Bethany Lutheran College is proud to announce four new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition, Bethany will honor the first-ever “Team of Distinction” at its annual Hall of Fame banquet in September.
Steve Jaeger was associated with Bethany for 30 years and was involved in the college’s transition from two to four-year athletics and NCAA membership. He was a two-year starter for the men’s soccer team in 1970-71 which included a run to the NCAA National Tournament in 1971. He later coached the program from 1985-89 receiving Region XIII Coach of the Year honors every year while amassing a 62-28-11 record in five seasons as head coach. Jaeger went on to start the cross country program at Bethany and served in administrative capacities that oversaw athletics from 1997-2013.
Steve Konstantinovic was a men’s soccer and tennis player from 1972-74. On the pitch, he was the leading scorer (31 goals) on a squad that placed third at the 1973 NJCAA National Tournament as he received All-Conference and All-Region honors. On the court, he advanced to the state semifinals in 1973.
Todd Stephan starred in baseball and basketball in 1985-86. He received All-Region and All-State honors in both sports before moving on to Point Park College where he earned All-American and Region Player of the Year awards. He went on to pitch in the minor leagues for five seasons including four years in the Baltimore Orioles organization, reaching the AAA level.
Tiffany Young Klockziem was a three-sport star from 1992-94. She helped lead the ’93 volleyball squad and ’94 softball team to NJCAA National Tournament appearances. She received All-Southern Division volleyball honors her first year, and added All-Conference, All-State, and All-Region awards in 1994. She went on to receive more recognition on the basketball court earning All-State and All-Division honors in 1992-93 and was a Kodak All-American, NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention player in 1993-94. Young Klockziem later was the head coach of the women’s basketball team for 11 seasons (2003-14) and is an assistant professor in the Health and Human Performance department at Bethany.
Receiving the college’s first “Team of Distinction” honor is the 1958-59 Bethany Men’s Basketball team. The squad, coached by Dwain Mintz, finished with a 20-3 record and placed second in the NJCAA National Tournament before losing to Weber Junior College of Utah (now Weber State University) in the national championship game in Hutchinson, Kansas.
This group of four inductees will join 28 current members in the Bethany Athletic Hall of Fame with an induction ceremony Friday, September 18. The “Team of Distinction” will be honored at the same event as part of Bethany’s Fall Festival Weekend.