2015 Dakota State University Athletic Hall of Fame
| Inductee Name |
Title/Award/Honor/Athlete/Coach/Others |
| Max Hodgen |
Football |
| Russell Schwartz |
Football |
| Tard Smith |
Football, Track & Field |
| Kurt Wallance |
Track & Field |
| 1981-82 DSC Women's Golf Team |
AIAW Region Six Championship Team
3rd Place at AIAW Nationals |
Max Hodgen - Football
One of the premier linebackers in Dakota State University's football program history, Max Hodgen produced a career record for most tackles with 407 – a school record which is currently intact – as he played for the Trojans from 1992 through 1995.
Hailing from Papillion, Neb., Hodgen was a four-time South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) All-Conference selection. He was a three-time NAIA Football All-American at Dakota State, three-time team captain and was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player from 1993-95.
Hodgen held the DSU Football school record for most tackles in a single game with 16 versus Huron (S.D.) in 1993.
Hodgen was a member of 1993 DSU Trojan Football team that finished with an overall record of 8-2. The Trojans came within inches of winning the SDIC Conference Championship and qualifying for the NAIA Division II Playoffs. Dakota State was ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA Division II Football national poll at the end of the 1993 season.
Hodgen, along with his hometown and DSU teammate Bryan Ledgerwood, combined for 244 tackles, seven sacks, eight fumble recoveries and one interception in 1993 when they were both sophomores. Also in 1993, Hodgen broke the school's single-season tackle mark, registering 105 solos and 41 assists (146), and tied another record with five fumble recoveries.
The 1993 Trojans were one of the nation's Top 10 NAIA defenses, ending with a No. 1 ranking in total defense, No. 5 in rushing defense and No. 8 in scoring defense.
Hodgen's impressive football career continued in his junior year when he was selected as the co-SDIC Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 1994.
He finished his collegiate football career with another All-American selection in 1995. He completed the season with 203 tackles, 108 of which were solos.
Hodgen was selected as DSU's Most Outstanding Male Athletes two times in 1994 and 1995.
He graduated from Dakota State in 1997 and married DSU alum Suzy Collignon. They reside in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Hodgen currently teaches at Madison High School in math and science. In addition, he is the head coach for the Bulldogs football team and guided the team to two consecutive State Class '11A' Championship game appearances in 2013 and 2014.
Hodgen enjoys spending time fishing, hunting and playing golf.
Russell Schwartz - Football
Russell Schwartz was an integral member for one of the most dominate defensive teams in Dakota State (S.D.) football history, which went 32-7-1 from 1975 through 1978. During that span, the Trojans captured four straight South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) football titles.
Schwartz, who was a cornerback for the Trojans from Estelline, S.D., was a three-time SDIC All-Conference selection and received honorable mention status in 1976. He also earned NAIA All-District honors twice in 1977 and 1978.
Schwartz was a member of the Trojan Football team that earned a No. 9 ranking in the final poll of the 1976 NAIA Division II Football national poll with an overall record of 8-2. Following that year, DSC went undefeated with a perfect 10-0 record and a sixth-place ranking in the final poll.
Schwartz was part of the 1977 Trojans' defense team that led the nation in defense, allowing only 42 points in 10 games (4.2 points per game). The defense also placed in the top six in rushing, stopping opponents at only 70.2 yards a game on the ground. The DSC defenders claimed fifth in total defense, giving up only 181.7 yards per game.
The 1977 DSC undefeated football team – first unbeaten team in school's history and was named South Dakota Collegiate Team of the Year – was inducted in the DSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
During his senior year, Schwartz help lead DSC's young defense that allowed only 12.4 points per game, 98 yards passing and 108 yards rushing. He shared the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player honor with Todd Payer.
Schwartz ran an interception back 90 yards for a touchdown in his last career collegiate football game versus Sioux Falls College (S.D.), helping him earn NAIA All-American Honorable Mention status in 1978.
After graduating from Dakota State, Schwartz taught and coached at Ramona, S.D. for two years. He then worked for the Triple F Nutrition as a District Salesman from 1981-96 and moved to Iowa in 1985 as Regional Sales Manager. From 1996-03, he was the shipping/receiving manager at AMPC in Denison, Iowa.
Schwartz owned and operated Decorative Roofing from 2001-07. He returned back to the education field in Red Shirt, S.D. from 2007-09. He taught at Crow Creek Tribal School in Stephan, S.D. from 2009-14. He is currently employed at Dakota Best Seed in Platte, S.D. as well as owning and operating a farm in Denison.
In his spare time, Schwartz loves to fish, golf and watch sports live or on television. He is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Schwartz has three children – Brittany (25 years old), Mitchell (21) and Chandra (19) – and currently resides in Platte.
Tard Smith - Football, Track & Field
Tard Smith was an extraordinary dual sport athlete at Dakota State University. He was one of the best return specialists in football and excelled in track running events for the Trojans, holding numerous school records and gaining athletic honors in both sports.
