As a follow-up to Thursday’s column on Northern Kentucky in the KHSAA Hall of Fame, here are the official bios for the Northern Kentuckians named to the KHSAA HOF and their year of induction since 1988, the HOF’s first year. You will notice that different years have different treatments in the nature of the official citations for the inductees as written by the KHSAA. References to records are for the year of the induction. There are 29 in all although with the inclusion of Ludlow High School alum and former Beechwood Coach Tom Creamer, who earned his Hall of Fame honors at Shelby County as a state-championship-winning basketball coach, the total is 30. His bio is also here. Here’s the link to all 505 HOF bios: Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame | Kentucky High School Athletic Association
1988: HOMER RICE — Football was his coaching game, but he was an outstanding baseball and basketball player in addition to being a sprint champion in track in field and an All-State quarterback at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas . . . He first gained acclaim as a coach for Highlands, where he had seven undefeated seasons and finished with an 11-year record of 101 wins, 9 losses, and 7 ties at the school, including victories in his last 50 games.
1989: DONNA L. MURPHY — This Newport High School star helped give girls’ basketball its rightful place alongside the boys’ competition as her fluid moves, leaping ability, and patented left hand jump shot led her teammates to many victories . . . In 1975, she dazzled the crowds at the Girls’ State Tournament with her two-game totals of 67 points and 50 rebounds, a performance that resulted in her selection as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament . . . She was the first recipient of the Joe Billy Mansfield Award for athletic and academic achievement, and was the first winner of Kentucky’s “Miss Basketball” Award . . . Her senior year, she averaged 35 points and 20 rebounds in basketball, and was the state high jump champion in track in 1974.
1991: JIM CONNOR — A coaching legend in Northern Kentucky, Jim Connor got his start at Newport Catholic High School . . . His baseball teams captured three state championships, winning 16 districts and 12 regionals . . . During his 16 years at Catholic, his basketball teams won 339 and lost 144 . . . Three of his teams reached the Sweet Sixteen® . . . They also won 10 district titles . . . He also served two colleges as basketball coach, Bellarmine in Louisville and Thomas More in his native Northern Kentucky . . . He also coached at Boone County from 1970-1979 and served that school as assistant principal.
1992: BOB MILLER — Bob Miller was a four-sport star at Bellevue High School (football, basketball, track and swimming) . . . He captained both the football and basketball teams . . . He was an outstanding quarterback, tailback and passer for the legendary coach Homer Jackson, being selected all-conference . . . He won the same honor in basketball . . . He was a pole vaulter in track and a diver for Bud Cavana’s swim teams . . . He returned to Bellevue to start his coaching career in football, but it was at Newport where he gained statewide recognition for his coaching talent . . . His Wildcats won a conference title and played for two mythical state championships . . . After coaching in college, he returned to Campbell County High where his record was 85-67-7, giving him a lifetime record of 120-89-11 . . . As an athletic administrator, he continued to serve the boys and girls of Kentucky on a statewide basis.
1992: JOAN MITCHELL — Joan Mitchell has been a leader in girls’ sports statewide all her adult life . . . She coached basketball, volleyball and softball . . . She helped initiate girls’ sports in Northern Kentucky and was instrumental in founding the Northern Kentucky High School Girls’ Coaches Association . . . She helped to get girls’ sports accepted into the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference . . . She helped to push for non-principals to be members of the Board of Control and backed the movement that brought women members to the Board . . . She has officiated and directed various state events and serves as executive secretary for the K.G.S.A . . . She was instrumental in getting volleyball and softball accepted as sanctioned sports by the KHSAA.
1993: STAN ARNZEN — Known as the “finest player to wear the Red and Black” of Newport High School, Arnzen excelled in baseball and basketball . . . He would later return to his alma mater for a highly successful tenure as basketball coach . . . His teams never had a losing record in 21 years, winning 452 games while losing only 158 . . . Twelve of his basketball squads had 20 or more wins . . . Coach Arnzen took five teams to the Sweet Sixteen®, with his 1954 team advancing to the title game before losing to Inez . . . Perhaps the greatest tribute to this man’s teaching was the fact that at one time, six of his former players held head coaching positions in Northern Kentucky.
1993: RICE MOUNTJOY — A true gentleman and unique individual, he was a high school track champion as a student-athlete . . . He served Frankfort, Kavanaugh, Danville, Paducah Tilghman, Dixie Heights, and Boone County high schools, serving as a head coach in many sports . . . As a basketball coach, nine of the 20 teams he coached played in the State Tournament . . . In his 30 years of coaching football, his teams won 80 percent of their games . . . At each stop, he would always return to his first love, starting a track program . . . He was one of the founding members of the Kentucky High School Coaches Association, and has a football stadium (at Dixie Heights) and a football field named in his honor in two communities.
