FARMINGTON, Utah (March 30, 2023) – The Big Sky Conference announced its 2023 Hall of Fame Class on Thursday, with 14 members headlining the second group to be inducted in league history. The 2023 Hall of Fame Class features individuals spanning seven different institutions, as both Sacramento State and Weber State leads the league with its three new members being added to the exclusive club.
“It’s our honor to recognize this amazing group for induction as our second Big Sky Hall of Fame Class,” Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. “These 14 individuals elevated the Big Sky into what it is today and made a lasting impact on their sport, school and community that will be felt today and for years to come. We’re excited to celebrate their legacies in front of a large audience later this summer as part of the Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend in Spokane.”
With the newest additions, the Hall of Fame now features 28 members combining the inaugural class with the newest grouping. Putting both together, four different institutions have four current members, with Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Weber State all hitting that milestone to date. Celebrating the league’s deep and storied history in the respective sports, the conference has inducted eight former football players into the Hall of Fame, while also honoring seven different former track & field/cross country student-athletes along with two legendary coaches for the sports as well.
The 2023 class will be honored on Saturday, July 22 as part of the Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend in Spokane, Washington. Tickets for the event, slated to start at 6:30 p.m. PT at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino, can be purchased
here. Each ticket is $80, which includes admission to the event and a meal at the banquet.
Hall of Fame Eligibility Criteria
- An alumnus/alumna is eligible only if he/she has participated in two (2) full seasons of competition at a Big Sky member institution and should have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to athletics at the institutional, conference and national level.
- An alumnus/alumna is eligible at any time beginning five (5) years after completing their collegiate eligibility.
- Coaches who have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to Big Sky athletics shall be eligible for recognition into the Hall of Fame after service of five (5) full years.
- Coaches must have completed their tenure as coach or have been out of the conference for at least five (5) years.
- Administrators who have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to Big Sky athletics shall be eligible for recognition into the Hall of Fame after service of three (3) full years and are immediately eligible.
The 2023 Hall of Fame Class was selected by a committee of 14 members, which included representative from all 10 full-time Big Sky institutions, as well as an additional Athletic Director, Senior Women’s Administrator, a conference office representative, and an at-large committee member among the group of 14 voters.
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2023 Big Sky Hall of Fame Class (Alphabetical Order)
Archie Amerson, Football, Northern Arizona (1995-96)
Lindsey Anderson, Track & Field, Weber State (2004-07)
Geronne Black, Track & Field, Portland State (2010-13)
Shannon Butler, Cross Country/Track & Field, Montana State (1989-91)
Debby Colberg, Volleyball, Sacramento State (1976-07)
Kim Exner, Volleyball, Eastern Washington (1995-98)
Chick Hislop, Cross Country/Track & Field, Weber State (1969-06)
Dr. Ginny Hunt, Administration, Montana State (1977-93)
Margarita Karnaukhova, Women’s Tennis, Sacramento State (2003-06)
Larry Krystkowiak, Men’s Basketball, Montana (1982-86)
Jamie Martin, Football, Weber State (1989-92)
Charles Roberts, Football, Sacramento State (1997-00)
Michael Roos, Football, Eastern Washington (2001-04)
Ron Stephenson, Commissioner (1981-95)
Archie Amerson, Football, Northern Arizona (1995-96)
Archie Amerson, who won the 1996 Walter Payton Award given to the top player in FCS (I-AA) football, rushed for 2,079 yards on 333 attempts, an average of 6.2 yards per carry, with 25 touchdowns during the 1996 season. His 2,079 rushing yards and 6.2 yards per carry average in 1996 at the time ranked as the second-best totals in (FCS) I-AA history and his 25 touchdowns ranked first in NCAA Division (FCS) I-AA history at the time they were set. He also set various single-season national records during his career with 2,429 all-purpose yards and 25 rushing touchdowns in 1996. His seven rushing/total touchdowns in a single game vs. Weber State on Oct. 5 as well as scoring 42 points still stands as the top mark in FCS/I-AA annals. He was also named to the American Football Coaches Association All-American Team for Division I-AA, The Sports Network Division All-American Team and was named Division I-AA Offensive Player of the Year by Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette. Amerson, who went on to play for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League, finished his two-year career at NAU with 526 carries for 3,196 yards (6.1 per rush average) and 37 touchdowns.
