Class of 2023
Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame
Nate Dreiling, 2009-13
Victoria/Hutchinson, Kansas
Football Athlete
Nate Dreiling finished his decorated career as a four-time NCAA Division II All-America – becoming just the third player in school history to earn All-America honors in all four playing seasons. A four-time MIAA selection, Dreiling was selected the 2011 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year as well as the 2011 NCAA-II Defensive Player of the Year (Don Hansen). He set PSU and MIAA records for career tackles (491) and helped lead the Gorillas to a 13-1 record and the 2011 NCAA-II National Championship. Dreiling also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America® honors in 2013.
Russ Jewett
Olathe, Kansas
Cross Country/Track & Field Coach, 1986-2021
Russ Jewett served for 35 years as the Gorillas head coach for men’s and women’s cross country and track & field. Jewett guided the PSU women to the 2016 NCAA-II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship and he led the PSU men to the 2018 NCAA-II Indoor Track & Field National Championship. He compiled 55 conference titles during his illustrious tenure. Jewett coached more than 300 All-America performances including 36 individual event national champions. He served as the chair of the NCAA-II Track & Field Committee from 2005-06; and he also served in the athletic department administration from 1989 until his full retirement from PSU in May 2023. As a collegian, Jewett earned NAIA All-America honors as the national runner-up in the decathlon in 1982.
Mike Jones, 1969-71
Osage City, Kansas
Basketball Athlete Legacy
Mike Jones earned honorable mention NAIA All-America honors as a senior in 1971. Jones averaged 17.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game his senior season while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. He also received first-team NAIA District 10 and first-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) honors that year. Jones finished his career with 744 points (15.5 ppg) and 301 rebounds (6.3 rpg) in 48 games played for the Gorillas.
Jim Manley, 1968-71
Fort Scott, Kansas
Football Athlete Legacy
Jim Manley earned honorable mention All-America honors as an offensive lineman on the Associated Press Little All-America Team as a senior for the Gorillas in 1971. Manley also garnered NAIA All-District 10 recognition in each of his final two seasons. He was a first-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) pick his senior year; and he helped the Gorillas capture the 1970 RMAC Championship his junior season.
Tony C. McCoy, 1984-85
Chicago, Illinois
Basketball Athlete
Tony McCoy twice earned first-team All-Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) honors for the Gorillas. McCoy scored 1,045 points in 57 career games (18.3 ppg) – the highest two-year scoring total in school history at the time. His 18.3 points per game scoring average set a PSU record and he dished out a school record 248 career assists as well. McCoy scored 574 points in 31 games in 1985 – the third-highest single season scoring total at the time.
Duke Palmer III, 1988-92
Topeka, Kansas
Football Athlete
Duke Palmer earned first-team NCAA Division II All-America honors as a defensive back as a senior for the Gorillas in 1992. Palmer also garnered first-team All-MIAA accolades his senior season. Additionally, he set the PSU single season record with nine interceptions during his senior campaign. Palmer finished his career with 17 interceptions – the third highest total in school history. He helped PSU make consecutive appearances in the NCAA-II National Championship Game and post 25 straight wins in 1991-92.
Larissa Richards, 2008-13
Great Bend, Kansas
Track & Field Athlete
Larissa Richards finished her decorated career with the Gorillas as a six-time NCAA Division II All-America in the throws. Richards finished as the national runner-up in the discus in both 2011 and 2013. A four-time MIAA Champion, Richards earned All-MIAA honors 12 times during her decorated career. She also set PSU records in the discus (181-0) and the outdoor shot put (50-6.25). Richards also earned All-MIAA honors in women’s basketball at PSU. She helped the Gorillas to a 27-6 record and the program’s first Elite Eight appearance in 2012. Richards also set the PSU record for blocked shots (187).
Ibraheem “Coach Ib” Suberu
Lagos, Nigeria
Volleyball Coach, 1999-2013
Ibraheem Suberu finished his accomplished 15-year tenure as the winningest head coach in the history of the Gorilla Volleyball program. He compiled a 264-237 (.527) overall record while leading PSU to six trips to the NCAA-II National Tournament (2003-04, ’06-09) including the program’s first NCAA postseason berth in 2003. His 2007 and 2008 teams posted consecutive 28-win seasons with the 2008 squad setting a school record for highest winning percentage (28-8, .778).
