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Western Michigan University Athletics

Hall of Fame - B

Karel McCulloch Bailey
Field Hockey, 1971-74
Volleyball, 1972
Track, 1973
Inducted 1987
Pontiac, Michigan
  • Performed in U.S. Field Hockey Association ranks (1972-83) and was named to seven Great Lakes sectional all-star squads, including first-team five times.
  • Girls’ track coach at North Muskegon High School from 1975-87, winning three state, two regional and five conference championships and compiling a 71-42-3 dual meet record.
  • State Class C “coach of the year” in 1977, 1979 and 1980.
  • Directed North Muskegon’s volleyball squad to a district and three second places over a four-year period.
  • Won three district crowns in girls’ basketball and also coached boys’ track.

Chad Babcock
Gymnastics, 1990-93
Inducted 2010
Boise, Idaho
  • Named All-American scholar athlete for performance during 1992-93 season
  • Two-time All-American (1991, 1993)
  • Ranked among the nation’s top 10 for floor exercise and vault during the 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons
  • Won the floor exercise event at the Windy City Invitational (1993)
  • Four-time letterwinner
  • 1993 MAC Academic Honor Roll
  • Co-captain during junior and senior seasons
Jason Babin
Football, 2000-03
Inducted 2014
Paw Paw, Michigan
  • Two-time Sporty News All-American (2002, 2003)
  • Set NCAA record for single-season tackles for loss (33)
  • Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003)
  • WMU's first First Round Draft Pick in program history, selected 27th by the Houston Texans in 2004.
  • Holds WMU record for career sacks (38) and career tackles for loss (75)
  • Played in the NFL for over 10 years, twice being selected to the NFL Pro Bowl.
Rich Bacon
Wrestling, 1969-71
Inducted 2011
Corunna, Michigan
  • 1971 All-American, finishing sixth in 142 lb weight class
  • 1969 and 1971 Mid-American Conference Champion at 137 pounds and 142 pounds
  • Ranked fourth in career records with 44 wins, 13 losses, three ties
  • Ranked 10th in wins in a season with 26
  • Ranks first in career pins with 11
  • Ranks second in season pins with nine
  • .772 winning percentage during his three-year Bronco career
  • WMU’s first All-American
  • NCAA regional champion

Dan Barnabo
Baseball, 1934-35
Inducted 1985
Detroit, Michigan
  • Second baseman on teams that were 18-1 and 12-3 and won Michigan Intercollegiate championships.
  • Served as Romeo High School as a teach, coach and athletic director (1936-77).
  • Accumulated more than 100 wins in three separate sports.
  • Coached football (130-41-11) and baseball (167-52) for 20 years and basketball (129-68) for 14 years.
  • Enshrined in Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame (1969).

Sarah Powers Barnhard
Volleyball, 1983-86
Inducted 1997
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
  • Volleyball coaches second-team All-American middle blocker in 1985. First-team All Mid-American Conference in 1984 and 1985 and second-team selection in 1983 and 1986. League “most valuable player” in 1985.
  • Played on teams that won four MAC championships with a combined 70-0 record and were 110-22 in overall competition. Those squads appeared in four NCAA tournaments with the 1983 team (32-1) losing in the regional final.
  • Set school career digs record of 964 which stood for 10 years and still holds the standard for service aces (173), plus another mark for blocks in a game (15).
  • Played three professional seasons with the Chicago Breeze of Major League Volleyball. Later worked for six years in corporate fitness area with Aetna Insurance in Connecticut.
  • In 1994 was one of seven Broncos picked for the all-decade volleyball team for 1984-93.

Kay Barstow-Clark
Track and Field, 1976-80
Inducted 2008
Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • First female Bronco to earn Track All-American honors
  • Finished fifth in the high jump at the 1979 AIAW Championship with a height of 5’9”
  • Holds the WMU indoor high jump with a height of 5’9”, which was set in 1979
  • Ranks third on the outdoor list with a height of 5’8” established the same year
  • Placed second at MAIAW meet with a jump of 5’7”
  • Competed in three-straight AIAW National Championships (1976-80)
  • Placed fourth at the 1980 Wisconsin Invitational

Beth Belleville
Softball, 1980-83
Inducted 2006
Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Played in three collegiate world series (1-NCAA, 2-AIAW), helping WMU to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA’s in 1982
  • All-Mid-American Conference selection in 1983
  • Among WMU career leaders, ranks second in ERA (0.49), tied for second in RBI (67) and third in pitching winning percentage (.787, 37-10); upon graduation, held school record for RBI (6) in a game
  • Posted a 10-3 record, 0.63 ERA as a junior and was a 15-4 with a 0.33 ERA as a senior; also hit .313 at the plate
  • Inducted into the Michigan branch of the U.S. Slow Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame

