Wisconsin Hall of Fame nominees have UW ties
May 14, 2009 | General News
Several individuals with ties to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Athletics program will be honored this November when they are inducted into the State of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. The six inductees were announced Thursday at a press conference at the Walk of Fame, located outside the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. Five of the six inductees for the class of 2009 have ties to the UW.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Sports Development Council, the six nominees include Ab Nicholas, former University of Wisconsin - Madison basketball player and UW benefactor; Bob Harlan, former chairman of the Green Bay Packers; Barry Alvarez, UW athletic director and former football coach; Judith Sweet, Milwaukee native, UW-Madison graduate and former letterwinner, former top NCAA official; Lee Kemp, former UW wrestler and three-time world champion; and John Powless, former head basketball coach at UW and top-ranked pro tennis player.
The nomination committee includes board members of the Wisconsin Sports Development Corp., members of the Wisconsin media and current Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame members. The nominees will be honored at banquet on Nov. 20 in Milwaukee. For more information call 608.226.4780 or email info@sportsinwisconsin.com.
Past nominees :
2009 Nominees with Badger ties:
Barry Alvarez
Professional Accomplishments
' UW Madison football coach from 1990-2005
' Won 3 Rose Bowls: 1993, 1998, 1999
o The only Big Ten coach to win consecutive Rose Bowls.
o Only one of six coaches in college football history to win at least three Rose Bowls.
o Of all coaches with three or more Rose Bowl appearances, there are only two with an undefeated record: Barry Alvarez and John Robinson.
o His three Rose Bowl wins are the only Rose Bowl wins for the University of Wisconsin (six games total with losses in 1953, 1960, and 1963).
' 1993 NCAA Coach of the Year
' Big Ten Coach of the Year 1993 and 1998
' 10th coach in Big Ten History to win 100 games
' Named UW Athletic Director in 2004
' Stepped down as coach of the Badgers after the 2005 season
o His all-time record at Wisconsin was 118'73'4 (.615)
o Had an 8'3 (.727) record in bowl games, the best winning percentage ever for a coach in Division I-A
bowl games (minimum 11 bowl games coached).
Early life
' Born December 30, 1946 in Langeloth, Pennsylvania
' Graduate of, and former linebacker at, the University of Nebraska 'Lincoln.
' Later became a head coach at Lexington, Nebraska High School and then Mason City High School in Iowa before becoming an assistant coach at first the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and then later at the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Misc. / Other
' In 2000, Alvarez and his wife Cindy endowed a $250,000 football scholarship UW.
' In 2001, Hispanic Business magazine named Barry Alvarez one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics.
' The book 'Don't Flinch' is the autobiography of Alvarez' life
' During the 2006'07 bowl season, Alvarez worked as a color commentator/analyst for FOX Sports. He worked on both the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and BCS National Championship Game.
Albert 'Ab' Nicholas
Athletic Accomplishments
' Played guard for the Badger basketball team
' Twice named to the All-Conference team
' Once named to the All-American team
Educational Accomplishments
' BS 1952, Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
' MBA 1955, from University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business after spending two years in the military
Professional Accomplishments
' Began his career with Northwestern National Insurance Company, where he worked as an investment analyst.
' Spent several years at Marshall and Ilsley Bank (1955-1967) before co-founding Nicholas Company, Inc. in 1967.
' Currently, he is the chair and CEO of the Milwaukee-based mutual fund firm of Nicholas Co., Inc.
' Named a Distinguished Business Alumnus of the School of Business in 1985
' Former president and board member of the National 'W' Club
' Served on the Board of Visitors for the Wisconsin School of Business (1985-1987)
' Sits on the board of the UW Foundation
' Received the Wisconsin Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus award in 1993.
' Served as a member of the Wisconsin State Board of Regents from 1987-94
' Inducted in the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame, 1994
' Serves as a director of the Wisconsin Sports Authority, Inc., which promotes major athletic events in the state
' Member of the Milwaukee Investment Analysts Society and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Philanthropic Gestures
' In October 2003, Nicholas made a $6.4 million gift to establish the Nicholas Center for Applied Corporate
Finance at the Wisconsin School of Business.
