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Tjeerdsma Elected to Division II Hall of Fame
MARYVILLE, Mo. (NWMSU Media Relations) -- The
Division II Football Hall of Fame has named three of the most
successful coaches in the history of college football as its Hall
of Fame Class of 2010, and will induct Mel Tjeerdsma, Ken Sparks
and Bobby Wallace as its 12th induction class on Dec. 17.
Established in 1999, the Division II Football Hall of Fame has
inducted former Division II players annually for the last 11 years.
The 2010 inductions will mark the first group of coaches to be
honored.
“It has been our intention since the Hall of Fame was
created in 1999 to not only honor the outstanding players from
Division II but also the outstanding coaches within the
division,” said Hall of Fame Chairman Jeff Hodges. “Our
induction of Shannon Sharpe last December gave us 25 players in the
Hall, and with this year being the 25th anniversary of the Division
II Championship Game's move to Florence, we felt it was perfect
timing.
“While all three of these coaches selected are still
actively coaching at Division II programs, our committee felt that
each had already reached a pinnacle of success deserving of Hall of
Fame recognition.”
Tjeerdsma, who has completed 16 seasons at Northwest Missouri
State, has led the Bearcats to five consecutive appearances in the
Division II Championship Game and to three NCAA titles. He and
Wallace are the only coaches in the 37-year history of the Division
II Football Championship to have coached three national
championship teams.
Tjeerdsma has 230 overall collegiate wins, won 11 conference
championships and made 12 NCAA playoff appearances at Northwest.
His 38 playoff games coached, 29 playoff wins and seven
championship game appearances are the most in Division II history.
His 1998 national championship team was also the first in Division
II history to go 15-0.
Tjeerdsma is a four-time AFCA Division II Coach of the Year (1998,
1999, 2008, 2009) and 11-time MIAA Coach of the Year (1995-2000,
2002, 2006-09). His program will enter the 2009 season with 37
consecutive wins in MIAA play.
Sparks, current head coach at Carson-Newman (Tenn.) College, ranks
as the winningest coach in Division II history. He has won 13
conference championships and made 12 NCAA playoff appearances in
the last 17 years. His overall record in 30 seasons is 287-70-2 and
has the third-most wins among active coaches in all NCAA divisions.
He has led Carson-Newman to three Championship Game appearances in
Florence.
Wallace, current head coach at the University of West Alabama,
became the first coach in college football history to win as many
as 40 games in just three seasons when he led the University of
North Alabama to a 41-1 record and three straight NCAA Division II
National Championships from 1993-95. He is also the only coach in
Division II to ever win three straight national championships.
Wallace has led seven teams to Division II post-season play,
including West Alabama last season, marking the school's first NCAA
appearance since 1975. He was previously named Division II Coach of
the Quarter Century (1972-97).
The trio of coaches will be inducted on Dec. 17 as part of a
combined Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame
Banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center in
Florence, Ala. Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight
and are available by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce (256)
764-4661 or the UNA Sports Information Office at (256)
765-4595.
