NCCAA Award Recipients Honored at 2023 Hall of Fame Banquet 6/1/2023 9:24:47 PM Greenville, SC: The NCCAA inducted two new members into the Hall of Fame at the Hall of Fame Banquet during the Annual Convention. Also honored were recipients of the Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award, #KingChasing Institution of the Year, Presidential Award, and Wilhelmi-Haskell Stewardship. Hall of Fame GP4L Character Award: Female Student-Athlete | Male Student-Athlete | Female Athletics Staff | Male Athletics Staff Meritorious Service Award #KingChasing Institution of the Year Presidential Award Wilhelmi-Haskell Stewardship Award 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees Geno DeMarco, Geneva College Darren Richie, Columbia International University [Back to top] Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award The purpose of this award is to recognize NCCAA student-athletes and athletics staff who epitomize the Christian character qualities of LOVE, INTEGRITY, FAITH, and EXCELLENCE. This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Female Student-Athlete Character Award recipient is Kristin Yuan of Faith Baptist Bible College (FBBC). Yuan, a native of Naperville, Illinois, strives for excellence on and off the field, while displaying a consistent Christian testimony. When there are opportunities to pray or serve as a team, she encourages others to join her in that ministry. Yuan attends a church two hours away to intentionally minister to the small, farming community. She also assists in an afterschool ministry, youth group, an adult English class, and she plays the piano and violin in church services. Yuan has also volunteered in several ministries alongside her teammates. The senior has anchored a defense that has the third-best goals against average in the NCCAA this year. Yuan earned First Team All-Regional and Second Team All-American in 2020 and 2021, while also helping to lead her team to the North Regional Championship title in 2019 and 2021. In the classroom, she holds a 3.93 GPA in organizational leadership and world missions. She’s earned academic honors that include Dean’s List and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. Yuan was also the recipient of the 2022 NCCAA Joe and Q Harding Award for Division II Women’s Soccer. “Kristin is a quiet leader who leads by example, often staying after practice to work on individual soccer skills or fitness,” shared Head Coach Zack Barron. “She is humble, works hard, and is always looking for opportunities to serve others.” [Back to top] This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Male Student-Athlete Character Award recipient is Jordan White of Manhattan Christian College (MCC). White leads by example through his work ethic and character on and off the court. He’s always the one tasked to guard the opponent’s best player, regardless of position. White leads the team this season in rebounds and assists per game while ranking second in points per game. The senior has had multiple 30-point games in his career, including 33 points in a double overtime loss to eventual NCCAA DII National Champions, Johnson University Tennessee. White has been named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Regional, Conference MVP, and NCCAA Second Team All-American. He was also the recipient of the 2023 NCCAA Pete Maravich Award for Division II Men’s Basketball. The native of Topeka, Kansas has the desire to serve God and people in whatever capacity he is called to do so. White has been involved in many different ministries, including mission trips, camp teams at MCC, and leading a high school Young Life group. While balancing his marriage, job as a pharmacy tech, schoolwork, and basketball, White and his wife are committed to various ministries and small groups in town. In the classroom, he holds a 3.98 GPA in Bible and political science, while having earned honors that include Dean’s list, honor roll, and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. “Jordan is committed to Christ and has been the same, consistent guy every day for the last four years,” said Head Coach Jordan Strom. “He is the epitome of what we want our student-athletes to be.” [Back to top] This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Female Athletic Staff Character Award recipient is Sarah Connally from the University of Northwestern (UNW). Sarah Connally just completed her fifth year serving as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at the University of Northwestern. Prior to this position she served in other various roles within the athletic department such as overseeing intramurals, athletic academic tutoring, and site management. In her short time with the Eagles lacrosse program, Connally has become the winningest coach in program history. She has led the Eagles to the conference playoffs in each of the last two seasons, with a championship appearance in 2021. However, more