as the cheer advisor for a small stint. McCarey always ensured season tickets holders had a first-class experience and can be credited as a key figure in the success of Green Bay Athletics.

Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers Head Coach
Legendary Packers head coach Vince Lombardi played a pivotal role in shaping Green Bay Athletics in the formative years of the program. Lombardi served as an athletics adviser to Chancellor Edward Weidner in 1967-68 when the new University was charting its athletics future. Lombardi advised in favor of pushing soccer as a premiere sport and against college football because of its relatively high cost and the likelihood that the University team would be overshadowed by the Packers. He also believed in soccer's long-term growth potential and the prospects for UW-Green Bay success at the highest level of NCAA competition (which proved true).

Lou LeCalsey, Men's Soccer Coach
Founding UW-Green Bay soccer coach, former Council of Trustees President and retired business executive Lou LeCalsey is credited with setting the standard of excellence for Green Bay men's soccer and providing continuing guidance and council for athletic department and University leadership today. LeCalsey was the first coach for all of Green Bay Athletics serving in the 1969 and 1970 seasons going 22-4-2. His accomplishments and leadership for both Athletics and the University as a whole were recognized with a Hall of Fame induction in 2000, the Chancellor's Award in 2001 and an honorary degree of the Doctor of Law in 2016.

Kress Family
The Kress Family and the George Kress Foundation are long standing supporters of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the Athletics Department in particular. Their community-changing contributions across Northeast Wisconsin focus on education, health, cultural activities and programs serving young people. Their lead gifts for both the Kress Events Center (2009) and the Kress Family Outdoor Recreation Complex (2018) were program-changing projects that embody today's modern Green Bay Phoenix brand. A plaque stands today both inside the Kress Events Center and at Aldo Santaga Stadium with a quote from Jim Kress which reads, "We get a lot of satisfaction out of doing this. With money, I used to think the fun was in making it. Now, I know the fun is in giving it."

Kress Center Trio
The Kress Events Center exists thanks to a unique partnership of private donors, the state of Wisconsin and the students of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The student commitment of $15 million came first, with the adoption of increased activities fees to cover nearly half of the estimated cost of the project, led by student government leaders at the time Brian Gold and Kurt Kober. The state contribution of $7.5 million followed with leadership from legislators Rob Cowles, John Gard and Dave Hansen. The last piece of the partnership was $11 million of private investment led by campaign co-chairs Ginny Riopelle and Tom Olson and project volunteer Mike Meeuwsen.

Denis Kreft, Phoenix Fund Board President
Denis Kreft is the current Phoenix Fund Board president. He has served on various roles for the University and on the Phoenix Fund Board itself since 2000. Kreft provided key leadership and direction for the department during times of transition, including the onboarding of Athletic Directors, leadership during times of vacancies and galvanized community support for Phoenix programs. In addition to leading philanthropic support for the department, Kreft and his staff at Imaginasium helped provide strategic support in the 2007 department rebranding, as well as this year's 50th Anniversary celebration and facility rebranding in 2019.

Mike Kline, Cross Country Coach
Mike Kline '88 is currently the department's longest tenured coach and administrator who serves as both the head men's and women's cross country coach as well as the athletics academic coordinator but is most known as a tireless advocate for the University. Kline is credited with the department's incredible reputation for academic success including 40 straight semesters above a 3.0. The Fall 2019 semester finished with an average of 3.35. Beyond his titles, Kline's leadership in building success across campus and alumni relationships are of immeasurable importance to student-athlete and staff success. Among other honors, Coach Kline received the Chancellor's Award in 2014 for his leadership at the University.

Mark King, Athletics Supporter & Former Student-Athlete
Mark King '81 has been a critical supporter and leader for his alma mater through both business and philanthropic support. King serves as the current CEO of Taco Bell and formerly as the CEO of both adidas and TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company. He provided philanthropic support with projects like the former TaylorMade-adidas Golf Outing (now Legends on the Links), newly renovated softball stadium dubbed "King Park," and also provides a golf team scholarship since he was a former student-athlete in the sport. In addition, he is credited with the department's apparel deal with adidas which now outfits nearly 250 student-athletes in consistent branding across all sports. King was inducted into the Phoenix Hall of Fame in 2002.

Dr. Jim Hinckley, Team Physician & Surgeon
Dr. Jim Hinckley served the athletic department as a team physician and surgeon from 1978 – 2012. His commitment to high quality sports medicine service and care set the standard for the department and ultimately helped hundreds of student-athletes return from injury. His leadership went beyond sports medicine as he served as a consultant to the department, provided philanthropic support and still today serves in advisory capacities for issues across the department. Dr. Hinckley was inducted into the Green Bay Phoenix Hall of Fame in 1999.

