Michigan State Athletics Announces 2022 Hall of Fame Class
7/12/2022 12:00:00 PM | General
Michigan State will induct nine Spartans into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 9, as part of its annual "Celebrate" weekend. The 2022 Hall of Fame Class includes: Herb Adderley (football), Kathy DeBoer (volleyball/women's basketball), Joan Garety (women's golf), Draymond Green (men's basketball), Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis (women's soccer), Greg Jones (football), Kalisha Keane (women's basketball), Karen Langeland (women's basketball/administration) and Bob Steele (men's track and field).
"This is a tremendous Hall of Fame class, one that includes NCAA Champions, National and Big Ten Players of the Year and All-Americans," said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. "Perhaps most importantly, as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX this year, it includes three women who were trailblazers in their respective sports following the implementation of Title IX legislation. I can't wait to celebrate all of their accomplishments this September."
The Celebrate 2022 weekend includes the 12th-annual Varsity Letter Jacket Presentation on Thursday, Sept. 8, and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday. Floor Rijpma (field hockey) will also be recognized during the weekend. Rijpma, a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021, was unable to attend last year's ceremony due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. There will also be a special recognition of the 2022 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class during the Michigan State-Akron football game at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10.
The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, opened on Oct. 1, 1999, and displays plaques of the 162 previous inductees. The charter class of 30 former Spartan student-athletes, coaches and administrators was inducted in 1992.
Below are bios on the nine inductees for the 2022 Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame Class:
Herb Adderley
Football (1958-60)
Philadelphia, Pa.
Herb Adderley, who passed away at the age of 81 in 2020, is considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play in the history of the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and is one of three former Spartans enshrined in Canton, Ohio, along with Joe DeLamielleure and Morten Andersen. Adderley was also an accomplished Spartan, earning first-team All-Big Ten accolades as a senior in 1960, and will now have his name alongside the all-time greats of Michigan State as a member of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
"First of all, my father loved Michigan State, and loved Coach Duffy Daugherty," said Herb's daughter, Toni. "As a kid growing up, I heard him speak about (Duffy) a lot. Duffy, his high school coach (Charles Martin), and Coach (Vince) Lombardi, they had the most pivotal impact on his life in terms of his career. It means a lot (for Herb to be in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame), especially with us losing him recently, just to know that he's still being honored for his career in football."
A native of Philadelphia, Adderley was an all-state selection at Northeast High School before arriving in East Lansing. He lettered three seasons (1958-60) at MSU under Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty and was a captain his senior season.
"I think that was really the first time my dad really got out of Philly, and to be able to go to Michigan State, a Big Ten school, and knowing the times and being a Black athlete, to go to a Big Ten school, that's a lot in itself," said Toni. "And it said a lot about one, the coach recruiting him, and also his athletic ability."
Although freshmen were unable to compete on varsity teams, Adderley quickly flashed his potential as a sophomore in 1958, collecting 335 all-purpose yards, including 37 carries for 143 yards and two TDs, six catches for 100 yards, and one interception for 16 yards.
His workload increased his junior campaign, as he led the team with 318 minutes, playing on both sides of the ball. As a precursor to his time as a cornerback in the NFL, Adderley had two interceptions on defense, while ranking first on the team in rushing (93 carries for 419 yards and two TDs), receiving (13 receptions for 265 yards and two TDs) and all-purpose yards (773). During Michigan State's 34-8 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor, Adderley scored the first touchdown of the game and finished with 74 yards on 15 carries against the Wolverines.
Adderley, who also ran indoor track in the winter for the Spartans, entered his senior year as one of three team captains. As a left halfback, he responded by leading the team in all-purpose yards (565) and receiving yards (nine catches for 154 yards and two TDs) for the second consecutive season while ranking second with 261 rushing yards on 68 carries. Adderley also led the team with 118 kick return yards and had a 25-yard interception en route to earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. Michigan State went 2-0-1 against Michigan and 2-0 vs. Notre Dame during Adderley's three years on varsity, with wins over both schools during his senior season in 1960, and he earned an invite to multiple all-star games, including the Hula Bowl, the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game.
But it was more than just his success on the field that endeared him to Spartans. One of Adderley's close friends on campus was Ernest Green, a member of the Little Rock Nine who attended MSU during the same time as Adderley.
"He (Ernest) and I have talked a lot since (Herb's) passing," said Toni. "(Ernest) mentioned to me, and I think this is a big thing that has stuck with me, especially during the times that we're in right now, that my dad broke down a lot of barriers for the other Black students at Michigan State at that time. So it helped kind of bridge (some of the problems) – even though there were racial problems then as there are now – but just for him being an athlete that everybody loved and with the team winning games, I think that was a big thing that one, Mr. Green talked about to me, as well as my dad."
Following his Spartan career, Adderley was selected in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft (No. 12 overall) by Green Bay and went on to become one of the most beloved Packers in franchise history. He played nine seasons with the Packers (1961-69) and helped the team win five NFL Championships, including three Super Bowls. He was named to the AP All-Pro First Team five times (1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969) in Green Bay and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (1963-67). In addition, Adderley was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team (1960s) as a defensive back. He finished his career by spending three seasons with the Cowboys (1970-72), helping Dallas reach two Super Bowls, including a victory over Miami in Super Bowl VI.
In 12 NFL seasons, Adderley had 48 interceptions, which ranked 13th all-time upon his retirement; his 1,048 interception return yards still rank No. 9 in NFL history, including seven for touchdowns (tied for 12th in NFL history). He also was an exceptional kick returner, compiling 3,080 yards on 120 returns in his career, including two for scores.
Adderley is one of only four professional football players in history to win six NFL Championships (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971) and in addition to being enshrined in Canton, he is also a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. He was named one of the NFL's all-time top 100 players (No. 58) by The Athletic in 2021.
Toni was at her father's Hall of Fame induction ceremony as a child growing up in 1980, and said she is planning a return trip to Canton with family in August.
"He was humble with family, but anybody that wanted to talk about football, he was like a walking encyclopedia for every sport because he loved sports so much," Toni said. "He would always be willing to talk to anybody about his career."
Adderley was named the winner of the 1995 Duffy Daugherty Award, given annually from 1975-2005 to a Spartan alumnus who has distinguished himself in endeavors on and off the field after graduating from MSU.
"For me and my kids, I wish that he was still here – and he knew how much Green Bay Packer fans and Spartan fans loved him – but just to really, really talk to him about his legacy," said Toni. "I think that he would be really excited."
Kathy DeBoer
Volleyball/Women's Basketball (1975-78)
Grand Rapids, Mich.
A product of the Title IX era, it's fitting that former Spartan volleyball and women's basketball standout Kathy DeBoer's induction into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame coincides with the 50th anniversary of its enactment. DeBoer's induction adds to the list of impressive inductees from that era, including former teammates Diane Spoelstra, Mary Kay Itnyre and Carol Hutchins.
"I've been a troublemaker on the Title IX front for most of my career so there's an irony to it," DeBoer said. "What we always say is never waste an anniversary. Never waste a chance to bring attention to issues, to positive things, but also to things that remain undone. Most of the time Hall of Fame inductions are celebratory events, but this one has some pain points. There are a lot of stories to tell about the early days and what it was like, but what is more important is where we are today and the work that still needs to be done."
DeBoer spent three years in East Lansing racking up accolades on the court, but they all pale in comparison to her work as an advocate for gender equality across sport. As the Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), a position she has held since 2006, DeBoer continues to fight for women's rights long after the conclusion of her careers as a player, coach, and athletics department administrator.
Although she started her intercollegiate career at Calvin College, DeBoer quickly made her mark as a multi-sport athlete for the Spartans.
DeBoer's name still ranks among the greats in the Michigan State women's basketball record book. Her 9.3 career rebounds per game is fourth best in program history and her 17 career double-doubles ranks No. 14 all-time despite playing just two seasons with the team. During the 1976-77 season, DeBoer led the Spartans in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, and assists. Her 10.2 rebounds per game in 1976-77 is still the eighth best individual rebounding season in program history.
Alongside Jill Prudden, DeBoer was named co-captain prior to the 1977-78 season, the first season that captains were recorded for the program. DeBoer earned team MVP honors following the 1977-78 season and was a finalist for the first ever Wade Trophy, presented annually to the best player in collegiate women's basketball by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Over the course of her career, DeBoer helped the women's basketball team to a 44-13 record along with a 17-2 mark in Big Ten play.
DeBoer will be inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame alongside her former coach, Karen Langeland. Langeland led the women's basketball program for 24 years from 1976-2000 prior to a 12-year career as an associate athletic director at MSU.
"Her legacy is so significant," DeBoer said. "She was there in the early days of Title IX and saw many changes in women's athletics throughout her time. From no scholarships to having scholarships, from no Big Ten to playing in the Big Ten Conference, from no organized recruiting to seeing recruiting become a marketplace. With the number of the things she negotiated, in my mind I thought 'well it's about time.'"
As a member of the volleyball team in 1975 and 1976, DeBoer helped lead the team to an 82-13 record along with a pair of Big Ten titles and two trips to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national tournament. Michigan State took ninth in 1975 and seventh in 1976, with DeBoer earning team MVP honors following the 1976 season.
Following her graduation. DeBoer was selected by the Minnesota Fillies in the fifth round of the Women's Pro Basketball League draft, playing two seasons as a starting forward.
DeBoer began her collegiate coaching career at Ferris State in 1980, where her volleyball teams compiled a record of 107-64 and won two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. During her tenure with the Bulldogs (1980-84), DeBoer won three consecutive GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.
In 1984, DeBoer left Ferris State to become the head volleyball coach at the University of Kentucky, a position she held through 1992 before moving into administration as an associate athletics director at UK. DeBoer's teams went a combined 209-97 over nine seasons as her stint as head coach saw the Wildcats equal the then-best NCAA finish in program history, fifth in 1987.
Under DeBoer's guidance, Kentucky went to four NCAA tournaments, claimed two SEC regular season titles, and won two SEC Tournament championships. The 1987 season saw DeBoer claim both SEC and National Coach of the Year honors. After her move into sport administration, DeBoer rose to the title of senior associate athletics director prior to taking her current position as the executive director of the AVCA. In 2009, DeBoer was inducted in the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.
DeBoer's lengthy career in athletics is impressive considering there were few careers in athletics for women at the time of her graduation from Michigan State.
"My experience at Michigan State was incredibly influential in shaping my life," DeBoer said. "A lot of what I remember about Michigan State are the academic experiences I had there, and I still refer to things that I learned. It was a tremendously influential experience, but in terms of shaping my career, there were no careers in athletics for women at the time. I played professional basketball for a couple of years, much to the chagrin of my parents who had been waiting for me to grow out of this obsession with sports and transition into a productive adult. They had no vision that this would ever happen in sports and neither did I."
DeBoer was awarded the Dr. Nell Jackson Outstanding Alumna award in 1989, presented annually to a Spartan alumna whose career has been distinguished not only by outstanding professional accomplishments, but also by an exceptional record of community service. Jackson was a significant role model for DeBoer in the early stages of her career and continues to be now.
In her acceptance speech, DeBoer stated "I hope as I go on with my life and career, that I will continue to seize opportunities, and not be afraid of challenges, that I will always be dedicated to providing opportunities for other women in athletics, and that I will continue to fight for opportunities for women and will stay committed to the goal of equity."
Now 33 years later, DeBoer has lived up to that standard. However, there's still much more work to be done.
Joan Garety
Women's Golf (1974-78)
Caro, Mich.
When she first heard learned of her election into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022, Joan Garety couldn't help but think back to 1972.
It's only fitting that Garety, who helped start and build the MSU women's golf program into not only one of the best in the Big Ten Conference, but also among the best in the country, is part of a class being inducted during the 50th Anniversary of Title IX.
"It does mean a lot more to me," Garety said. "It was one of the first things I thought about. Here we are 50 years later. Time goes by pretty darn quickly; it's exciting. The opportunities that kids have today are just incredible.
"It's so cool and you just want to make sure that they know how cool that it is. They're being given tremendous opportunities and it's a privilege to have that opportunity. You want every kid to make the most of it, and to appreciate that they have it because nothing is a given."