' His lead gift during Grainger Hall's construction led to a lecture hall in Grainger Hall bearing his name.
' Nicholas and his wife, Nancy Johnson Nicholas, also a UW-Madison graduate, previously gave the university $10
million for construction of the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion, a practice facility adjoining the Kohl Center.
' Nicholas and his wife created an endowed deanship at the Wisconsin School of Business.
o Funding for the endowed deanship comes from a gift made by the Nicholases as part of last year's
Wisconsin Naming Gift, in which 13 donors partnered to give $85 million to ensure that the school's
name remains unchanged for 20 years.
' Gave an $8 million donation for a building addition and renovation at the School of Human
Judith Sweet
' Native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
' Graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1969; majored in physical education and mathematics; earned a letter in badminton while a student at UW-Madison
' Served as president of the Women's Recreation Association and national president of the Athletic and Recreation Federation of College Women.
' Received a Master's of Science in Education degree in 1972 from the University of Arizona, Tucson and a Master's in Business Administration degree from National University in 1981.
' Began her career as a teacher and coach at Newcomb College/Tulane University, before moving to the University of Arizona and Kearny High School.
' Was also Division III vice president from 1986 to 1988.
' Served as the Director of Athletic at the University of California-San Diego from 1975-1999, where she became the first woman in the nation to head a combined men's and women's intercollegiate athletic program. During her tenure, UCSD teams won 26 NCAA National Championships and in 1998 received the Sears Directors Cup for being the most successful athletics program in Division III.
' Was elected to a two-year term as President of the NCAA in January 1991 and was the Secretary-Treasurer of the NCAA from 1989 to 1991, becoming the first woman to serve in each of those positions.
' Joined the NCAA in 2001 as Vice President for Championships and Senior Woman Administrator.
' In 2003, was promoted to Senior Vice President for Championships and Education Services, a position she held until September 2006 when she retired from the NCAA.
' In 2008, was chosen by the Officers and Executive Committee of NACDA to be the recipient of the 40th James J. Corbett Memorial Award.
o The award is the highest honor one can achieve in collegiate athletics administration.
' Currently, she is doing consulting work nationally in San Diego.
Misc. / Other
' Sweet served on NACDA's Executive Committee from 1987-91 and has served on NACDA's Director' Cup Committee since 1996.
' She was also involved with many other NCAA committees, including the Subcommittee to Review Minority Opportunities in Intercollegiate Athletics, NCAA Foundation, Gender Equity Task Force and the 1987 Selection Committee for the NCAA Executive Director.
' Additionally, she served on the United States Sports Academy Board of Trustees, where she received an honorary doctorate in 1992; NACWAA Board of Directors, where she served as the 2000-01 president and was named their Administrator of the Year in 1992 and District Administrator of the Year in 1991. She was also on the United States Olympic Committee Task Force on Minorities and Board of Trustees for National University.
' During Sweet's 35-plus year career in athletics, she has been honored with more than 40 awards, including the 1998-99 NACDA/Continental Airlines Division III Athletics Director of the Year. She received the Honda Award for Outstanding Achievement in Women's Athletics in 1998; the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin in 1996; was a Big Ten Conference Centennial honoree in 1995; and the named the 39th District Woman of the Year by the California State Senate in 1993.
' Sweet was also the San Diego Press Club Sports Administration Headliner of the Year in 1991; and was named the Los Angeles Times Top Southern California College Sports Executive of the 80s; and San Diego Magazine's 86 San Diegans to Watch in '86. She has also been recognized in several editions of Who's Who.
Lee Kemp
' Started wrestling in 9th grade on the freshman team. 11-8-3 record on varsity as a 10th grader. 11th grade year beat defending state champ, won Ohio State Championships and went undefeated. Senior year repeated undefeated season and won 2nd Ohio State Title. Senior year beat two defending Ohio State Champs. Went 54-0 in his Junior and Senior. Won 1st State Title in only his 3rd year of wrestling experience in one of the toughest weight classes in Ohio Division-II history, defeating the returning runner-up and defending champion.