Smith came from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to play football under Gary Roach and track and field under the guidance of DSU's Hall of Fame Coach Buzz Stevenson from 1992-95. Smith earned South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference All-Conference and All-District 12 selections all four years.
He earned his first NAIA All-American honor after placing sixth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.52 seconds at the 1992 indoor national meet in Kansas City. At the same meet, Smith also anchored the mile relay with Brent Dowling, Adam Foland and Jason Smidt and placed tenth in 3:28.63.
Smith notched his second All-American selection after placing third in the 400-meters at the 1992 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
At the 1993 outdoor national meet in Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada, he finished fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.35 seconds for his third All-American award. He also ran the 400-meters at the national meet and fell one spot short of his fourth All-American selection when he finished seventh with a time of 47.69 seconds.
Smith was a member of the 1993 DSU Football team that finished with an overall record of 8-2, finishing in second place for the SDIC conference title. Dakota State was ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA Division II Football national poll at the end of the 1993 season.
Smith was a stellar return specialist for the Trojans that year, where he was named to NAIA Football All-American Second Team after setting a national NAIA record for kickoffs returned for touchdowns with four during the season and six for his career.
All of his kickoff return school records are still intact in the Trojan Football record book. Smith holds the school records in average yards in a single game (41.25 yards versus Mount Senario, Wis. in 1993), average yards per season (30.41 yards in 1993 with 22 returns and 4 touchdowns), average career yards (25.74 yards from 1991-93 with 47 returns and 6 touchdowns), total yards in a single season (669 in 1993) and career yards (1,210 from 1991-93).
He holds the record for longest kickoff return with 100 yards versus Black Hills State (S.D.) in 1992.
Smith's fifth All-American came at the 1994 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National meet where he was second in the 55-meters (60-yard run) with a time of 6.4 seconds.
He earned his sixth All-American in the 200-meter dash at the 1995 indoor track national meet.
His last collegiate track meet was the 1995 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in Azusa, Calif. He qualified for both 100- and 200-meter dashes and earned his seventh All-American honor as he finished fifth in the 200-mter dash with a time of 20.87 seconds.
Smith holds four different indoor track and field records at Dakota State. He holds the school record in the 55-meters (6.09 seconds in 1995), 200-meters (21.52 seconds in 1995), 300-meters (35.90 seconds in 1992) and 400-meters (49.60 seconds in 1992).
In the DSU's outdoor track and field record book, Smith holds the three best times in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He earned school records in the both the 100-meters and 200-meters with times of 10.10 and 20.64 seconds, respectively. Smith also ran the two best times in the 400-meter dash, recording a school record time of 46.97 seconds in 1992.
He was selected as DSU's Most Outstanding Male Athlete-of-the-Year in 1995.
Since leaving Dakota State, Smith spent a year-and-a-half playing on the South Dakota Marshall's semi pro team. After breaking his arm, he moved back home and married DSU graduate Sabrina McGarity. He has five children – Helen (23 years old), Taylor (17), Tard D. Smith, Jr. (17), Nicholas (11) and Tiana (3).
He was prompted by his five children to coach AAU track and field. He is currently coaching the two sports that he loves – football and track. He also works as a Head of Facilities in Broward County schools.
Kurt Wallace - Football
Kurt Wallace had a stellar collegiate athletic career at Dakota State (S.D.), where he helped the Trojans capture a total of five conference track and field titles from 1996 through 1998.
Wallace was a two-time NAIA Indoor Track and Field All-American athlete (1997, 1998) at Dakota State and three-time South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference All-Conference performer (1996, 1997, 1998). He was selected as DSU's Most Outstanding Male Athlete-of-the-Year in 1997.
Dakota State began their dominance in conference track, where Wallace was a member of three straight SDIC Indoor Track and Field conference titles from 1996 through 1998 and two consecutive SDIC Outdoor Track and Field conference titles in 1996 and 1997.
Wallace earned his first NAIA All-American honor as he competed in the pentathlon at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Nationals in Lincoln, Neb. in 1997. His events included 55-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and the 1000-meter run at the national meet. He accumulated a DSU-school record of 3,606 points to finish fourth in the pentathlon at the national meet.
Wallace added another outstanding performances at the 1997 SDIC Outdoor Track and Field Conference Championships, where he was tabbed as the conference's Most Valuable Athlete.
He was fifth in the high jump at the 1998 NAIA Indoor Track national meet. He earned his second All-American honors after clearing a height of 6 feet, 7.5 inches.
Wallace is part of the DSU's indoor 4 x 200-meter relay team that recorded a school record time of 1 minute, 31.58 seconds in 1997, a record that is still intact today. He anchored the relay team with Jake Kamps, Ryan Raak and Shane Scholten.
He also is a member of the Trojan outdoor 4 x 200-meter relay outdoor track team with Brent Dowling, Kamps and Smith that ran a record time of 1 minute, 26.51 seconds in 1995.