Garety started playing golf when she was 6-years-old, and it became a way for her to spend more time with her father. Her older sister and brother didn't have the interest in the game that she did and that became her time with dad.
It wasn't until Title IX was passed into law in 1972 that Garety began to have more opportunities to play.
"What was exciting was that we had an opportunity to compete," she said. "That was really the beginning. Title IX had just come through in 1972 and Michigan State was kind of a forerunner in terms of having teams and opportunities for women. In fact, when I got out of high school and was making my decision about college, I wanted to play golf somewhere and stay in the state of Michigan. That meant I had three choices, one was Ferris State, one was Central (Michigan) and the other was Michigan State."
Garety had played at a summer camp run by then-MSU coach Mary Fossum and the rest, as they say, is history.
"I knew Mary, and she was incredible," Garety said. "Her spirit was infectious so I was excited to come to Michigan State. Even though there wasn't any scholarship money, we didn't have team uniforms, we didn't have school-provided equipment. What we did have was the chance to compete and the chance to travel and that was very exciting and so fun."
Compete she did.
As a four-year letterwinner and two-time co-captain, she won nine tournaments, which is tied for the school record. Prior to the conference recognizing the sport, Garety helped lead the Spartans to four-straight Big Ten Conference titles. After her senior season, she was awarded MSU's Dr. James Feurig Achievement and Service Award, one of just two Spartan golfers to win the award. Garety also received the Nell Jackson Outstanding Alumna Award in 1995 and MSU's Scholar-Athlete Alumni Award in 2000.
"What we had was the chance to be on a team," Garety said. "Golf is an individual sport, but when you're representing the school, it's a team and you're all very much pulling together. And to be able to compete as a team and have success as a team, which we did, was so much fun.
The core group of us, the four of us were a nucleus on that team for three years and that was really fun."
Her record in the state is highlighted by two Michigan Amateur Championships, which she claimed in 1982 and 1997, the 1996 Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Women's Championship as well as the GAM Mid-Amateur Championship in 2004. As a senior she has continued to win, claiming five GAM Women's Senior Championships and two Michigan Women's Senior Amateur titles.
Overall, she also qualified for 30 USGA championships, including 16 Mid-Amateurs. She was on the GAM Honor Roll 19 times, was a six-time GAM Senior Player of the Year and part of 25 Atlas Cup Teams. She was named the GAM Senior Player of the Decade in 2010 as well. In addition, Garety is a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.
Garety, who earned her degree from MSU in accounting, worked as an auditor at Arthur Anderson before spending the bulk of her professional life working for Meijer, rising to Vice President of Finance and Treasurer.
She retired in 2014 and lives in Grand Rapids, spending most of her time golfing, traveling and fishing. Through all the years, she does not forget where her golf journey really started, at Michigan State.
"I take a tremendous amount of pride in the program," Garety said. "The women's golf program at MSU has always consisted of incredible golfers, incredible students and incredible people. That has been consistent since I was involved, Fall of 1974 is when I came on campus. It's really been cool in terms of what they have accomplished and what they continue to accomplish."
When she received the call from Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller that she was part of the 2022 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame class, Garety's emotion was evident.
"I was surprised and absolutely thrilled," she explained. "It was something that I didn't think was going to happen because I thought for one reason or another, it just wasn't ever going to happen.
"When I got the call, I was just absolutely thrilled. I told Alan (Haller) that my grin went from ear to ear and then I stopped and said, 'No, it meets in the back of my head.'"
But for Garety, her induction into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame, along with awards she has earned, stems back to 1972.
"The only competitive golf I played as a junior was when I played on the boys team the last two years in high school once Title IX came through," Garety said. "I really thought about, 'I want to do my best in every tournament and I was tickled when my best was the best score.'
"Sometimes there needs to be a little outside push to make meaningful change. Title IX was a world changer. It wasn't immediate, but it happened. You don't quite have parity. Things don't happen willingly sometimes. Without Title IX, the ball wouldn't have been rolling. Being on the early end of that, what was exciting for us, the little things, the chance to compete, it was the chance to be on a team, the chance to travel. It was getting to get our classes without having to go through a process. And that was huge, absolutely huge.
"It was those little things that at the beginning made such a difference. And then over the years to see what it is today, with full-ride scholarships and training. In golf's case, the Lasch Center and all the things that are done to give our athletes the absolute best opportunity to be their best is so exciting. And none of that would have happened without Title IX."
Draymond Green
Men's Basketball (2008-12)
Saginaw, Mich.
Draymond Green has enjoyed an exceptional career since leaving Michigan State. It's been a career that's included NBA Championships, Olympic Gold Medals and individual accolades. He's already had his jersey retired by the Michigan State basketball program. But despite everything he's accomplished and all the recognition he's earned, the call from MSU athletic director Alan Haller informing Green he'd been selected for the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame still was a special moment.
"I had chills all the way down my arms," said Green, who learned of his honor just a few days after helping lead the Golden State Warriors to a fourth NBA title. "I couldn't believe it. I kept saying, 'wow.' I then called my wife Hazel who is also an MSU grad.
"To be mentioned with guys like Mateen Cleaves, Magic Johnson, Steve Smith, Bubba Smith and Kirk Gibson is absolutely mind-blowing to me. It's an incredible honor. Michigan State was my dream school since I was a child, but the Hall of Fame never even crossed my mind."
Green's senior season (2011-12) is one of the best in Michigan State history, with a remarkable list of accolades including National Player of the Year honors from the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches), the Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year Award, Big Ten Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament, Consensus First-Team All-American and NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team selection. He is one of just four Spartans to ever earn National Player of the Year honors (Scott Skiles – 1986, Shawn Respert – 1995, Denzel Valentine – 2016).
The Saginaw, Michigan, native led the Spartans in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (10.6 rpg), steals (54), and 3-point field goals (52), while ranking second in assists (3.8 apg) and blocks (36). On the season, he led MSU in rebounding in 31 of 37 games, including 16 of the 18 Big Ten contests.
In addition to finishing his career as MSU's all-time leading rebounder (1,096), he currently ranks 19th in career scoring (1,517 points), seventh in career blocks (117), second in career steals (180) and tied for the career lead with 145 games played. Green is one of just three Spartans (Greg Kelser and Johnny Green) to record 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points in their careers. With three career triple-doubles, Green ranks second in MSU history behind only Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Despite all of his accomplishments, it's the relationships that stand out to him when he reflects on his time at MSU.
"When I think back to my time at MSU, the thing that comes to mind are the times with my teammates and the film sessions we had with Coach (Izzo)," said Green. "The summer workouts of us screaming and yelling 'we are going to the Final Four' and actually doing it. 5:30 a.m. lifts, grinding while everyone slept. Izzone Campouts. Games in the Bres. Football games at Spartan Stadium watching my brothers Bennie Fowler, Jerel Worthy, Denzel Drone, and the greats Kirk Cousins, Connor Cook and LeVeon Bell dominate the Big Ten year after year! Coach D leading them on the field and we are down there (on the field) while they run out the tunnel. Those were the great times, that made it all worth it. And wow, it led to the Hall of Fame!"
Green played a key role in MSU's back-to-back Final Four runs in 2009 and 2010. As a freshman in 2009, Green averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds off the bench in six NCAA Tournament games, ranking fourth on the squad in scoring and second in rebounding, shooting a team-best .679 from the field in the tournament, as the Spartans advanced to the National Championship game. One year later, Green was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 9.9 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds. He averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the NCAA Tournament, including posting a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double vs. Tennessee in the Regional Final.
As a junior, Green averaged 12.6 points, ranking second on the squad, while leading the team in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and assists (4.1 apg), earning third-team All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight season. He recorded two of his three triple-doubles during his junior season. It all set the stage for his standout senior campaign.
Although the Spartans started 0-2 in his senior season, and were unranked to open the season, MSU would reel off 15 straight wins to rise to No. 6 in the polls. The Spartans posted a 13-5 record in conference action to claim a share of a Big Ten regular-season championship. Green played at an exceptionally high level in conference action, averaging 16.7 points and 10.6 rebounds to earn Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten accolades. He ranked in the top 10 in the Big Ten in rebounding (1st), steals (5th), 3-point FG percentage (5th), scoring (6th), assists (t-8th) and 3-point FG made (t-8th). His dominance continued into the Big Ten Tournament where he earned Most Outstanding Player honors by averaging 15.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in MSU's run to the title. The tournament crown propelled the Spartans to the No. 1 seed in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16.
Always known as a player who cared more about winning than stats, Green captured Big Ten regular-season championships in three of his four seasons (2009, 2010, 2012), in addition to capturing the tournament crown in 2012. MSU made the NCAA Tournament all four seasons, including three Sweet 16 appearances and two trips to the Final Four.
The lessons of his time at Michigan State still influence him today.
"My mom taught me to be resilient," said Green. "Coach Izzo took the rope when I arrived on campus and taught me how to work. He guided me from a young boy into manhood, and what it meant to be a Spartan. I still carry that with me to this very day."
Green's outstanding success continued after he left MSU. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 35th pick overall in the Second Round of the 2012 NBA Draft. He and the Warriors captured their fourth NBA Championship this past June. He is a four-time NBA All-Star and has made two All-NBA teams, including second-team honors in 2016 and third-team honors in 2017. He was voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and is a seven-time All-Defensive Team selection, including four first-team accolades. Green has also won two Olympic Gold Medals with USA Basketball in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2020 (Tokyo).
Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis
Women's Soccer (2008-11)
Hudsonville, Mich.
Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis just might be the greatest women's soccer player ever to represent the Green and White. Having earned four All-America selections, four first-team All-Big Ten nods, the 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and MSU George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year awards, these accolades barely scratch the surface of the impact Heyboer had on the Michigan State women's soccer team over four seasons.
Upon hearing she was being inducted Heyboer said, "I'm extremely humbled and honored to be considered and chosen for this. Michigan State was such a special place to me and there were so many resources to help and assist on my student-athlete journey and on into my career and the rest of my life."
Heyboer, originally from Hudsonville, came to East Lansing with two Michigan Miss Soccer and two Gatorade Player of the Year awards already under her belt from her prep years at Unity Christian.
Despite being a Michigan native, Heyboer didn't have any particular ties to a local university, and went into the recruiting process with an open mind. But it was MSU that stuck out to her from the beginning.
"The minute I stepped on campus at Michigan State, it just felt like home, and part of that was from the coaches who were recruiting me, making it feel like home," she recalled. "Everyone was so welcoming and so helpful and created this feeling of being right at home, but also feeling comfortable being challenged to be better. I think that was one thing that drew me to Michigan State. I knew that was the place that I needed to be."
Heyboer's stellar abilities were immediately on display in her rookie season. As the team's leading goal and point scorer that year, she was named an All-American and the SoccerBuzz National Freshman of the Year. She also was the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring that fall. Her 51 points and 21 goals still rank third in MSU history in the single-season record books. With the rest of her collegiate career still ahead of her, Heyboer had plenty of time to further leave her mark on the Spartan record book.
After a record-setting inaugural year, it was a journey back to square one when Heyboer suffered a major setback in 2009. The then-sophomore broke her leg scoring the game-winning goal in a contest with Minnesota.
"It was the first big injury of my career, so it was definitely difficult to go through. I credit my faith, my family and the people on campus who became a part of that family as well for giving me strength," Heyboer said. "It was a difficult process. But, if you're committed to the journey and committed to that process, you've got every resource here that you need to get yourself back on the field. I stayed committed to that and put in the work because I knew I had more that I wanted to accomplish. And thankfully, I was able to do that and to continue to play."
Despite the setback, Heyboer's numbers that year still ranked among the best in single-season school history. It also barely slowed her down from continued success in her final two seasons as a Spartan. In her senior year, she helped the team win a program-best seven Big Ten games.
"Our group, coming in as freshmen … we were basically written off as a low-contending team even though we knew that we had a lot of talent. So starting freshman year, our focus and mentality flipped. We were hungry for more and were willing to put in the work to earn it. We committed to that and stayed committed to the process, and we continued to grow. With that growth came confidence in ourselves to compete, and I think it was huge to end senior year with a record like that for us," she said.