The San Diego native was inducted into the Northern Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. He had his jersey retired by NAU in 2014 and is currently on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
Lindsey Anderson, Track & Field, Weber State (2004-07)
Lindsey Anderson, who is the current head cross country coach and distance coach at the University of Missouri, finished her career at Weber State as a two-time All-American in the 3000m steeplechase and the indoor 5K. She set school records in the 3000m steeplechase and 10K during the outdoor season and in the indoor 5K as well while running with the Wildcats. Anderson, who was born in Payson Utah and attended high school in Morgan, Utah, won six Bix Sky individual championships while taking three conference titles in relay competitions for the Wildcats. Anderson was also named the Big Sky's Track Athlete of the Meet twice and was selected as the league's representative for the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2007.
In July of 2008, Anderson became the first student-athlete from Weber State to qualify for the Summer Olympics after finishing second overall at the U.S. Olympic Trials for the steeplechase, posting a personal-best time of 9:30.75 to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Anderson's success in the steeplechase has also led her to the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany and most recently she qualified for and competed in the 2020 Olympics Marathon Trial in Atlanta, Georgia, finishing in the top 10 percent.
Anderson was ranked ninth on the Big Sky Conference's list of "25 Greatest Female Athletes of All-Time back in 2014, while being inducted into Weber State's Hall of Fame in 2017.
Geronne Black, Track & Field, Portland State (2010-13)
Geronne Black dominated the Big Sky in the women’s sprints during her Portland State career, winning seven conference individual titles – the most of any Viking in school history. Black did not lose a Big Sky race in the indoor 55 or 60 meters in her career and won three of four Big Sky titles in the 100 meters. Additionally, Black was part of three straight Big Sky title-winning 4x100-meter relay teams from 2011-13. She graduated with the school, conference and Big Sky championship meet records in the indoor 55 and 60 meters, as well as all three records in the outdoor 100 meters.
Overall, Black was a 15-time All-Big Sky performer and was a six-time qualifier for the NCAA West Regional meet. Black qualified for the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in the 60 meters as a senior in 2013. Black also qualified for the 2014 World Indoor Championships while competing in the 60 meters for Trinidad and Tobago.
Black was inducted into Portland State’s Hall of Fame in 2018.
Shannon Butler, Cross Country/Track & Field, Montana State (1989-91)
Shannon Butler, who ran at Montana State from 1989-91 after transferring from Auburn where he started his collegiate career, won two NCAA Championships and claimed 12 Big Sky titles after the Eureka, Montana native returned to the Treasure State. Not only did he win 12 Big Sky championships, but in 1991, he completed a rare sweep of the 1,500 meters, the 5,000 meters, and the 10,000 meters at the outdoor championship. He was the first Big Sky athlete to win all three in the same meet, and one of only two to even run all three events.
Butler captured the Big Sky individual cross country titles in 1989 and 1990 and went on to finish second at the 1989 NCAA Mountain Regional and won the meet in 1990. Butler finished second at the NCAA Cross Country Championships his senior year. Butler, who resides in Darby, Montana, was a five-time All-American. In 1991, Butler captured the U.S. Track and Field championship in the 10,000, finishing the New York City race in 28 minutes, 9.40 seconds.
Butler was ranked fourth on the Big Sky Conference’s list of “50 Greatest Male Athletes of All-Time” back in 2014, while being inducted into Montana State’s Hall of Fame in 2001.
Debby Colberg, Volleyball/Admin, Sacramento State (1976-07)
Debby Colberg, who’s coaching career spanned 32 years at Sacramento State, tallied over 800 wins with the Hornets to highlight her amazing volleyball career. Colberg won two national titles, the AIAW Division III in 1980 and NCAA Division II in 1981, while finishing as a runner-up in 1989. The long-time volleyball coach led the Hornets to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, 18 conference championships and 17 coach of the year awards. During her time in the Big Sky (1996-07), she coached six MVPs, 21 first team all-league selections, 14 second team honorees and nine honorable mention picks. Colberg retired following the 2007 season, which also marked the 11
th consecutive year the Hornets had won either the Big Sky’s regular season title or a tournament championship.
