STANFORD, Calif. – Nine accomplished former student-athletes will be enshrined in the 2017 Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame class this week.
They are Jarron and Jason Collins from men's basketball, Rachel Buehler from women's soccer, Jackie Frank from women's water polo, John Gall from baseball, Cassidy Krug from women's diving, Arianna Lambie from women's cross country, Ryan Nelsen from men's soccer, and Dick Norman from football.
The group will be recognized on the field during the first quarter break at Saturday night's football home opener against UCLA. They will be officially inducted during a private ceremony on Sunday at Bing Concert Hall.
The Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Walt Gamage, a longtime sports editor of the Palo Alto Times. Gamage, who had previously worked on a number of neighborhood newspapers in the Chicago area, moved to Palo Alto in 1944 and quickly became interested in Stanford sports.
In early 1954, Gamage set out to organize a Hall of Fame. The first class of inductees, including 34 of the greatest names in Stanford sports history, was announced in a full-page spread in the Palo Alto Times on December 21, 1954.
The Stanford Hall of Fame list now includes 424 members.
Rachel Buehler '07, Soccer
A tough and dependable defender, Buehler was a four-year starter and three-time captain for the Cardinal. As a senior in 2007, she received the prestigious NCAA Top VIII Award and was an NSCAA First-Team All-American Scholar. Buehler was selected as the ESPN Academic All-American of the Year. A two-time All-Pac-12 First Team choice, she majored in human biology/pre-medicine and made 113 appearances for the U.S. National Team from 2008-15. Nicknamed "The Buehldozer" for her hard-nosed style, Buehler participated in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, winning two gold medals. In the latter, she played in all six matches, missing only 35 minutes. Buehler also scored a goal for the U.S. against North Korea in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. A native of Del Mar, California, Buehler played international and professional soccer until her retirement in 2015, and helped the Portland Thorns FC capture the National Women's Soccer League championship in 2013. She is married to Bobby Van Hollebeke and is attending the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
Jarron Collins '01, Basketball
A two-time All-American center, Jarron Collins and twin brother Jason came to Stanford from Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, and were two of the most high profile recruits in program history. At 6-11, Jarron was an inside force and completed his Cardinal career by ranking in the top 10 in rebounds, blocked shots, field-goal percentage and games played. As a senior in 2001, he was named to the 10-member John Wooden All-America team and was a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Award. Collins was also picked to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District-14 first team, was a first team All-Pac-10 selection, and co-winner of the Howie Dallmar Coaches Award. He averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior year. Collins helped Stanford chalk up a 114-19 record, three Pac-10 titles, four trips to the NCAA Tournament, and a spot in the 1998 Final Four. He played in 129 games at Stanford, and is one of 12 players in school history to score at least 1,000 points (1,081) and grab 700 or more rebounds (706). In 2001, Collins was a second round NBA Draft pick – 52nd overall – by Utah. He spent eight seasons with the Jazz and played 10 years as a pro, compiling 2,095 points, 1,579 rebounds and 98 blocked shots. After his retirement in 2011, Collins worked as a scout for the Los Angeles Clippers and a college basketball analyst, then joined the Golden State Warriors as a player development coach. He helped the team win the NBA title in 2015 and was promoted to assistant coach, earning his second ring in 2017.
Jason Collins '01, Basketball
Born eight minutes ahead of his twin brother, Jarron Collins, the 6-10-power forward finished his career as Stanford's career leader in field goal percentage (.608) and was named a Third Team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in 2001. An intelligent, physical player known for his punishing screens and tough defense, he earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades by the Associated Press. Collins was named to the NABC All District-14 first team, tabbed to the first team on the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District-9 squad, and selected the Pete Newell NABC Big Man of the Year. A co-captain during his senior year, he poured in a career-high 33 points (13-for-14 from the floor, 4-for-5 from three-point territory) along with five assists and four steals against Washington, and became the second Stanford basketball player in school history to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. Collins was a first round draft pick – 18th overall -- by the Houston Rockets in 2001 and played 13 seasons in the NBA, accumulating 2,621 points, 2,706 rebounds and 359 blocked shots. In 2013, Collins was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated again, becoming the first male athlete from the four major American sports to reveal he is gay. Collins wrote a first-person essay and was widely praised for his courage. In 2014, he signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, and his No. 98 jersey became the No. 1 seller on the NBA's online store.