Vinton Bennett
Track, 1991-92, 1994-95
Inducted 2015
Toronto, Canada
    • Named All-American in outdoor track in 1991 and 1992
    • Represented Canada at the 1991 Pan-Am Games, finishing sixth in the high jump at 7'2 ½”
    • Placed third in 1991 NCAA Championships in the high jump at 7'5 ¼”
    • Placed third in 1992 NCAA Championships in the high jump at 7'4 ½”
    • In 1992 won MAC, Central Collegiate Conference and Missouri Valley All-Star titles
    • Holds MAC men's outdoor track and field record for high jump at 7'5 ¾”
    • Four-year letter winner in basketball

Linda “Louie” Berndt
Softball, 1980-83
Basketball, 1980-82
Inducted 2003
Dearborn, Michigan
  • Owns the fourth-highest career batting average in school history (.322)
  • Became the fourth player in Bronco history to top the 100 mark for career hits
  • Team’s leading hitter for two seasons; set a school record for hits in a season (52)
  • All-State SMAIAW selection in 1981
  • Four-year letterwinner in softball
  • Three-year letterwinner in basketball
  • Converse All-American 1982
  • Served as head coach at Marshall University (1994-99)

Joanne Bingham
Volleyball, 1986-89
Inducted 2007
Georgetown, Ontario
  • Member of the 1984-93 WMU All-Decade Team
  • Member of 1989 Canadian National Team
  • 1989 Mid-American Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player and All-Tournament team member
  • Two-time First Team Al-MAC (1988-89)
  • Holds record for kills in a season (611) set in 1989 and is eighth all-time in Bronco 1,000 Kill Club with 1,236
  • Holds WMU record for kills per game in a season (5.27 kpg) and the record for kills in a three-game match (24), four-game match (31) and five-game match (36)
  • Third in career attack attempts (2,883) and holds WMU record for attack attempts in a season (1,386)
  • Member of the Canadian National Team in 1990

Sam Bishop
Football, 1922-23
Baseball, 1923-24
Inducted 1974
Benton Harbor, Michigan
  • Member of football teams that had 12-1-1 record.
  • Coach and athletic director at Detroit Northwestern High School for 44 years.
  • Guided football teams there to 113-52-16 record, two state and six city championships, plus winning four city baseball titles.
  • His prep athletes included future coaching legends Forest Evashevski (Iowa) and Davey Nelson (Delaware) and major leaguers Alex Johnson, Willie Horton and John Mayberry.
  • Enshrined in Michigan Hall of Fame in 1990.

Bonnie Boggiano-Buis
Gymnastics, 1987-88, 90-91
Inducted 2006
Kentwood, Michigan
  • MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year in 1991
  • Captured the MAC Floor Exercise title in 1987
  • Helped Broncos defend their MAC Championship in 1987
  • Two-time All-MAC honoree (1987, 1991)
  • At time of graduation, held school meet and season records for the all-around and uneven bars
  • 1991 NCAA Woman of the Year for Western Michigan University

Sue Gustafson Bombrys
Field Hockey, 1971-72
Basketball, 1972-73
Inducted 1993
Fowlerville, Michigan
  • Leading scorer of 1971 and 1972 WMU field hockey teams, the latter which won the Great Lakes title and advanced to the national tournament.
  • Selected to the 1974 United States National field hockey team program just prior to this becoming as Olympic sport (1980).
  • Co-captain of 1972 and 1973 women’s basketball teams that went 27-6 and won state and regional AIAW championships.
  • Taught and coached boys’ and girls’ track at Mendon High School for over 20 years with her teams winning five conference and three regional titles during 1980’s.
  • Recipient of the St. Joseph County’s All-Star Jack Grant Award for contributing to the sport of track and field.

John Bork
Track 1959-61
Inducted 1978
Monroe, Michigan
  • NCAA 880-yard champion in 1961 with a time of 1:48.3, that stood as a varsity record for 21 years. Represented United States in international competition against New Zealand.
  • Third in 1961 NAAU Championships the game year and was “top athlete” at the Central Collegiate Conference Championships and at the Drake Relays.
  • Broke 26-year old school record in 440-yard dash (:46.9) and won two Mid-American Conference titles in this event. This time stood as a varsity record for nine years.
  • Set indoor 880- (1:50.9) and 1,000-yard (2:09.0) records that stood for17 years. Member of teams that won three MAC and two CCC- indoor championships.
  • Served as managing and marketing director for manufacturers of athletic shoes in Northern California.

