June 14, 2011
ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Hollie L. Lepley 25th Hall of Honor Class was announced by Oakland University Director of Athletics Tracy Huth on Tuesday and will include longtime coaches Pete Hovland and Greg Kampe. Hovland enters his 33rd season as head swimming and diving coach, while Kampe enters his 28th season as head men's basketball coach.
Along with Coach Kampe and Coach Hovland, Oakland will pay tribute to former Hall of Honor inductees over the past 24 classes, along with honoring Craig and Ann Stinson (Gary D. Russi Community Service Award) and Dr. Robby Stewart (George Wibby Award) for their significant contributions to the Athletic Department. The ceremony will take place on Friday, Jan. 27th as part of Homecoming on campus.
"This is our opportunity to welcome back all Hall of Honor members and induct two legendary coaches that have paved the way for success here in Oakland Athletics. Coach Kampe has led his teams to back-to-back NCAA tournaments and Coach Hovland has won 12 consecutive Summit League titles and captured several national titles while competing at the Division II level.
"Twenty-five years is a celebration of tremendous accomplishments by administrators, student-athletes and coaches, and we could not have picked two better inductees to represent this Silver Anniversary Class. Pete and Greg have been here to welcome all 24 previous classes to the Hall. It is a fitting honor that these two become the 25th class."
Kampe has accumulated 470 wins and been Summit League Coach of the Year five times, including the last two years. He has six Summit League championships (3 regular season, 3 tournament titles) in 12 seasons and was named National Coach of the Year by CollegeInsider.com in 2000. Kampe is currently No. 25 amongst active Division I coaches in wins and holds the nation's fifth-longest tenure at one school. He has led the Golden Grizzlies to three consecutive 20-win seasons and OU is a nation's-best 34-2 in league play over the last two seasons, ahead of national power Kansas' 29-3 record inside the Big 12.
"It came as a big surprise and I am very humbled and thankful," said Kampe. "It's a tremendous honor and as I look back one day, may be one of the nicest things that has ever happened in my professional career. To make it even more special, I am going in to the Hall of Honor with Pete (Hovland), and I know what he has meant to this university and the swimming world. To be put on the same pedestal as he is, is very special."
Hovland is a 12-time Summit League Coach of the Year and his teams continue to dominate conference championships. The men's team has never lost a conference championship (27-0), dating back to the Division II days and the women's teams have captured The Summit League title in each season he has been at the helm. His swimmers have been named Summit League Swimmer of the Year in all 12 seasons and he has seen swimmers qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships in seven of those years. His teams finished in the top three at the Division II National Championships in 15 of 16 seasons, including four straight national titles (1994-97) before making the transition to Division I. Hovland has produced four Olympians during his tenure on the men's side and seven of his student-athletes have been named NCAA Swimmer of the Year.
"I am honored that the committee felt my years of service was worthy of induction on the 25th anniversary of this prestigious event," said Hovland. "I am also very humbled to be included and thought of in the same manner as the previous inductees and flattered to be sharing the stage with my good friend and colleague Greg Kampe."
Stewart has represented the athletic department as the Faculty Athletic Representative over the past five seasons and continues to serve in that role. He provides leadership and guidance to the student-athletes and is the athletic department's liaison to the Oakland faculty. Stewart provides a tremendous service to the athletic department by advocating, educating and supporting the academic and athletic successes of OU student-athletes.
Craig and Ann Stinson continue to be strong supporters for the university and the athletic department. Recently they were honored for their donation to create the state-of-the-art Stinson Student Advancement Center in the School of Business Administration inside Elliott Hall and have been members of the basketball VIP program since its inception.
"We are pleased that the Hall of Honor Ceremonies will be part of Oakland's Fourth Annual Homecoming," said Huth. "Oakland Athletics looks forward to hosting a number of events over the weekend, celebrating the return of our alumni."
-OAKLAND-