1995: TOM ELLIS — The man they called “Big Daddy”, “Mr. Bulldog”, and “Coach”, was one of the last in Kentucky to coach football, baseball, and basketball at the same time. As a player, he lettered for four years in basketball and baseball at Calhoun, leading his roundball team to the state tournament in 1925 . . . Recruited by Ed Diddle to play football at Western, he played in the first football game he ever saw . . . As a coach, he recorded a 608-184 mark in basketball and a 203-98-6 record in football, serving as the head man at both Bardstown and Covington Holmes . . . His 1941 Bardstown team was unscored-upon and his Tigers posted five undefeated seasons . . . At Holmes, his 1946 pigskin team was awarded the state mythical state title and later, he took two Bulldog basketball teams to the Sweet 16®.
1995: ALLEN FELDHAUS — A 1958 graduate of Boone County, this individual lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track . . . After lettering for three years in basketball and baseball at Kentucky, he played three years of professional baseball . . . He began his coaching career at Russell County, where he coached boys’ basketball for 10 years . . . At Mason County, he put the Royals on the map, winning nine district titles and four regional championships . . . His 1981 team was a runner-up in the Sweet Sixteen® and the following year, his squad was undefeated during the regular season . . . He had nine consecutive, 20-win seasons, three seasons of 30 or more victories and he coached four teams to the state tournament . . . He retired with 512 wins, 210 losses.
1995: TOM THACKER — This Covington Grant basketball star began his successful career earning all-tournament recognition as a freshman at the Kentucky High School Athletic League’s state tournament . . . The next three years, he earned the same honor at the KHSAA’s Sweet 16®. He earned AII- State mention in both his junior and senior seasons, averaging 31.7 and 33.8 points per game, respectively . . . Many rated him the best sophomore in the state of Kentucky, and by his senior year, he was a finalist for Mr. Basketball honors . . . He remained active with youngsters, conducting summer and midnight basketball leagues and other youth sports programs in the Greater Cincinnati area.
1996: JACKIE BEARDEN-MISTLER – This prolific basketball scorer at Dixie Heights scored 3,018 points in her career . . . She earned all-state honors in 1980 and made the Sweet 16® all-tournament team. This Kentucky-Indiana AII-Star was also an outstanding volleyball and softball player.
1998: BOB DAVIS — A versatile athlete for Dayton High School. Davis excelled on the gridiron for the Devils football program.
1999: REYNOLDS FLYNN — A former basketball coach at Covington Holmes. He amassed a 569-247 career coaching record and coached teams to five Sweet 16 State Tournament appearances. He also served as a softball official.
1999: OWEN HAUCK — A successful football coach at Highlands and Boone County. He accumulated a 258-109-1 career record as a Kentucky high school football coach and a 284-130-4 overall career record. His 258 Kentucky wins rank him fifth among the state’s all-time coaching wins leaders. He coached Boone County to a state runner-up finish in 1986, ’87, ’92 and 1994 and Highlands to a state runner-up finish in 1963 and 1966. In 1964, He coached the Highlands Bluebirds to the Class AA State Championship.
2000: JAMES “JACK” BROCK — as coach at Covington Grant, the first black school to win a KHSAA District Basketball Championship . . . guided four teams to Sweet 16® State Tournament appearances and compiled a 185-69 coaching record.
2001: SCOTT DRAUD – This two-time All-State basketball honoree enjoyed a great career at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas. Draud tallied 2,865 career points and led the state in scoring his junior and senior seasons. In addition, he was a three-time regional singles tennis champion and a National High School All-America tennis honoree.
2003: FRANK JACOBS – Jacobs was the state’s first football athlete to receive Mr. Football honors back in 1986. Playing for Newport Central Catholic, Jacobs was a star on the football and baseball fields for the Thoroughbreds and received All-America honors during his career.
2005: STAN STEIDEL – Steidel coached basketball and served as Athletic Director at Dayton High School. He has been instrumental in athletic administration throughout his career, serving on the KHSAA Board of Control and working with the Kentucky High School Athletic Directors Association. He also started the All “A” Classic in boys’ and girls’ basketball.
2007: SHAUN ALEXANDER – Alexander was a star running back for Boone County. He rushed for 6,670 yards and 110 touchdowns. Alexander helped the Rebels to two State Championship game appearances and was named Mr. Football in 1994. He went on to have a successful career at the University of Alabama and currently plays for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was named League “MVP” in 2005.
2007: DONNA WOLFE– Wolfe was an instrumental leader in the development of girls’ athletics in Kentucky. She has worked every Girls’ State Basketball Tournament since 1975 and has served in leadership roles throughout the history of the Kentucky Girls’ Sports Association and the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference. A long-time successful coach in volleyball, basketball and softball, Wolfe was a tremendous participant in her own right participating in basketball, volleyball and softball. In 1979, Wolfe was inducted into the National Amateur Softball Association Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame, one of only nine females with that honor.
2009: NATE DUSING – Dusing was a multiple state champion swimmer at Covington Catholic. His junior year he captured two championships and was a member of the 400 Free Relay championship team. His senior year, Dusing captured two more titles while setting two state records, including the National Record of 47.10 in the 100 butterfly – a record that remains today.
