Sports
Air Force Academy Athletics
Jefferson, class of 2012, is the only quarterback in program history to start in four bowl games, helping the Falcons to the 2008 and 2009 Armed Forced Bowl, the 2010 Independence Bowl and the 2011 Military Bowl. He is the winningest quarterback in program history with 28 wins. Jefferson led the Falcons to a pair of Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy titles and ranks third in program history in total offense (6,587), fourth in passing efficiency (146.12), third in passing yards (4,599) and second in touchdown passes (34). He was a pilot in the Air Force, flying the B-1 and E-11A aircraft before becoming a commercial airline pilot.
Oosterhous, class of 1993, recorded 113 wins at No. 1 singles and doubles which ranks second all-time among No. 1 players in program history. He was a four-time team most valuable player and all-conference selection. He led the Falcons to a 25-2 record as a senior while serving as team captain. Oosterhous served 21 years in the Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He served multiple combat support missions, accumulating over 3,100 hours in the C-5, C-21 and T-53 aircraft. He was selected into the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame in 2023. He was an assistant coach and later served a 14-year tenure as head coach of the tennis program before becoming an athletics administrator at Air Force.
The late Mike Ryan, class of 1970, won the 1968 NCAA cross country championship, becoming the first and only national championship in program history. His time of 29:16.8 was the fastest 10K in the NCAA at that time. He finished third in 1967, and second in 1970 as well, finishing ahead of the legendary Steve Prefontaine of Oregon in 1967. He helped the Falcons to a second-place finish in 1967. A two-time cross country most valuable athlete, he was the Air Force Academy Athletic Excellence Award winner in 1970. He separated from the Air Force in 1975 and was an attorney in California until his passing in 2014.
Heidmous, class of 1977, is the winningest head coach in program history with 328 wins in 25 seasons. He led the Falcons to three first-place finishes in the Western Water Polo Association (1990, 1994, 2012) and earned three WWPA coach of the year awards. He led the Falcons to five NCAA appearances across three different decades (1981, 1986, 1990, 1994, 2012). The 2012 team finished fourth at the championships. Heidmous coached 14 All-American players and 46 that earned 76 all-WWPA honors during his career from 1981-84, 1985-89 and 2010-17. He later became an athletic administrator at the Academy had the water polo pool named in his honor in 2022.
The 2007 men’s basketball team, under the direction of head coach Jeff Bzdelik, finished with a 26-9 overall record, setting the school record for most wins in a season. The Falcons opened the season with a 17-1 record with the only loss coming to Duke, including a streak of 13 straight wins. The team reached as high as No. 11 in the national rankings, the highest in program history. The Falcons won at Stanford, 79-45, to advance to the CBS Classic. The team beat Texas Tech, 67-53, in the semifinals before falling to Duke. Air Force also beat Wake Forest, 94-58, handing the storied program its worst defeat in nearly 40 years. The Falcons advanced to the National Invitational Tournament semifinals in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASSES
2007
Alonzo Babers, class of 1983, Track, 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist, All-American in 1983
Bob Beckel, class of 1959, Men’s Basketball, 1959 Helms All-American
John Clune, Athletics Administration, Director of Athletics, 1975-91
Chad Hennings, class of 1988, Football, 1987 consensus football All-American and Outland Trophy winner
Michelle Johnson, class of 1981, Women’s Basketball, 1995 CoSIDA Academic All-American
Brock Strom, class of 1959, Football, 1958 consensus All-American
2009
Jim Bowman, Athletic Administration, former coach and administrator, 1958-2007
Callie Calhoun Molloy, class of 1991, Track/Cross Country, multi All-American and national champion
Dee Dowis, class of 1990, Football, 1989 Heisman Trophy finalist
Ernie Jennings, class of 1971, Football, 1970 consensus football All-American
Terry Isaacson, class of 1964, Wrestling/Football, three-time wrestling All-American
Ben Martin, Coach, head football coach, 1958-77
2011
Jim Conboy, Athletic Administration, head athletic trainer, 1955-98
Gail Conway Gray, class of 1984, Track, two-time national champion
Chuck Delich, class of 1977, Ice Hockey, school’s all-time leading scorer
Bob Nieman, class of 1970, Swimming, two-time All-American
Scott Thomas, class of 1986, Football, consensus All-American in 1985
2013
Karen Burton Reeder, class of 1984, Swimming, 16-time NCAA Division II All-American
Fisher DeBerry, Coach, Head Football Coach, 1984-06, winningest in school history
Parker Hinman, class of 1964, Basketball, Football, Baseball and Track, first four-sport letterman at the Academy
Eric Mack, class of 1996, Track, six-time conference champion and three-time All-American
