SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University Nebraska has selected its Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The latest group of inductees includes six individuals and one team (as outlined below). The Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony returned in 2022 after being canceled in 2020 and 2021 as a consequence of COVID-19. The class of 2023 will officially join elite company at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, Sept. 22 in conjunction with homecoming weekend on campus.
The Concordia University Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to pay tribute and give recognition to former athletes, coaches, teams and others who have made exceptional contributions to the athletic programs at Concordia, and who exemplify the Christian principles to which Concordia adheres. For more information about the Hall of Fame, and for information on how to nominate someone, click HERE. The Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is responsible for voting on new inductees each year.
Concordia University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023
*More complete bios for each new Hall of Fame member will be released following the induction ceremony in September.
Amy (Ahlers) Allgood ’17 | Women’s Golf
A native of Albion, Neb., Amy (Ahlers) Allgood starred during her four seasons as a Bulldog while becoming the first men’s or women’s golfer in school history to win an individual Great Plains Athletic Conference championship. Allgood earned GPAC Golfer of the Year honors in 2016-17 and qualified for the NAIA National Championships. During her distinguished career, Allgood collected 11 career tournament wins and graduated with school records for career scoring average (81.89) and single season average (80.79). She placed inside the top four of the GPAC in each of her four years.
Rick Dietze ’04 | Men’s Basketball
One of the most prolific scorers in men’s basketball program history, Rick Dietze arrived at Concordia via Lincoln, Neb. Named the 2003-04 Concordia Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Dietze compiled 1,625 points, 496 rebounds, 130 assists and 103 steals in 124 career games. As a senior in 2003-04, Dietze was named the GPAC Player of the Year and an NAIA Division II Second Team All-American. That season, he averaged 20.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, 36.2 percent from 3-point range and 82.6 percent from the foul line.
Chandler Folkerts ’17 | Men’s Basketball
A Milord, Neb., product, Chandler Folkerts rose near the top of the program’s all-time charts for points (third with 1,963) and rebounds (second with 868) during a standout career. Folkerts earned First Team All-GPAC accolades three times and was recognized as an NAIA Division II Second Team All-American following the 2016-17 season. Other major honors collected by Folkerts included the NAIA Emil S. Liston award, CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year award and Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska Honorary Captain distinction. He also reeled in 2016-17 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades and was a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Rod Giesselmann ’71 | Football
Rod Giesselmann quarterbacked the 1970 football team coached by John Seevers to an 8-1 overall record, a Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and final NAIA national ranking of No. 12. A four-year starting quarterback (1967-70) for the Bulldogs, Giesselmann graduated with school career records for pass attempts (839), pass completions (355), passing yards (5,380) and passing touchdowns (47). Giesselmann also owned most of the program’s major season and single game records upon the close of his tremendous career. He also played both baseball and basketball for two seasons and was an 82 percent free throw shooter. In his first three seasons of football, Giesselmann was coached by College Football Hall of Famer Ron Harms.
Luther Klenke | Lifetime Service (1968-2001)
A Bulldog for life, Luther Klenke served Concordia University and the athletic department in a multitude of ways for more than three decades. A longtime Director of Campus Center and Student Activities at Concordia, Klenke supported Bulldog athletes and coaches by driving team busses, operating the scoreboard, working the concession stands and coordinating team travel, halftime shows and pre- and postgame celebrations. Even in his retirement, Klenke has been a fixture at Bulldog sporting events.
Bailey Morris ’15 | Women’s Basketball
Truly one of the all-time greats, Bailey Morris remains the lone Bulldog basketball player to ever be named NAIA National Player of the Year. Morris garnered that distinction in 2014-15 and was a two-time NAIA Division II First Team All-American and a two-time GPAC Player of the Year. A prolific scorer, Morris continues to rank No. 1 on the program’s all-time scoring list with 2,054 career points. Her 45 points in a single game (Feb. 15, 2014) also remain as a program standard. In addition, Morris played in 136 career games and totaled 512 rebounds, 502 assists, 394 steals and 201 3-point field goals. She averaged 18.5 points as a senior.
1982-83 Men’s Tennis
Coached by Charles Krutz, the 1982-83 Concordia Men’s Tennis team went undefeated in conference play and claimed the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. The Bulldogs went on to place as the NAIA District XI runner up. Team members from that season included Stan Meyer, Mark Cuttler, Mark Hollenbeck, Keith Lewis, David Schultz, Kevin Nast, Dan Delzell and Steve Niermann.