than wins and losses, Sarah invests in the spiritual development of her team. She is intentional with leading Bible studies and finding ways to help mentor and grow her athletes outside of the playing field. “Faith is a living, active part of Sarah’s life,” stated Assistant Director of Athletics, Beth Wilmeth. “She naturally weaves her relationship with Jesus into daily conversations with her players and with other staff members in our department. Her players show growth in their own faith each year within her program.” Dr. Matt Hill, Director of Athletics, had this to say about Sarah, “She is a model coach and whole-hearted follower of Jesus Christ. She will never compromise in order to obtain advantage, and teaches her team that God expects us to do what is right, not just what is okay; the definition of integrity.” [Back to top] This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Male Athletic Staff Character Award recipient is Dave Hieb from the University of Northwestern (UNW). Dave Hieb, the longest tenured athletic staff member at the University of Northwestern, completed his 28th year as Head Baseball Coach, and his 34th year as an athletic trainer at UNW in 2023. He has coached over 1,000 career baseball games, winning over 500 of them. He has led the Eagles to three Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Championships (1996, 2021, and 2022), and made appearances in the NCCAA Baseball World Series in both 2007 and 2022, and the NCAA Baseball National Championship in 2021. Under his leadership, the program has seen multiple NAIA, NCCAA, and NCAA All-Regional and All-American players. Coach Hieb is a three-time UMAC Coach of the Year, three-time NCCAA North Central Regional Coach of the Year, and 2023 D3baseball.com Midwest Region Coach of the Year. Head Athletic Trainer Brent Cramer states, “His players respect him so much as he pours his life out to them, and no matter if it’s a big win or a bad loss after every game he will state that he loves each and every one of them.” Dave’s office has been home to countless counseling session for his players as he cares more deeply about their spiritual journey than he does the game of baseball. Coach Hieb announced that he will be retiring as head baseball coach upon the completion of the 2023 season but will remain as an athletic trainer and professor at the university. “Faith in Jesus is the foundation of all of Dave’s life,” stated Director of Athletics Dr. Matt Hill, “at UNW, at home, and in the community.” [Back to top] Meritorious Service Award Mark Arthur, Southwestern Christian | Division I Women's Basketball National Chair, 2020-2023 Joe Blackwell, Southwestern Christian University | Baseball National Chair, 2020-2023 Jason Covarrubias, Southwestern Assemblies of God University | Division I Cross Country National Chair, 2021-2023 Chris Lahm, Ozark Christian College | Division II Southwest Regional Coordinator, 2016-2023 Joe Liwosz, Pensacola Christian College | Division II Men's Soccer National Chair, 2020-2023 Clifton McDaniel, Arlington Baptist University | Division II Women's Basketball National Chair, 2020-2023 Marcus Moeller, Mid-America Christian University | Division I Central Regional Coordinator, 2020-2023 Brian Patton, Greenville University | Men's & Women's Track & Field National Chair, 2020-2023 Eric Salley, Trinity Christian College | Division I Men's Soccer National Chair, 2020-2023 Cathy Snider | Board of Directors, 2019-2023 Eric Turner | Board of Directors, 2015-2023 Rob Thompson, Maranatha Baptist University | President & Division II North Regional Coordinator, 2018-2023 [Back to top] #KingChasing Program The #KingChasing program uses the four values of the Game Plan 4 LIFE - Love, Integrity, Faith, and Excellence - to enhance the purpose of collegiate athletics to be more than winning championships. The mission of the #KingChasing program is to keep Christ at the center of the student-athlete experience. An institution shall be named an NCCAA #KingChasing Institution by earning 70 points. The top point earning institutions shall be finalists for the NCCAA #KingChasing Institution of the Year. #KingChasing Institutions Asbury University Grace College Houghton University Manhattan Christian College Mid-America Christian University Oak Hills Christian College Regent University #KingChasing Institution of the Year Finalist - Oak Hills Christian College #KingChasing Institution of the Year Finalist - Regent University #KingChasing Institution of the Year - Asbury University [Back to top] Presidential Award The NCCAA is pleased to provide an annual All-Sports Award to be presented to one Division I and one Division II member institution. Points are earned based upon a team's finish in an NCCAA National Championship. Division I Recipient - Grace College Division II Recipient - Bob Jones University [Back to top] Wilhelmi-Haskell Stewardship Award Greenville First Presbyterian Church [Back to top]