Lucia, Kessel, Decker highlight stacked Gopher Athletics’ 2024 Hall of Fame class

Ten of the best Minnesota Gophers athletes, coaches and administrators of the past 30 years are joining the university’s athletics Hall of Fame this year.

The Gophers’ M Club, one of the largest and oldest varsity letterwinner clubs in the country, announced the loaded 2024 Hall of Fame Class on Monday. It includes All-Americans, national champions, Big Ten champions, all-conference honorees, and leaders from some key times in Minnesota athletics.

The 2024 inductees will formally join the hall on Sept. 6 but will also be recognized at events throughout that weekend. They are:

• Amanda Kessel (women’s hockey; 2010-13, ’16)
• Eric Decker (football and baseball; 2006-09
• Don Lucia (men’s hockey coach; 1999-2018)
• Joel Maturi (athletics director; 2002-12)
• Tori Dixon (volleyball; 2010-13)
• Nicole Chimko-Fahy (track and field; 1996-99)
• Laurie Kaiser Sund (gymnastics; 1983-86)
• Harsh Mankad (men’s tennis; 2000-02)

Additionally, the program says Rachel Bonham and Sarah Wilhite Parsons, former stars of Minnesota’s women’s basketball and volleyball teams, respectively, were also voted in but will be inducted at a later time due to scheduling conflicts.

Kessel is one of the greatest hockey players of all time, leading the Gophers to three national titles while racking up 248 points (108-140=248) and winning the program’s second-ever Patty Kazmaier Award, among numerous other honors. Since her time at Minnesota, she’s competed in three Olympics, winning a gold and two silvers, plus seven world championships and now works for the Pittsburgh Penguins front office.

Decker was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, racking up 227 catches for 3,119 yards and 24 touchdowns in 45 football games. However, he also lettered twice in baseball and was selected in two MLB drafts before getting picked in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Over his eight NFL seasons, he had 439 catches for 5,816 yards and 53 touchdowns and playing in one Super Bowl.

Lucia is Minnesota’s all-time winningest coach, going 457-248-73, a .634 winning percentage, during his tenure and leading the Gophers to eight conference regular-season titles, four conference tournament titles, five Frozen Fours and two national championships. He also coached a Hobey Baker Award winner and 15 All-Americans.

Maturi was Minnesota’s first-ever athletics director for both men’s and women’s programs and led the department through a transformative era. During his tenure, the Gophers won five national titles and 45 conference championships while increasing scholarships, furthering efforts to bring a football stadium back to campus and maintaining high graduation rates.

Dixon, a two-time AVCA All-American, hit .369 during her career, which is still a program record, including a program-best .436 for a single season (2012). She then was part of the U.S. National Team, winning gold at the 2014 world champions, and continues to play professionally.

Chimko-Fahy was a three-time Big Ten champion in discus and javelin, earning All-American honors twice in both events. She placed third in the 1998 NCAA outdoor championship and left Minnesota as the program’s record-holder in discus.

Kaiser Sund was a pioneer in Gophers gymnastics as the first three-time All-Big Ten selection, all on the first team. She broke a school record in every individual event during her collegiate career, won the Big Ten vault and floor exercise in 1984 and competed at the University World Games trials. She was inducted into the Minnesota Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003.

Mankad was the first Gopher to reach No. 1 overall in the NCAA singles rankings, was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2002 and an All-American and qualified for NCAAs twice as both an individual and in doubles. He played in the Davis Cup for India from 2000-05 and later competed at Wimbledon.

Tickets for the induction ceremony on Sept. 6 are on sale online .