07/29/2026
Congratulations 🎉 Coach Larry Wilcox on your upcoming induction to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on August 16th. Well deserved! Go Ravens 🐦⬛ ❤️🐦⬛🖤🐦⬛
The third and final Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Sunday, Aug. 16 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. We thank Sporting Kansas City for its sponsorship & hosting. Limited tickets remain at: https://www.kshof.org/event-details/2026-induction-ceremony-kc-2
Those being honored:
Ray Bechard - From Grinnell, played basketball at Barton Community College. Coached volleyball at Lewis HS and Barton County for 13 years where he was national coach of the year twice. Coached Kansas 27 seasons and was five-time Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Matt Besler – A five-time MLS All-Star and the 2012 MLS Defender of the Year. He anchored Sporting KC for 12 seasons and represented the USMNT in the 2014 World Cup.
Cliff Illig – Brought professional major league soccer to the state as the principal owner of Sporting Kansas City. He has also been a top driving force to position Kansas City as a premier soccer city in North America, including landing the 2026 World Cup in KC.
John Martin - His art can be viewed all over the world - known for his work with Kansas Athletics, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Buck O’Neil, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and & more.
Dayton Moore - Sixth generation Kansan, born in Wichita and spent time in Coldwater. Played baseball at Garden City Community College. Joined the Kansas City Royals in 2006 as general manager and president and transformed the franchise into the 2015 World Series champion.
Tracy Rietzke – A Smith Center native. Recorded 1,277 victories in 38 years as the volleyball coach at Kansas Wesleyan & Rockhurst University. 2019 NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year. Member, American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Cassie Wait Valentine - At Gardner-Edgerton HS was 2013 Kansas City Star Scholar-Athlete, Kansas Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year. Three-year starter and 2016 Big 12 Libero of the Year at Kansas. 2016 Big 12 Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Earl Yslas-Watson, Jr. - As a senior basketball standout at Kansas City Washington high school, he averaged 23.4 points, 8.3 assists and 14 rebounds per game. At UCLA was a four-year starter. Played 13 seasons & coached 3 seasons in the NBA.
Larry Wilcox - Benedictine head football coach from 1979 to 2020 (42 years) with a record of 305–153 (.666); Second most all-time wins in NAIA; 13th all-time in wins in college football.
Zach Roberson - Owns best record in Kansas HS wrestling at 153-0 with four state titles at Blue Valley NWHS. Gour-year record at Iowa State was 106-35. Three-time NCAA All-American &1999 NCAA champion
Terry English (Posthumous Inductee): Girls' basketball coach at Bishop Miege. In 44 seasons (1975–2021), he achieved 910 wins, 22 state titles.
Derrick Jensen (Posthumous) - Osawatomie HS and Texas-Arlington grad. Member of the NFL 30 years - eight as player. Was 2-time Southland Conference MVP, rushing for 3,346 yards. Drafted by Raiders in NFL and was 2-time Super Bowl champ.