KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A pair of former Pittsburg State University greats – former Pitt State head football coach and athletic director Dennis Franchione and former Pitt State women's basketball four-time All-American Lizzy Jeronimus –were inducted among the MIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Monday (June 1) at the MIAA Awards Celebration presented by Seigfreid Bingham at the Nelson-Atkins Museum Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
 
The Pitt State honorees were joined by the University of Central Missouri's Paul Engelmann (faculty athletics representative) & Justin Yoder (men's golf); Emporia State University's Miranda Campbell (softball) and Josh Honeycutt (men's track & field); Missouri Southern State University's Kim (Shank) Reed (women's cross country/track & field); Southwest Baptist University's Natalie (O'Keefe) Goatley (women's track & field); Washburn University's Jessica Mainz (women's soccer & basketball), Ron McHenry (women's basketball coach) and the Ichabods 2000-01 National Runner-Up Men's Basketball Team; and former MIAA Men's Basketball Official Terry Oglesby.
 
Additionally, Pitt State President Dr. Thomas Newsom and Vice President of Athletics Anthony Crespino accepted the 2025-26 Commissioner's Cup during the evening program. This is the Gorillas' fifth consecutive Commissioner's Cup victory.

The MIAA Commissioner's Cup, presented by Impact Signs, is the Association's all-sports trophy awarded to the league's top-performing institution at the end of each academic year. Points are awarded based on a team's finish in the MIAA's regular season competition. The number of points awarded per sport is based on the number of schools sponsoring that sport and each institution's grand point total is then divided by the athletic programs it sponsors, giving an overall average finish for the school.

Pitt State collected eight MIAA championships and averaged 11.67 points per sport in the 2025-26 academic year while competing in 14 of the Association's 19 contributing sports. The Gorillas' track and field programs once again were the highlight of the year after sweeping the league's men's and women's indoor and outdoor championships for the third straight year. Pitt State claimed three MIAA titles in the fall with Gorilla football crowned MIAA co-champions and Pitt State women winning MIAA titles in soccer and cross country. Gorillas baseball secured its first-ever regular season championship for the university's eighth MIAA title of the year.

The 2025-26 MIAA Commissioner's Cup is the Gorillas' fifth consecutive all-sports trophy and the university's sixth overall. Pitt State leads all MIAA member institutions with six Commissioner's Cups. Central Missouri ranks second in the MIAA with four all-sports trophies.

A pair of Gorillas also were recognized as finalists for the 2025-26 Ken B. Jones Award:  redshirt junior men's cross country and track & field athlete Dylan Sprecker and redshirt senior women's track & field athlete Isabelle "Belle" Peters.

Central Oklahoma wrestling student-athlete Gabe Johnson and Bronchos' softball student-athlete Rylee Lemos were announced as the winners of the Ken B. Jones Award. The award is named after the MIAA's first full-time commissioner and recognizes the Association's top Male and Female Student-Athlete annually. Jones was appointed league commissioner in 1981 and the inaugural award, in his honor, began in the 1993-94 academic year.


Pitt State Hall of Fame Member Biographies
 
Dennis Franchione
Football Coach & Athletics Director (1985-89)
Dennis Franchione served for five years as head football coach for Pittsburg State University, from 1985 to 1989. Coach Fran compiled an impressive coaching record of 53-6 for his alma mater, leading the Gorillas to five straight conference titles and five consecutive postseason playoff appearances. Additionally, he served as the school's Athletic Director and played an instrumental role in the school's transition from the NAIA to joining the MIAA and NCAA Division II in 1989. Franchione led a seamless transition for the Gorillas in 1989 as Pitt State posted an unblemished record in MIAA play in their inaugural season in the conference. The Gorillas outscored their league opponents, 395-109 (39.5–10.9), en route to capturing the MIAA crown, setting a Pitt State record with 12 victories and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II National Playoffs. Franchione also was selected as the 1989 MIAA Coach of the Year by his peers.
 
Following the 1989 season, Coach Fran left Pitt State to become head coach at NCAA Division I Southwest Texas State (now Texas State). The move kick-started a highly successful 23-year coaching tenure in the Division I ranks as Coach Fran also served as head coach at New Mexico (1992-97), TCU (1998-2000), Alabama (2001-02), Texas A&M (2003-07), and again at Texas State (2011-15). In total, Coach Fran compiled 213 victories during his 30-year coaching tenure, helped lead his teams to nine conference championships and secured four NCAA Division I bowl victories. He was inducted into the Pittsburg State University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

 
Lizzy Jeronimus
Women's Basketball Student-Athlete (2012-2026
Lizzy Jeronimus became the first player in the history of the Pitt State women's basketball to earn NCAA Division II All-America honors in all four playing seasons. The Lenexa, Kan., native started 124 career games for the Gorillas, finishing her decorated career as the program's all-time leading scorer (2,226 points) and rebounder (838 rebounds). She also set the Pitt State single season record by scoring 626 points as a senior in 2015. A four-time first-team All-MIAA performer (2012-15), Jeronimus earned MIAA Freshman of the Year honors during her rookie campaign and was selected MVP of the South Central Regional, while helping Pitt State to a school record 27-6 mark and the school's first trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. She also helped lead the Gorillas to NCAA National Tournament appearances in 2014 and 2015. Jeronimus garnered first-team All-America accolades as a junior in 2014 and honorable mention All-America recognition in the other three seasons (2012-13, '15). She also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors as a senior in 2015.
 
Jeronimus was inducted into the Pittsburg State University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025. She's currently a member of the university's Professional Sales Advisory Board (PSAB). The PSAB connects Pitt State students with industry professionals to ensure the sales curriculum aligns with current practices and evolving market needs. Jeronimus and other board members provide strategic insight, real-world perspective, and guidance that helps prepare students for successful careers in professional sales.