Former News Tribune sports editor Bruce Bennett will join five coaches as members of the 2011 Class to be inducted to the Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 30.
Bill Haller (softball coach), Scott Hanna (baseball and football assistant), Neil Ladsten (wrestling and football assistant), Don Roach (men's tennis) and Karen Stromme (women's basketball, women's golf) complete the induction class.
Bennett covered sports for the News Tribune for 38 years before retiring in December 1997. An annual UMD award for service to the school's athletic programs is named in his honor. Bennett, a member of the DECC Athletic Hall of Fame, died April 13, 1998.
Haller coached UMD softball for 24 years through 2005 and finished with a record of 657-306. His teams won 13 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles and advanced to a combined five NCAA and NAIA tournaments. He now serves as UMD's compliance officer.
Hanna coached baseball for 27 years through 2005 and had a mark of 550-257-3. The Bulldogs won four NSIC regular-season titles and played in a combined three NCAA and NAIA tournaments. He was also a UMD assistant football coach (1978-1999) and a former UMD lineman. He has been the football team's equipment manager since 1978.
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Stromme coached women's basketball for 21 seasons through 2005 and compiled a 440-184 record. During her tenure, UMD won 12 NSIC regular-season titles, four playoff titles and played in a combined 15 NCAA and NAIA tournaments. She also coached women's golf and now serves as senior woman administrator in the athletic department.
Ladsten coached wrestling for 25 years through 1996, when the sport was dropped. The Bulldogs were 172-141-4 in dual meets during that time and won six NSIC titles. Ladsten had 24 athletes named NCAA Division II or NAIA All-Americans, including 1987 NAIA champion Mike Hirschey. Ladsten was a football assistant for 23 years through 1993 and was a former UMD lineman.
Roach coached men's tennis for 23 years through 1998 and had a mark of 364-99, the best winning percentage (.786) in school athletic history. His teams gained 18 NSIC titles, four NAIA tournament berths and one NCAA Division II berth. He was also UMD's athletic trainer from 1969-98.
