University of Northern Colorado Athletics
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Hall of Fame Class of 1996
Frank Carbajal, Baseball/Basketball (1958-61)Frank Carbajal was an all-conference UNC baseball and basketball player in the early 1960s. A Division I all-region pitcher in 1960, he helped the Bears to a pair of College World Series appearances. A native of Greeley, he notched more than 500 basketball coaching victories at high schools and community colleges, and two of his community college teams advanced to the final four.Â
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Joe Drew, Football (1966-69)Captained the Bears' 1969 football team that finished the season ranked third nationally at 10-0. On the only undefeated team in school history, he earned All-America honorable mention as a defensive tackle and was a two-time all-conference selection. Â A native Arvada, he helped establish the Blue and Gold Club's annual golf fundraiser.
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Sandra Elliott, Tennis (1983-86)Was a three-time NCAA Division II doubles tennis champion and a two-time singles runner-up in the mid-1980s. The four- time singles and doubles conference champion helped the 1983 Bears to a fourth-place team finish at the NCAA championships. A native of Grand Junction, she was a two-time Academic All-American.Â
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Jack Flasche, Wrestling (1961-64)A Fruita native, Jack Flasche won the 1962 NCAA Division I championship at 157 pounds. A three-year conference champion, he helped the Bears win three Rocky Mountain Conference titles and helped lead the 1962 team to a 14th-place finish in the Division I national playoffs.
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Mike Higgins, Basketball (1985-89)Was a second-team All-America basketball player who led the Bears to the 1989 North Conference championship. A four-time all-conference performer, Higgins is the Bears' career leader in scoring (2,112) and rebounding (959) and he holds 21 other school records. A native of Greeley, Higgins later played with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets before enjoying a solid professional career overseas.
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Don Meyer, Baseball/Basketball (1964-67)Earned all-conference honors in baseball and basketball in the mid-1960s. As a pitcher, the star from Wayne, Nebraska, posted an 11-2 mark with a 1.84 ERA as a senior. He also led the 1956-66 basketball team in scoring with a 15.3 average and helped the Bears advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs. A head basketball coach at David Lipscomb (Tennessee) for 20 years, Meyer at 39 in 1994 was the youngest coach in the history of college basketball to surpass the 500-victory mark. His 1990 team won 41 games, most ever by a college team, and his 1986 squad won a NAIA championship.Â
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Buck Rollins, Football Coach (1967-85)Was an assistant coach for the Bears' 1969 undefeated team, serving at that post from 1967-85, mostly under head coach Bob Blasi, a former teammate at Colorado State. Rollins was the defensive coordinator for the Bears' 1980 squad that won the North Central Conference title. After moving to offensive coordinator in 1982, he helped produce the league's top rusher and passer in Jim Bright and Nick Henkowski, respectively. A Lamar native, Rollins is now a UNC faculty member.
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George Sage, Baseball/Basketball (1952-55) & Basketball Coach (1963-69)An all-region pitcher, he threw a six-hitter in the Bears' 2-1 victory over Southern California in the 1955 College World Series. Â As UNC head basketball coach from 1963-69, he complied the highest winning percentage in UNC basketball history with a 95-36 record that produced four league titles and three NCAA playoff berths. A native of Denver, Sage served on the UNC faculty until retiring in 1993.
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Linda Witt, Multi-sports (1975-78)Earned varsity letters in swimming, track, basketball, softball and field hockey in the late 1970s. She played second base on three regional championship softball teams and helped her 1978 squad to a runner-up finish at the College World Series. A native of Salida, she was an all-conference field hockey player and led the Bears to a pair of regional championships and a seventh-place finish at the 1976 national tournament. The 1984 Colorado Sportswomen of the Year guided University High School to 10 state gymnastics titles. She coached the Northern Colorado softball team from 2001-06.
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John Zurbrigen, Football (1969-71)/ContributorWas a three-year starter at halfback and tight end for the Bears. A member of the undefeated team of 1969, he later was named the Bear of the Week after making seven catches for 153 yards against Nebraska-Omaha in 1971. A native of Fort Morgan, Zurbrigen was co-chair of the committee that successfully raised $3.5 million in private funds for construction of the new UNC football stadium.