Heyboer graduated MSU with Academic All-America accolades on top of her numerous athletic honors. She left the squad with the top career marks in points (139), goals (57), assists (25) and game-winning goals (19), numbers which all still stand today.
When the opportunity arose to go pro following graduation, Heyboer eagerly accepted and was the 19th pick in the Women's Professional Soccer draft, selected by Sky Blue FC.
"The league was an opportunity to continue to do what I love to do. My coaches, athletic trainers, the strength staff, all continued to support me with whatever direction I wanted to go. And it showed me that those resources which Michigan State can offer didn't go away when I graduated, they just continued. The men's coach [Damon Rensing] was pretty gracious to let me jump into some trainings with the men's soccer team as well, just to kind of keep my touch on the ball and continue to get ready to go play. I spent two years in the league, and I enjoyed every minute of it."
In 2014, Heyboer teamed up with her husband, Brad, to become a coaching duo at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. Brad, a former Division III athlete at Calvin College, took over the head men's soccer gig for the Yellowjackets, while Laura spearheaded the women's program and served as an assistant coach with the men's squad.
After a successful seven years on the East Coast, the couple made the decision to return to their Michigan roots, with Brad taking the Athletic Director post at Kalamazoo Christian and Laura working in athletic apparel sales for BSN sports. Through it all, Heyboer credits her experiences while at Michigan State for making the difference in her life and career.
"Being recognized from Michigan State is super special because they've helped me in every step of my journey from college to today. There are so many people working together that make it possible for student athletes like myself to come and compete."
Heyboer is the first-ever women's soccer player to enter the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. After much campaigning with the university, women's soccer became an official varsity sport at MSU in 1985, and with the 50th anniversary of Title IX taking place this year, Heyboer reminisced on the importance of advances for women in sport.
"When you have women who are brave and go after what they want, and want to compete and have those opportunities they didn't have before … it takes somebody with a lot of bravery to get that going," she commented. "I'm so extremely thankful for the way which women's sports has grown over the many years, and for those who started MSU women's soccer and made it into what it is today, because you need those people that come before you in order to grow from there. Now it's my job as well to help continue that. I coach my daughter, Hayden. Whether she chooses to continue playing is up to her, but I just love being able to teach the game of soccer and continue to help move the sport forward."
Greg Jones
Football (2007-10)
Cincinnati, Ohio
The accolades for linebacker Greg Jones place him as one of the most decorated players in Spartan football history.
He is one of just four players at MSU, along with College Football Hall of Famers George Webster, Charles "Bubba" Smith and Lorenzo White, to earn consensus first-team All-America honors twice in his career (2009, 2010), and one of just 10 Spartans to be named a unanimous first-team All-America selection, which he accomplished his senior season in 2010.
"I got a little emotional – I was in the middle of training some kids," said Jones upon hearing the news of his induction on a call from Alan Haller, MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics. "I was super excited and couldn't wait to tell my family. I'm grateful and humbled to be a part of such an elite group of people in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame."
As a member of Mark Dantonio's first recruiting class to Michigan State in 2007, Jones helped spark a championship legacy for MSU's all-time winningest coach, serving as co-captain of the Big Ten Championship team in 2010 that claimed the Spartans' first conference title in 20 years.
"I can look back at those four years and how they were a huge building block and somewhat of a cornerstone to what's happening now," said Jones. "Just to be a part of the program and the history; I'm happy for what we built as a team and the coaching staff was definitely a part of that as well."
The Cincinnati, Ohio, native started 46 of 52 career games, including 40 consecutive starting assignments to close out his career. A model of consistency, Jones became just the second player in MSU history to lead the Spartans in tackles for four straight seasons (linebacker Dan Bass, 1976-79). Jones ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles (third with 465), tackles for loss (third with 46.5) and sacks (10th with 16.5).
Jones made a splash right away as a freshman in 2007, ranking first on the team with 78 tackles, while being named a Freshman All-American. He followed that up with 127 stops his sophomore season in 2008 en route to earning first-team All-Big Ten honors, a feat he accomplished three times during his career – one of just eight Spartans to claim that distinction.
As a junior in 2009, Jones recorded a career-high 154 tackles, third most in the FBS and seventh all-time in an MSU season. He also posted a career-best nine sacks and tied a career-high with 14 tackles for loss. His impressive season landed him on the consensus All-America First Team and he became the first Spartan defensive player to be named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year since the award's inception in 1982.
"What made it so fun is that we were able to get on the same page so quickly," said Jones of playing defense with his teammates. "To look another human being in the eye and know what they're thinking, they know what you're thinking, and then you get that accomplished on the field and talk about it on the sideline, that gives me the chills. When you're a Spartan Dawg for those four years, you almost feel like you're related. I just think that was so much fun. The type of schemes we put together each week for every team were always fun, and as challenges presented themselves, we always attacked them as a team. I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this recognition without the guys in that room, I just wouldn't have."
Jones' Spartan career culminated as a senior in 2010 when he was voted captain for a second consecutive year while leading Michigan State to a then-school record 11 wins in the regular season and a Big Ten title. He earned unanimous first-team All-America honors after ranking first on the Spartans in tackles (106), tackles for loss (10 for 20 yards) and forced fumbles (3). The 2010 team MVP also became the first Spartan to reach the 100-tackle milestone in three straight seasons since Percy Snow (1987-89).
"Being able to accomplish something – saying you want to accomplish it and then to be able to get it done, it was amazing," said Jones of winning the Big Ten Championship as a senior, although the team wasn't even ranked heading into the season. "Having to deal with Coach D being out (for medical reasons), and Coach (Don) Treadwell stepping up and doing a great job, and the team sticking together throughout the process, the odds were against us. Whenever you set a big goal out there, the odds are going to be against you, but to get past those and do what we did as a team, was truly special."
Selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Jones played six years of professional football, including two in the NFL and four in the CFL. He is one of 29 Spartans to win a Super Bowl ring, helping the Giants defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
Jones now works with youth football players and hopes to help them reach their potential by instilling a positive attitude and overcoming obstacles with perseverance and a strong work ethic.
"I think about the word growth – that sticks out to me the most," said Jones, reflecting on his time as a Spartan. "Working with kids now and watching them go on – there are kids I work with that have gone on to play college ball – looking at where we all started, especially my class, from where we started to where we ended up, just the amount of growth that we had, both mentally and physically. I would say growth is just the thing that sticks with me the most that I look back on and I cherish because it was such a huge moment in my life."
From growing up playing youth football in Cincinnati, to winning a Big Ten title at MSU and a Super Bowl ring with the Giants, and now as a member of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, Jones is definitely a shining example of what someone can achieve through hard work and dedication.
Kalisha Keane
Women's Basketball (2007-11)
Ajax, Ontario
Tenacious competitor, fantastic teammate, fearless leader. Former Michigan State women's basketball player Kalisha Keane encompasses all those statements. She will now add the epithet of Michigan State Hall of Fame inductee.
The native of Ajax, Ontario, remains the only player in Spartan women's basketball history to end her career with at least 1,500 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 250 steals.
Despite all the accolades, Keane was more than a little surprised when the call came from Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller informing her of the honor.
"To be honest, I was a little in shock. I was not expecting that call at all," the former Spartan forward recalled. "I thought it was like a spam call because I haven't really been receiving a lot of Michigan numbers, so I was really shocked. A lot of emotions ran through me, and I teared up a little bit too, but overall just really excited. I think it really took me off guard, but I was really grateful."
Being inducted into the Michigan State Hall of Fame is even more special this year as MSU celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. The 2022 Hall of Fame class features five women.
"I think Title IX has been something that a lot of young women especially myself have been able to reap the benefits of and also to get the opportunity to play the sport that they love and compete," Keane said. "So, it's definitely something that is special to me. I'm really looking forward to seeing all those women that play different sports, that they've been able to kind of pave the way for us before, and it's really exciting."
Keane becomes the ninth Spartan women's basketball player or coach to join the Hall of Fame, along with Kathy DeBoer and Karen Langeland who will be inducted this year. They join Kristin Haynie, Liz Shimek, Carol Hutchins, Mary Kay Itnyre, Diane Spoelstra and Kisha Kelly in earning the rare honor.
"It's extremely special and extremely humbling for me. When I hear names like (Kristin) Haynie and Liz Shimek, those are the names that really paved the way for me when I went to Michigan State. Their culture and the foundation that they built definitely still were around when I was playing, so it's just great company to be around," Keane said. "I'm really thankful for the time that they put into the program to make it such a special place to be. The success that they had, obviously it's still ringing in the halls to this day, so it's super exciting. I hope that I made them a little proud. I don't even know if they were watching, but I have always looked up to them since I was a player."
During her breakout 2010-11 season, Keane became the first Spartan women's basketball player to capture Big Ten Player of the Year honors, as well as earning first-team all-conference honors. She ended the season sixth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game. Keane completed her senior year with 531 points, which at the time was tied for fourth-most in the MSU single-season record books.
With a stellar 27-6 overall record and a 13-3 mark in league action, the Spartans earned their first out-right Big Ten championship that season.
An individual highlight of the 2010-11 season was Keane's dramatic game-winner against No. 16 Iowa in East Lansing. With the game tied 60-all, Brittney Thomas found Keane with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock. The win was MSU's 14th-straight of the season, as the Spartans started the season 16-1.
"When I think back on my time, there are obviously games that we've won that are exciting," Keane said. "There's our senior year when we were able to clinch the Big Ten regular season and hitting that shot against Iowa was exciting for an individual kind of moment. When I really think back, I just remember my teammates and the moments we had together. I think another really defining game was when we were able to beat Duke, the No. 1 seed in the (2009 NCAA) tournament, that was exciting. Everybody rushed the court and not even realizing that I'm crying when I'm crying. At the end of the day, I really do reflect on just those times that I had my teammates, those random fun moments that we were able to have together."
Keane capped off a stellar career at Michigan State earning Associated Press and WBCA honorable mention All-American honors.
"That was a really special year. I think everybody really bought into their roles, we bought into the staff and we bought into each other and a few special things really happened," Keane said. "Being Player of the Year wouldn't have been able to happen without my teammates. When I made the shot against Iowa, it was Cetera Washington who made the play call for me to get the shot. They really supported me. I just really can't even accept to be a Big Ten Player the Year without bringing up the name of Brittney Thomas, one of the best defenders, point guards that I've played with throughout my entire career."
Keane not only represented Michigan State, but she also played for Team Canada on several occasions. She represented Canada six times, including earning a bronze medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championships. She also captured a silver medal at the 2013 Senior Women's National Team in the FIBA Americas Tournament.
She has gone on to follow in the footsteps of current MSU head coach Suzy Merchant, including spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at MSU from 2017-19. After leaving Michigan State, Keane spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Long Island University in Brooklyn. She is currently in her first year as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton.
"Going back, I think being a GA was a great experience for me because it was at a very pivotal point in my life where I was trying to figure out what my next act was, and Suzy was very supportive," the current assistant coach Keane said. "But coming back, I think I really learned the value of putting in hard work without it being about you. When you're a player, everything is focused around you, but when you're a part of a support staff, you really have to be more selfless. You have to put in hours when nobody's really paying attention. You don't realize how much goes into making this machine go. You have to be where your feet are and don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Focus on the work that you're putting in and other things will follow."
It was not without help that Michigan State became a second home for Keane. She had leaders and mentors along the way, as well as family who helped her along the way.
"I definitely want to thank my family, my parents, my brother (Kaza) and sister (Takima) for all their support through it all. They were there when I first picked up the ball until now through all the ups and the downs," Keane added. "I want to thank all of my coaches from Canada who have put time into me, whether it be at the grassroots level or at the National Team level. There are so many people at MSU who helped me from Coach Merchant to our athletic trainer LouAnne Jefferson, Malinda Hudkins (Equipment Manager) and Julie Dombroski (Director of Basketball Operations). Angela Montie in SASS and Nancy Rademacher in the International Center both really helped me navigate my time here too. I also want to thank all my teammates and the assistant coaches as well."