Don Boven
Basketball, 1946-49
Baseball, 1946-49
Football, 1946-47
Inducted 1975
Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Served Western Michigan as an athlete, assistant and head coach, and physical education department member for parts of five decades.
  • Set then basketball career records for points (1,099) and free throws (347), rated by “Buck” Read as one of the top 12 players over his 27-year coaching career.
  • All-American and Western’s first All Mid-American Conference selection in 1949.
  • Played professional basketball with Waterloo and Milwaukee (now Atlanta Hawks) and Ft. Wayne (now Detroit Pistons).
  • Head men’s basketball coach (1958-66) after previously serving as an assistant in basketball, baseball and football.

Jeff Brandenburg
Track and Field, 1993-95
Inducted 2008
Rensselaer, Indiana
  • Ranks first all-time at WMU for outdoor shot put
  • Ranks second all-time for indoor shot put
  • Ranks third all-time for discus
  • Three-time All-American in shot put, earning honors for indoor track in 1994 and 1995
  • Named All-American for the 1995 outdoor season
  • Two-time MAC Outdoor Champion in shot put
  • MAC Champion in the discus

Greg Brake
Baseball, 1981-84
Inducted 2013
Detroit, Michigan
  • Named Third Team All-American in 1984 and led the nation in ERA (.95)
  • Named team MVP in 1984 and was a unanimous selection for First Team All-MAC
  • 77 strikeouts in 1984, which ranks 11th most in a season. Nine wins and nine complete games in 1984 both tied for third most in a season. 20 career wins ties for fourth most. 194 career strikeouts ranks seventh, 253.1 career innings pitched is fifth best
  • Drafted by the Oakland A’s in the ninth round in 1984
  • Played three seasons in the minor leagues, advancing to AA status
  • Compiled a 22-13 record with a 3.70 ERA over 289.1 innings pitched
  • Registered 197 strikeouts and four complete games at the minor-league level

Ray Bray
Football, 1936-38
Track, 1937-39
Inducted 1975
Vulcan, Michigan
  • Second-team Little All-American guard in 1938
  • Played 10 seasons (1939-42, 1946-51) with Chicago Bears and was a member of three world championship teams.
  • All-National Football League selection three times.
  • Elected to Helms Major League Football Hall of Fame (1959) and into Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame.
  • Member of WMU’s 75th anniversary football team (1906-81).

Tom Briscoe
Football, 1935-36
Inducted 1988
Detroit, Michigan
  • Football lineman who also won state novice Golden Gloves boxing title in 1934 and was runner-up in the open division in 1935.
  • Spent 40 years as a teacher, coach and administrative assistant with Detroit Public schools, retiring in 1976.
  • Boxing referee and was third man in the ring for bouts featuring 12 world champions.
  • First man to track Olympic style boxing in Detroit and officiated in the 1968, 72 and 76 U.S. Olympic elimination tournament.
  • Vice chairman of Michigan State Athletic Commission.

Charles “Bud” Brotebeck
Basketball, 1951-53
Baseball 1952-53
Inducted 1997
Flint, Michigan
  • Second-team All Mid-American Conference as a basketball guard in 1952. Averaged 11 points per game over three seasons and played on 1952 team that shared league championship.
  • Second-team All-MAC in baseball in 1953 and batted .326 over his career as a shortstop. Played on team that had a mark of 35-11 with 1952 club winning MAC title and sharing third place at the College World Series. Played two professional seasons in Philadelphia Phillies organization.
  • Enjoyed a 34-year career in education, including 10 as a coach and teacher in Romeo, two as assistant dean in WMU’s office of student affairs and 19 as an administrator and assistant principal in the Portage Public School system. Was athletic director at Portage Central High in 1969-70.
  • Officiated high school football, basketball and softball for 26 years. Involved in sales work for Jones Sporting Goods for five years before retiring from that second career.
  • Selected as Alumni “W” Club “Man of the Year” in 1995.
Bill Brown
Football | 1950-53
Inducted 2023
Park Ridge, Ill.
- Excelled in football under famed head coach John Gill for four seasons
- Provided generous donations in support of WMU Football, leading to the construction of the Bill Brown Football Alumni Center.
- Also provided generous donations to the WMU Men's Basketball and Baseball programs.
- Served on the WMU Foundation Board of Directors

