The University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Department will induct 11 members into hallowed Hall of Fame this September, a group of former Bulldog athletes that drove UMD into to both the national and international stages, respectively.

 The Class of 2026 includes John and Colleen Economos (Football/Baseball, Longtime Bulldog Supporters) Clare Dahmen (Soccer), John Fulkrod (Head Men's and Women's Coach, Cross Country and Track and Field), Mike Hirschey (Wrestling), Kurt King (Football), Kate (Lange) Sterns (Volleyball), Jocelyne Larocque (Women's Hockey), Kim (Martin) Hasson (Women's Hockey), Rick Menz (Men's and Women's Hockey Equipment Manager), and Alex Stalock (Men's Hockey).

John and Colleen Economos 

John distinguished himself as a two-way football player for the Bulldogs from 1969 to 1972, excelling at both tight end and defensive end. One of the reasons the UMD Baseball program started in 1972, John graduated with a pre-dentistry degree, while Colleen, a native of Duluth, earned her degree in sociology and anthropology from UMD. 

While John's accolades as a Bulldog athlete are significant, it is the couple's shared contributions off the field that most exemplify their impact. For over 16 years, they have been the driving force behind the UMD Football Military Appreciation Game—now arguably the biggest home football event of the year. Their tireless efforts have not only elevated the event's profile but also ensured its meaning is deeply felt by athletes, veterans, and fans alike.

Beyond football, John and Colleen have provided lasting support to a broad range of UMD Athletics programs, including scholarships and initiatives in football, baseball, men's and women's basketball, and women's hockey. Their commitment reflects a comprehensive and heartfelt investment in the growth and success of UMD student-athletes across the board.

Clare Dahmen (2006-2009)

Dahmen was UMD soccer's first Daktronics Second Team All-American in 2009 and was a two-time all-conference selection – a 2009 NSIC All-Conference First Team honoree and 2006 NSIC All-Conference Second Team member. Dahmen capped off a stellar career with a 2009 senior season of 11 goals and four assists for 26 points, and scored eight game-winning goals (all against NSIC teams), tops among her league counterparts. Her career numbers stand at 21 goals, 17 helpers, for 59 points, in 73 games played (71 of those starts), and Dahmen ranks in the top-10 in school career leaders, for those three categories - tied for eighth in goals, tied for ninth in assists and eighth in points. Dahmen earned a spot on the 2009 NSIC All-Tournament Team, and earned the tournament MVP award. She then helped propel the Bulldogs to the teams' fifth NSIC Tournament championship at the time, and the program's first NCAA postseason victory.

John Fulkrod (1992-2010)

Fulkrod coached the UMD men's cross country team for 19 years and the women's team for 17, and took over the women's track team in 2001-2002 before grabbing the reigns of the men's track team in 2006. In 2002, he led the Bulldog women's track team to NSIC Indoor and Outdoor titles and was named the NSIC Coach of the Year at both meets. Fulkrod added an indoor and outdoor championship to his resume in both 2003 and 2004, and was again named the NSIC Coach of the Year for the 2003 Outdoor season. In cross country, he directed the Bulldog men to a pair of berths in the NCAA Division II Championships in 2003 and 2004, and his squads captured 11 consecutive NSIC titles from 1993-2003. UMD's women's cross country teams ran off with 10 straight NSIC crowns from 1994-2003 and qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in 1994, 2008, and 2009. Fulkrod coached 21 indoor track and field women All-Americans and 15 outdoor women All-Americans, as well as eight indoor track and field men All-Americans and nine outdoor men All-Americans – which included 2004 shot put national champion Dan Soldner. Fulkrod is also a member of the Minnesota Community College Conference Hall of Fame.

Mike Hirschey (1985-89)

Hirschey made UMD history in March 1988 by becoming the first Bulldog athlete to win a national individual title by capturing the 142 pound weight class crown at the NAIA National Championships. The eventual national champion went 32-6-0 that year and finished his Bulldog wrestling career with a 82-30-0 individual record. Hirschey also captured the NSIC 158-pound title in both 1987 and 1988.

Kurt King (1993-1996)

King was a three-time All-NSIC First Team selection as an offensive guard for the football team who started the final 39 games of his collegiate career. A team captain in 1996, King was a part of the team that won that last NSIC title under coach Malosky, and helped UMD to back-to-back league titles in 1995 and 1996. During King's senior campaign, UMD's offense was ranked 13th in the country, averaging an impressive 33.8 points a game.