Patty Martinez Gillette, class of 1983, Swimming, six-time NCAA Division II individual national champion
Carlton McDonald, class of 1993, Football, consensus All-American in 1992 and Thorpe Award runner-up
2015
Maiya Anderson, class of 1997, Swimming, 12-time NCAA Division II All-American
Raymond Dudley, class of 1990, Men’s basketball, all-time leading scorer in program history
Gene Miranda, Coach, Men’s golf, all-time winningest coach in program history
Dana Pounds, class of 2004, Track, two-time national champion in the javelin
Bob Spear, Coach, men’s basketball, led program to two NCAA tournaments and most wins in program history
Bart Weiss, class of 1986, Football, conference offensive player of the year, runner up for Davey O’Brien award
1958 Football Team, posted only undefeated season at 9-0-2 in program history and earned Cotton Bowl berth
2017
Rich Gugat, Coach, Men’s Tennis, the Academy’s all-time winningest coach in all sports with 730 dual-match wins
Paul Arata, Coach, Men’s and Women’s Swimming, led programs to a combined 301-15-1 record
Mike Thiessen, class of 2001, Baseball/Football, two-time baseball All-American, football conference player of year
Jim Murphy, class of 1965, Track and Field, school’s first NCAA champion, winning the 5,000-meters in 1964
Seth Kelsey, class of 2003, Fencing, three-time Olympic team member and 2003 NCAA champion in epee
Don Henderson, class of 1968, Wrestling, program’s only NCAA champion, winning 145-pound title in 1967
Rick McAlister, class of 1975, Swimming and Diving, 1974 NCAA champ in 1-meter diving, four-time All-American
1995-96 Women’s Swimming and Diving Team, Won back-to-back NCAA championships in 1994-95 and 1995-96
2019
Wayne Baughman, coach, wrestling, winningest coach in program history with 183 wins in 27 seasons
Delavane Diaz, class of 2004, Volleyball, Rhodes Scholar and USAFA female athlete of the year in 2004
Chris Gizzi, class of 1997, Football, All-American in 1997 and two-time WAC defensive player of the year
Eric Ehn, class of 2008, Hockey, the program’s first All-American and a Hobey Hat Trick finalist
Gregg Popovich, class of 1970, Basketball, five-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs
1985 Football Team, school-record 12 wins, WAC champions, reached No. 4 in the national polls
2021
Otis Jones, class of 1995, Men’s Basketball, first three-time first-team all-conference honoree, 2000-point scorer.
Terry Maki, class of 1987, Football, First-team All-American in football and two-time NCAA qualifier in wrestling.
Robin Orth, class of 1996, Rifle, Eight-time All-American and three-time team most valuable player.
Laura Simmons Bergstrom, class of 1994, Women’s Tennis, 1991 NCAA National Singles Champion.
Randy Spetman, class of 1976, Athletics Administration, Director of Athletics from 1996-2003.
2004 Men’s Basketball Team, 2004 Mountain West champions, first NCAA tournament for program in 42 years.
2022
Casey Converse, coach, Swimming, led Air Force to back-to-back NCAA titles in women’s swimming in 1995-96
Ralph Lindeman, coach, Track and Field, 10-time MW champion, coached 178 MW individual champions.
Chris Knaute, class of 2007, Men’s Swimming, two-time All-American and nine-time Mountain West champion.
Jacques Lamoureux, class of 2011, Hockey, first-team All-American, Hobey Baker Award finalist.
Beau Morgan, class of 1997, Football, first player in NCAA history with back-to-back 1,000-1,000 seasons.
Sara Neubauer, class of 2010, Women’s Track and Field, three-time All-American, four-time MW champion.
2023
Chad Hall, class of 2008, football, All-American, MW offensive player of the year, multiple school rushing records
Tracy Healy class of 1996 , women’s soccer, First-team All-American, 1995 Colorado Sports Woman of the Year
Marci McGlinn, class of 1985, Women’s Gymnastics, Two-time NCAA champion, two-time All-American
Ben Phillips, class of 1975, Water Polo, Air Force career and single-season leader in goals and points
2009 Hockey team, First to win an NCAA tournament game, school-best 28-11-2 record, AHA champions
2024
Ben Garland, class of 2010, football, all-MW, played in two super bowls, two-time NFL Man of the Year nominee
Len Salvemini, class of 1975, men’s soccer, career scoring leader and two-time All-American
Melissa Standley James, class of 1990, women’s basketball, program’s career scoring and rebounding leader
Charlie Toth, class of 2021, men’s swimming/water polo, program’s first MW champion in swimming
Joe Vasta, class of 1986, lacrosse, All-American and program record holder in points and assists
1998 Football team, only outright conference champion in program history, program-best-tying 12-1 record
2025
Tim Jefferson, class of 2012, football, winningest quarterback in program history, started four bowl games
Dan Oosterhous, class of 1993, program record 113 wins at No. 1 singles and doubles, all-WAC four times
Mike Ryan, class of 1970, 1968 NCAA cross country national champion, two additional top three finishes
Jeff Heidmous, class of 1977, winningest head coach in program history with 328 wins in 25 seasons
2007 Men’s Basketball team, school-record 26 wins, NIT Final Four appearance, record No. 11 national ranking