Danielle Brown
Track & Field | 2006-09
Inducted in 2023
Kalamazoo, Mich.
- Three-time MAC Champion in the 400-meter hurdles
- Five-time MAC Champion as part of the 4x400-meter Relay Team
- Five-time First Team All-MAC selection
- Earned USTFCCA All-American Honors after finishing 7th in the 400 hurdles at the 2008 Outdoor NCAA Championship.
- Led WMU in points at the 2008 and 2009 MAC Championships
- Holds WMU records in the 400 Hurdles and 100 hurdles and as a part of the Indoor and Outdoor 4x100-meter relay teams.


Kina Brown
Basketball, 1992-95
Inducted 2010
Chicago, Illinois
  • Ranks third in program history with 1,814 career points
  • Ranks second in program history with 911 career rebounds
  • Averaged 16.5 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game over career
  • Three-time First Team All-MAC selection
  • Earned Second Team All-MAC once
  • Played for U.S. Junior National Team
  • Played professional basketball in Europe
  • Played in the National Women’s Basketball League

Jason Babin
Football, 2000-2003
Inducted 2014
Paw Paw, Michigan
  • Two-time Sporting News All-American, named Fourth Team in 2002 and Second Team in 2003
  • Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year, 2002 and 2003
  • Three-time All-MAC selection- First Team 2002 and 2003
  • First round, 27th overall, draft pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans
  • WMU’s only first round draft selection to date
  • Holds records for career sacks (38) and tackles for loss (75), as well as single season tackles for loss (33); ranks second din single-season sacks (15)
  • A member of WMU’s All-Century team
  • Twice selected to the NFL Pro Bowl, 2010 and 2011

Jackie Backus Buck
Volleyball, 1980-83
Inducted 1993
Berrien Spring, Michigan
  • Western’s first volleyball All-American, receiving first team selection from the Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Association and second-time honors from Volleyball Monthly as a senior in 1983, as well as being a third-team Academic All-American that same years.
  • Competed as a member of the 1983 U.S. World University Games squad that finished sixth and was a member of the silver-medal winning team at the 1982 Olympic Sports Festival.
  • A three-time All Mid-American conference pick, the league’s “most valuable” player in 1983 and team captain of that 32-1 squad that advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.
  • Set Bronco records for solo blocks in a career (129) and a season (98) and for season total points blocking (238). Member of WMU’s 14-member all-time team.
  • Owner of an independent interior design business and involved in volleyball instruction camps for high school players.

Barbara Burke
Basketball, 1977-80
Softball, 1977-80
Inducted 1998
Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Starting shortstop in softball and batted .310 in 1978. Played on three straight Michigan AIAW championship teams while the 1980 squad finished fourth at the AIAW College World Series. Played on teams that had a four-year record of 105-32-1
  • Point guard in basketball and had 140 assists over 100 career games on teams that were 65-44.
  • Associate director of athletics at University of Wyoming after previously serving in the same capacity and as interim director of athletics at Texas El Paso (1997-98). Was associate athletic director at Marshall University.
  • Senior women’s administrator, softball and basketball coach at West Virginia State (1992-94), assistant basketball coach at Indiana University Southeast (1991-92), basketball-softball coach at Cornerstone College (1988-91), women’s athletic coordinator basketball-softball coach at Clearwater (Fla.) Christian College (1984-85), softball coach-basketball assistant at Tennessee Temple (1980-84) and the head girls’ and junior varsity basketball coach at Kalamazoo Central High School (1978-79).
  • Named National Christian College Athletic Association Midwest District women’s basketball “coach of the year” in 1989 and 1991 and the NAIA District 23 honoree in 1991.

Al Bush
Football, 1946-47
Inducted 1986
Parchment, Michigan
  • Football halfback and captain and “most valuable” player in 1947. Captained 1946 baseball team at Princeton University.
  • U.S. Marine Corps service during World War II and the Korean Conflict.
  • Spent 11 years as a high school teacher, coach and athletic director at Battle Creek Central, Kalamazoo University High, Dearborn and Bay City.
  • Director (1968-78) and assistant director (1960-68) of Michigan High School Athletic Association.
  • Member of U.S. Olympic Swimming Committee (1968-76), NCAA Swimming Rules Committee (1964-73, chair 1973-78) and National Football Federation Football Rules Committee (1960-78).