Jackie Frank '03, Water Polo
A four-time All-American and the NCAA Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003, Frank starred as a goalie for the Cardinal. As a sophomore in 2001, she recorded 151 saves in 25 games while allowing only 79 goals and was selected a First Team All-American by the American Water Polo Coaches Association. Frank earned All-Tournament honors at the NCAA and MPSF Championships, and received the Stanford Athletic Board Block S Award for achieving the highest cumulative grade point average. A native of Long Beach, California, she had a stellar junior season, leading Stanford to 23-2 season, capped by an 8-4 win against UCLA in the NCAA championship game. Frank was voted MVP, recording 12 saves in the title game. She finished the season with 161 saves, surrendering 7.32 goals per game, and was chosen the AWPCA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Frank was selected an Academic All-American and received the Stanford Athletic Board Block S Award for the second straight year. As a senior in 2003, she was the Pac-10 Conference Medal Winner, won the Peter J. Cutino Award presented to the top collegiate female water polo player in the country, earned an NCAA post-graduate scholarship, and received the Al Masters Award, Stanford's highest athletic honor. Frank played for the U.S. Senior National Team from 1998-2004, and won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. She graduated with a degree in human biology, lives in Long Beach with her husband and three children, and is a dermatologist.
John Gall '00, Baseball
One of the best pure hitters in program history, Gall is the all-time Pac-12 leader in hits (368) and RBI (263). A three-time all-conference selection at first base (1998, '99, '00), his .358 career batting average ranks third at Stanford. Gall also rates first in doubles (80), second in at-bats (1,027), third in games played (251) and home runs (46), and seventh in runs (214). The local native was a Freshman All-American in 1997 and had a monster sophomore season, batting .381 with 63 RBI and 15 home runs. Following an impressive junior year in 1999, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians but elected to return for his senior season. Gall played in three College World Series and was named to the All-Tournament Team in 1999 after batting .611. In 2000, he was selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Gall made his big league debut in 2005 and played professionally until 2009, earning a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2006. In 2008, he was picked to the U.S. national team and won a bronze medal at the Olympics in Beijing, slugging a home run against Taiwan. Gall earned a degree in political science and lives in Millbrae, California with his wife and two sons. He is a real estate investor in San Francisco.
Cassidy Krug '07, Diving
A two-time NCAA champion and seven-time All-American, Krug captured the 2007 3-meter and 1-meter springboard titles for the Cardinal. As a senior, she was undefeated in postseason competition, sweeping the Pac-10s, NCAA Zone E qualifying meet and NCAA Championships, and still holds the 1-meter record in the latter. Krug is the only Stanford diver to win the 1-and 3-meter titles in the same year, and the only 1-meter winner in program history. As a junior in 2006, she finished seventh in the 3-meter and ninth in the 1-meter at the NCAA Championships and was named First Team Pac-10 All-Academic. Krug was a finalist in those events as a sophomore, and a semifinalist in the 1-meter as a freshman while garnering first in the 1-meter and second in the 3-meter at the Pac-10 Championships. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Krug won a silver medal in the 3-meter and a bronze in synchro with Kassidy Cook at the 2011 Pan Am Games. Krug qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London and was a co-captain, claiming seventh in the 3-meter. A 10-time USA Diving national champion, she earned an English degree from Stanford and is now a strategist at Redscout in New York.