Karen Langeland
Women's Basketball/Administration (1976-2012)
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Karen Langeland enters the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame for her work not only during a successful 24-season tenure on the basketball sideline as the head coach, but also 12 years as an associate athletic director, lending her expertise and knowledge to 11 additional Spartan programs as their sport administrator.
"I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for everything that came from my time at Michigan State," said Langeland, who retired from the University in 2012 and now lives on the west side of the state. "I enjoyed the 24 years I spent coaching the amazing young women who passed through our basketball program. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the department as an administrator where I could not only continue to watch student-athletes grow and develop, but also our coaches and ancillary staff members. My 36 years with Michigan State were incredibly fulfilling, and truly, I feel beyond lucky to be a Spartan for life."
Langeland joined the Spartan staff as the third women's basketball coach in program history in 1976, hired by Dr. Nell Jackson to coach the program in the early years as women's athletics were evolving after 1972's Title IX decision. Over the next 24 years, she built a first-class basketball program dedicated to achieving excellence on the court as well as educating and preparing her players for the challenges of tomorrow. During her tenure at MSU, Spartan basketball alumnae went on to impressive careers in education, medicine, law, finance, athletic administration, and coaching.
On the court, Langeland guided Spartan basketball teams to 376 overall wins, a Big Ten title, three NCAA Tournaments, two Women's National Invitational Tournament appearances, 17 winning seasons and four 20-win campaigns. In those 24 years, there were 39 All-Big Ten selections, one All-American, and seven Academic All-America selections. She guided the squad to 24 victories over ranked opponents, was named District Coach of the Year in 1991 and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1988. Seven of her athletes went on to play professionally, including two drafted by the WNBA.
In 1996-97, Langeland reached a pinnacle in her career after guiding Michigan State to a share of its first-ever Big Ten title with a 12-4 record in the conference. The Spartans, who finished the year with a 22-8 overall mark, also made their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their third overall.
In 1989, the Calvin College graduate became just the third coach in the history of MSU men's and women's basketball to reach the 200-win plateau with a victory over Michigan. In 1993, she reached the 250-win mark with a victory over Northwestern, while midway through the 1995-96 season she reached another coaching milestone with her 300th career victory as the Spartans downed Northwestern, 94-90.
Equally as important as the victories is the success of Langeland's players in the classroom. Every player who remained in her program through her senior year graduated, while student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten, Academic All-District, and CoSIDA Academic All-America honors on 40 occasions.
Another highlight of Langeland's career was her selection as the coach of the 1994 Big Ten All-Star team that toured England and Scotland. She led the all-stars to a perfect 6-0 record, the first men's or women's conference all-star team to go undefeated. Langeland again was chosen to coach the Big Ten All-Star team in 1996, and her second squad duplicated the success of the first, posting a 6-0 record during its tour of Denmark and Sweden.
During her coaching career, Langeland was an active member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and served on the Naismith Player of the Year Selection Committee and Kodak All-America Selection Committee. She also served on the NCAA Midwest Region Committee for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship and was a voter on the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 poll.
"All coaches remember wins and losses, and probably remember losses more because they eat at you," laughed Langeland. "But for me, the enduring joy from my position was watching as the young women came into our program and grow as individuals. Not just growth as a player over four years – I mean growth into adulthood as well. It was wonderful to see what they did with their education and what professional paths they chose. Hearing from my former players, hearing about their chosen careers, listening to stories about their families, their children, their professional ambitions – it is always a joy to hear from them."
After retiring from coaching, Langeland was given the opportunity by then-athletic director Clarence Underwood to move into athletics administration. In addition to being a sport supervisor, she spent 12 years as the director of the MSU summer camps program while serving as a liaison to the MSU booster clubs. She oversaw the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductions.
Over those 12 years in administration, Langeland served as the sport administrator for rowing, field hockey, men's and women's tennis, gymnastics, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's swimming and diving.
"When I made the switch to the administrative side, I enjoyed learning about sports that I hadn't coached," she recalls. "I admired the coaches and their staffs and enjoyed learning about their individual coaching methods and specifics of their sports which were so different than basketball. It was so much fun to have these new experiences and enjoy their team successes."
Langeland began her coaching career at Kentwood High School in her native Grand Rapids, where she guided the basketball and track teams from 1973-75. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Calvin College in 1970 and a master's degree from Michigan State in 1977. Joining the Spartan staff four years after the Title IX legislation was passed, Langeland had a front-row seat to much of the changing world of women's athletics.
"I played three-on-three halfcourt when I was in college," remembers Langeland. "Soon after I got into high school coaching, Title IX was a landmark decision and really changed a lot of things for women's opportunities in all levels of athletics, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. Those days weren't always easy, but I am proud that I was a part of making women's athletics more mainstream, more accessible, and hopefully, easier for women who wanted to compete.
"The changes I witnessed over the course of my career – it's hard to put into words just how impactful they were," she continued. "There's almost not a reasonable way to compare the landscape now compared to when I was coaching, let alone the additional changes in the 22 years I spent in administration and retirement. The coaches are paid more. The staff sizes are unrecognizable. The training and technology and sport science has evolved beyond measure.
"I loved each step forward. They were exciting. The game grew, and got better and better through each change that was implemented. I look forward to watching how these next chapters unfold as innovation and opportunity continues to change athletics."
Bob Steele
Men's Track and Field (1965-67)
Plymouth, Mich.
Bob Steele came to East Lansing in 1963 to be on the Michigan State track & field team and he hasn't ever left, still living in East Lansing, with his wife, Judy, just a few blocks from campus. Every fall during MSU Hall of Fame Weekend, Bob and Judy host a bunch of his old teammates and their families, and since many of his old teammates are already members, the talk is always about when Bob will be selected for the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. Well, this upcoming fall, they will be gathering at not just Bob and Judy Steele's house, but MSU Athletics Hall of Famer Bob Steele's house.
Steele was recently at the Spartan Summer Conversation, exploring the storied history of Race, Sport and Social Change, to hear one of his former teammate's daughter, Maya Washington, speak. She is the daughter of Spartan football great Gene Washington, who played football and ran track & field at MSU, and was a part of the Spartans' back-to-back Big Ten and National Championships in 1965-66 on the football field and MSU's 1965 and '66 Big Ten Track & Field Outdoor Championships, and the 1966 Indoor Championship.
After the program, MSU Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller gave Steele the news that he had been selected to the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
"All of my teammates and some of my buddies who are already in the Hall of Fame, they've all been pushing hard for me, and it was beautiful to hear Mr. Haller tell me I was selected," Steele said. "I had just talked to Gene earlier in the day about it, so after Alan told me, I went up and told Maya the good news, and she was so excited, and insisted that we had to call her dad right away and tell him the news."
Steele along with Washington and Clinton Jones, formed a sweeping trio in the 70-yard low and high hurdles, going all season of the 1966 outdoor campaign without an opponent amongst them, finishing 1-2-3 throughout the season and the Big Ten Conference titles.
"Clinton Jones was the number one high hurdler in America and Gene Washington was number two, and I was number three, and we all ended up on the same team," Steele said. "Clinton and Gene were All-American football players here, but what a lot of people don't know is that there weren't enough football scholarships for them, so Clinton and Gene were on track scholarships.
"So it was a beautiful thing for the track team since we ended up winning three Big Ten track & field championships as a team, but a lot of our stars were football players, with Jim Summers, who was the starting cornerback, Gene was the All-American end and Clinton Jones was the All-American at halfback, and George Webster was an All-American linebacker."
Along with being honored to have them as his teammates, Steele was also proud to be a part of MSU's involvement in advancing the integration of college athletics, spearheaded by legendary Spartan football head coach Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty.
"Gene Washington got recruited by MSU because of Bubba Smith, who's father told recruiters looking at Bubba about Gene and to get the two of them together, so Duffy Daugherty brought them both from Texas to East Lansing," Steele said. "I was proud to have them as teammates."
Steele witnessed first-hand the segregation his teammates faced.
"One time in 1965, we were in Columbus, Ohio, getting ready to compete at Ohio State, and we went to a diner just a couple doors down from our hotel, and all 18 of us walked in there. The place was empty since it was around 8 o'clock at night at this little diner, and we walked in in our Michigan State blazers with 'MSU track & field' kind of stuff. The 18 of us, eight Black, 10 White, we sit down at some tables in a little back room so we could all be together," Steele recounted. "This waiter comes to the doorway of the room and he was kind of looking at us apprehensive and cautiously, for what felt like about 10 minutes, but it was probably only a minute or two, and so I walked over to him and I said 'you'll be serving 18 people or nobody.' He walked away and didn't say a word, and a minute later, a waitress came in and served us. Even in 1965 in Columbus, Ohio, their looks said 'we don't serve Blacks,' even though they didn't say anything, but we knew what they were thinking. In East Lansing or even Ann Arbor, that was never an issue, but just 200 miles away in Columbus, Ohio, it was still an issue.
"I've had Gene and Clint, and their wives, stay at our house for many years, and there was never a word said about it, but they've always known I was on their side."
Washington and Jones were two of Steele's most impactful teammates, and they made him a better athlete as well.
"I came to Michigan State and gained 30 pounds and grew two inches my freshman year, thinking I was kind of a big deal, and here my new teammates are the best two hurdlers in America," Steele said with a laugh. "I was third behind them in the highs and lows hurdles, and Gene and Clint were 1-2, and we swept the Big Ten Indoors, but that's what made me tell myself 'you best be finding a new event.'
"We swept all the meets and the shuttle hurdle relay throughout my career, and went on to compete at the big relay carnival meets like the Drake and Penn Relays, and meets like that, where the winners got gold watches, so we had a gang of gold watches because we were the best hurdlers in the country. After that was when I switched up for the 440-hurdles, and that just ended up being a great move for me, because if I hadn't, I would have just been another college track runner."
Steele remains thankful to assistant coach Jim Gibbert for recruiting him to Michigan State, and head coach Fran Dittrich for their coaching.
He went on to win the 440-yard hurdles at both the Big Ten and NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1966 and repeated the NCAA title in 1967. He helped guide the Spartans to the 1965 and 1966 Outdoor Big Ten Championships.
After his eligibility was done at MSU, he continued working out and running on campus, training for Olympic qualifying, and running with Spartan greats Ken Popejoy and Bob Cassleman, among many others.
Following graduation and getting married, Steele went all over the world traveling to meets, competing to train for the Olympics. That is until a major injury put the breaks on Steele's Olympic hopes.
"I broke my leg at an indoor meet in Toronto, Canada, and I was in the preliminaries of the 60-high hurdles, and on the first hurdle, I felt a twinge and I went on through and won the race, but then I turned to walk back and I couldn't put my foot down, and it turns out I had broken my leg just above the ankle," Steele said.
The injury appeared to end Steele's running days, and he was ready to put his teaching degree to use. Having done his student teaching in East Lansing elementary schools, Steele was a part-time PE teacher, and had accepted a job as a high school PE teacher at East Lansing High School for an hour. However, he saw a track event on television and wasn't ready to hang up his track spikes just yet, so he called the principal back and apologized to say he was going to keep running.
He would go on to win several races and prizes in races around the world, including competing in the Superstar competition.
Steele and his wife Judy met in Case Hall, after they were set up on blind date by one of his track teammates, and went to an MSU hockey game for their first date. Bob and Judy hit it off at the hard-hitting hockey game, and were married in 1969. They've been married 53 years, now with two adult daughters. The oldest Steele daughter, Britten, is speech-language pathologist at an U.S. Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan. The youngest, A.J., lives in southern Illinois, near St. Louis, Missouri, and Steele is excited to have them all together for his Hall of Fame induction.
Once he finally did hang up his running spikes for good, Steele was the PE teacher at Whitehills Elementary School for 35 years. After 25 years there, the PTA hung a plaque in the gym dedicating it as "Steele's Gym," and just before the gym was to be torn down for renovations, Steele went in and rescued the plaque.
After starting teaching at age 21, before retiring in 2003, Steele made a lasting impact on several of his students, many of whom he would later teach their children, relaying messages to 'Mr. Steele' from their parents. He also earned several teaching awards from the East Lansing Public Schools.
