2009 Hall of Fame Class
- Rolly Williams, Men's Basketball Coach and Athletics Director
- John Owen, Wrestling Coach
- Ace Walden, Contributor to the Program
- Christine Amertil, Track and Cross Country
- Jason Bay, Baseball
- Brian Farber, Men's Soccer
- Steve Gannon, Wrestling
- Gordon Herbert, Men's Basketball
- Darla (Smith) Mace, Women's Basketball
- Kenny Rucker, Wrestling
- Greg Wiltjer, Men's Basketball
- Robert Young, Men's Basketball
Athletics Hall of Fame
When North Idaho Junior College opened its doors in 1933, it didn't take long for the college and the community to plant the seeds for a longstanding competitive men's basketball program. Since then the college has had teams for women's basketball, bowling, baseball, wrestling, tennis, men and women's golf, men and women's soccer, volleyball, softball, track, and cross country. In honor of the school's 75th anniversary celebration, the Athletics Department established the first North Idaho College Hall of Fame.
Many outstanding teams, athletes, and coaches have contributed to the program's rich history and Tradition of Excellence. The inductees were selected by a Hall of Fame Committee utilizing feedback from current and former coaches, local media, community members, and longtime boosters.
In February 2009, following a well researched and definitive process, the committee selected 12 individuals who met the criteria and were inducted as charter members of NIC's Hall of Fame on May 2, 2009. The inaugural class included two coaches, nine student-athletes, and a contributor to the sport. Over 100 athletes were nominated for the prestigious charter class.
The North Idaho College Hall of Fame is located in the foyer of Perry Christianson Gymnasium on the NIC campus. Individual plaques displaying the members' photographs and biographies are on permanent display in the gymnasium lobby. Each year, additional members will be inducted. Nominations for the NIC Hall of Fame may be submitted to Al Williams, Athletics Director, for review and consideration by the selection committee. Athletes must be at least five years removed from competition at NIC for consideration.
Rolly Williams
Coach and Athletics Director
Williams was the face of the athletics program for 36 years and helped to build the NIC athletics program from a notch above an intramural program to the respected athletic program that it represents today. Williams is most known for his success as a basketball coach, but he also coached baseball and track at NIC, while serving as the athletics director, head of the Physical Education department, and NJCAA men’s regional director. In 35 seasons of coaching men’s basketball Williams only had four losing seasons, while garnering 23 seasons with over 20 or more victories. He led the Cardinals to two NJCAA national tournament appearances while earning regional coach of the year honors three times. In 2009 Williams still ranked in the top ten for all-time victories in the NJCAA with a record of 731 wins and 314 losses.
John Owen
Wrestling Coach
Owen guided NIC to eight national championships, and 17 top three national finishes over his 20 year Cardinal coaching career. Owen's career record at NIC is an astounding 309-22-2, including 11 seasons with an undefeated dual meet record. Owen also won 18 regional championships and coached numerous All-Americans establishing NIC as the most dominant wrestling program in the nation at the junior college level. Owen's coaching record also includes numerous wins over four year colleges as the Cardinals took on all comers and usually left victorious. Owen was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame and after leaving NIC has continued his love of coaching at the high school level for East Valley High School in Spokane.
Ace Walden
Contributor to the Program
Walden, a former banking industry executive, was selected to the Hall of Fame in the special category of Contributor to the Program. The Coeur d'Alene icon has been a long-time supporter of Cardinal athletics and continues to attend Booster Club luncheons despite reaching the incredible age of 101! Walden was a founding board member of the NIC Foundation Board and was the first recipient of the college's Lifetime Achievement Award. In honor of Walden, the NIC Athletics Department has created an Academic Award of Excellence called “The Ace Walden Award” for all teams earning a “B” average or better.
Christine Amertil
Track and Cross Country
One of the most decorated athletes in Cardinal track and field history. Amertil was a five-time All-American for NIC and a NCAA All-American for Southeast Louisiana, placing second in the 400 at the 2000 NCAA national track championships. She was also a three-time Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008) representing the Bahamas and was an Olympic finalist in 2004 by placing seventh in the 400 meters.
Jason Bay
Baseball
Bay was considered one of the best baseball players in NIC history, earning SWAC All-Region honors both his freshman and sophomore years. Bay left NIC as the career leader in batting average, hits, runs, home runs, and runs batted in. His success continued at Gonzaga University, where he led the West Coast Conference in hitting. His accomplishments exploded after college when he earned the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year honors and several All-Star selections for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He currently plays for the Boston Red Sox.
Brian Farber
Men’s Soccer
Farber, a Sandpoint, Idaho native, is the top offensive performer in NIC men's soccer history, setting the all-time point's record and earning Most Valuable Offensive Player honors. Farber was an All-Pac 10 performer and helped Oregon State to the NCAA tournament. Farber currently plays professionally for the Portland Timbers, which will become a top level professional franchise for Major League Soccer in 2010. Farber also earned MVP honors for the Indoor Winter Soccer League for the Stockton Cougars in 2009.
Steve Gannon
Wrestling
Gannon, from Spokane, Wash., helped begin the legacy of NIC wrestling as the Cardinals won their first national championship during his career in 1973. Gannon was a two-time All-American and became the first individual national champion for the Cardinals. Gannon was a third team All-American as a freshman, helping the Cardinals earn a national runner-up finish.
Gordon Herbert
Men's Basketball
Herbert, an All-American nominee and All-Region performer, helped lead NIC to its first ever NJCAA basketball national tournament appearance in 1978. He went on to start for the University of Idaho's basketball team that was ranked No. 6 in the nation and battled to the NCAA Sweet 16. Herbert played and coached in Europe for over 20 years and teamed with former NIC player Greg Wiltjer on the Canadian Olympic basketball team. He is currently on the coaching staff of the NBA Toronto Raptors.
Darla (Smith) Mace
Women's Basketball
Mace was widely regarded as the best women's basketball player ever at NIC, while earning All-American consideration. The former Lewiston High graduate was a two-time All-Region performer and earned Conference Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. She led NIC to back-to-back region championships and two NJCAA national tournament appearances, which culminated with NIC capturing a ninth-place national finish her final year.
Kenny Rucker
Wrestling
Rucker helped NIC to earn back-to-back wrestling national championships. Rucker made Cardinal history by becoming the school's first two-time individual national champion. Rucker nearly pulled off the improbable feat of being a four-time individual national champion. He won a team and individual national championship as a junior for Montana State University-Northern, and finished second in the nation as a senior while leading his team to a national runner-up finish.
Greg Wiltjer
Men's Basketball
Prior to 2009 Wiltjer was NIC's only first team NJCAA basketball All-American. He led NIC to the most wins in school history in 1980 and a 10th place national finish. He still ranks fourth in career records for rebounding and field goal percentage. After leaving NIC, Wiltjer helped lead Oregon State to the Elite 8 and later won a national championship for the University of Victoria. A former second round NBA draft pick, Wiltjer started in the Olympics for Canada and played against the original U.S.A. Olympic Dream team. He played professionally in Europe for 12 seasons and won a European Winners Cup with FC Barcelona.
Robbie Young
Men's Basketball
Young was the top performer for one of the highest scoring teams in Cardinal history that averaged nearly 90 points per game in the 1968-1969 season. Young is still the fourth all-time leading scorer for the Cardinals and holds several single game scoring records. Young averaged over 19 points per game for his career and led the Cardinals to the regional championship before they were defeated in district competition to deny NIC their first NJCAA tourney bid. Young was included in the inaugural Hall of Fame class, but the college has been unable to contact him. NIC hopes to honor him personally at a later time.
Updated: August 13, 2009