Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame
1965 Men's Cross Country Team
The 1965 Gorilla men’s cross country team took home fourth-place honors at the NAIA National Championships at Omaha, Neb, still the program’s best national finish at the time of their induction. Pittsburg State, then known as Kansas State College, finished second in the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) Championships behind only eventual national champion Fort Hays State. The Gorillas posted a 4-1 record in dual meets and a 2-0 record in triangulars on the season. Pitt State also won the Southwest Missouri State Invitational and placed second in the William Jewell Invitational and the AAU Championship at Topeka.
Elizabeth Anyigor-Abitogun, 2001-04
Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Volleyball Athlete
Elizabeth Anyigor-Abitogun earned third-team NCAA Division II All-America honors as a senior in 2004. Anyigor earned first-team All-MIAA accolades as a freshman in 2001 and a senior in 2004, when she also was voted the MIAA Player of the Year. She recorded 1,337 career kills – the second-highest kill total in PSU history – and she set the school’s single-season kills record (716) in 2004.
Doug Gillispie, 1996-99
Neosho, Missouri
Men's Basketball Athlete
Doug Gillispie earned second-team NCAA Division II All-South Central Region honors as a senior in 1999. Gillispie helped lead the Gorillas to the school’s first three NCAA National Tournament appearances (1997-99) including a Sweet 16 berth in 1997. A three-time All-MIAA performer, Gillispie scored 1,085 points and grabbed 652 rebounds in 114 games. He set the Pitt State single season field goal percentage record (.624) in 1999 as well as the school’s career field goal percentage record (.646).
Clarence “Gene” Iba, 1996-2010
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Men's Basketball Coach
Gene Iba led the resurgence of the Pitt State men’s basketball program during a decorated 15-year tenure as the Gorillas head coach (1996-2010). Iba led Pitt State to the school’s first NCAA National Tournament appearance in 1997 – reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 – and five overall berths in the national tournament. He led the Gorillas to their first
MIAA regular season title and a No. 1 national ranking in 1999, earning MIAA Coach of the Years honors. Iba compiled a 261-172 (.603) record at Pitt State and he amassed a 487-374 (.566) overall record including coaching stints at Houston Baptist (1978-85) and Baylor (1986-92).
Josh Lattimer, 2001-05
Fort Scott, Kansas
Football Athlete
Josh Lattimer earned NCAA Division II All-America honors at linebacker in each of his final two seasons for the Gorillas (2004-05). Lattimer earned honorable mention All-America accolades as a junior in 2004 as Pitt State posted a 14-1 record and finished as the NCAA Division II National Runner-up in 2004. He earned second-team All-America recognition in 2005. Lattimer finished his career with 395 tackles – the second-highest total in school history at the time. He also was a three-time All-MIAA performer in the javelin in track & field.
Renee (Dunlap) Newbanks, 1992-95
Olathe, Kansas
Softball Athlete
Renee (Dunlap) Newbanks finished her decorated career as a three-time All-MIAA performer (1993-95). Dunlap also was voted the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 1992. She pitched in a school record 141 games and compiled a 90-35 (.720) career record, setting Pitt State records for career wins (90) and single-season wins (26) in 1994. Dunlap helped lead the Gorillas to the school’s first three NCAA National Tournament appearances in 1993-95. She pitched two no-hitters during her career, including a perfect game vs. Missouri S&T, 3-26-95.
Gary D. Pepin
Pittsburg, Kansas
Meritorious Achievement Legacy
Gary Pepin competed in track & field at Pittsburg State University between 1963-66, before going on to enjoy a decorated career as head track & field coach at the University of Nebraska. A USTFCCCA Hall of Fame member, Pepin is the all-time winningest track & field coach in the history of the Big 12 Conference. In a tenure that spans four decades, Pepin has led the Husker programs to a combined three national team titles and 72 conference team titles. He has been honored as the Midwest Region Coach of the Year 10 times; and, he was named the 1995 USTCA National Indoor Track Coach of the Year.
Chad Weeks, 2002-05
Oologah, Oklahoma
Football Athlete
Chad Weeks earned first-team NCAA Division II All-America in each of his final two seasons for the Gorillas (2004-05). The offensive guard helped the Pitt State offense set NCAA all-time scoring (837 pts) and total offense (8976 yds) records and the Division II all-time rushing record (5320 yds) as the Gorillas posted a 14-1 record and finished as the NCAA Division II National Runner-up in 2004. Weeks was a three-time All-MIAA performer (2003-05).