He now plays tennis three days a week, with Steele noting that it's down from six days a week when he first retired, as well as playing cards with friends multiple days a week as well. And come this fall, he'll also be playing some cards and telling stories while hosting several of his fellow Hall of Fame members.
"This is a tremendous Hall of Fame class, one that includes NCAA Champions, National and Big Ten Players of the Year and All-Americans," said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. "Perhaps most importantly, as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX this year, it includes three women who were trailblazers in their respective sports following the implementation of Title IX legislation. I can't wait to celebrate all of their accomplishments this September."
The Celebrate 2022 weekend includes the 12th-annual Varsity Letter Jacket Presentation on Thursday, Sept. 8, and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday. Floor Rijpma (field hockey) will also be recognized during the weekend. Rijpma, a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021, was unable to attend last year's ceremony due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. There will also be a special recognition of the 2022 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class during the Michigan State-Akron football game at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10.
The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, opened on Oct. 1, 1999, and displays plaques of the 162 previous inductees. The charter class of 30 former Spartan student-athletes, coaches and administrators was inducted in 1992.
Below are bios on the nine inductees for the 2022 Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame Class:
Herb Adderley
Football (1958-60)
Philadelphia, Pa.
Herb Adderley, who passed away at the age of 81 in 2020, is considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play in the history of the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and is one of three former Spartans enshrined in Canton, Ohio, along with Joe DeLamielleure and Morten Andersen. Adderley was also an accomplished Spartan, earning first-team All-Big Ten accolades as a senior in 1960, and will now have his name alongside the all-time greats of Michigan State as a member of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
"First of all, my father loved Michigan State, and loved Coach Duffy Daugherty," said Herb's daughter, Toni. "As a kid growing up, I heard him speak about (Duffy) a lot. Duffy, his high school coach (Charles Martin), and Coach (Vince) Lombardi, they had the most pivotal impact on his life in terms of his career. It means a lot (for Herb to be in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame), especially with us losing him recently, just to know that he's still being honored for his career in football."
A native of Philadelphia, Adderley was an all-state selection at Northeast High School before arriving in East Lansing. He lettered three seasons (1958-60) at MSU under Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty and was a captain his senior season.
"I think that was really the first time my dad really got out of Philly, and to be able to go to Michigan State, a Big Ten school, and knowing the times and being a Black athlete, to go to a Big Ten school, that's a lot in itself," said Toni. "And it said a lot about one, the coach recruiting him, and also his athletic ability."
Although freshmen were unable to compete on varsity teams, Adderley quickly flashed his potential as a sophomore in 1958, collecting 335 all-purpose yards, including 37 carries for 143 yards and two TDs, six catches for 100 yards, and one interception for 16 yards.
His workload increased his junior campaign, as he led the team with 318 minutes, playing on both sides of the ball. As a precursor to his time as a cornerback in the NFL, Adderley had two interceptions on defense, while ranking first on the team in rushing (93 carries for 419 yards and two TDs), receiving (13 receptions for 265 yards and two TDs) and all-purpose yards (773). During Michigan State's 34-8 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor, Adderley scored the first touchdown of the game and finished with 74 yards on 15 carries against the Wolverines.
Adderley, who also ran indoor track in the winter for the Spartans, entered his senior year as one of three team captains. As a left halfback, he responded by leading the team in all-purpose yards (565) and receiving yards (nine catches for 154 yards and two TDs) for the second consecutive season while ranking second with 261 rushing yards on 68 carries. Adderley also led the team with 118 kick return yards and had a 25-yard interception en route to earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. Michigan State went 2-0-1 against Michigan and 2-0 vs. Notre Dame during Adderley's three years on varsity, with wins over both schools during his senior season in 1960, and he earned an invite to multiple all-star games, including the Hula Bowl, the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game.
But it was more than just his success on the field that endeared him to Spartans. One of Adderley's close friends on campus was Ernest Green, a member of the Little Rock Nine who attended MSU during the same time as Adderley.
"He (Ernest) and I have talked a lot since (Herb's) passing," said Toni. "(Ernest) mentioned to me, and I think this is a big thing that has stuck with me, especially during the times that we're in right now, that my dad broke down a lot of barriers for the other Black students at Michigan State at that time. So it helped kind of bridge (some of the problems) – even though there were racial problems then as there are now – but just for him being an athlete that everybody loved and with the team winning games, I think that was a big thing that one, Mr. Green talked about to me, as well as my dad."
Following his Spartan career, Adderley was selected in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft (No. 12 overall) by Green Bay and went on to become one of the most beloved Packers in franchise history. He played nine seasons with the Packers (1961-69) and helped the team win five NFL Championships, including three Super Bowls. He was named to the AP All-Pro First Team five times (1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969) in Green Bay and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (1963-67). In addition, Adderley was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team (1960s) as a defensive back. He finished his career by spending three seasons with the Cowboys (1970-72), helping Dallas reach two Super Bowls, including a victory over Miami in Super Bowl VI.
In 12 NFL seasons, Adderley had 48 interceptions, which ranked 13th all-time upon his retirement; his 1,048 interception return yards still rank No. 9 in NFL history, including seven for touchdowns (tied for 12th in NFL history). He also was an exceptional kick returner, compiling 3,080 yards on 120 returns in his career, including two for scores.
Adderley is one of only four professional football players in history to win six NFL Championships (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971) and in addition to being enshrined in Canton, he is also a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. He was named one of the NFL's all-time top 100 players (No. 58) by The Athletic in 2021.
Toni was at her father's Hall of Fame induction ceremony as a child growing up in 1980, and said she is planning a return trip to Canton with family in August.
"He was humble with family, but anybody that wanted to talk about football, he was like a walking encyclopedia for every sport because he loved sports so much," Toni said. "He would always be willing to talk to anybody about his career."
Adderley was named the winner of the 1995 Duffy Daugherty Award, given annually from 1975-2005 to a Spartan alumnus who has distinguished himself in endeavors on and off the field after graduating from MSU.
"For me and my kids, I wish that he was still here – and he knew how much Green Bay Packer fans and Spartan fans loved him – but just to really, really talk to him about his legacy," said Toni. "I think that he would be really excited."
Kathy DeBoer
Volleyball/Women's Basketball (1975-78)
Grand Rapids, Mich.
A product of the Title IX era, it's fitting that former Spartan volleyball and women's basketball standout Kathy DeBoer's induction into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame coincides with the 50th anniversary of its enactment. DeBoer's induction adds to the list of impressive inductees from that era, including former teammates Diane Spoelstra, Mary Kay Itnyre and Carol Hutchins.
"I've been a troublemaker on the Title IX front for most of my career so there's an irony to it," DeBoer said. "What we always say is never waste an anniversary. Never waste a chance to bring attention to issues, to positive things, but also to things that remain undone. Most of the time Hall of Fame inductions are celebratory events, but this one has some pain points. There are a lot of stories to tell about the early days and what it was like, but what is more important is where we are today and the work that still needs to be done."
DeBoer spent three years in East Lansing racking up accolades on the court, but they all pale in comparison to her work as an advocate for gender equality across sport. As the Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), a position she has held since 2006, DeBoer continues to fight for women's rights long after the conclusion of her careers as a player, coach, and athletics department administrator.
Although she started her intercollegiate career at Calvin College, DeBoer quickly made her mark as a multi-sport athlete for the Spartans.
DeBoer's name still ranks among the greats in the Michigan State women's basketball record book. Her 9.3 career rebounds per game is fourth best in program history and her 17 career double-doubles ranks No. 14 all-time despite playing just two seasons with the team. During the 1976-77 season, DeBoer led the Spartans in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, and assists. Her 10.2 rebounds per game in 1976-77 is still the eighth best individual rebounding season in program history.
Alongside Jill Prudden, DeBoer was named co-captain prior to the 1977-78 season, the first season that captains were recorded for the program. DeBoer earned team MVP honors following the 1977-78 season and was a finalist for the first ever Wade Trophy, presented annually to the best player in collegiate women's basketball by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Over the course of her career, DeBoer helped the women's basketball team to a 44-13 record along with a 17-2 mark in Big Ten play.
DeBoer will be inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame alongside her former coach, Karen Langeland. Langeland led the women's basketball program for 24 years from 1976-2000 prior to a 12-year career as an associate athletic director at MSU.
"Her legacy is so significant," DeBoer said. "She was there in the early days of Title IX and saw many changes in women's athletics throughout her time. From no scholarships to having scholarships, from no Big Ten to playing in the Big Ten Conference, from no organized recruiting to seeing recruiting become a marketplace. With the number of the things she negotiated, in my mind I thought 'well it's about time.'"
As a member of the volleyball team in 1975 and 1976, DeBoer helped lead the team to an 82-13 record along with a pair of Big Ten titles and two trips to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national tournament. Michigan State took ninth in 1975 and seventh in 1976, with DeBoer earning team MVP honors following the 1976 season.
Following her graduation. DeBoer was selected by the Minnesota Fillies in the fifth round of the Women's Pro Basketball League draft, playing two seasons as a starting forward.
DeBoer began her collegiate coaching career at Ferris State in 1980, where her volleyball teams compiled a record of 107-64 and won two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. During her tenure with the Bulldogs (1980-84), DeBoer won three consecutive GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.
In 1984, DeBoer left Ferris State to become the head volleyball coach at the University of Kentucky, a position she held through 1992 before moving into administration as an associate athletics director at UK. DeBoer's teams went a combined 209-97 over nine seasons as her stint as head coach saw the Wildcats equal the then-best NCAA finish in program history, fifth in 1987.
Under DeBoer's guidance, Kentucky went to four NCAA tournaments, claimed two SEC regular season titles, and won two SEC Tournament championships. The 1987 season saw DeBoer claim both SEC and National Coach of the Year honors. After her move into sport administration, DeBoer rose to the title of senior associate athletics director prior to taking her current position as the executive director of the AVCA. In 2009, DeBoer was inducted in the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.
DeBoer's lengthy career in athletics is impressive considering there were few careers in athletics for women at the time of her graduation from Michigan State.
"My experience at Michigan State was incredibly influential in shaping my life," DeBoer said. "A lot of what I remember about Michigan State are the academic experiences I had there, and I still refer to things that I learned. It was a tremendously influential experience, but in terms of shaping my career, there were no careers in athletics for women at the time. I played professional basketball for a couple of years, much to the chagrin of my parents who had been waiting for me to grow out of this obsession with sports and transition into a productive adult. They had no vision that this would ever happen in sports and neither did I."
DeBoer was awarded the Dr. Nell Jackson Outstanding Alumna award in 1989, presented annually to a Spartan alumna whose career has been distinguished not only by outstanding professional accomplishments, but also by an exceptional record of community service. Jackson was a significant role model for DeBoer in the early stages of her career and continues to be now.
In her acceptance speech, DeBoer stated "I hope as I go on with my life and career, that I will continue to seize opportunities, and not be afraid of challenges, that I will always be dedicated to providing opportunities for other women in athletics, and that I will continue to fight for opportunities for women and will stay committed to the goal of equity."
Now 33 years later, DeBoer has lived up to that standard. However, there's still much more work to be done.
Joan Garety
Women's Golf (1974-78)
Caro, Mich.
When she first heard learned of her election into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022, Joan Garety couldn't help but think back to 1972.
It's only fitting that Garety, who helped start and build the MSU women's golf program into not only one of the best in the Big Ten Conference, but also among the best in the country, is part of a class being inducted during the 50th Anniversary of Title IX.
"It does mean a lot more to me," Garety said. "It was one of the first things I thought about. Here we are 50 years later. Time goes by pretty darn quickly; it's exciting. The opportunities that kids have today are just incredible.
"It's so cool and you just want to make sure that they know how cool that it is. They're being given tremendous opportunities and it's a privilege to have that opportunity. You want every kid to make the most of it, and to appreciate that they have it because nothing is a given."
Garety started playing golf when she was 6-years-old, and it became a way for her to spend more time with her father. Her older sister and brother didn't have the interest in the game that she did and that became her time with dad.
It wasn't until Title IX was passed into law in 1972 that Garety began to have more opportunities to play.
