CEDAR CITY, Utah-Friday, Southern Utah University athletics and athletic director Debbie Corum announced four new additions to the Kent B. “Red” Dover Athletic Hall of Fame as selected by the Southern Utah Hall of Fame committee.
This season’s Hall of Fame inductees will be honored with a ceremony at the Great Hall October 26 and will be recognized October 27 when the Thunderbirds’ football team hosts Northern Colorado.
They are cross country/track and field star Jesson Baumgartner, sports medicine pro Ben Davidson and men’s basketball coach Stan Jack.
Baumgartner is one of the best athletes in school history and made history when he placed third at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships in 2006, earning All-American status.
In 2007, Baumgartner was recognized as a member of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American track and field first team. He was also a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
He also won the USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championship in 2011 and the Duathlon World Championship in 2013.
Davidson first became SUU’s athletic trainer in 1979 and served as the track and field coach four eight seasons. Under his watch, his athletes claimed four NAIA national championships.
He was named as the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Most Distinguished Trainer in 1999 and was later inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
Davidson retired from his post in 2013.
Jack took over the Thunderbirds’ men’s basketball program in 1971-1972 and also served as the head baseball coach.
Jack left the program in 1979-80, netting a record of 150-91.
Under his leadership, the Thunderbirds posted a pair of 20-win seasons at a time when the program had only one winning season in its history prior to his arrival.
The Thunderbirds also appeared in the NAIA National Tournament under his watch and earned four district tournament victories.
His squads played in seven consecutive NAIA District Seven playoffs.
Jack then left what was then called Southern Utah State College to pursue a position at Kirkwood CC of Cedar Rapids, Iowa as Athletic Director and head basketball coach for the Eagles.
He also published a book, “Incentive Offensive Basketball,” and has a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Iowa.
