Honorees announced for DC Hall of Fame, Coaches of the Year

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Four Defiance College alumni were inducted in the Alumni Varsity D Hall of Fame during homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 24. They included: Stephanie Nafziger Fetter, Adrian, Mich.; Paul (Larry) Flynn, Avon, Ohio; Maurice (Marv) Rotondo, Sylvania, Ohio; and Michael Bixel, Willoughby, Ohio.

An induction ceremony was held at halftime during the DC versus Earlham College football game in Justin F. Coressel Stadium. The Alumni Varsity D recognized Hall of Fame inductees at a 9 a.m. breakfast in the Serrick Campus Center.

Also recognized on Saturday were seven DC alumni selected as 2015 Coach of the Year recipients. They included: Tom Held, Bob Martin, Frank Kill, Tim Held, Jim Linder, Tim Shock and Kenny Krouse.

Stephanie Fetter lettered in basketball all four years at Defiance College. She served as captain of the team her junior and senior years, and was chosen All-American for the 1997-1998 season. Fetter and her teammates made three NCAA Tournament appearances during her playing career, and she was chosen as the Purple & Gold Female Athlete of the Year her senior year. She was also active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Fetter graduated with a degree in finance in 1998 and worked at Tiffin University for three years as the Bursar. She and her husband Jamie (a fellow DC graduate) have three children: Tyson, Brook, and Trenton. She currently works part-time at Adrian College and does volunteer work for her children’s schools.

Larry Flynn lettered in basketball all four years at DC. He played in 110 varsity games with a combined record of 73-37. He had 1,258 career points, which ranked him ninth all-time when he graduated in 1980. He shot 45 percent from the floor, which was fifth all-time when he graduated. Defiance College was the HBCC Conference champion his sophomore year and won the NAIA District 22 championship his senior year.

Earlier this year, Flynn was inducted into the Lorain, Ohio, Sports Hall of Fame. His high school team Lorain Catholic went 25-1 his senior year, losing only in the state championship. Flynn played on an All-Star team the following summer in Costa Rica, representing Ohio and the United States. He graduated from DC in 1980 with a degree in accounting and management. Currently, he is a regional audit specialist with AIG. He and his wife, Judy, live in Avon, Ohio, with their two children, Andrew and Elizabeth.

At DC, Maurice Rotondo lettered all four years of his athletic career, was All-Conference and All-District (NAIA District 22) Offensive Guard in 1969. In addition to football, he was a four year player for the Defiance club lacrosse team and was captain in 1970. Off the field, he was chosen as Tau Kappa Epsilon Man of the Year, House Master and Pledge Master 1968-70.

Rotondo retired from teaching in 2010 after four decades of service. His time as an educator was marked by recognition as Ottawa Hills Teacher of the Year in 1983, three Lucas County Teacher of the Year awards, two national recognitions for “Who’s Who” teacher by former students, and Teacher of the Month in 2008. He served for 20 years as president of the Ottawa Hills Education Association. He is also a Vietnam War veteran. Rotondo and his wife, Cynthia, live in Sylvania, Ohio.

Michael Bixel was recognized for his prowess on the football field. He came to Defiance College as a transfer student his junior and senior years, moving over from Bowling Green State University. Bixel lettered in football those two years at DC and was chosen All-District, All-League, All-American, MVP, and as captain of the team.

After graduation, he played on several nationally-ranked flag football teams. He graduated with a degree in history in 1983 and is currently vice president (projects) at PNC Bank. His wife, Elizabeth, is also a 1983 graduate of Defiance College. They live in Willoughby, Ohio, and have three children: Ashley, Chelsea and Michael II.

Tim Held, class of 1996, was recognized for the fifth consecutive year as a Coach of the Year for his latest outstanding season with the Cincinnati Moeller High School baseball team. Moeller has now won three of the past four Division I state baseball titles, defeating Westerville Central 16-0 for the 2015 championship. The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule, giving Moeller the largest margin of victory of the 88-year history of the tournament in any division in a championship game. Held also earned Coach of the Year honors from the Greater Catholic League-South, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and local coaches’ associations. He was invited to coach the Perfect Game All-American East team in August. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Leslie, and their two sons.

Tom Held, DC class of 1985, was recognized as Coach of the Year for once again leading the Defiance High School baseball team to the Division II state championship. The Bulldogs finished the 2015 season with a 28-5 record, bringing Tom’s lifetime record at Defiance 437-70. Tom and his wife, Deanne, have three children and live in Defiance.

Jim Linder, class of 1989, was recognized as Coach of the Year for leading the Wayne Trace High School boys basketball team to the state semifinals for the first time in seven years. Wayne Trace entered the semifinals ranked second in the state, and although a loss to Canal Winchester ended their season, they did so with a 25-2 overall record. Linder’s sons, Ethan and Corbin, helped lead the Raiders’ phenomenal season. Linder is in his eighth year as head coach of the boys basketball team. He was honored as an Alumni Coach of the Year two years ago, the Crescent-News Co-Coach of the Year and Northwest District Coach of the Year last year. Linder holds the single-season record for wins at Wayne Trace with 25 victories during the 2014-15 season. He and his wife, Jane, live in Paulding and have six children: Riley, Abbey, Haley, Corbin, Ethan and Josiah.

Frank Kill, class of 2002, was awarded Coach of the Year for leading the Lima Central Catholic High School boys basketball team to the state tournament. The team advanced to the state final before losing in the title game to Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph. This was Kill’s second state championship game as head coach at LCC, and his second year to receive Coach of the Year recognition. His Thunderbirds won the state championship in 2014. Kill and his wife, Kris, live in Lima and have two children.

Tim Shock, class of 2008, received Coach of the Year honors for leading Hicksville High School’s baseball team to the state semi-finals. The team secured the Division IV Regional Championship with a record of 19-10. Although Hicksville was the fifth seed in the Bryan District Tournament, the Aces ran off six straight playoff wins to make it to the state tournament for the first time since 1982. Shock lives in Hicksville with his wife, Chris. They have two children, Abbey and Gunner.

Bob Martin, class of 1976, is being honored as Coach of the Year for his work with the Doncaster Danum Eagles basketball team in Doncaster, England. He has been with the Danum Eagles high school program since 2001 and led the team to eight conference championships, seven final four appearances, and six English Schools high school national championships. Martin was named 2014-15 Coach of the Year and Team of the Year in the region, and currently has more than 300 “mini-Eagles” involved in a weekly youth program.

Kenny Krouse, class of 1987, received Coach of the Year honors for his outstanding 2014 season with the Tinora High School football program. Tinora won the 2014 regional title with a 13-1 record before ending the season with a loss in the state semi-finals. Tinora was ranked fourth in the final AP State Football Poll. Krouse and the Rams hold a 61-4 record in the conference over the past 10 years and have had three undefeated regular seasons (2002, 2010 and 2014). He has a career record at Tinora of 132-60. During that time they have won eight Green Meadows Conference titles and have made nine playoff appearances. Krouse lives in Bryan with his wife, Lori, daughter, Madysen, and stepsons, Brandon and Jared.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.