"What was exciting was that we had an opportunity to compete," she said. "That was really the beginning. Title IX had just come through in 1972 and Michigan State was kind of a forerunner in terms of having teams and opportunities for women. In fact, when I got out of high school and was making my decision about college, I wanted to play golf somewhere and stay in the state of Michigan. That meant I had three choices, one was Ferris State, one was Central (Michigan) and the other was Michigan State."
Garety had played at a summer camp run by then-MSU coach Mary Fossum and the rest, as they say, is history.
"I knew Mary, and she was incredible," Garety said. "Her spirit was infectious so I was excited to come to Michigan State. Even though there wasn't any scholarship money, we didn't have team uniforms, we didn't have school-provided equipment. What we did have was the chance to compete and the chance to travel and that was very exciting and so fun."
Compete she did.
As a four-year letterwinner and two-time co-captain, she won nine tournaments, which is tied for the school record. Prior to the conference recognizing the sport, Garety helped lead the Spartans to four-straight Big Ten Conference titles. After her senior season, she was awarded MSU's Dr. James Feurig Achievement and Service Award, one of just two Spartan golfers to win the award. Garety also received the Nell Jackson Outstanding Alumna Award in 1995 and MSU's Scholar-Athlete Alumni Award in 2000.
"What we had was the chance to be on a team," Garety said. "Golf is an individual sport, but when you're representing the school, it's a team and you're all very much pulling together. And to be able to compete as a team and have success as a team, which we did, was so much fun.
The core group of us, the four of us were a nucleus on that team for three years and that was really fun."
Her record in the state is highlighted by two Michigan Amateur Championships, which she claimed in 1982 and 1997, the 1996 Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Women's Championship as well as the GAM Mid-Amateur Championship in 2004. As a senior she has continued to win, claiming five GAM Women's Senior Championships and two Michigan Women's Senior Amateur titles.
Overall, she also qualified for 30 USGA championships, including 16 Mid-Amateurs. She was on the GAM Honor Roll 19 times, was a six-time GAM Senior Player of the Year and part of 25 Atlas Cup Teams. She was named the GAM Senior Player of the Decade in 2010 as well. In addition, Garety is a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.
Garety, who earned her degree from MSU in accounting, worked as an auditor at Arthur Anderson before spending the bulk of her professional life working for Meijer, rising to Vice President of Finance and Treasurer.
She retired in 2014 and lives in Grand Rapids, spending most of her time golfing, traveling and fishing. Through all the years, she does not forget where her golf journey really started, at Michigan State.
"I take a tremendous amount of pride in the program," Garety said. "The women's golf program at MSU has always consisted of incredible golfers, incredible students and incredible people. That has been consistent since I was involved, Fall of 1974 is when I came on campus. It's really been cool in terms of what they have accomplished and what they continue to accomplish."
When she received the call from Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller that she was part of the 2022 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame class, Garety's emotion was evident.
"I was surprised and absolutely thrilled," she explained. "It was something that I didn't think was going to happen because I thought for one reason or another, it just wasn't ever going to happen.
"When I got the call, I was just absolutely thrilled. I told Alan (Haller) that my grin went from ear to ear and then I stopped and said, 'No, it meets in the back of my head.'"
But for Garety, her induction into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame, along with awards she has earned, stems back to 1972.
"The only competitive golf I played as a junior was when I played on the boys team the last two years in high school once Title IX came through," Garety said. "I really thought about, 'I want to do my best in every tournament and I was tickled when my best was the best score.'
"Sometimes there needs to be a little outside push to make meaningful change. Title IX was a world changer. It wasn't immediate, but it happened. You don't quite have parity. Things don't happen willingly sometimes. Without Title IX, the ball wouldn't have been rolling. Being on the early end of that, what was exciting for us, the little things, the chance to compete, it was the chance to be on a team, the chance to travel. It was getting to get our classes without having to go through a process. And that was huge, absolutely huge.
"It was those little things that at the beginning made such a difference. And then over the years to see what it is today, with full-ride scholarships and training. In golf's case, the Lasch Center and all the things that are done to give our athletes the absolute best opportunity to be their best is so exciting. And none of that would have happened without Title IX."
Draymond Green
Men's Basketball (2008-12)
Saginaw, Mich.
Draymond Green has enjoyed an exceptional career since leaving Michigan State. It's been a career that's included NBA Championships, Olympic Gold Medals and individual accolades. He's already had his jersey retired by the Michigan State basketball program. But despite everything he's accomplished and all the recognition he's earned, the call from MSU athletic director Alan Haller informing Green he'd been selected for the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame still was a special moment.
"I had chills all the way down my arms," said Green, who learned of his honor just a few days after helping lead the Golden State Warriors to a fourth NBA title. "I couldn't believe it. I kept saying, 'wow.' I then called my wife Hazel who is also an MSU grad.
"To be mentioned with guys like Mateen Cleaves, Magic Johnson, Steve Smith, Bubba Smith and Kirk Gibson is absolutely mind-blowing to me. It's an incredible honor. Michigan State was my dream school since I was a child, but the Hall of Fame never even crossed my mind."
Green's senior season (2011-12) is one of the best in Michigan State history, with a remarkable list of accolades including National Player of the Year honors from the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches), the Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year Award, Big Ten Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament, Consensus First-Team All-American and NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team selection. He is one of just four Spartans to ever earn National Player of the Year honors (Scott Skiles – 1986, Shawn Respert – 1995, Denzel Valentine – 2016).
The Saginaw, Michigan, native led the Spartans in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (10.6 rpg), steals (54), and 3-point field goals (52), while ranking second in assists (3.8 apg) and blocks (36). On the season, he led MSU in rebounding in 31 of 37 games, including 16 of the 18 Big Ten contests.
In addition to finishing his career as MSU's all-time leading rebounder (1,096), he currently ranks 19th in career scoring (1,517 points), seventh in career blocks (117), second in career steals (180) and tied for the career lead with 145 games played. Green is one of just three Spartans (Greg Kelser and Johnny Green) to record 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points in their careers. With three career triple-doubles, Green ranks second in MSU history behind only Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Despite all of his accomplishments, it's the relationships that stand out to him when he reflects on his time at MSU.
"When I think back to my time at MSU, the thing that comes to mind are the times with my teammates and the film sessions we had with Coach (Izzo)," said Green. "The summer workouts of us screaming and yelling 'we are going to the Final Four' and actually doing it. 5:30 a.m. lifts, grinding while everyone slept. Izzone Campouts. Games in the Bres. Football games at Spartan Stadium watching my brothers Bennie Fowler, Jerel Worthy, Denzel Drone, and the greats Kirk Cousins, Connor Cook and LeVeon Bell dominate the Big Ten year after year! Coach D leading them on the field and we are down there (on the field) while they run out the tunnel. Those were the great times, that made it all worth it. And wow, it led to the Hall of Fame!"
Green played a key role in MSU's back-to-back Final Four runs in 2009 and 2010. As a freshman in 2009, Green averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds off the bench in six NCAA Tournament games, ranking fourth on the squad in scoring and second in rebounding, shooting a team-best .679 from the field in the tournament, as the Spartans advanced to the National Championship game. One year later, Green was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 9.9 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds. He averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the NCAA Tournament, including posting a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double vs. Tennessee in the Regional Final.
As a junior, Green averaged 12.6 points, ranking second on the squad, while leading the team in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and assists (4.1 apg), earning third-team All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight season. He recorded two of his three triple-doubles during his junior season. It all set the stage for his standout senior campaign.
Although the Spartans started 0-2 in his senior season, and were unranked to open the season, MSU would reel off 15 straight wins to rise to No. 6 in the polls. The Spartans posted a 13-5 record in conference action to claim a share of a Big Ten regular-season championship. Green played at an exceptionally high level in conference action, averaging 16.7 points and 10.6 rebounds to earn Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten accolades. He ranked in the top 10 in the Big Ten in rebounding (1st), steals (5th), 3-point FG percentage (5th), scoring (6th), assists (t-8th) and 3-point FG made (t-8th). His dominance continued into the Big Ten Tournament where he earned Most Outstanding Player honors by averaging 15.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in MSU's run to the title. The tournament crown propelled the Spartans to the No. 1 seed in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16.
Always known as a player who cared more about winning than stats, Green captured Big Ten regular-season championships in three of his four seasons (2009, 2010, 2012), in addition to capturing the tournament crown in 2012. MSU made the NCAA Tournament all four seasons, including three Sweet 16 appearances and two trips to the Final Four.
The lessons of his time at Michigan State still influence him today.
"My mom taught me to be resilient," said Green. "Coach Izzo took the rope when I arrived on campus and taught me how to work. He guided me from a young boy into manhood, and what it meant to be a Spartan. I still carry that with me to this very day."
Green's outstanding success continued after he left MSU. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 35th pick overall in the Second Round of the 2012 NBA Draft. He and the Warriors captured their fourth NBA Championship this past June. He is a four-time NBA All-Star and has made two All-NBA teams, including second-team honors in 2016 and third-team honors in 2017. He was voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and is a seven-time All-Defensive Team selection, including four first-team accolades. Green has also won two Olympic Gold Medals with USA Basketball in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2020 (Tokyo).
Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis
Women's Soccer (2008-11)
Hudsonville, Mich.
Laura (Heyboer) Heethuis just might be the greatest women's soccer player ever to represent the Green and White. Having earned four All-America selections, four first-team All-Big Ten nods, the 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and MSU George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year awards, these accolades barely scratch the surface of the impact Heyboer had on the Michigan State women's soccer team over four seasons.
Upon hearing she was being inducted Heyboer said, "I'm extremely humbled and honored to be considered and chosen for this. Michigan State was such a special place to me and there were so many resources to help and assist on my student-athlete journey and on into my career and the rest of my life."
Heyboer, originally from Hudsonville, came to East Lansing with two Michigan Miss Soccer and two Gatorade Player of the Year awards already under her belt from her prep years at Unity Christian.
Despite being a Michigan native, Heyboer didn't have any particular ties to a local university, and went into the recruiting process with an open mind. But it was MSU that stuck out to her from the beginning.
"The minute I stepped on campus at Michigan State, it just felt like home, and part of that was from the coaches who were recruiting me, making it feel like home," she recalled. "Everyone was so welcoming and so helpful and created this feeling of being right at home, but also feeling comfortable being challenged to be better. I think that was one thing that drew me to Michigan State. I knew that was the place that I needed to be."
Heyboer's stellar abilities were immediately on display in her rookie season. As the team's leading goal and point scorer that year, she was named an All-American and the SoccerBuzz National Freshman of the Year. She also was the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring that fall. Her 51 points and 21 goals still rank third in MSU history in the single-season record books. With the rest of her collegiate career still ahead of her, Heyboer had plenty of time to further leave her mark on the Spartan record book.
After a record-setting inaugural year, it was a journey back to square one when Heyboer suffered a major setback in 2009. The then-sophomore broke her leg scoring the game-winning goal in a contest with Minnesota.
"It was the first big injury of my career, so it was definitely difficult to go through. I credit my faith, my family and the people on campus who became a part of that family as well for giving me strength," Heyboer said. "It was a difficult process. But, if you're committed to the journey and committed to that process, you've got every resource here that you need to get yourself back on the field. I stayed committed to that and put in the work because I knew I had more that I wanted to accomplish. And thankfully, I was able to do that and to continue to play."
Despite the setback, Heyboer's numbers that year still ranked among the best in single-season school history. It also barely slowed her down from continued success in her final two seasons as a Spartan. In her senior year, she helped the team win a program-best seven Big Ten games.
"Our group, coming in as freshmen … we were basically written off as a low-contending team even though we knew that we had a lot of talent. So starting freshman year, our focus and mentality flipped. We were hungry for more and were willing to put in the work to earn it. We committed to that and stayed committed to the process, and we continued to grow. With that growth came confidence in ourselves to compete, and I think it was huge to end senior year with a record like that for us," she said.
Heyboer graduated MSU with Academic All-America accolades on top of her numerous athletic honors. She left the squad with the top career marks in points (139), goals (57), assists (25) and game-winning goals (19), numbers which all still stand today.
