By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Receiving awards is nothing new for Annette Wiles, who was a national champion and player of year, carved out a successfull coaching career at three different universities and is a member of multiple Halls of Fame.
Annette Wiles
But despite that impressive resume, Wiles was still caught off guard earlier in the summer after learning that she had been selected as a member of the 2024 induction class for the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
"This one was the most humbling experience that brought me to nothing but tears,'' said Wiles, who will be inducted on Sunday, Oct. 13, in the Sunflower Ballroom of the Hotel Topeka City Center. "There was nothing but joy and I was just blown away with such emotion and happiness for my family and my community.''
Now the director of Hummer Sports Park, Wiles was a star at Sylvan Grove High School (1987 graduate) before leading Fort Hays State to the 1991 NAIA National Championship with a 34-2 record. Wiles was a two-time All-America selection for the Tigers and named the Most Valuable Player of the 1991 NAIA National Tournament.
Annette Wiles, a member of the 2024 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction class, led Fort Hays State to the 1991 NAIA national championship. [Kansas Sports Hall of Fame]
Wiles averaged 20.4 points per game during her career and set multiple school records, earning induction into the Fort Hays State and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Halls of Fame.
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame 2024 inductee Annette Wiles, put together a successful coaching career at Bethany, Fort Hays State and Minnesota-Duluth. [Kansas Sports Hall of Fame]
Wiles went on to enjoyed a long career as a head coach, posting a career mark of 409-227 while coaching seven years at Bethany College, eight years at Fort Hays State and seven years at Minnesota-Duluth. She led three teams at Fort Hays State and Minnesota-Duluth to NCAA Tournament appearances and led Bethany College to four NAIA national tournament appearances.
After getting the word of her Kansas Sports Hall of Fame selection, Wiles immediately got on the phone to thank many of the people who helped her attain that prestigious honor.
"The first people I immediately thought of were my mom and dad,'' Wiles said. "As they're both still alive and well, I made phone calls to them to thank them for giving me birth and giving me the opportunity of life. Then I called my siblings, my brother and sister, and then I started calling my coaches. I called my high school coach, coach Mike Weatherman at Sylvan Grove, and then of course I called John Klein, my coach at Fort Hays State University.
"Then I just started reaching out to former teammates at Fort Hays and knowing that these are the accolades and awards that you stand on the shoulders of hundreds to accomplish.''
After retiring from coaching Wiles had a stint as Topeka High's athletic director before taking over as the director at Hummer, which she said has been a perfect fit.
"This feels like everything came together to be the district athletic director and the director of Hummer Sports Park,'' she said. "To be a director of such a beautiful 24-acre facility for Topeka Public Schools is just a tremendous and great honor. It's one I cherish daily and it's one that I am just grateful for. I love serving the students and the coaches and for me, this is where all of those graduate school classes and getting a degree in athletic administration and all of those years of being a head coach and being a former player and also being an assistant athletic director at the college level all fit together to make sense of this beautiful place and beauiul space.
"I have the most amazing staff and just incredible people that work with me and around me here within Hummer and Topeka Public Schools.''
And working at Hummer gives Wiles the opportunity to continue to be involved in sports on a day-to-day basis.
"I said, 'The best part of working at Hummer is every day's a game day,' '' Wiles said. "I used to just absolutely love game days and the best part is I never have to go home as a losing coach.''
Wiles will be joined in the class of 2024 by 11 other individuals, including former Hayden basketball star Mark Turgeon, who went on to play at Kansas before embarking on a long coaching career.
This year’s class brings the total number of inductees to 340, with the first class in 1961 including such legends as Dr. James Naismith, Mike Ahearn, Glenn Cunningham, Walter Johnson and Jess Willard.
A 5 p.m. reception on Sunday will be followed by the 6 p.m. induction ceremony in the Sunflower Ballroom of the Hotel Topeka City Center, 1717 Southwest Topeka Blvd.
Tickets for the reception and induction ceremony are $100 and available at www.kshof.org.
Class of 2024 capsules:
DAVE BINGHAM -- Played two seasons of baseball at Emporia State in 1969-70 and returned as head coach in 1973. Led Hornets to a 557-270-2 record from 1973 to 1987 and the 1978 NAIA National Championship. Selected District 10 Coach of the Year 11 times and was named NAIA Coach of the Year three times. Posted a 249-225 record at KU from 1988 to 1995, including two NCAA tournaments and one NCAA College World Series appearance in 1993. Served as an assistant coach at New Mexico and Nebraska from 2005 to 2011 Served as head coach for the U.S. in the 1984 World Cup in Havana, and as an assistant coach for the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and 1988 Baseball World Cup. Inducted to the Emporia State Athletics Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame, the University of Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame.
