Hall of Fame Nomination Form
Brian McDermott - Coach (posthumously)
Brian McDermott brought one of the most historic firsts in the Dakota State University athletics program history with the 1991-92 men's basketball team. The one that stands out the most is the distinction of being the only DSU men's basketball team in history to make it to the NAIA Final Four.
McDermott was inducted into the 29th annual DSU Athletics Hall of Fame posthumously as the coach.
McDermott, an Iowa native, was an assistant coach at his alma mater, University of South Dakota, from 1980-85. He then went to Dakota State, where he spent 10 seasons as the head coach. He guided the Trojans to their first winning season in 23 years in 1990 and took them to the NAIA Division II Final Four two years later.
The road to the final four started with a seven-game winning streak, a record in itself. The team first disassembled Mt. Marty with a 105-83 whooping, keeping in mind Mt. Marty had beaten the Trojans to end the regular season just a few days prior. The next Trojan victim was Dakota Wesleyan University, the favorite to win the Sub-district championship, which fell to the Trojans 80-72.
The third game of the seven-game stretch tested the hearts of the Trojans. Down by 15 points at halftime against Northern State, the Trojans rallied back in the second half to win by two points, 70-68.
The Trojans would have to travel to Rapid City to face South Dakota Tech for the District 12 Championship and to qualify for the national tournament. The Trojans once again battled out to the final seconds and beat the Hardrockers, 86-84.
The first two games of the NAIA tournament in Stephensville, Texas, were double-digit wins for the No. 20 seeded Trojans, as they beat Edgewood College of Madison, Wis., 86-70 in round one and the top-seeded King College of Bristol (Tenn.), 92-79 in the sweet sixteen round.
In the Elite Eight round of the tournament, the Trojans beat William Jewell (Mo.) before losing to Northwestern (Iowa), 91-68, in the Final Four round. It was truly an amazing year for the team-oriented Trojans. When the team returned from Texas, fans greeted them at the airport and a caravan of vehicles followed to Madison. Â
Seven of the 14 team members engraved their names in the record book during the season, including Earnest Monette, Fred Flemming, Issac Clark, Cory Otterdahl, Bruce Koele, Maurice Peterson, and Pat Winter.
McDermott tallied 117 victories during his time at Dakota State through 1995. His 117 victories currently rank as the third most wins in DSU men's basketball program history.
He took over at Southern Oregon in 1996-97, turning the program from their seven straight losing seasons. Three years later, he guided his squad to its first Cascade Conference championship and led them to their first national tournament since 1968.
McDermott is the all-time leader in wins and a four-time conference or district coach of the year. He wrapped up his longest tenure coaching era at SOU with a record of 410-352, racking up 527 career victories.
In all, McDermott was a head coach for 36 years and six years as an assistant coach in college basketball.
McDermott retired in May 2022 after a cancer diagnosis prior to Southern Oregon's 2021-22 season opener, which forced him off the sidelines for the duration of that season. He passed away at his home in Talent, Ore., in March 2023. He is survived by his wife Jan, son Josh, and daughter Josi. .
Robin (Hagen) His Law '87 - Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball
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Robin (Hagen) His Law was a dual student-athlete who excelled in volleyball and women's basketball at Dakota State University. She was a standout athlete from Parker High School in volleyball, basketball, track, softball, and swimming. His Law earned All-State Girls' Basketball honors twice during her high school years.
At Dakota State, she became a three-year letter winner in volleyball, establishing herself as one of the program's trailblazers. She led the team in attack and scoring her senior year and ranked third in blocks. Her leadership and dominance at the net earned her the team's Most Valuable Attacker award, Team Captain, and distinction of becoming the first DSU volleyball player to earn South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) and NAIA District 12 honors—a historic achievement for the Trojan volleyball program led by Tom Farrell.
Not only did she excel on the volleyball court, but she was equally impactful on the hardwood. She was a four-year letter winner for the Trojan women's basketball team under the guidance of Dr. Judy Dittman. Recognized early as the team's Hardest Worker in her sophomore year, she capped her career with an SDIC All-Conference honor as a senior.