2009: KEN SHIELDS – Shields played basketball and baseball at Covington Catholic. He went on to become Northern Kentucky’s all-time leader in boys’ basketball coaching wins after compiling a 460-257 record in 10 seasons at St. Thomas and 13 seasons at Highlands High School. His teams compiled 15 20-win seasons and his Highlands’ teams captured five Ninth Region titles during his tenure. Shields went on to coach the men’s basketball program at Northern Kentucky University.
2010: TOM CREAMER – Creamer compiled 22 district and nine regional basketball championships over the course of his career. He also produced three state semifinalists (two boys, one girls) and won the 1978 boys’ state championship as coach of Shelby County. Creamer also coached Assumption to a state golf championship and was the head football coach at Beechwood from 1964-67.
2010: BOB SCHNEIDER – Schneider retired at the conclusion of the 2009 football season after 44 years as the head coach at Newport Central Catholic. His 345 career victories stand as the all-time state record at the time of his retirement. His Thoroughbreds won three state championships (1984, 2005 and 2006) and were runners-up six other times (1985, 1986, 2000, 2001, 2007 and 2008). Schneider also served as athletic director at NCC for 35 years and spent nine seasons as baseball coach, leading the Thoroughbreds to a state runner-up finish in 1976.
2013: ROGER KLEIN – One of the pioneers of Kentucky high school tennis, Klein’s contributions during more than three decades as a coach and contributor cannot be understated. Klein built a power at Bellevue High School, where he served from 1942-1974. His perseverance led to the establishment of the first state tennis tournament in 1945. Over the years his players included three state singles champions, five singles finalists, four doubles champions and six doubles finalists.
2013: JAMIE WALZ RICHEY – Perhaps the most decorated girls’ basketball player in state history, Walz Richey set records in her career at Highlands in the early 1990s that still have not been approached. In all, Walz Richey set 12 state records and was twice named the Kentucky Female Athlete of the Year. By the time her career ended in 1996, Walz Richey earned a spot in the Gatorade Circle of Champions, Parade Magazine National Player of the Year and Kentucky Miss Basketball. She remains the state’s all-time leading scorer with 4,948 points.
2015: ADRIENNE HUNDEMER (Dayton) ‐ Possibly the most decorated track athlete in Kentucky history, Hundemer racked up 20 state titles during her illustrious career at Dayton HS. A three‐time Kentucky Post Female Athlete of the Year honoree, Hundemer won a total of 12 individual state championships at Dayton, winning four titles in the 300 -meter hurdles, and four‐straight in both the 100-meter hurdles (1991‐94) and the 400- meter dash (1991‐94). She was a part of six consecutive 1600-meter relay championships (1989‐94) and contributed to two state championships in the 800-meter relay. Her time of 14.70 in the 100-meter hurdles at the 1994 state meet is still a 1A record 20 years later. Hundemer was inducted into the Dayton HS Hall of Fame in 2007 and joined the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and Buddy LaRosa’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
2017: MARTY MOORE (Highlands HS) – A three-year letterman at Highlands HS, Moore was the Defensive Player of the Year in Kentucky and an All-State selection as a senior in 1988. He earned a spot in the Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game before embarking on a standout career at the University of Kentucky (1990-1993). Moore was named 1st Team All-SEC by the Associated Press and the league’s coaches in 1993, helping the Wildcats earn a berth in the Peach Bowl. He ended his playing career at UK ranked fourth in school history with 470 career tackles. Moore received the “Mr. Irrelevant” Award at the 1994 NFL Draft when the New England Patriots made him the last player selected before defying the odds to enjoy an eight-year playing career in the NFL – winning a Super Bowl ring in 2001 when the Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Moore was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame in 2014.
2022: NELL FOOKES (Coach / Boone County) – Nell Fookes guided Boone County girls’ basketball to a 686-255 record in 30 seasons. The mark stands as the third all-time winningest coach – a 72.9 winning percentage. In three decades, the Lady Rebels won 20-plus district titles, nine regional championships and six regional runners-up. She was named by Greater Cincinnati Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Decade in the 1990s and was a 2010 LaRosa’s Hall of Fame inductee.
2022: DALE MUELLER (Coach / Highlands) – Dale Mueller coached his alma mater and continued the outstanding tradition of the Highlands football team. In 20 seasons, with a 250-36 record, the Bluebirds won 11 state championships with three runner-up finishes. In eight of those years, Highlands ended up ranked nationally in various polls, finishing as high as third in the USA Today Prep Poll in 2009. Including short stints at two schools in Ohio, Mueller had a 309-67 record – an 82.2 winning percentage. He was recognized locally, statewide and on the national level – Louisville Courier-Journal Kentucky Coach of the Year, Cincinnati Bengals Coach of the Year, Marvin Lewis Coach of the Year, Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award, Russell Athletic National Coach of the Year and National Federation of High Schools National Coach of the Year.