Colberg coached only two losing squads during her 32-year tenure and won an average of 25.9 matches per season over that span. Colberg owns the best career winning percentage in any sport in Sacramento State history, after leading the Hornets to winning seasons in 16 of the 17 Division I years and compiled a 408- 174 (.701) record over that span. That included six straight and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in 11 years (1997-00, 2002-07).
The recipient of 17 coach of the year awards (one national, five regional and 11 conference), Colberg also had the added responsibility of serving as Sacramento State’s Athletics Director, a position she held from February of 1999 until June of 2002. In 2008, Sacramento State named its volleyball and basketball home floor as Colbert Court in honor for the 32-year volleyball coach and AVCA Hall of Famer.
Kim Exner, Volleyball, Eastern Washington (1995-98)
Kim Exner, who played volleyball at Eastern Washington from 1995-98, led the Eagles to an amazing 46-12 record in her final two seasons while in Cheney. Exner and the Eagles were Big Sky co-regular season champions in 1997 and earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament in 1998. Exner finished her four-year career at EWU with a Big Sky Conference record 1,860 kills (4.43 a game), and had 4,331 total attempts, 643 errors and a .281 hitting percentage. Among the seven school records she broke was the single-season kills mark with 561 in 1998. She won the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week award five times during her senior season, while becoming the first player in conference history to win the AVCA National Player of the Week Award on Sept. 14, 1998.
A unanimous selection for 1998 Big Sky Conference MVP and first team All-Big Sky honors, she was also the 1997 Big Sky Conference co-MVP and was a three-time first team All-Big Sky selection. Exner was also named the Inland Northwest Amateur Athlete of the Year as selected by the Spokane Sportswriters and Broadcasters in 1998. The native of Vernon, B.C., went on to serve as an assistant coach in EWU’s volleyball program, play professionally for three years in Europe and play for the Canadian National Team two years.
Exner, who currently resides in Missoula, Montana, was ranked 12th on the Big Sky Conference's list of "25 Greatest Female Athletes of All-Time back in 2014, while being inducted into Eastern Washington’s Hall of Fame in 2007.
Chick Hislop, Cross Country/Track & Field, Weber State (1969-06)
Charles "Chick" Hislop, who passed away in February of 2023, was a legend at Weber State and the track and field community after his 38-year career in Ogden. Hislop had tremendous success as the coach of the Wildcats, guiding Weber State to 21 Big Sky Championships in cross country and track and field. He coached Weber State in 106 conference championships and over 1,000 total meets. He was honored as the Big Sky Coach of the Year 20 times during his career, the District 8 Coach of the Year three times, and was named the National Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1991, when the Wildcat team finished fourth in the country. Hislop even coached the wrestling program for a time at Weber State from 1973-78, performing that duty along with serving as the head track and cross country coach for the Wildcats.
During his 38 years at Weber State, he coached 26 athletes to All-American honors 46 times in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. He coached two athletes, Farley Gerber and Charles Clinger, who won NCAA individual championships. Hislop also coached five native Utahns who have broken four minutes in the mile. He also served on the NCAA Rules Committee for seven years and was the Chair of the Cross Country Championships for four years. In 1985, Hislop served as the Sports Ambassador to Colombia.
Hislop was one of the foremost authorities in the United States on steeplechase training and technique. That knowledge sent him around the world as an expert speaker. In the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games he spoke to the International Coaches Convention about the steeplechase. In the summer of 1996, he served as an Assistant Coach for the United States Men's Track and Field Team at the Atlanta Olympic Games, where he was the primary coach of the USA long distance runners.
Hislop is a member of multiple Hall of Fame organizations. He was inducted into the Weber State Hall of Fame in 2007, the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, and the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2010.
Dr. Ginny Hunt, Administration, Montana State (1977-93)
Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Hunt arrived in Bozeman in 1977 from the University of Michigan with a vision for Montana State Athletics and the amount of ambition and enthusiasm necessary to build a program from scratch. At her first MSU women’s basketball game, Hunt was one of 250 fans. At her last game as MSU’s women’s athletic director, there were 5,000 fans in attendance as the Bobcats won the program’s first-ever Big Sky title in 1993.
While working tirelessly to build MSU’s women’s athletic programs, Hunt was also a strong voice on the national level for opportunities in athletics at all levels for women. To that end, she was actively involved throughout her career in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as well as the U.S. Olympic Committee. Hunt chaired the AIAW Ethics Committee and was the organization’s President-Elect when it was folded into the NCAA.