He not only competed in track at Dakota State but was also a member of the Trojan Football team.
Wallace graduated from Dakota State in 2000. He married Alicia and they have three children – Landon (9 years old), Tianna (2) and Cassidy (1 month). They reside in Geneva, Minn.
Kurt is a professional firefighter and owner of Erbert & Gerbert's Sandwich Shop in Alberta Lea, Minn. His restaurant have received multiple corporate awards and currently leads all stores nationwide in comparative sales.
Since college, he competed in the 'Firefighter Combat Challenge," as seen on ESPN. He is a 5-time Minnesota State Champion and record holder, a Regional Champion, finished Top 10 in the World and has been inducted into the Lion's Den Hall of Fame.
Wallace also competed in the Gopher State Classic Body Building competition, where he won first-place in the Masters Physique division. Kurt also plays on a men's volleyball team that finished as the AA & BB Men's Minnesota State Champions.
1981-82 Dakota State College Women's Golf - AIAW Region 6 Championship Team, 3rd Place at AIAW Nationals
Dakota State College established their first women's golf team prior to 1981-82 season, then saw that squad make a historic run in their first-ever appearance at the AIAW National Golf Meet. Six members of the Lady Trojans, under the guidance of head coach Rick Sterling, completed an amazing run where they captured third place at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women's (AIAW) National Tournament Division III.
The Dakota State women's golf team competed for the first time during the 1981 fall season at the Briar Cliff (Iowa) College Tournament, held at the Green Valley Golf Course. The Lady Trojans finished second in the tournament behind South Dakota State. Maureen placed second individually by shooting 83 for the course. Jane was fourth, while Mary and Sarah came in with respective 10th- and 11th-place performances.
The Lady Trojans went to North Dakota and swept a pair of tournaments. In these tournaments, the majority of colleges were much larger in enrollment than DSC. Dakota State won the Concordia (Minn.) tournament by firing a team score of 350 held on the Edgewood Golf Course in Fargo, seven strokes better than SDSU.
DSC again outdistanced the Jackrabbits' golfers to take the University of North Dakota Invitational Tournament title. The Lady Trojans posted a 329-stroke team score while South Dakota State shot a 336. Maureen was the team medalist with a 77, followed by Sarah with an 82. Jane shot 84, Mary 86 and Alice with an 89.
Dakota State finished second in their next tournament at Northern State (S.D.), a two-day Invitational on the Mocassin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen. DSC posted 337 strokes on the first day, trailing SDSU by nine strokes. On the second day, the Trojans shaved 15 strokes off their first day team care and blistered the Mocassin course for a 322. Dakota State finished just two strokes behind South Dakota State.
Maureen recorded a score of 88 and took the top medalist honors at the Moorhead State University (Minn.) Invitational held at the Ortonville, Minn. Golf Course. She overtook Ann Zenk of SDSU on the third hole in a sudden-death playoff. Alice was third in the tournament. As a team, the Lady Trojans finished as a runner-up again behind the Jackrabbits before heading into the Region Six Tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Teams from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska competed in the Region Six Tournament play. This was a two-day tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa in early October 1981.
Concordia led Dakota State 353-356 after the opening round action. On the second day of the region tournament play, the Lady Trojans came up with an even 350 team card while Concordia turned in a 356 team score giving DCS a 706-709 edge and the championship.
Sarah (88-82-170), Jane (88-87-175) and Maureen (89-89-178) were selected to the All-Region Team. These three Lady Trojans were among six players selected to receive this honor.
Dakota State competed in the AIAW Women's Golf Division III National Tournament on June 16-19, 1982, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The national tournament was held at Echo Farms Country Club with teams from DSC, Briar Cliff, Concordia, Cortland State (N.Y.), Meredith College (N.C.), Wisconsin-Whitewater, Amherst College (Mass.) and host-team UNC-Wilmington.
The golfers had to play in poor weather conditions when a subtropical storm rolled over the course. The tournament was called off one day due to rain. Tournament officials had no choice but to force the young ladies out onto the links in rain showers in order to accomplish the 54-hole requirement. The fourth and final day of the tournament was sunny, however, there were numerous lakes and puddles on the course from the previous days' downpours.
Maureen finished the national tournament with AIAW All-American honors after placing sixth. Cathy Everett of Meredith and Maureen both recorded a score of 253, forcing a playoff tiebreaker won by Everett.
As a team, Dakota State finished third (with a score of 1,051) in the 1982 AIAW Women's Golf Division III National Tournament behind UNC-Wilmington (994 strokes) and Meredith College (1,004 strokes) of Raleigh, N.C. Going down the list, Wisconsin-Whitewater came in fourth (1,061 strokes), Concordia fifth (1,067 strokes), Cortland State sixth (1,078 strokes), Briar Cliff seventh (1,088 strokes) and Amherst eighth with a partial team.