Her senior year basketball statistics were among the SDIC conference best – 5th in scoring (16.1 points per game), 4th in field goal percentage (50.8 percent), 4th in free-throw percentage (65 percent), 5th in assists (4.4 assists per game), 11th in rebounds (5.1 rebounds per game), and 9th in NAIA district play with 51.4 percent field goal shooting.
She was an integral member of the Dakota State women's basketball team during their SDIC dominance during the 1980s (winning the conference regular season titles for eight consecutive years).
After graduating from Dakota State in 1987, His Law dedicated 16 years to teaching and coaching at Chamberlain and Crow Creek, continuing to influence young athletes. She remained active in competitive sports, playing co-ed and women's softball through 2005 and winning multiple South Dakota state titles with Team Bud Light (Chamberlain) and Team Diamond Aces (Crow Creek/Lyman/Pierre).
Robin's competitive spirit never waned. She has excelled in darts in recent years, highlighted by a 2022 South Dakota State Singles Championship, a State Doubles runner-up finish the same year, and a 13th-place national doubles finish in Las Vegas in 2024.
Robin lives in Pukwana, South Dakota, with her husband, Nate, celebrating 26 years of marriage. They are proud parents of two sons—Jacob, who attended DSU for one year, and Nathan Jr., a 2024 Dakota State University graduate. The entire family remains rooted and professionally active in the Chamberlain area.
Dr. Theodore 'Ted' Sees '03 - Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field
Dr. Theodore (Ted) Sees left an incredible mark on the Dakota State cross country and track & field programs during his standout four-year career from 1999 to 2003. A four-time all-conference selection in cross country, Sees consistently ranked among the school's top distance runners under the former legendary DSU head coach
Buzz Stevenson.
He was an All-Conference cross-country runner in the final year of the South Dakota-Iowa Conference (SDIC). He followed up with three more All-Conference accolades in the Dakota Athletic Conference-10 (DAC-10), which consisted of ten schools in the states of South Dakota and North Dakota.
He still owns two of the Top 30 all-time cross country 8K times in school history. His time of 25 minutes, 40 seconds at the 2000 Dakota Cross Country Championships in Madison, which is currently 24th fastest time in the school record book. He also posted the current 28th fastest time of 25 minutes, 48 seconds in the 2001 DAC-10 Cross Country Championships, which was also held in Madison.
Sees qualified for the 2001 NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Kenosha, Wis., where he placed 39th. He finished the 8K national racecourse with a time of 26 minutes, 15 seconds. He returned to Kenosha for the 2002 national cross country meet and finished with 43rd place with a time of 26 minutes, 33 seconds.
Sees added multiple NAIA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field national appearances during his running career at DSU. His highlights came in the 2001 indoor track national meet in Johnson City, Tenn., placing fifth in the 3000-meter run prelims with a time of 8 minutes, 42.17 seconds, and advanced to the finals. He placed seventh with a time of 8 minutes, 38.04 seconds.
Another highlight came in the 2002 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championship in the 5000-meter run. He placed third in the prelims breaking under the 15-minute mark with a time of 14 minutes, 54.83 seconds and advanced to the finals. He was seventh in the national finals with a time of 14 minutes, 57.65 seconds. Â
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Sees was the DSU record holder in the indoor 3,000-meter run (8 minutes, 37.27 seconds in 2002), a mark that stood for 18 years. He added the indoor 5,000-meter run school record (14 minutes, 52.97) and held that school record for 17 years. He was also listed in the outdoor track & field school record book – currently 8th fastest in the 5000-meter run (15 minutes, 8.36 seconds) and 5th fastest in the 10,000-meter run (31 minutes, 22.90 seconds).Â
His dominance earned him Dakota State's Outstanding Male Athlete award twice in 2002 and 2003. While excelling on the track and course, Sees also shined in the classroom and was considered for the conference's academic honors. He graduated from Dakota State in 2003.
