University of Northern Colorado Athletics
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Hall of Fame Class of 1994
L.C. "Pete" Butler, Coach/Administrator (1940-73)
Played football, basketball and baseball. Served as head baseball coach from1941-67 and recorded more than 400 victories. His teams won 25 straight Rocky Mountain Conference titles, 11 regional titles and advanced to the College World Series nine times. Member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Three time NCAA District Coach of the Year. Served as head Basketball Coach from 1940-56 and had a 151-133 record with seven conference titles.
Played football, basketball and baseball. Served as head baseball coach from1941-67 and recorded more than 400 victories. His teams won 25 straight Rocky Mountain Conference titles, 11 regional titles and advanced to the College World Series nine times. Member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Three time NCAA District Coach of the Year. Served as head Basketball Coach from 1940-56 and had a 151-133 record with seven conference titles.
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Rosemary Fri, Coach/Administrator (1963-2005)Created the women's tennis program in 1963 and has served as its only head coach until the end of the 2004-05 season. Her teams produced two national singles champions, three pairs of doubles champions and 10 All-American players. Led her teams to two NCAA Division II fourth-place finishes, 13 top 20 national rankings and numerous conference titles. Twice named the Wilson Division II Coach of the Year. Served as the first Coordinator of Women's Athletics in 1965. Served as Associate Athletic Director until 1991. Retired in 2005.
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Leonard Groom, Wrestling (1967-69)Won the NCAA College Division 130-pound championship in 1969. Placed second at the 1969 NCAA University Division Nationals. Led his team to a national runner-up finish (the highest team finish ever by a UNC men's team) in 1969. Two-time Rocky Mountain Conference champion. Had a 52-6 career record and a school-record 30-1 mark as a senior. Had a successful coaching career at Northglenn High School.
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John Hancock, Coach/Administrator (1925-66)Established the wrestling program in 1926 and served as its head coach until 1965. Won 29 straight Rocky Mountain Conference titles and coached two national champions and 12 All-America wrestlers. His teams had 10 top-25 national finishes. Created the Colorado State High School Wrestling Tournament in 1936 in Gunter Hall. Served as head football coach from 1932-53. His 1934 team upset Colorado, 13-7, and won a share of the RMC championship. Served as Athletic Director from 1953-66. Â
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Tom Petroff, Baseball Coach (1971-85)Complied a 367-198-1 with six conference titles, three NCAA Division II regional playoff appearances and three NCAA Division I regional appearances. His 1974 club upset number-one ranked Arizona at Jackson Field to advance to the College World Series, where it finished fifth. Named the 1971 College Division Coach of the Year. Received the Lefty Gomez Award in 1974. Member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
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Lou Piel, Softball/Basketball (1976-80)AIAW All-American pitcher in 1979. Led her 1978 club to the AIAW Championships, where it finished second. Complied a 19-4 record with a 0.53 earned run average in 1979. Named Woman Athlete of the Year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. Three time all region pitcher. 1980 All-North Central Conference basketball player. Ranked among schools' all-time basketball leaders in points (1,260) and rebounds (741).
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Greg Riddoch, Baseball (1965-67)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Third-team All American shortstop in 1967. Led the nation in home runs with 17 in 26 games and in slugging percentage (.861) as a senior. Three-time All Rocky Mountain Conference player. Had a .330 career batting average. Led his team to three conference titles and two NCAA Division I playoff appearances. Number one draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 1967. Played and coached in professional baseball. Served as manager of the San Diego Padres.
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Greeley Timothy, Multi-sports (1922-25)Earned 14 varsity letters in football(3), basketball(3), tennis (3), baseball (3), and track and field(2). Led the basketball team in scoring three straight years. First-team All-Rocky Mountain Conference selection in 1925. Helped his basketball teams to a 32-14 record. Number one singles player in tennis. Earned second-team all-conference honors in baseball.
