• Hall of Fame
  • 1987 Class
  • 1988 Class
  • 1989 Class
  • 1990 Class
  • 1991 Class
  • 1992 Class
  • 1993 Class
  • 1995 Class
  • 1996 Class
  • 2002 Class
  • 2004 Class
  • 2005 Class
  • 2006 Class
  • 2007 Class
  • 2008 Class
  • 2009 Class

Hall of Fame

Induction Year	BLUE KNIGHT HALL OF FAMERS
1987 Class	Terry Anderson, '72 Basketball	Harold Howe, '72 Basketball	Jon Plunkett, '72 Basketball	Mark Todd, '72 Basketball
1988 Class	Nick Mescher, '70 Basketball		The Honorable Judge Roger B. Wilson "The Voice of the Blue Knights"
1989 Class	Dr. Michael Rengert, '81 Basketball		Jane Schlatter-Puckett, '83 Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
1990 Class	Bill Aikman, '74 Basketball		Jim McCracken, '78 Wrestling
1991 Class	Dave Gustin, '81 Basketball
1992 Class	Thomas Bemmes, '83 Wrestling
1993 Class	Doug Rutan, '87 Football, Baseball, Basketball
1995 Class	Lester Baum Coach, Faculty, Administrator	Rob Rogan, '88 Football, Baseball
1996 Class	Lee Schreiner, '75 Soccer	Jean Twehues, '90 Basketball, Softball
2002 Class	Wade Goins, '93 Basketball	Wyatt Goins, '93 Basketball	Jerry Ligon, '94 Basketball
2004 Class	Theodore "Trip" Hopkins, '95 Football	Robert Ronai Coach, Administrator
2005 Class	Robert "Bob" Cawley Coach, Faculty, Administrator	Amanda "Mandy" Van Dyke, '87 Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
2006 Class	Kiya (Starr) Hunt, '99 Basketball, Volleyball, Softball	Jerry "J.J." White, '97 Basketball	Steve Stout Blue Knight Beat Writer	Dave Ross, '76 Philanthropist
2007 Class	Elgin Card, '93 Football	Sarita (Brown) Havens, '92 Basketball, Track and Field, Volleyball
2008 Class	Cindy (Frere) Bell, '92 Basketball
2009 Class	Donnie Gillespie, '98 Basketball

The Latest Inductee - Donnie Gillespie ('98)

Basketball standout and '98 grad to become 32^nd member enshrined in HOF

The Urbana University men's basketball team rose to national prominence on the shoulders of a Hall of Fame coach and a steady stream of standout student-athletes in the early-to-mid 1990s.  Under the tutelage of Head Coach Bob Ronai, the Blue Knights strung together 9 straight winning seasons and appeared in the NAIA National Tournament 3 times in 6 years. 

On July 13, 2009, the Urbana University Athletic Department announced the induction of a key cog from that successful era into the University's Athletic Hall of Fame.  Former Blue Knight Donnie Gillespie will become the 32^nd member of the University's Athletic Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony on campus on October 17^th.

Dave Ross, a 1976 graduate of Urbana and current University Trustee and Hall of Fame Chairman, administered the nomination and selection process. 

"Donnie was a key player at the conclusion of the most successful era in Blue Knight men's basketball history, an era that produced multiple Hall of Famers and 3 trips to the NAIA nationals," explained Ross.  "As both a student-athlete and an adult, Donnie Gillespie has provided a positive reflection upon Urbana University."

Gillespie becomes the 13^th men's basketball player to enter the Hall.  He joins 4 Blue Knights who played basketball in the 1990s for Coach Ronai.  Gillespie will reunite with 2 of his former teammates, Jerry Ligon ('94) and J.J. White ('97), who are also enshrined.

"Donnie represents everything we want our student-athletes to strive to be," said Urbana University Athletic Director Doug Young.  "We are honored to celebrate the achievements of this outstanding student-athlete."

Gillespie's career spanned from 1993-1998 at Urbana University.  He is one of 20 former Blue Knights to eclipse 1,000 career points.  Gillespie currently sits at 13^th on the all-time scoring list with 1,434 points.

During Gillespie's junior season, the Blue Knights tied a school record for wins (26) and made it to the Sweet 16 in the NAIA National Tournament.  Gillespie and White served as team captains, and both received All-American honors following their run in the national tournament.  Gillespie was named an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, 1st Team All-Mid-Ohio Conference, and 1st Team All-District 22 after returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for the most of the 1995-96 season. 

As a senior guard, Gillespie captained the Blue Knights and led the team in scoring, minutes, and 3-point shooting.  He remains the school's all-time leader in 3-pt field goals, making an incredible 257 threes in his 4 seasons.  The sharpshooter owns the career record for 3-pt. shooting percentage, making more than 41% of his shots from long range.  Gillespie is also second in career games played (127) at Urbana University.

Majoring in Sports Medicine and Education at Urbana, Gillespie also served as a Student Athletic Trainer for the Blue Knights football team during the 1997 season.

Gillespie's career on the hardwood continues to this day.  Currently, he is the head coach of the varsity boys' basketball team at Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati.  Gillespie was inducted into Winton Woods' Hall of Fame in 2004 after a stellar prep career playing basketball, soccer and football for the Warriors.  In his 5 seasons as the Warriors' head basketball coach, Gillespie owns a record of 61-46.

Ironically, Gillespie has even faced off against his former mentor, Coach Ronai, who currently coaches at Middletown High School.  Gillespie's Warriors got the best of Ronai's squad in their last meeting two seasons ago.

"I have had the pleasure of watching Donnie grow as a teacher and coach, and for the past five years, as an opposing head coach," explained Coach Ronai.  "Donnie Gillespie is a man of faith, high principles and outstanding character, and he demonstrates that daily to anyone that has contact with him."

The induction of Donnie Gillespie into the Urbana University Hall of Fame will take place following the Blue Knights' homecoming football game on Saturday, October 17^th.  The Blue Knights take on the Pumas from St. Joseph's College at noon.  The induction ceremony is scheduled to begin about 30 minutes after the football game in the Urbana University Student Center.