Sees pursued a Doctor of Optometry degree at the Illinois College of Optometry, graduating in 2007. That same year, he married his classmate Dr. Carrie Sees. The couple lived in Washington, D.C. for six years before settling in Rockford, Mich., where they opened their first optometry practice in 2014. Today, they operate two offices employing more than a dozen staff members, including four doctors.
Theodore and Carrie have two children, Penelope and Oliver. He enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and breweries, staying active, and cheering on his kids in their athletic pursuits, especially watching his son follow in his footsteps by running cross country.
Danielle (Rowe) Van Peursem '12 - Women's Track & Field
Danielle (Rowe) Van Peursem excelled as one of the best women's high jumpers in Dakota State track & field history. She is the only three-time NAIA Indoor Track & Field All-America women's high jumper in school history.
Van Peursem graduated from Polson High School in Polson, Mont., in 2007. She was undefeated in the high jump during her senior year, holding the PHS school record at 5 feet, 4 inches. She was a two-time Class A Montana State Champion in the women's high jump.
Before transferring to Dakota State, Van Peursem attended her freshman year of college at Cornerstone (Mich.), where she received the honor of runner-up in women's high jump at the 2008 NAIA Indoor Track & Field national meet.
Van Peursem produced a combined six-time Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) champion in the high jump, both indoor and outdoor seasons. She had received numerous DAC All-Conference honors, tallying a combined seven All-Conference honors in high jump and the 4 x 200-meter relay.
She accumulated a total of four NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field All-American high jump awards during her college career, with three honors coming at DSU.
Van Peursem made back-to-back trips to Johnson City, Tenn., for the 2009 and 2010 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in the women's high jump event. She finished in a three-way tie for fifth place at the 2009 national meet after clearing the height of 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5 inches). She also cleared the same height measurement in the 2010 national indoor meet, placing fourth.
Van Peursem was in a five-way tie for fourth place in the women's high jump at the 2011 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships held in Geneva, Ohio. She cleared the height of 1.62 meters (5 feet, 3.75 inches), making her the only DSU women's indoor high jumper to collect three consecutive NAIA All-America honors in school history.
She also placed in the Top 10 for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field national meets in the high jump during her four-year collegiate career at both Cornerstone and Dakota State.
Van Peusrem's DSU school record of indoor high jump of 1.70 meters (5 feet, 7 inches) set in 2011 is still intact today. She also holds a pair of sixth-best high jump of 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5 inches) in 2009 and 2019. Additionally, she posted the fourth-best mark high jump (currently) of 1.70 meters (5 feet, 7 inches) in the DSU women's outdoor track & field school record book.
She was selected as the DSU Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year in 2011. She was also a DAC Scholar Athlete during her time at Dakota State for her academic success in the classroom.
Van Peursem graduated from Dakota State with her marketing degree, where she has promoted several non-profit organizations in South Dakota and Minnesota. She has received national recognition for her projects from the U.S. Department of Education.
After graduating from Dakota State, Danielle married her track teammate and partner in life, Tyler Van Peursem. He was also a standout athlete and earned multiple All-America honors at DSU. Together, they have four beautiful children, Lilly, Gemma, Iver, and Caden. They live in Sioux Falls, S.D., and enjoy being active and spending quality family time together.
Larry Voss '03 - Football
Larry Voss made his mark on the gridiron as a standout defensive force, a nose guard, for the Dakota State University football program in the mid-to-late 1990s.Â
A native of Beresford, S.D., Voss anchored the Trojans' defensive squad and earned South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) All-Conference honors for three consecutive years in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Scott Hoffman coached those years.Â
During Voss' junior season in 1997, he tallied a total of 43 tackles (20 assists) and caught an interception for the Trojans' defense. Fifteen (15) of those tackles were tackles-for-loss of 26 yards. He also collected six quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and a pair of blocked kicks.Â
His senior campaign was capped by NAIA All-American recognition in 1998, underscoring his reputation as one of the league's most dominant linemen. Â
Voss's leadership and skill helped propel Dakota State to a memorable 7–3 season during his senior year in 1998, a highlight he recalls as his favorite Trojan memory. The Trojans finished that year with a 3-2 record in the SDIC conference.  Â
During that season, the Trojans produced a five-game winning streak and held their opponents to 11 points per game. One of the games during the five-game winning streak included a 26-0 homecoming shutout victory over Black Hills State (S.D.).