When the opportunity arose to go pro following graduation, Heyboer eagerly accepted and was the 19th pick in the Women's Professional Soccer draft, selected by Sky Blue FC.
"The league was an opportunity to continue to do what I love to do. My coaches, athletic trainers, the strength staff, all continued to support me with whatever direction I wanted to go. And it showed me that those resources which Michigan State can offer didn't go away when I graduated, they just continued. The men's coach [Damon Rensing] was pretty gracious to let me jump into some trainings with the men's soccer team as well, just to kind of keep my touch on the ball and continue to get ready to go play. I spent two years in the league, and I enjoyed every minute of it."
In 2014, Heyboer teamed up with her husband, Brad, to become a coaching duo at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. Brad, a former Division III athlete at Calvin College, took over the head men's soccer gig for the Yellowjackets, while Laura spearheaded the women's program and served as an assistant coach with the men's squad.
After a successful seven years on the East Coast, the couple made the decision to return to their Michigan roots, with Brad taking the Athletic Director post at Kalamazoo Christian and Laura working in athletic apparel sales for BSN sports. Through it all, Heyboer credits her experiences while at Michigan State for making the difference in her life and career.
"Being recognized from Michigan State is super special because they've helped me in every step of my journey from college to today. There are so many people working together that make it possible for student athletes like myself to come and compete."
Heyboer is the first-ever women's soccer player to enter the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. After much campaigning with the university, women's soccer became an official varsity sport at MSU in 1985, and with the 50th anniversary of Title IX taking place this year, Heyboer reminisced on the importance of advances for women in sport.
"When you have women who are brave and go after what they want, and want to compete and have those opportunities they didn't have before … it takes somebody with a lot of bravery to get that going," she commented. "I'm so extremely thankful for the way which women's sports has grown over the many years, and for those who started MSU women's soccer and made it into what it is today, because you need those people that come before you in order to grow from there. Now it's my job as well to help continue that. I coach my daughter, Hayden. Whether she chooses to continue playing is up to her, but I just love being able to teach the game of soccer and continue to help move the sport forward."
Greg Jones
Football (2007-10)
Cincinnati, Ohio
The accolades for linebacker Greg Jones place him as one of the most decorated players in Spartan football history.
He is one of just four players at MSU, along with College Football Hall of Famers George Webster, Charles "Bubba" Smith and Lorenzo White, to earn consensus first-team All-America honors twice in his career (2009, 2010), and one of just 10 Spartans to be named a unanimous first-team All-America selection, which he accomplished his senior season in 2010.
"I got a little emotional – I was in the middle of training some kids," said Jones upon hearing the news of his induction on a call from Alan Haller, MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics. "I was super excited and couldn't wait to tell my family. I'm grateful and humbled to be a part of such an elite group of people in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame."
As a member of Mark Dantonio's first recruiting class to Michigan State in 2007, Jones helped spark a championship legacy for MSU's all-time winningest coach, serving as co-captain of the Big Ten Championship team in 2010 that claimed the Spartans' first conference title in 20 years.
"I can look back at those four years and how they were a huge building block and somewhat of a cornerstone to what's happening now," said Jones. "Just to be a part of the program and the history; I'm happy for what we built as a team and the coaching staff was definitely a part of that as well."
The Cincinnati, Ohio, native started 46 of 52 career games, including 40 consecutive starting assignments to close out his career. A model of consistency, Jones became just the second player in MSU history to lead the Spartans in tackles for four straight seasons (linebacker Dan Bass, 1976-79). Jones ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles (third with 465), tackles for loss (third with 46.5) and sacks (10th with 16.5).
Jones made a splash right away as a freshman in 2007, ranking first on the team with 78 tackles, while being named a Freshman All-American. He followed that up with 127 stops his sophomore season in 2008 en route to earning first-team All-Big Ten honors, a feat he accomplished three times during his career – one of just eight Spartans to claim that distinction.
As a junior in 2009, Jones recorded a career-high 154 tackles, third most in the FBS and seventh all-time in an MSU season. He also posted a career-best nine sacks and tied a career-high with 14 tackles for loss. His impressive season landed him on the consensus All-America First Team and he became the first Spartan defensive player to be named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year since the award's inception in 1982.
"What made it so fun is that we were able to get on the same page so quickly," said Jones of playing defense with his teammates. "To look another human being in the eye and know what they're thinking, they know what you're thinking, and then you get that accomplished on the field and talk about it on the sideline, that gives me the chills. When you're a Spartan Dawg for those four years, you almost feel like you're related. I just think that was so much fun. The type of schemes we put together each week for every team were always fun, and as challenges presented themselves, we always attacked them as a team. I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this recognition without the guys in that room, I just wouldn't have."
Jones' Spartan career culminated as a senior in 2010 when he was voted captain for a second consecutive year while leading Michigan State to a then-school record 11 wins in the regular season and a Big Ten title. He earned unanimous first-team All-America honors after ranking first on the Spartans in tackles (106), tackles for loss (10 for 20 yards) and forced fumbles (3). The 2010 team MVP also became the first Spartan to reach the 100-tackle milestone in three straight seasons since Percy Snow (1987-89).
"Being able to accomplish something – saying you want to accomplish it and then to be able to get it done, it was amazing," said Jones of winning the Big Ten Championship as a senior, although the team wasn't even ranked heading into the season. "Having to deal with Coach D being out (for medical reasons), and Coach (Don) Treadwell stepping up and doing a great job, and the team sticking together throughout the process, the odds were against us. Whenever you set a big goal out there, the odds are going to be against you, but to get past those and do what we did as a team, was truly special."
Selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Jones played six years of professional football, including two in the NFL and four in the CFL. He is one of 29 Spartans to win a Super Bowl ring, helping the Giants defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
Jones now works with youth football players and hopes to help them reach their potential by instilling a positive attitude and overcoming obstacles with perseverance and a strong work ethic.
"I think about the word growth – that sticks out to me the most," said Jones, reflecting on his time as a Spartan. "Working with kids now and watching them go on – there are kids I work with that have gone on to play college ball – looking at where we all started, especially my class, from where we started to where we ended up, just the amount of growth that we had, both mentally and physically. I would say growth is just the thing that sticks with me the most that I look back on and I cherish because it was such a huge moment in my life."
From growing up playing youth football in Cincinnati, to winning a Big Ten title at MSU and a Super Bowl ring with the Giants, and now as a member of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, Jones is definitely a shining example of what someone can achieve through hard work and dedication.
Kalisha Keane
Women's Basketball (2007-11)
Ajax, Ontario
Tenacious competitor, fantastic teammate, fearless leader. Former Michigan State women's basketball player Kalisha Keane encompasses all those statements. She will now add the epithet of Michigan State Hall of Fame inductee.
The native of Ajax, Ontario, remains the only player in Spartan women's basketball history to end her career with at least 1,500 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 250 steals.
Despite all the accolades, Keane was more than a little surprised when the call came from Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller informing her of the honor.
"To be honest, I was a little in shock. I was not expecting that call at all," the former Spartan forward recalled. "I thought it was like a spam call because I haven't really been receiving a lot of Michigan numbers, so I was really shocked. A lot of emotions ran through me, and I teared up a little bit too, but overall just really excited. I think it really took me off guard, but I was really grateful."
Being inducted into the Michigan State Hall of Fame is even more special this year as MSU celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. The 2022 Hall of Fame class features five women.
"I think Title IX has been something that a lot of young women especially myself have been able to reap the benefits of and also to get the opportunity to play the sport that they love and compete," Keane said. "So, it's definitely something that is special to me. I'm really looking forward to seeing all those women that play different sports, that they've been able to kind of pave the way for us before, and it's really exciting."
Keane becomes the ninth Spartan women's basketball player or coach to join the Hall of Fame, along with Kathy DeBoer and Karen Langeland who will be inducted this year. They join Kristin Haynie, Liz Shimek, Carol Hutchins, Mary Kay Itnyre, Diane Spoelstra and Kisha Kelly in earning the rare honor.
"It's extremely special and extremely humbling for me. When I hear names like (Kristin) Haynie and Liz Shimek, those are the names that really paved the way for me when I went to Michigan State. Their culture and the foundation that they built definitely still were around when I was playing, so it's just great company to be around," Keane said. "I'm really thankful for the time that they put into the program to make it such a special place to be. The success that they had, obviously it's still ringing in the halls to this day, so it's super exciting. I hope that I made them a little proud. I don't even know if they were watching, but I have always looked up to them since I was a player."
During her breakout 2010-11 season, Keane became the first Spartan women's basketball player to capture Big Ten Player of the Year honors, as well as earning first-team all-conference honors. She ended the season sixth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game. Keane completed her senior year with 531 points, which at the time was tied for fourth-most in the MSU single-season record books.
With a stellar 27-6 overall record and a 13-3 mark in league action, the Spartans earned their first out-right Big Ten championship that season.
An individual highlight of the 2010-11 season was Keane's dramatic game-winner against No. 16 Iowa in East Lansing. With the game tied 60-all, Brittney Thomas found Keane with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock. The win was MSU's 14th-straight of the season, as the Spartans started the season 16-1.
"When I think back on my time, there are obviously games that we've won that are exciting," Keane said. "There's our senior year when we were able to clinch the Big Ten regular season and hitting that shot against Iowa was exciting for an individual kind of moment. When I really think back, I just remember my teammates and the moments we had together. I think another really defining game was when we were able to beat Duke, the No. 1 seed in the (2009 NCAA) tournament, that was exciting. Everybody rushed the court and not even realizing that I'm crying when I'm crying. At the end of the day, I really do reflect on just those times that I had my teammates, those random fun moments that we were able to have together."
Keane capped off a stellar career at Michigan State earning Associated Press and WBCA honorable mention All-American honors.
"That was a really special year. I think everybody really bought into their roles, we bought into the staff and we bought into each other and a few special things really happened," Keane said. "Being Player of the Year wouldn't have been able to happen without my teammates. When I made the shot against Iowa, it was Cetera Washington who made the play call for me to get the shot. They really supported me. I just really can't even accept to be a Big Ten Player the Year without bringing up the name of Brittney Thomas, one of the best defenders, point guards that I've played with throughout my entire career."
Keane not only represented Michigan State, but she also played for Team Canada on several occasions. She represented Canada six times, including earning a bronze medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championships. She also captured a silver medal at the 2013 Senior Women's National Team in the FIBA Americas Tournament.
She has gone on to follow in the footsteps of current MSU head coach Suzy Merchant, including spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at MSU from 2017-19. After leaving Michigan State, Keane spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Long Island University in Brooklyn. She is currently in her first year as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton.
"Going back, I think being a GA was a great experience for me because it was at a very pivotal point in my life where I was trying to figure out what my next act was, and Suzy was very supportive," the current assistant coach Keane said. "But coming back, I think I really learned the value of putting in hard work without it being about you. When you're a player, everything is focused around you, but when you're a part of a support staff, you really have to be more selfless. You have to put in hours when nobody's really paying attention. You don't realize how much goes into making this machine go. You have to be where your feet are and don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Focus on the work that you're putting in and other things will follow."
It was not without help that Michigan State became a second home for Keane. She had leaders and mentors along the way, as well as family who helped her along the way.
"I definitely want to thank my family, my parents, my brother (Kaza) and sister (Takima) for all their support through it all. They were there when I first picked up the ball until now through all the ups and the downs," Keane added. "I want to thank all of my coaches from Canada who have put time into me, whether it be at the grassroots level or at the National Team level. There are so many people at MSU who helped me from Coach Merchant to our athletic trainer LouAnne Jefferson, Malinda Hudkins (Equipment Manager) and Julie Dombroski (Director of Basketball Operations). Angela Montie in SASS and Nancy Rademacher in the International Center both really helped me navigate my time here too. I also want to thank all my teammates and the assistant coaches as well."
Karen Langeland
Women's Basketball/Administration (1976-2012)
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Karen Langeland enters the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame for her work not only during a successful 24-season tenure on the basketball sideline as the head coach, but also 12 years as an associate athletic director, lending her expertise and knowledge to 11 additional Spartan programs as their sport administrator.