ERIK KYNARD -- Was a two-time Ohio State High School high jump champion before starring at Kansas State and was the 2012 London Olympics gold medalist at 7 feet, 7 ¾ inches and finished sixth at the 2016 Olympics. Was a bronze medalist at the World Indoor Championships 2014 and 2016 Career best jump is 7-9⅓ inches Back-to-Back NCAA Outdoor Champion in 2012 and 2013 for Kansas State and USTFCCCA Indoor All-American in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and an USTFCCCA Outdoor All-American in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. Was the USTFCCCA Midwest Field Athlete of the Year for Indoors in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and Outdoor in 2011.
MELVIN LISTER -- The Leavenworth native starred at Butler County Community College and Arkansas, winning national championships in the triple jump on the high school, junior college, collegiate and elite levels. Four-time Kansas state high school track and field Champion in the triple jump (1993-96) and also won the long jump (1994), the 200 meters (1996) and the 400 meters (1996). Owns national junior college championships in the long jump and the triple jump and was a five-time NCAA Champion -- outdoor 1999 LJ, 2000 TJ and indoor 1999 TJ, 2000 TJ and LJ champ. A 2000 and 2004 Olympian in the triple jump. 2004 Olympic Trials TJ champion (Trials Record), second in LJ at 2001 USA Indoors, fifth at 2001 IAAF World indoors.
MARK MANGINO -- Began coaching career as a student assistant under Bill Narduzzi and Jim Tressel at Youngstown State. Moved to the high school ranks where he was offensive coordinator at Geneva (Pa.) and head coach at Lincoln (Pa.) high schools. Returned to college football as an assistant coach under KSHOF inductee Bill Snyder in 1991 at Kansas State. Served as an assistant coach under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma from 1999 to 2001, where he won the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant in 2000. Served as head coach at the University of Kansas from 2002 to 2009. Led KU to a 50-48 overall record and four bowl games, including a win in the 2007 Orange Bowl over Virginia Tech. The Jayhawks finished No. 7 in the final Associated Press poll and were ranked as high as No. 2 that year. Named AFCA, AP, Eddie Robinson, George Munger, Home Depot, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Sporting News, Walter Camp, Woody Hayes, and Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2007. Inducted to the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the KU Booth Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
RON NEUGENT -- A Wichita East graduate, Neugent swam for the Wichita Swim Club in high school and was one of the top ranked youth swimmers nationally. Over the course of two years at Kansas, he set five school and two Big Eight records and won two Big Eight individual titles. His mark in the 1650 freestyle still ranks as one of the best at KU and in Big Eight history. Transferred to KU from SMU, where he earned All-America honors by finishing 11th in the 1650 freestyle at the NCAA Championships. He also finished second in the 1650 freestyle at the Southwest Conference Championships. A member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team and the 1981 U.S. National team that traveled to Moscow. In 1979, he gained national recognition when he won the 1500-meter freestyle at the World University Games. On Sept. 5, 1982, he set an American record for a 25-meter pool in the 1500-meter freestyle (15:01.77) Has 15 top 10 U.S. Masters Swimming performances, including four firsts, five seconds and three thirds.
KELLY RANKIN -- A Clay Center and University of Kansas standout, Rankin competed in baseball and track and field at KU. Teammate with KSHOF Inductees Billy Mills and Bill Dotson. Began officiating career in 1968 in gymnastics and track and field. Officiated five Big Eight Championships in gymnastics from 1968 to 1972. Served as head track and field starter for two Olympic Games in 1984 and 1996, three U.S. Olympic Trials in 1976, 1980, and 1996, two NCAA Indoor Championships, eight NCAA Outdoor Championships, 37 NAIA Indoor Championships and 34 NAIA Outdoor Championships. Only American to be selected as head starter for two Olympic Games. Inducted to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1987, the Emporia State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003, USA Track and Field Officials Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Clay Center High School Hall of Fame in 2020.
