UMC Inducts 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame Class

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston inducted the 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame Class during Homecoming weekend Fri., Sept. 29. The program was hosted by Brandy Chaffee, Chief Development Office, and Stephanie Helgeson, Director of Athletics. 

The inductees for the 18^thclass of the Minnesota Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame included: former Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball player Joe Hasz, former Minnesota Crookston men’s hockey and football coach Scott Oliver, and the 2002 NSIC Championship Men’s Golf squad. The Athletic Hall of Fame now has 68 inductees since the inception of the Hall of Fame in 1999. The inaugural class included the 1973 football team, Jim Clauson, Jim LeClair, Herschel Lysaker and Lloyd Mayes.  

Biographical information

Joe Hasz 2006 presented by teammate Brady Sedler 2000

Joe Hasz remains as one of the most prolific scorers in University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball history. Hasz played for the Golden Eagles from 1999-2003 earning All-American honors following the 2002-03 season. He earned All-NSIC First Team honors in three consecutive seasons from 2000-03. Hasz holds career marks for the Golden Eagles with 1,939 career points, 673 field goals made, 218 3-point field goals, 375 free throws, 483 rebounds and 216 steals. His marks continue to hold 15 years later. He also continues to hold several season records, with his single-season points, field goals, and free throws marks being eclipsed during the 2016-17 season by Harrison Cleary. Hasz led the NSIC in scoring during each of his final three seasons in the Maroon and Gold. He was the all-time leading scorer in the conference prior to being surpassed by Cody Schilling of Augustana. Hasz still remains No. 4 all-time in scoring in the NSIC even 15 years after the conclusion of his playing career.

Scott Oliver presented by former football coach Jim Sims

Scott Oliver coached football and men’s hockey at the University of Minnesota Crookston from 1987-2002. Oliver coached the men’s hockey team from 1987-98. During his time as hockey coach, Oliver posted a career record of 209-49-4. He led Minnesota Crookston to the top of junior college hockey with consecutive NJCAA National Championships in 1992-93 and 1993-94. The 1993-94 squad had an undefeated mark of 26-0-1 and was led by Nathan Pitt, Bill Trew, Jeff Malawski, and Ken Essay all being named All-Americans. His 1992-93 squad was paced by the performances of Ryan Driedger, Scott Elder, and Pete Nordell, who were all named All-Americans. Oliver headed the hockey team through their transition from NJCAA to NAIA.

Driedger, Pitt, Essay, and Malawski are all U of M Crookston Hall of Famers, along with both of his National Championship Hockey teams. Oliver was named to the NJCAA Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame in the summer of 2017.

Oliver also saw success as the head football coach from 1995-2002. Prior to being elevated to head coach, Oliver served as defensive coordinator at the U of M Crookston. Oliver’s time on the gridiron was highlighted by leading the team to the NAIA playoffs for the first-time in school history in 1997. The squad went 7-3, including a 4-2 mark in the North Dakota Collegiate Athletic Conference playing them second in the league standings. Oliver’s 1997 team set countless records and included several individual achievements highlighted by NAIA All-American selections for Mark Olsonawski, who was named Second Team All-Amercian; Cory Schreifels, who was named First Team All-American; and Jason Lindquist, who was First Team All-American.

2002 Men’s Golf Team presented by 2002 Men’s Golf Coach Jason Tangquist

The 2002 Minnesota Crookston men’s golf team became the first program in school history to capture a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Championship by shooting a team score of 459 over 27 holes at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker, Minn. The team that competed at the NSIC Championship included Branden Schwartz, Nate Dahl, Vance Harren, Adam Dohlman, and Kent Orvik. In addition to their team championship, Schwartz became the first player in program history to win the individual NSIC Championship. The team’s Head Coach Jason Tangquist also earned NSIC Men’s Coach of the Year in 2002 following the team’s championship. Dahl finished third in the NSIC Championship, just two strokes behind his teammate Schwartz.

The team also included Matt Hiller, Keith Johnson, Eric Barber, Tony Brateng, Scott Mack, Dominic Ste. Marie, and Chad Underdal. Harren was named NSIC All-Academic during the 2002 season. The same squad went on to compete in the NCAA Super Regional in the Spring of 2003, finishing eighth with Schwartz, Dohlman, Brateng, Underdal and Hiller competing.