Voss, a two-time team captain for the Trojans, collected defense's conference weekly honors from the SDIC conference during the 1998 season. He was second place in the SDIC Defensive Player-of-the-Year voting. Voss was second on the team for quarterback sacks, fourth in total tackles and two fumble recoveries. Â
He received the sixth most votes of 25 possible defensive linemen nominated for the 1998 NAIA All-America award. Voss was selected as the DSU Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. Â
He graduated from Dakota State University in 2003. Off the field, Larry built a life rooted in the Madison community.Â
He and his wife, Kristi (also a Dakota State University graduate), have raised two daughters, Susanna and Addison, while Larry has enjoyed a career and family life close to the university that shaped him. An avid outdoors man, he spends his free time hunting, fishing, and cheering at Addison's softball games.Â
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Year
Inducted |
Name |
| 2025 |
Brian McDermott (posthumously) |
| 2025 |
Robin (Hagen) His Law '87 |
| 2025 |
Dr. Theodore 'Ted' Sees '03 |
| 2025 |
Danielle (Rowe) Van Peursem '12 |
| 2025 |
Larry Voss '03 |
| 2024 |
Michelle (Butash) Daniels '97 |
| 2024 |
Brent Dowling '96 |
| 2024 |
Brad Gilbert |
| 2024 |
Tommy Hofer '05 |
| 2024 |
Mike Katen |
| 2024 |
Kim Nelson '79 |
| 2024 |
Jeff Rensch '92 |
| 2023 |
Andy Coy '13 |
| 2023 |
Anthony Drealan '11 |
| 2023 |
Matthew Fideler '13 |
| 2023 |
Chris Heezen '08 |
| 2023 |
Laura (Tewes) Schaefer '08 |
| 2023 |
Kristie (Vanden Hoek) Ogle '03 |
| 2023 |
Tyler Van Peursem '10, '14 |
| 2022 |
Joe Backus |
| 2022 |
Brian Kern |
| 2022 |
Carla Sudenga |
| 2022 |
Dr. Jerald Tunheim |
| 2022 |
Jessica VanLoy '08 |
| 2021 |
Jason Ciz '08 |
| 2021 |
Bryan Day '04 |
| 2021 |
Ryan Holthaus '04 |
| 2021 |
Terry McGowan '08 |
| 2021 |
Pat Dolan |
| 2019 |
Clay Amick '86 |
| 2019 |
Bruce Johannes '85 |
| 2019 |
Bill Nelson '86 |
| 2019 |
John Nyhaug '78 |
| 2019 |
Todd Payer '80 |
| 2018 |
Miles Beacom '81 |
| 2018 |
John Ecklein '01 |
| 2018 |
Laura (Carrow) Wurster '03 |
| 2018 |
Brian Tvedt '99 |
| 2018 |
Shaun Fransen '03 |
| 2017 |
Jared Peterreins '02 |
| 2017 |
Mike Peterreins '76 |
| 2017 |
Jason Smidt '01, '04 |
| 2017 |
Kathy Shypulski '01 |
| 2016 |
Dr. Kathie Courtney |
| 2016 |
Wayne Stowell '74 |
| 2016 |
Rick Rodman '78 |
| 2016 |
Steve Kueter '77 |
| 2016 |
James Janssen '80 |
| 2015 |
Max Hodgen '97 |
| 2015 |
Russell Schwartz '79 |
| 2015 |
Tard Smith '95 |
| 2015 |
Kurt Wallace '00 |
| 2014 |