Hunt, an Iowa graduate and former field hockey, basketball and volleyball coach at Wooster College, was most recently honored by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) as one of its Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.
Hunt passed away in her home state of Iowa in 2022 at the age of 86.
Margarita Karnaukhova, Women’s Tennis, Sacramento State (2003-06)
Margarita Karnaukhova, who played at Sacramento State from 2003-06, was one of the most decorated women’s tennis athletes in Big Sky history. Karnaukhova was named the Big Sky’s MVP in all four years while at Sacramento State, becoming the first Big Sky student-athlete, male or female, to achieve the feat in any sport. She led Sacramento State to four Big Sky titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, while becoming the program’s first All-American after advancing to the Round of 16 at the 2004 NCAA Singles Tournament.
Over the course of her four-year career with the Hornets, Karnaukhova earned a 66-17 singles record at the No. 1 spot and never lost to a Big Sky opponent in her stellar career. She ranked as high as 14
th overall in the nation in singles play, which she was a part of for most of her collegiate career.
Karnaukhova was ranked sixth on the Big Sky Conference's list of "25 Greatest Female Athletes of All-Time back in 2014, while being inducted into Sacramento State’s Hall of Fame in 2020. The native of Krasnodar, Russia, currently resides in Sacramento.
Larry Krystkowiak, Men’s Basketball, Montana (1982-86)
Larry Krystkowiak, whose playing career at Montana spanned from 1982-86, ranks as the men’s basketball program’s leading scorer and rebounder after compiling 2,017 points and 1,105 boards. Krystkowiak remains eighth in the Big Sky for all-time leading scorers and fourth among the league’s leading rebounders. Krystkowiak was named the Big Sky’s MVP three times, becoming the first ever conference player to achieve the feat. The Shelby, Montana native was also a three-time AP All-America Honorable Mention pick and a two-time NABC All-District First Team member while with the Griz.
After his career ended in Missoula, Krystkowiak was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls in 1986, which ranks him as one of only seven Big Sky players to be selected in the NBA Draft since 1986. Krystkowiak played seven seasons in the NBA before the next chapter in his career as a coach. Krystkowiak led Montana to a 42-20 record and two conference titles between 2004-06, while taking the Griz to two NCAA Tournaments and winning a first-round game. Montana’s upset of No. 5 seed Nevada in 2006 remains the last Big Sky victory in the NCAA Tournament.
Krystkowiak was ranked second on the Big Sky Conference’s list of “50 Greatest Male Athletes of All-Time” back in 2014, while being inducted into Montana’s Hall of Fame in 1993. Krystkowiak is the only Montana men’s basketball player to have his jersey retired, as his No. 42 hangs in the rafters. Krystkowiak also served as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and the Utah Utes.
Jamie Martin, Football, Weber State (1989-92)
Jamie Martin, who was the signal-caller at Weber State from 1989-92, helped rewrite the school record books and bring national recognition to the Wildcat football program. Martin was a two-time All-American in 1990 and 1991, while winning the Walter Payton Award in 1991 and becoming just the second Big Sky player in league history to earn the honor.
In 41 games, -- 36 straight as a starter -- Martin established himself as the fifth all-time leading total offense (12,287 yards) and passing (12,207 yards) leader in the entire history of collegiate football, in any or all divisions. Martin also earned 87 career touchdowns, which ranks second in program history. At the time he graduated, Martin owned 14 Big Sky single-game, season and career passing records.
Martin went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL, with his first stop coming in 1993 with the Los Angeles Rams. Martin saw his first on-field NFL action in 1996 after playing in six games with the Rams. In total, Martin played for nine different teams in his 14 seasons in the NFL.
Martin, from Arroyo Grande, California, was ranked ninth on the Big Sky Conference’s list of “50 Greatest Male Athletes of All-Time” back in 2014, while being inducted into Weber State’s Hall of Fame in 2000. Martin was the first athlete in Weber State history to have his jersey retired in 2014.