SCOTT RUSSELL – A two-time NCAA track and field national champion for Kansas, winning the 2002 outdoor javelin and 2002 indoor weight throw. Six-time All American selection -- indoor hammer throw in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002, outdoor javelin in 1999 and 2002. Won three indoor conference titles in hammer throw in 1999, 2001, and 2002. Won six outdoor conference titles in javelin in 1998, 2000, and 2002, and hammer throw in 1999, 2000, and 2002 Set a KU school record in javelin in 2001 with a throw of 81.66m (267-11 ft.). Named 2002 Big 12 Conference Outdoor Performer of the Year in 2002 and was an CoSiDA Academic All-American selection. Set Kansas Relays javelin record in 2011 with a throw of 268-11 feet Finished 10th in the 2008 Olympics in the javelin representing Canada. Inducted to the KU Booth Family Hall of Athletics and the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
KEVIN SAUNDERS -- Saunders, a Kansas State graduate, began competing in paralympic style events following injuries suffered in an explosion in 1981. Two-time paralympic bronze medalist. Won the bronze medal in the men’s pentathlon in the 1988 in the Seoul Paralympic Games and also competed in the discus and javelin in 1988. Won the bronze medal in the men’s pentathlon in 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games and also competed in the discus, javelin and shot put in 1992. Also competed in the USA Games and the Pan American Games. Named to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition in 1989 by George H.W. Bush and re-appointed by Bill Clinton. Became a motivational speaker and author while competing. Named the 1995 K-State Department of Agricultural Economics Distinguished Alumni. Inducted to the Adaptive Sports USA Hall of Fame in 2016.
WILL SHIELDS -- Born in Fort Riley, Kansas, was a consensus first-team All-American and Outland Trophy winner during final year at Nebraska. Selected to the Nebraska All-Century Team via fan poll In 1999. Selected as offensive guard to the Walter Camp Football Foundation College Football All Century Team. Drafted in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Shields never missed a game during his 14-season career and his 224 games played and 223 starts were franchise records when he retired. Earned first Pro Bowl berth following the 1995 season, embarking on a string of 12 straight AFC-NFC Pro Bowl berths that ran through the end of his career. He was named first-team All-Pro in 1999, 2002, and 2003 and picked as a second-team All-Pro four other times. Named All-AFC seven times including in each of his final six seasons. He is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. He joined Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas in 1999 as the only active players to be named to the Chiefs’ 40th Anniversary Team. He is a member of the College Football and NFL Halls of Fame. He was the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2003.
SEAN SNYDER – Played one collegiate football season at Iowa before transferring to Kansas State. Played for KSHOF inductee and father Bill Snyder. Named 1991 Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a punter. Consensus first-team All-America selection in 1992. Two-time All-Conference selection in 1991 and 1992. The Snyders become the first father-son combo to be selected for the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Set a school record in single punt yardage with 3,572 and punt average with 44.7 in 1992. Spent 26 seasons as coach and administrator at Kansas State. Two-time Special Teams Coordinator of the Year selection in 2015 and 2017. Also coached at Southern California, Illinois and Kansas. Named to the K-State football Ring of Honor in 2002. Inducted to the K-State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
MARK TURGEON – A 1983 Hayden graduate and a 1987 University of Kansas graduate, Turgeon was part of two Hayden teams as a junior and senior that went 47-3 and won two state Class 4A Championships (1982-83), including an undefeated team in 1983. Two-time All-State selection. At Kansas, the first basketball player to compete in four NCAA Tournaments, including 1986 Final Four. Was selected to Big Eight All-Freshman team 1984. Had a career 479-275 (.635) coaching record at Jacksonville State, Wichita State, Texas A&M and Maryland. Was MVC coach of Year at Wichita State in 2006 with a Missouri Valley championship team and was Big Ten Coach of Year at Maryland in 2016 and led Terps to Big Ten Championship in 2020. Led Maryland to five NCAA Tournament appearances. Assistant Coach at Kansas from1987-1992, with an NCAA Championship 1988.
ANNETTE WILES – A Sylvan Grove graduate, Wiles led Fort Hays State to the 1991 NAIA National Championship with a 34-2 record. A two-time All-America selection and named the Most Valuable Player of the 1991 NAIA National Tournament. Averaged 20.4 points per game during her career. She set the program’s career points (2,407) and rebounds (961) records, while also setting records for field goals made (993), field goals attempted (1,700), field goal percentage (.584), free-throws made (421), free-throws attempted (554), and blocked shots (142). A member of the Fort Hays State and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Halls of Fame. Enjoyed a long career as a head coach with a career mark of 409-227 (.643), coaching seven years at Bethany College, eight years at Fort Hays State and seven years at Minnesota-Duluth. She led three teams to NCAA Tournament appearances, which included 2005 at Fort Hays State and 2010 and 2012 at Minnesota-Duluth and led Bethany College to four NAIA national tournament appearances.
