SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska has selected its Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The latest group of inductees includes six individuals and one team (as outlined below). The class of 2024 will officially join elite company at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, Sept. 27 in conjunction with homecoming weekend on campus.
The Concordia University Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to pay tribute and give recognition to former athletes, coaches, teams and others who have made exceptional contributions to the athletic programs at Concordia, and who exemplify the Christian principles to which Concordia adheres. For more information about the Hall of Fame, and for information on how to nominate someone, click HERE. The Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame Committee is responsible for voting on new inductees each year.
Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024
*More complete bios for each new Hall of Fame member will be released following the induction ceremony in September.
Audra (Nothwehr) Anderson ’01 | Women’s Tennis / Volleyball
An accomplished athlete and coach, Audra (Nothwehr) Anderson earned four career first team all-conference awards while playing during the close of the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference and the advent of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. She was recognized as the 2000 NIAC Player of the Year while starring for Head Coach Mark Lemke’s squad. Anderson also was a four-year letterwinner for the volleyball team while coached by Diane Mendenhall and Becky Loewe. Anderson has gone on to enjoy a successful coaching career that has included head coaching roles at NAIA Lindsey Wilson College and NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University. She was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year three times and Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year once.
Elizabeth (Rhoden) Dillingham ’04 | Women’s Basketball
A well-rounded combo guard, Elizabeth (Rhoden) Dillingham starred on the hardwood for coaches Todd Voss and Micah Parker. As a junior in 2002-03, Dillingham averaged 13.7 points and led the Bulldogs to a perfect 16-0 conference mark and to a school record 36 wins. She was named an NAIA Second Team All-American and an NAIA National Championship All-Tournament team selection in 2003. At the time of induction, Dillingham owns all-time program rankings of fifth in assists (492), 16th in scoring (1,337) and 16th in steals (230). She was a three-time GPAC All-Conference award winner.
Kregg Einspahr ’82 | Head Coach – Cross Country / Track & Field (1992-2016)
An original Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame inductee as an athlete in 1994, Kregg Einspahr will add his name to the list as a coach. The Bulldog alum and former national championship athlete, Einspahr spent 24 seasons as the head coach of the cross country and track & field programs. The 19-time GPAC Coach of the Year led the 2015 men’s outdoor and 2016 women’s outdoor track teams to NAIA national championships, marking the first team national titles in school history. He also presided over seven NAIA national runner up claims and 16 total GPAC championship teams and was recognized as an NAIA National Coach of the Year three times.
Ceron Francisco ’17 | Wrestling
Ceron Francisco becomes the first Concordia Wrestling Hall of Fame honoree since the program’s reinstatement in 2009. Despite having little wrestling experience upon the start of his college career, Francisco made a lasting impact while posting a four-year record of 101-52 for the second most wins in program history at the time of induction. The heavyweight star emerged as the 2017 NAIA national runner up, earned two NAIA All-America awards and was a two-time GPAC champion. Francisco was selected as the 2016-17 GPAC Wrestler of the Year while going 26-2 overall and was honored as Concordia’s 2017-18 Male Senior Athlete of the Year. He went on to pursue a professional career internationally and is a collegiate assistant coach.
Frank Greene | Head Softball Coach (2001-08, 2011-13)
The winningest coach in Concordia Softball history, Frank Greene has served Concordia in many capacities as a coach, broadcaster, public address announcer and teacher. Greene first took the reins of Bulldog Softball in 2001 and proceeded to win 293 games with GPAC championships coming in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Greene was named the 2005 GPAC Coach of the Year and NAIA Region IV Coach of the Year while leading a squad that broke the program record for wins in a season (36) and is a part of the Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame. Greene also served two seasons as an assistant coach prior to being named head coach.
Katie (Werner) Loveless ’08 | Volleyball / Track & Field
A two-sport standout, Katie (Werner) Loveless starred on the volleyball court and in the ring as a thrower. In the middle of the court, Loveless earned four career GPAC All-Conference awards (three-time first team honoree) and piled up 1,600 kills (No. 2 in school history) and 787 blocks (most in program history). She helped Coach Rachel Miller’s 2005 squad achieve an overall record of 24-11. In the ring, Loveless earned three NAIA All-America awards and won the 2007 GPAC outdoor shot put title in addition to two career conference runner up claims. At the time of graduation, Loveless owned the program’s indoor shot put record of 46’ 2.” She was voted Concordia’s 2007-08 Female Senior Athlete of the Year.
2004-05 Men’s Basketball
Coached by Grant Schmidt, the 2004-05 Concordia Men’s Basketball team became the school’s first to ever play in a national championship game. At 32-6 overall, the ’04-05 squad continues to hold the program record for wins in a season. Paced by All-Americans Jason Jisa and Scott Beck and leading scorer Jon Ziegler, the Bulldogs placed second in the conference regular season standings and then won the GPAC tournament title. Known for its defensive prowess, Concordia boasted NAIA Division II national rankings of fourth in scoring defense (63.4) and 15th in field goal percentage defense (.415) behind dynamic shot blocker Marcus Wernke. Jisa and Ziegler were named to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team.