VERMILLION, S.D. (Sept. 30, 2003) - One of the most successful football coaches in school history, five former student athletes and a special contributor will be inducted into the Henry Heider Coyote Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 25, at The University of South Dakota.
The brunch event will include an induction ceremony, and a special award announcement, at 11 a.m. in the Commons Dining Hall on the USD campus. Inductees will be honored at the brunch as well as at halftime of the USD-SDSU football game. The game will begin at 2 p.m. Brunch tickets can be purchased for $15 by calling 605-677-5309.
Inductees will include former South Dakota football coach Dave Triplett, now with the University of Iowa Foundation in Iowa City, Iowa. Triplett recorded the second highest career win total (70) while at USD from 1979-87. In addition, USD will induct former football standout Kip Pharis (1978-82), Brookings, S.D; Dan O'Brien (1976-80), an outstanding track and field and cross country performer, Sioux City, Iowa; discus national champion Heather Andrews (1988-92), Germany; Kyle Collins (1986-90), a 1,000-point scorer in basketball and a national champion in the high jump, Lincoln, Neb.; and standout swimmer Lorelei Heisinger (1985-88), Waterloo, Iowa. George Birger of Tucson, Ariz., will be inducted as a special contributor. The inductions will bring the Hall of Fame membership to 209.
As part of the ceremony, USD also will recognize an historical moment in school history. This year, the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame committee selected the NCAA-record performance of five student athletes during a football game in 1986. In a 52-0 win over St. Cloud State on Nov. 1, 1986, five Coyotes each rushed for more than 100 yards. It is a mark that stands unmatched by any school in NCAA Division I, II or III. Interestingly, the Coyotes' starting quarterback was injured and was not part of the contingent. The group included James Hambrick (125), Darryl Colvin (123), Tony Higgins (118), Dave Elle (109) and Joe Longueville (106). In all, the group had a school-record 581 yards rushing.
In addition, USD will announce the establishment of the Bulldog Award, created in the memory of Tim J. Mojzik, who died in 2002. Mojzik played football at South Dakota from 1965-68. The award will be announced during the Hall of Fame Banquet.
Bios on inductees -
Kip Pharis, Football - Athlete (1978-82)
Kip Pharis starred for the Coyotes' football team from 1978-82. He earned a bachelor of science degree in education in 1983. A former all-state performer at Groton (S.D.) High School, Pharis lettered four times at South Dakota, starting three seasons at nose guard. He compiled a total of 227 tackles, nine sacks, and five fumble recoveries. An honorable mention All-American as a senior, Pharis was a three-time Academic All-NCC selection, a two-time All-NCC pick (1981, 1982), and named second team All-NCC in 1980. He was signed to a free agent contract with the Houston Oilers following his collegiate career at USD. Pharis was selected first-team Omaha World Herald All-NCC after recording 82 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery as a junior. He also earned the Associated Press North Central Conference Player of the Week with 13 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss in win over North Dakota as a junior. Pharis manages the Pizza Ranch in Brookings, S.D.
Dan O'Brien, Track and Field/Cross Country - Athlete (1976-80)
Now coaching at Sioux City (Iowa) Heelan High School, O'Brien ranks as one of the great cross country and distance runners ever at South Dakota. O'Brien won a NCC Cross Country title in 1978 in 30:42.0. O'Brien, who claimed four distance NCC titles, won the indoor NCC 800-meter title in 1980 (1:54.65), the now retired 1500-meter run in 1980 in 3:55.20, the NCC 5,000-meter outdoor title in 1979 (14:50.06), and the NCC 10,000-meter outdoor title in 1980 (31:04.04). O'Brien finished fourth nationally in the 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Division II nationals in 1979. He received a BSED in 1980 and a master's degree in 1987, both from USD.
Heather Andrews, Track and Field - Athlete (1988-92)
Andrews, originally of Rapid City, S.D., ranks as one of the great all-time track and field performers. She is one of 12 track and field athletes at USD to win a national title. Andrews, a five-time All-American, was the first USD female student athlete to win a national title when she captured the NCAA Division II discus championship in 1992. She also won three straight conference titles in the javelin 1989 (141'6 1/2); 1990 (136'0); and 1991 (152'3). She is one of three Coyotes (fellow Hall of Famers Linda Gdowski and Yvette Greer) to win four NCC titles. Andrews, who won the 1992 NCC title in the discus with a throw of 162'0, was a five-time placer in the NCAA Division II track and field championships in the discus and javelin. In the discus throw, she finished fifth in 1989 with a throw of 139'10, fourth in 1991 in 151'8, and first in 1992 in 163'8 at the NCAA D-II championships. In the javelin, she was eighth nationally in 1991 with a throw of 137'8 and sixth in 1992 in 149'4. Andrews still owns two school records, including the discus (163-8) and javelin (152-3). She also was named Academic All-NCC (at-large) in 1992. Andrews, who worked as a graduate assistant for USD in 1993, earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1992. After leaving USD, she taught English conversion at a small college in Taiwan and then earned a master's degree from Ohio State. She also taught at Sookmung Women's University in Seoul, South Korea.