' Posted one of only three total US victories when a tough Soviet Junior National Team
completed an eight city tour of the United States facing Junior 'All-Star ' Teams in those respective cities. Lee earned his victory representing a Northeast Ohio 'All-Star" Team beating a Soviet Jr National Champion, in only his 4th year of wrestling experience.
' Won the Junior National Freestyle Title, held in Iowa City - the forerunner to Fargo, beating a future 3-Time NCAA Div I National Champion.
' Attended UW Madison from 1975 to 1978. As an 18 year old Soph., in only the 6th year of wrestling experience, beat the legendary Dan Gable 7-6.
' Was 2nd in NCAA Div I as a 18 year old true freshman, losing on a split referees decision in overtime, scored the only offensive points on a 1st period takedown.
' Was a three-time NCAA Div I Champion for UW-Madison, and the only three-time NCAA champion in school history, the next three years, compiling 110 wins, and not losing a collegiate match during that time, with 143 total career wins and 47 pins.
-Still holds the UW record for winning percentage at .957 (143-6-1).
-Ranks third at UW in career wins (143) and second in career falls (47). His 18 falls during the 1976-77 season ties for first on UW's single season list.
' Won the 1st of three Freestyle World Titles at age 21, just a few months after finishing college, and held the distinction of being the youngest American to win a World or Olympic Championship for 30 years, and is the 10th youngest internationally.
' Was 1st American to win three world titles.
' Won a Bronze Medal in the World Championships, losing the only match in four world championship appearances.
' Won four World Cup Titles and was the 1st American to do so.
' Won two Pan-American Games Gold Medals.
' Earned a spot on the 1980 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team, and was a heavy favorite for a Gold Medal until the USA boycotted the event. Defeated the 1980 Olympic Champion from Bulgaria in the Super Champions Title Match in December 1980.
' Was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1989.
' Charter member of the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame, 1991
' Runs the Lee Kemp Cooler Wrestling School in Alpharetta, Georgia
' Coached the US Freestyle Team World Team that competed in the 2007 World Championships in Guangzhou China which produced a Gold, Silver & two Bronze Medalists.
' Coached the US Junior Freestyle World Team that competed in the 2007 Junior World Championships held in Beijing China
' Served as coach of the US Freestyle Olympic Team that competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
John Powless
' 75 years old
' UW-Madison assistant basketball coach from 1963-'1968
' UW-Madison head basketball coach from 1969-'76
' The University of Wisconsin had a chance to land Bobby Knight as basketball coach in the 1960s. Knight interviewed in 1968 after John Erickson resigned to become general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.
o The real story is that Knight applied for the job and was one of seven candidates interviewed. After the post was offered to him while he was still in Madison, he requested that nothing be announced until he could return to West Point, where he was coaching at the time, to inform his superiors. Before he had that
opportunity, someone leaked the news to the media. Within 48 hours, Knight called back and declined the
offer.
o Knight remained at Army for three more seasons until he went to Indiana. The same day that Knight turned down the Wisconsin offer, John Powless accepted it. He had been an assistant for five years under Erickson, as well as Wisconsin's tennis coach. Powless held the Wisconsin job for eight years. In addition to Powless, Bill Cofield, Steve Yoder, Stu Jackson, Stan Van Gundy and Dick Bennett all coached the Badgers during Knight's time at Indiana.
' Family: Divorced, two sons (John and Jason), six grandchildren.
' A life of sports
o Played basketball and earned All-America status in tennis at Murray State
o Coached basketball and tennis at Florida State
o Coached basketball at Cincinnati
o UW-Madison assistant basketball coach from 1963-'1968
o UW-Madison head basketball and tennis coach from 1968 to '76
o Won numerous national and international tennis competitions, including the 1999 U.S. Senior Open singles title
o First U.S. senior player to win five consecutive national clay court doubles titles
o An honorary member of 22 different nation's tennis associations
o Named U.S. 'Senior Tennis Player of the Millennium' in 1999
o A 2000 inductee into the United State Tennis Hall of Fame
o Basketball and tennis TV analyst
o Owns and operates Powless Tennis Center in Madison and plays professionally on the senior tennis
o Inducted in the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002