Mike Heideman, Men's Basketball Coach
Coach Mike Heideman served as the top assistant under Dick Bennett for Green Bay Men's Basketball from 1986 until 1995. He then became the head coach until 2002. During his time with the program,  Green Bay Men's Basketball experienced the most successful era in its Division 1 history. As head coach, he led the team to a 25 win season, a conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth IN 1995-1996. Heideman also led the program through its move from the Brown County Arena to the Resch Center and helped fuel community support for the program by helping start the now annual tradition of the Phoenix Packers Steak Fry.

Roger Harriman, Swimming & Diving Head Coach
Roger Harriman served as head coach for the Phoenix Swimming and Diving team from 1976-1990 and led the women's team to Green Bay's only national championship in 1984 as the NAIA champions. Harriman received the honor for the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1984 among a slew of other coaching awards during his time. He also recruited and developed dozens of All-American swimmers and divers and is credited with aiding in the growth of swimming and diving local talent during his tenure. Harriman was the second coach inducted to the Phoenix Hall of Fame in the 1998 class.

Bob Harlan, Green Bay Packers Chief Executive & Phoenix Athletics Supporters
Bob Harlan enjoyed extraordinary success as chief executive of the Green Bay Packers from 1989-2008 but is also credited as a key supporter of the Athletic Department from the 1980s and beyond. Harlan was very helpful in Green Bay's move to Division I and he joined Don Harden in leading the Phoenix Fund, serving as its first chair. In addition, Harlan and the Packers co-sponsored the annual Phoenix Packers Steak Fry, starting it from humble beginnings in the concourse to its current home in the Lambeau atrium where it draws nearly 1,000 attendees annually.

Dr. Donald F. Harden, UW-Green Bay Administrator
Dr. Donald F. Harden served on the UW-Green Bay faculty and administration from 1970-1994 including serving as Athletic Director from 1982-1985.  Among his many achievements at the University, he is credited with leading the move from Division II to Division I, creating the Phoenix Fund and playing a key role in the development of the Mid-Continent Conference. Harden was inducted as a charter member of the Green Bay Phoenix Hall of Fame in 1993.

Carol Hammerle, Women's Basketball Head Coach
The foundation for the now storied brand of Green Bay Women's Basketball began in 1974 under the program's first head coach and Green Bay Phoenix Hall of Fame member Carol Hammerle. Coach Hammerle won 456 games during her 25 seasons coaching throughout the ranks of NAIA and NCAA, collecting the team's first ever NCAA appearance in the 93-94 season. She boasted twelve 20-win seasons and put the program on a trajectory for success. In addition, she is credited with starting the strong ties of community support through her efforts to build relationships and connections in the greater Green Bay area.

Faculty Athletics Representatives
At the very core of any athletic department's mission is to serve the student-athlete as a whole. At UW-Green Bay there is a rich tradition of academic success and the point person for those connections start with the Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) who play a strategic role in connecting the athletic department with the rest of the campus community. Influential FAR leaders like Chuck Ihrke and Donna Ritch shaped important cross campus partnerships helping to accomplish incredible academic success including 39 straight semesters of student-athletes above a 3.0.

Early Era Men's Soccer Players
From 1969-1980, Green Bay Men's Soccer took the program from scratch to national acclaim, playing a key role alongside men's basketball to help launch UW-Green Bay into Division I. As a group they competed in the NAIA Area III Championships three times, landed in four Division II post-season appearances including two Final Four rounds and continue to hold records in numerous categories for Green Bay Phoenix Men's Soccer. Green Bay Hall of Fame members from this era include Christian Akiwowo, Chuck Stark, Ivan Delbecchi, Horst Stemke, John Hummel, Mark Wehking, Nezih Hansanoglu, Rick Voightlander, Terry Powers and Zach Papanikola.
Release Date: October 30, 2019

Early Era Men's Basketball Players
From 1969-1981, Green Bay Men's Basketball rose in the ranks from NAIA to Division II and ultimately played a key role in influencing Green Bay's move to the coveted ranks of Division I beginning with the 1981-82 season. As a group, they appeared in two NCAA DII championships, three DII Final Four appearances and in the 1976-77 season, battled a No. 4 DePaul squad before losing by only six points, which ignited community support and interest in the program. Green Bay Hall of Fame members from this era include: Tom Anderson, Ron Ripley, Dennis Woelffer, Bryan Boettcher, Leon Mitchell, Jerry Blackwell, Tom Jones, Terry Schott, Nate Barnes, Tom Diener and Ray Willis.
Release Date: October 19, 2019