Kyle Collins, Basketball/Track - Athlete (1986-90)
A two-sport standout, Collins, originally of Rock Island, Ill., was a starting shooting guard for four years and one of the best high jumpers in NCAA Division II while attending South Dakota. Collins won the NCAA Division II indoor high jump title in 1990, becoming USD's first-ever national champion. At that 1990 NCAA Division II indoor meet held at the DakotaDome, Collins earned All-American status by going 7'1 1/2 and becoming the first USD high jumper to crack the 7-foot barrier. The mark broke his own all-time state collegiate record of 7'1 set at the USD Open in the first meet of the 1989-90 season. His performance helped USD finish ninth in the team competition. Collins also won two indoor NCC titles in high jump, capturing the 1986 indoor and outdoor title (6'11 1/2), and winning the indoor title as well. He also captured the NCC indoor 1990 title (6'11 1/2) He also finished second in the 1988 outdoor meet (6'10 1/2). During his basketball career, Collins was named team MVP as a junior, scoring 1,306 points, which ranks 11th all-time at South Dakota. He scored 426 points in 1986-87, when he averaged 15.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. At USD, he started 62 games and played in 116. His 85 three-pointers ranks 16th all-time at USD. Collins, who earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration degree in 1990, lives in Lincoln, Neb.
Lorelei Heisinger - Athlete (1985-88)
A top distance swimmer, Vermillion, S.D., native Lorelei Heisinger was awarded the 1988 Honor Athlete Award and named Academic All-NCC in 1987 and 1988 at South Dakota. A co-captain as a senior, Heisinger won an NCC title in the 1,650 freestyle in 1987 (17:54.98), setting an NCC record. Heisinger, named the Most Valuable Performer for the Coyote women's team in 1986, left USD with nine school records. She was a member of the Coyotes' 200 medley relay team which earned All-American honors in 1985. At USD Heisinger, who interned as a student with the South Dakota House of Representatives, also received the Erwin R. Behrendt Memorial Scholarship and the Rube Hoy Award. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1989 from USD and later received a juris doctor degree (with honors) from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She is now an attorney and lobbyist from Waterloo, Iowa.
Dave Triplett - Coach (1979-88)
One of the greatest football coaches ever at South Dakota, Dave Triplett recorded the second most wins (70) by a head coach in school history. During a tenure that lasted from 1979 to 1988, Triplett compiled a 70-45 record (.608 winning pct.) and had a 50-27 mark in the North Central Conference. He led the Coyotes to consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1985 and 1986. His 1985 team advanced to the semifinals, while the 1986 team progressed to the NCAA Division II title game (27-7 loss) and had a school-record 11 wins. During his tenure, eight players were named All-American, four were picked NCC MVPs, 33 were named Academic All-NCC, and 34 were chosen All-NCC. Twice in three years (1985-87), the Coyotes enjoyed a five-week stay atop the NCAA D-II football poll as the nation's number one team. The 1985 team was ranked number one for the initial five weeks of the season and finished fourth. The 1987 team was ranked No. 1 after a 6-0 start of open the season. Triplett's seven consecutive winning seasons (1982-88) marked the first time since 1904-1912 that feat has been achieved at South Dakota. For the only time in school history, Triplett led USD to six straight seven-plus win seasons. His two consecutive 10-win campaigns (1985 and 1986) also was a first in Coyote football history. Three of his sons, Rory, Sean and Tim (currently) played at USD. An all-state performer at Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa (1967), he now serves as assistant vice president for gift planning at the University of Iowa Foundation in Iowa City, Iowa. In 22 years as either a player or coach, he has been associated with 13 winning teams, two league champions, a state high school champion and he has participated in four different post-season college bowl games. An all-state performer at Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa (1967), he went to the University of Iowa. As a senior, he led the Hawkeyes in receptions and earned All-Big Ten honors. He was an All-Big Ten Academic first-team selection and winner of the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Triplett succeeded former Coyote head football coach Beanie Cooper at Sioux City (Iowa) Heelan High School in 1975. Named to the Heelan job in 1975, he guided the Crusaders to a 19-2 record in two seasons, including the Iowa Class-4A State Championship in 1975. In addition, he served as offensive tackles and tight ends coach at Iowa State in 1977-78.
George Birger, Special Contributor
George Birger, retired and living in Tucson, Ariz., is a long-time supporter of Coyote athletics. A former Coyote assistant coach, Birger helped secure funding for the indoor track in the DakotaDome. Every year, he helps with the Pat O'Brien Celebrity Auction, putting together gift packages for the auction, and also serves as an auctioneer. Early in his life, Birger was an assistant football coach and also the freshman basketball coach for South Dakota. A native of Winner, S.D., he was an assistant coach on the Coyotes' national championship basketball squad in 1958, while also serving as a freshman football coach. He played football at Southern State Teachers College, where he was captain and earned-all conference honors as an offensive lineman. Later, he taught and coached for 16 years in the public school system in two states. While a head coach at Menno, S.D., Columbia, S.D., and Soda Springs, Idaho, Birger had a 70-17-2 record in football, including seven conference titles. His 1956 Menno squad was named mythical state six-man champions. During that 11-year span, he compiled a 246-73 record in basketball, including six state tournament appearances. In addition, his track and field and cross country teams won several championships. He led teams to three State B second-place finishes in Idaho and one in South Dakota while winning a State B cross country title in Idaho. He has also served as a director of athletics, head men's basketball coach and chair of a physical education department at various universities. Birger worked in promotions for the Tucson Mavericks hockey club and was an assistant to the director of athletics for special projects at the University of Arizona from 1987-99. Birger earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Southern State Teachers College, a master of education degree from USD, education specialist degree from the University of Oregon, and a Ph.D. from Pacific Western University.