Charles Roberts, Football, Sacramento State (1997-00)
Charles Roberts, who played at Sacramento State from 1997-00, remains as one of the all-time great running backs in Big Sky history. Roberts was a three-time All-American for the Hornets, while rushing for 6,554 total yards which ranks as the most ever in the Big Sky and second in the FCS history books. Roberts rushed for a then-NCAA Division I-AA single-season record of 2,260 yards in 1998, while ranking as the nation’s leading rusher in 1998 and 1999. During his career, Roberts had an FCS record 16-game streak with at least 100 yards and finished his career with 29 100-yard games and 13 200-yard games. His 56 career rushing touchdowns rank first in NCAA history. Roberts still holds the Big Sky’s single-game rushing record with an astounding 409 yards in a 1999 win over Idaho State. At the time, the 409 yards was a Division I record.
After his career concluded at Sacramento State, Roberts played eight seasons in the CFL and was one of five players in league history to rush for over 10,000 yards. He finished his CFL career with 10,285 yards, 69 touchdowns, 3,396 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, while being named a CFL All-Star from 2001-07. Roberts was named the CFL East Division’s Rookie of the Year in 2001, while owning the title of Winnipeg’s all-time leading rusher with 9,987 yards with the Bombers. Roberts was inducted into Winnipeg’s Hall of Fame in 2013 and the CFL Hall of Fame in 2014.
Roberts was ranked 18
th on the Big Sky Conference’s list of “50 Greatest Male Athletes of All-Time” back in 2014, while being inducted into Sacramento State’s Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Michael Roos, Football, Eastern Washington (2001-04)
Michael Roos, whose career with the Eagles spanned from 2001-04, ranks as one of the best lineman to ever play in the Big Sky. Roos was an All-American for Eastern Washington from 2001-04, while being named the FCS Lineman of the Year his senior season. In 2004, he helped lead EWU to a 9-4 record, the co-Big Sky Championship and to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. As a result, he was a finalist for Inland Northwest Amateur Male Athlete of the Year.
Following his career with the Eagles, Roos was selected in the second round by the Tennessee Titans in the 2005 NFL Draft. At the time he was drafted, Roos had played just six seasons of football, starting as a senior in high school in 1999. He moved to the United States from Estonia in 1992. Roos played 10 seasons in the NFL, earning All-Pro honors three times. Roos started in 148 regular-season NFL games, two NFL Playoff games and one NFL Pro Bowl game over his 10-year professional career.
Roos was ranked 22
nd on the Big Sky Conference’s list of “50 Greatest Male Athletes of All-Time” back in 2014, while being inducted into Eastern Washington’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
Ron Stephenson, Commissioner/Coach (1981-95)
Ron Stephenson served as the commissioner of the Big Sky Conference from 1981-1995. The Idaho native brought instant credibility to the league office after spending a decade in athletic administration at Boise State. During his time at the league’s fourth commissioner, Stephenson served on the NCAA Special Committee to Review Membership Structure, the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Committee, and served a two-year term as President of the University Commissioner’s Association from 1988-90. He was also on the Division I-AA FCS football and Division I men’s basketball regional advisory committees.
In 1994, Stephenson was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) with an award for Administrative Excellence, the equivalent of the NACDA “Hall of Fame” for association and conference administrators.
While Stephenson was commissioner, he managed the merger of women’s sports programs into the Big Sky Conference from the Mountain West Athletic Conference. In 1988, the Big Sky Conference began sponsoring women’s sports and championships.
The Big Sky Conference added Eastern Washington University in 1987, under Stephenson’s watch. During Stephenson’s reign as Commissioner, the league became a well-respected men’s basketball conference, with the University of Idaho rising to sixth in the nation in the Associated Press and United Press International Polls in 1982. Big Sky Conference teams won games in the NCAA Tournament in 1982 and 1995.
Stephenson was born in Burley, Idaho in 1943. He graduated from Twin Falls High School. He earned degrees from Boise Junior College (1963), Idaho State University (1965) and the University of Idaho (1971). From 1965-71, Stephenson served as Idaho’s assistant athletic director, tennis coach, wrestling coach and ticket manager. He was the Big Sky Conference Tennis Coach of the Year from in 1967, ’68, ’69 and ’70. His Vandals won the Big Sky Championship each of those seasons and he compiled an overall record of 74-23. In 1971, he moved to Boise State to serve as an assistant athletic director.
Stephenson died on May 4, 2011, at the age of 67 of cancer.