"I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for everything that came from my time at Michigan State," said Langeland, who retired from the University in 2012 and now lives on the west side of the state. "I enjoyed the 24 years I spent coaching the amazing young women who passed through our basketball program. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the department as an administrator where I could not only continue to watch student-athletes grow and develop, but also our coaches and ancillary staff members. My 36 years with Michigan State were incredibly fulfilling, and truly, I feel beyond lucky to be a Spartan for life."
Langeland joined the Spartan staff as the third women's basketball coach in program history in 1976, hired by Dr. Nell Jackson to coach the program in the early years as women's athletics were evolving after 1972's Title IX decision. Over the next 24 years, she built a first-class basketball program dedicated to achieving excellence on the court as well as educating and preparing her players for the challenges of tomorrow. During her tenure at MSU, Spartan basketball alumnae went on to impressive careers in education, medicine, law, finance, athletic administration, and coaching.
On the court, Langeland guided Spartan basketball teams to 376 overall wins, a Big Ten title, three NCAA Tournaments, two Women's National Invitational Tournament appearances, 17 winning seasons and four 20-win campaigns. In those 24 years, there were 39 All-Big Ten selections, one All-American, and seven Academic All-America selections. She guided the squad to 24 victories over ranked opponents, was named District Coach of the Year in 1991 and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1988. Seven of her athletes went on to play professionally, including two drafted by the WNBA.
In 1996-97, Langeland reached a pinnacle in her career after guiding Michigan State to a share of its first-ever Big Ten title with a 12-4 record in the conference. The Spartans, who finished the year with a 22-8 overall mark, also made their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their third overall.
In 1989, the Calvin College graduate became just the third coach in the history of MSU men's and women's basketball to reach the 200-win plateau with a victory over Michigan. In 1993, she reached the 250-win mark with a victory over Northwestern, while midway through the 1995-96 season she reached another coaching milestone with her 300th career victory as the Spartans downed Northwestern, 94-90.
Equally as important as the victories is the success of Langeland's players in the classroom. Every player who remained in her program through her senior year graduated, while student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten, Academic All-District, and CoSIDA Academic All-America honors on 40 occasions.
Another highlight of Langeland's career was her selection as the coach of the 1994 Big Ten All-Star team that toured England and Scotland. She led the all-stars to a perfect 6-0 record, the first men's or women's conference all-star team to go undefeated. Langeland again was chosen to coach the Big Ten All-Star team in 1996, and her second squad duplicated the success of the first, posting a 6-0 record during its tour of Denmark and Sweden.
During her coaching career, Langeland was an active member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and served on the Naismith Player of the Year Selection Committee and Kodak All-America Selection Committee. She also served on the NCAA Midwest Region Committee for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship and was a voter on the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 poll.
"All coaches remember wins and losses, and probably remember losses more because they eat at you," laughed Langeland. "But for me, the enduring joy from my position was watching as the young women came into our program and grow as individuals. Not just growth as a player over four years – I mean growth into adulthood as well. It was wonderful to see what they did with their education and what professional paths they chose. Hearing from my former players, hearing about their chosen careers, listening to stories about their families, their children, their professional ambitions – it is always a joy to hear from them."
After retiring from coaching, Langeland was given the opportunity by then-athletic director Clarence Underwood to move into athletics administration. In addition to being a sport supervisor, she spent 12 years as the director of the MSU summer camps program while serving as a liaison to the MSU booster clubs. She oversaw the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductions.
Over those 12 years in administration, Langeland served as the sport administrator for rowing, field hockey, men's and women's tennis, gymnastics, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's swimming and diving.
"When I made the switch to the administrative side, I enjoyed learning about sports that I hadn't coached," she recalls. "I admired the coaches and their staffs and enjoyed learning about their individual coaching methods and specifics of their sports which were so different than basketball. It was so much fun to have these new experiences and enjoy their team successes."
Langeland began her coaching career at Kentwood High School in her native Grand Rapids, where she guided the basketball and track teams from 1973-75. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Calvin College in 1970 and a master's degree from Michigan State in 1977. Joining the Spartan staff four years after the Title IX legislation was passed, Langeland had a front-row seat to much of the changing world of women's athletics.
"I played three-on-three halfcourt when I was in college," remembers Langeland. "Soon after I got into high school coaching, Title IX was a landmark decision and really changed a lot of things for women's opportunities in all levels of athletics, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. Those days weren't always easy, but I am proud that I was a part of making women's athletics more mainstream, more accessible, and hopefully, easier for women who wanted to compete.
"The changes I witnessed over the course of my career – it's hard to put into words just how impactful they were," she continued. "There's almost not a reasonable way to compare the landscape now compared to when I was coaching, let alone the additional changes in the 22 years I spent in administration and retirement. The coaches are paid more. The staff sizes are unrecognizable. The training and technology and sport science has evolved beyond measure.
"I loved each step forward. They were exciting. The game grew, and got better and better through each change that was implemented. I look forward to watching how these next chapters unfold as innovation and opportunity continues to change athletics."
Bob Steele
Men's Track and Field (1965-67)
Plymouth, Mich.
Bob Steele came to East Lansing in 1963 to be on the Michigan State track & field team and he hasn't ever left, still living in East Lansing, with his wife, Judy, just a few blocks from campus. Every fall during MSU Hall of Fame Weekend, Bob and Judy host a bunch of his old teammates and their families, and since many of his old teammates are already members, the talk is always about when Bob will be selected for the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. Well, this upcoming fall, they will be gathering at not just Bob and Judy Steele's house, but MSU Athletics Hall of Famer Bob Steele's house.
Steele was recently at the Spartan Summer Conversation, exploring the storied history of Race, Sport and Social Change, to hear one of his former teammate's daughter, Maya Washington, speak. She is the daughter of Spartan football great Gene Washington, who played football and ran track & field at MSU, and was a part of the Spartans' back-to-back Big Ten and National Championships in 1965-66 on the football field and MSU's 1965 and '66 Big Ten Track & Field Outdoor Championships, and the 1966 Indoor Championship.
After the program, MSU Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller gave Steele the news that he had been selected to the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
"All of my teammates and some of my buddies who are already in the Hall of Fame, they've all been pushing hard for me, and it was beautiful to hear Mr. Haller tell me I was selected," Steele said. "I had just talked to Gene earlier in the day about it, so after Alan told me, I went up and told Maya the good news, and she was so excited, and insisted that we had to call her dad right away and tell him the news."
Steele along with Washington and Clinton Jones, formed a sweeping trio in the 70-yard low and high hurdles, going all season of the 1966 outdoor campaign without an opponent amongst them, finishing 1-2-3 throughout the season and the Big Ten Conference titles.
"Clinton Jones was the number one high hurdler in America and Gene Washington was number two, and I was number three, and we all ended up on the same team," Steele said. "Clinton and Gene were All-American football players here, but what a lot of people don't know is that there weren't enough football scholarships for them, so Clinton and Gene were on track scholarships.
"So it was a beautiful thing for the track team since we ended up winning three Big Ten track & field championships as a team, but a lot of our stars were football players, with Jim Summers, who was the starting cornerback, Gene was the All-American end and Clinton Jones was the All-American at halfback, and George Webster was an All-American linebacker."
Along with being honored to have them as his teammates, Steele was also proud to be a part of MSU's involvement in advancing the integration of college athletics, spearheaded by legendary Spartan football head coach Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty.
"Gene Washington got recruited by MSU because of Bubba Smith, who's father told recruiters looking at Bubba about Gene and to get the two of them together, so Duffy Daugherty brought them both from Texas to East Lansing," Steele said. "I was proud to have them as teammates."
Steele witnessed first-hand the segregation his teammates faced.
"One time in 1965, we were in Columbus, Ohio, getting ready to compete at Ohio State, and we went to a diner just a couple doors down from our hotel, and all 18 of us walked in there. The place was empty since it was around 8 o'clock at night at this little diner, and we walked in in our Michigan State blazers with 'MSU track & field' kind of stuff. The 18 of us, eight Black, 10 White, we sit down at some tables in a little back room so we could all be together," Steele recounted. "This waiter comes to the doorway of the room and he was kind of looking at us apprehensive and cautiously, for what felt like about 10 minutes, but it was probably only a minute or two, and so I walked over to him and I said 'you'll be serving 18 people or nobody.' He walked away and didn't say a word, and a minute later, a waitress came in and served us. Even in 1965 in Columbus, Ohio, their looks said 'we don't serve Blacks,' even though they didn't say anything, but we knew what they were thinking. In East Lansing or even Ann Arbor, that was never an issue, but just 200 miles away in Columbus, Ohio, it was still an issue.
"I've had Gene and Clint, and their wives, stay at our house for many years, and there was never a word said about it, but they've always known I was on their side."
Washington and Jones were two of Steele's most impactful teammates, and they made him a better athlete as well.
"I came to Michigan State and gained 30 pounds and grew two inches my freshman year, thinking I was kind of a big deal, and here my new teammates are the best two hurdlers in America," Steele said with a laugh. "I was third behind them in the highs and lows hurdles, and Gene and Clint were 1-2, and we swept the Big Ten Indoors, but that's what made me tell myself 'you best be finding a new event.'
"We swept all the meets and the shuttle hurdle relay throughout my career, and went on to compete at the big relay carnival meets like the Drake and Penn Relays, and meets like that, where the winners got gold watches, so we had a gang of gold watches because we were the best hurdlers in the country. After that was when I switched up for the 440-hurdles, and that just ended up being a great move for me, because if I hadn't, I would have just been another college track runner."
Steele remains thankful to assistant coach Jim Gibbert for recruiting him to Michigan State, and head coach Fran Dittrich for their coaching.
He went on to win the 440-yard hurdles at both the Big Ten and NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1966 and repeated the NCAA title in 1967. He helped guide the Spartans to the 1965 and 1966 Outdoor Big Ten Championships.
After his eligibility was done at MSU, he continued working out and running on campus, training for Olympic qualifying, and running with Spartan greats Ken Popejoy and Bob Cassleman, among many others.
Following graduation and getting married, Steele went all over the world traveling to meets, competing to train for the Olympics. That is until a major injury put the breaks on Steele's Olympic hopes.
"I broke my leg at an indoor meet in Toronto, Canada, and I was in the preliminaries of the 60-high hurdles, and on the first hurdle, I felt a twinge and I went on through and won the race, but then I turned to walk back and I couldn't put my foot down, and it turns out I had broken my leg just above the ankle," Steele said.
The injury appeared to end Steele's running days, and he was ready to put his teaching degree to use. Having done his student teaching in East Lansing elementary schools, Steele was a part-time PE teacher, and had accepted a job as a high school PE teacher at East Lansing High School for an hour. However, he saw a track event on television and wasn't ready to hang up his track spikes just yet, so he called the principal back and apologized to say he was going to keep running.
He would go on to win several races and prizes in races around the world, including competing in the Superstar competition.
Steele and his wife Judy met in Case Hall, after they were set up on blind date by one of his track teammates, and went to an MSU hockey game for their first date. Bob and Judy hit it off at the hard-hitting hockey game, and were married in 1969. They've been married 53 years, now with two adult daughters. The oldest Steele daughter, Britten, is speech-language pathologist at an U.S. Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan. The youngest, A.J., lives in southern Illinois, near St. Louis, Missouri, and Steele is excited to have them all together for his Hall of Fame induction.
Once he finally did hang up his running spikes for good, Steele was the PE teacher at Whitehills Elementary School for 35 years. After 25 years there, the PTA hung a plaque in the gym dedicating it as "Steele's Gym," and just before the gym was to be torn down for renovations, Steele went in and rescued the plaque.
After starting teaching at age 21, before retiring in 2003, Steele made a lasting impact on several of his students, many of whom he would later teach their children, relaying messages to 'Mr. Steele' from their parents. He also earned several teaching awards from the East Lansing Public Schools.
He now plays tennis three days a week, with Steele noting that it's down from six days a week when he first retired, as well as playing cards with friends multiple days a week as well. And come this fall, he'll also be playing some cards and telling stories while hosting several of his fellow Hall of Fame members.
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