Bernie and Alyce Dahlin, Phoenix Athletics Supporters
Bernie and Alyce Dahlin continue to leave their impact on Green Bay Athletics through their selfless, humble and generous support seen in all areas of the department. Bernie, active member of both the UW-Green Bay Council of Trustees and Phoenix Fund Board, is a respected voice who works tirelessly during the annual fund drive and provides guidance to the department's leadership team. Bernie and Alyce are known throughout Northeast Wisconsin as philanthropic visionaries and their transformational gifts to the department have touched every sport. They have also stepped up to support University initiatives such as the Phoenix Innovation Park, Phuture Phoenix and scholarship support, leading by example to show their belief in academics and athletics.
Release Date: October 11, 2019

Dave Buss, Men's Basketball Coach
As the first coach for Green Bay men's basketball, Dave Buss led the team to almost immediate national success as head coach from 1969-1982 which included competing in NAIA, DII and DI. His prolific teams included some of the most successful players in program history and recorded two NCAA DII runner up finishes and three DII Final Four appearances. Alongside assistant coach Chuck Aslakson, Buss garnered national attention for their defense and is credited for creating a brand of Green Bay basketball and success, which propelled the program to DI status. Buss was the first coach inducted to the Phoenix Hall of Fame in 1995.
Release Date: October 6, 2019

Bob and Carol Bush, Phoenix Athletics Supporters
Bob and Carol Bush have been visionary and impactful leaders for Green Bay Athletics from the 1980s through today. Carol led efforts early in Phoenix women's basketball history to raise funds for scholarships and her and Bob's belief in the creation of a new facility garnered support for what ultimately became the Kress Center, which of course features her name on the court today. In 1996, Bob chaired a critical task force for the "Commission on Athletics" which brought together business leaders in the community to do a deep dive of department finances and feasibility. The report came at a critical time in department history to solidify the DI status.
Release Date: September 27, 2019

Kevin Borseth, Women's Basketball Head Coach
Coach Kevin Borseth led the women's basketball team during two stints including 1998-2007 and 2012 through present, in between which he coached five seasons at the University of Michigan. Borseth boasts an overall record of 713-275 and is ranked 10^th in the current NCAA D1 most-winningest coaches and 19^th on the all time list. Borseth led the Phoenix to its first two NCAA Tournament victories with wins over Washington in 2003 and New Mexico in 2007. In addition to his on-court success, Borseth plays a key role in galvanizing community support for the program with nationally-ranked attendance and critical fundraising efforts to support the program.
Release Date: September 20, 2019

Tony Bennett, Men's Basketball Player
Tony Bennett, arguably the most recognizable name in Green Bay athletics history, reigns not only as one of men's basketball's most successful players in program history, but now as an alumni, continues to put the University brand on a national stage with his success as head coach at the University of Virginia. Bennett played for the Phoenix from 1989-1992 finishing his career as Mid-Continent Conference's all-time leader in career points (2,285) and assists (601) and GB's all-time leader in both categories as well. He went on to be the 35th overall selection in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets and played with the team for three seasons. He has since been named National Coach of the Year three times and owns an astonishing 254-89 record at Virginia, culminating in a National Championship this year. Because of his connection to the city of Green Bay, his success as both a player and now head coach at the highest collegiate level, Bennett keeps UW-Green Bay in the national spotlight on a year-round basis.
Release Date: September 13, 2019

Dick Bennett, Men's Basketball Head Coach
Coach Dick Bennett led the men's basketball team from 1985-1995, putting the Phoenix in the national spotlight with three NCAA Division I tournament appearances, in addition to the only second round appearance in program history after beating California in 1994. Bennett created a brand for Green Bay Basketball in the 80s and 90s, locking teams down defensively, leading the nation in defensive field goal percentage (37.4) in 1993-1994. His leadership on the court solidified Green Bay's place in the D1 field and off the court helped grow the fan base to new levels at a packed Brown County Arena. After Green Bay, Bennett continued to bring UW-Green Bay back into the national spotlight as he went on to enjoy success at Wisconsin, competing in a Final Four appearance in 2000. Bennett is recognized as one of the greatest coaches in the history of college basketball, and his work at Green Bay laid the foundation for the success of the program to this day.
Release Date: September 5, 2019

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