Arianna Lambie '07, Cross Country
A 14-time All-American, Lambie established herself as one of the most prolific runners in school history. In 2008, she was selected the Pac-10 Woman of the Year, and received the Al Masters Award presented to the Stanford student-athlete attaining the highest standards of athletic performance, leadership and academic achievement. A native of Harvard, Massachusetts, Lambie led the Cardinal to NCAA cross country championships in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and is one of only four women to accomplish the feat. She also secured a runner-up finish in the 5,000 meters at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, one of five top four finishes during her career. As a senior, Lambie sparked Stanford to the NCAA cross country title with a ninth-place finish and won her third consecutive Pac-10 crown to lift the team to the conference title. She was honored as the 2006 West Region and Pac-10 Cross Country Runner of the Year. Lambie was Pac-10 champion, runner-up at the Pre-NCAA Invite, and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. As a sophomore, she was named the NCAA West Region and Pac-10 Cross Country Runner of the Year. Lambie finished eighth at the NCAA Championships, helping the Cardinal reel in its second national crown in three seasons. She won the Pac-10 title to pace Stanford to its 10th-straight team crown. Lambie also scored victories in the Stanford Invitational, Murray Keating Invitational and USF Invitational. In 2003, she was named Pac-10 Cross Country Newcomer of the Year after finishing 24th at the NCAA Championships and leading the Cardinal to the team title. Lambie earned B.A. and Master's degrees in Earth Systems and was the 2007 University Division Academic All-American of the Year. She is married to former Cardinal All-American middle distance runner Joaquin Chapa and they reside in Portland, Oregon, with their 1-year-old daughter.
Ryan Nelsen '00, Soccer
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, he played two years on The Farm, establishing himself as a premier midfielder. As a junior in 1999, Nelsen was named the team's most valuable player. He was one of only six players to start 19 games and scored three goals, including one in the NCAA Tournament against Santa Clara and two other game winners. Nelsen earned NSCAA Far West Region All-America and MPSF All-Federation Second Team honors. He was chosen the Royal Sun and Alliance "Young Player of the Year" in New Zealand. As a senior, he was a co-captain, NSCAA All-American, and was named College Men's Soccer NSCAA/Adidas Scholar Athlete of the Year and Pac-10 Player of the Year. In 22 starts, he recorded six goals, five assists, and helped Stanford equal the school record for victories (18-3-1) while advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Nelsen spearheaded the best defense in the nation, allowing 0.44 goals per game. He graduated with a degree in political science. Nelsen competed for the New Zealand National Team from 1999-2012. In 2001, he was the fourth overall selection in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft by D.C. United and helped lead the team to four MLS Cups and was a two-time all-star. In 2005, Nelsen signed with the Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League, scoring eight goals in 172 appearances. He played professionally until 2013, then rejoined the MLS as head coach of the Toronto FC.
Dick Norman '60, Football
A three-year starter at quarterback, he led the nation in passing yards, attempts and completion percentage in 1959 and 1960. Norman had a spectacular junior season in 1959, throwing for 1,963, amassed 2,018 in total offense – more than 300 yards higher than his closest pursuer -- and completed 57.8 percent of his passes. He was rewarded with the inaugural Sammy Baugh Trophy, presented to the best quarterback in the country. Norman passed for an NCAA-record 401 yards in a 20-17 losing effort against Cal – still a Big Game record – connecting on 30 of 34 attempts. For the season, he completed 323 of 597 attempts (54.1 percent), with 18 going for touchdowns. A native of Downey, California, Norman passed for 1,057 yards as a senior. He left Stanford as the career leader in passing (3,737) and total offense (3,654). Norman was selected to the 1961 Senior Bowl and earned MVP honors by passing for 311 yards, the fourth-most in Senior Bowl history. He was a fourth round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 1961 NFL Draft and was also selected in the fifth round of the AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. Norman played one season for the Bears. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering and lives in Montana with his wife, Joyce. Retired since 1997, he has three children and six grandchildren.