Chambana Sun

The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will induct 11 new members into the UI Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, October 10, at 7 p.m. at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The event is open to the public with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. All nine living inductees are scheduled to attend, and many will also be recognized during halftime at the Ohio State-Illinois football game on Saturday.

This marks the ninth class to be inducted since the Hall of Fame began in 2017, which now includes a total of 154 members representing every current varsity sport at Illinois. Varsity athletics at Illinois started with baseball in 1879 and currently features 21 NCAA Division I teams.

The Class of 2025 includes one coach and representatives from basketball, football, baseball, track and field, swimming and diving, and softball.

Former women’s basketball head coach Theresa Grentz is the only non-athlete being honored this year. “Grentz is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after compiling a record 681-360 during her 35 years as a head coach,” according to event organizers.

Football honorees include quarterback Kurt Kittner—who led Illinois to a Big Ten title and Sugar Bowl appearance—and defensive tackle Joe Rutgens, who was drafted third overall by Washington in the NFL Draft and twice earned Pro Bowl honors.

Jane Fauntz Manske will be inducted for her achievements in swimming and diving. She competed for Team USA in both the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics (100-meter breaststroke) and won bronze in three-meter springboard diving at the Los Angeles Games in 1932.

Baseball’s Scott Spiezio holds Illinois’ career home run record with 48 homers between 1991-1993. He played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), winning two World Series titles.

Track & Field has two representatives: Benita Kelley Babridge and Aspen Burkett Miles were both highly decorated sprinters who contributed to multiple Big Ten team championships during their Illini careers. Mike Durkin is also recognized for his middle-distance running achievements including participation on U.S. Olympic teams.

Softball star Meredith Hackett Kindt received First-Team All-America honors as a sophomore when Illinois finished conference play with a strong record; she still ranks among program leaders across several offensive categories.

Basketball standouts Gene Vance—a member of Illinois’ Whiz Kids teams who later served as athletics director—and Kiwane Garris—second all-time leading scorer for Illinois men’s basketball—are also part of this year’s class.

The induction ceremony is free for attendees. Returning members will be honored again during Saturday’s football game against Ohio State.