Desa Rae (Doyle) Cleveland '02 |
| 2014 |
Amy (Hansen) Tvedt '98, '03 |
| 2014 |
Lorin Larsen (posthumously) '85 |
| 2014 |
Ryan Phillips '93 |
| 2014 |
Buzz Stevenson |
| 2013 |
Lawrence Dirks (posthumously) '58 |
| 2013 |
Brian Leighton '81 |
| 2013 |
Dr. Joel Swisher (posthumously) |
| 2012 |
Maureen Casey Green (posthumously) '82 |
| 2012 |
Dawn Gaffney Dittman '98, '03, '12 |
| 2012 |
Dan Stratton '76 |
| 2011 |
Bob Casagrande '75 |
| 2011 |
Terry Kasperbauer '77 |
| 2011 |
Kent Kersten '73 |
| 2011 |
Marie Sample '98 |
| 2011 |
Rob Van Laecken '74 |
| 2010 |
Gene Appelwick '61 |
| 2010 |
Amy Crissinger '91 |
| 2010 |
Connie (Robinson) Nyhaug '78 |
| 2010 |
Al Weisbecker |
| 2009 |
Joyce Farrell '70 |
| 2009 |
Tom Farrell '70 |
| 2009 |
Anthony 'Toney' Blanks '75 |
| 2009 |
Richard 'Dick' Anderson '63 |
| 2009 |
Lee Moran |
| 2009 |
Phil Dobbs '66 |
| 2008 |
Tom Orton '69 |
| 2008 |
Simon Schloe '68 |
| 2008 |
Brett Schwartz '91 |
| 2008 |
Paul Tanke '68 |
| 2007 |
Fred Tibbetts, '72 |
| 2007 |
Gene Danielsen, '68 |
| 2007 |
Linda Collignon, '78 |
| 2006 |
LeMar Nelson, '54 |
| 2006 |
Dr. Judy Dittman |
| 2006 |
John Collignon, '70 |
| 2006 |
Danny Barker, '56 |
| 2005 |
Tom Schlimgen, '74 |
| 2005 |
Kevin Berg, '79 |
| 2005 |
Adam Clark, '88 |
| 2005 |
Lynne Warwick, '85 |
| 2003 |
Suzanne LaMaack (Allard), '80 |
| 2003 |
Maury Poppen, '59 |
| 2003 |
John "Cal" Mathison Posthumously, '51 |
| 2003 |
Rick Fisher, '68 |
| 2002 |
Bob Rumrill, '59 |
| 2002 |
Ray Riley, '67 |
| 2002 |
Gary Munsen, '66 |
| 2002 |
Lori Coble, '80 |
| 2001 |
Merle "Pete" Struwe, '51 |
| 2001 |
Monique (Reed) Nelson, '86 |
| 2001 |
Dick Miller, '59 |
| 2001 |
Eldor 'Lars' Larson, '52 |
| 2000 |
Michael Freidel, '79 |
| 2000 |
Patricia Murphy, '90 |
| 2000 |
Julie Heinz Johnson, '90 |
| 2000 |
Rick Dunlap, '87 |
| 1999 |
Pauline Tulson, '67 |
| 1999 |
Bill Larsen, '72 |
| 1999 |
Bob Nangle, '61 |
| 1999 |
Julie Fiegen-Price, '86 |
| 1998 |
Daryl Fletcher, '73 |
| 1998 |
Joe Iosco, '50 |
| 1998 |
Susan Halsted Simon, '68 |
| 1998 |
Deb Boomsma, '80 |
| 1997 |
Lee Stoddard, '68 |
| 1997 |
Donna Kruggel Matti, '75 |
| 1997 |
LeRoy DeBeer, '63 |
| 1997 |
Bob Bennett, '72 |
| 1996 |
Monica Matthies-Severson, '85 |
| 1996 |
Sally Kirkegaard-Wiggins, '74 |
| 1996 |
George Blankley |
| 1996 |
Clifford Anderson, '73 |
| 1995 |
Thomas Shea, '72 |
| 1995 |
Jeff Rodman, '77 |
| 1995 |
Darwin Robinson, '74 |
| 1995 |
Myron Moen, '67 |
| 1995 |
Ed Harter |
| 1995 |
David Gassman, '71 |
| 1995 |
Robert Caselli '51 |
| 1995 |
William Bulfer (posthumously) |