Kate (Lange) Sterns (2010-2013)

Sterns was the 2013 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Daktronics Division National Player of the Year and a three-time AVCA First Team All-American selection and four-year All-NSIC selection. A 2013 Daktronics First Team All-American, 2012 Daktronics Third Team All-American, and 2011 Daktronics Second Team All-American, Sterns did a number on the Bulldog record books, placing herself atop the charts in kills (2,078) and attacks (4,058). She positioned herself in a club of her own for her all-around versatility, attaining the plateau of 2,000 kills, 1,000 digs, 100 solo blocks and 100 service aces. A four-year starter as an outside attacker at UMD, which made an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament all four of those seasons, Sterns made a brief appearance in the pro circuit playing overseas for one season with the Terville Florange Olympic Club, which is a member of France's top pro league. She racked up 166 kills on 471 attacks with 225 digs in 66 sets (2.83 points per set) in 22 matches in her lone season making her the only Bulldog to ever sign a pro contract and play professionally. Sterns was a UMD assistant coach from 2015-23.

Jocelyne Larocque (2007-2011)

A four-time Olympian, Larocque is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist with Canada (2022, 2014) and a two-time silver Olympic Medalist in 2026, 2018. The second player taken in the first PWHL Draft by Toronto in 2023, Larocque has spent 17 years on the Canadian National Team. In addition to her Olympic medal haul, she has won three  IIHF World Championship Gold Medals (2012, 2021, 2022) and five IIHF World Championship Silver Medals (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025) in 10 IIHF World Championship Appearances. The assistant captain of the 2018 Canadian Olympic Team, Larocque was a two-time NCAA champion with the Bulldogs as a member of both the 2008 and 2010 NCAA Championship teams. She was a two-time First Team American Hockey Coaches Association All-American (2008-09 & 2010-11) –  the first Bulldog defenseman to earn First Team accolades – and a 2010-11 Patty Kazmaier Award nominee. Named 2010-11 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year – a first in program history, Larocque was a two-time WCHA First Team Selection (2008-09 & 2009-10) and a 2007-08 WCHA Third Team Selection, as well as named to WCHA All-Rookie Team in 2007-08. Named to 2008 WCHA All-Tournament Team, Larocque is the highest scoring defenseman in school history with 105 points and the program leader for career assists by a defenseman (86). She also holds the single-season program record for assists by a defenseman (33; 2008-09) and was named 2010-11 WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year.

Kim (Martin) Hasson (2006-2009, 2010-11)

Martin Hasson was 2025 IIHF Hall of Fame Inductee, a WCHA 25th Anniversary Team selection and named to UMD Women's Hockey 25th Anniversary Team. A 2008 Top-3 Patty Kazmaier Finalist for the best player in college hockey, Martin was a 2007-08 First Team All-American, as well as a 2007-08 All-WCHA First Team honoree. Martin was the 2008 Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Frozen Four and 2008 NCAA Frozen Four Tournament Team after a 41-save effort against the University of New Hampshire on March 20, 2008 in the semifinals. Despite the Bulldogs being outshot 43-15, UMD advanced to the NCAA title tilt with a 3-2 win on the back of Martin's play. The netminder then shut out the defending national champion University of Wisconsin 4-0 in the NCAA championship game to help the Bulldogs win the 2008 NCAA title. The 2010-11 WCHA Goaltending Champion, she was also a 2010-11 All-WCHA Third Team member. Martin owns UMD career best record of 87-23-8 in just 99 career games with 16 shutouts and a program-best .954 saves percentage, as well as a number of single season records, including goaltender wins (31-4-1 in 2007-08),  the top-two spots for saves percentage (.948 in 2007-08 and .947 in 2010-11) and the top spot for goals against in a single season –  1.38 in 2010-11. The two-time UMD alternate captain, who began her international career with Team Sweden as a 15 year old in 2001, earned two Olympic medals over her four Olympic games career. While she earned a bronze medal as a 16-year old in 2002 in Salt Lake City, she shot to stardom in 2006 in Turin when Sweden upset the U.S. in the semi-finals. She recorded 37 saves in a shootout victory, marking the first time the women's gold medal final at the Olympics would not feature a Canada – U.S. match-up. At the conclusion of the tournament, Martin was named the Best Goalie by the IIHF and earned a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team.

Rick Menz (1979-2008)

The men's hockey equipment manager from 1979-2008 and the women's hockey equipment manager from 1999-2008, Menz oversaw the buying, issuing, repairing, and maintaining equipment for all Bulldog varsity sports from 1979 until 2008. Presented the 2018 Bruce Bennett Service Award (exceptional service and commitment to UMD Athletics, Menz's reputation for quality work enabled him to ean a number of invitations from other hockey groups. In 1983, 1989, 1990 and 1991 he was an equipment manager at the U.S. Olympic Festival,  was also deployed in that same capacity for USA Hockey at the 1992 Select 17 World Tournament in Tokyo. Menz did not miss a Bulldog men's hockey game from  the 1980-81 season until the 1999-2000 season – more than 765 games in all.

Alex Stalock (2006-09)

Stalock played for four NHL teams in 11 seasons (San Jose, Minnesota, Edmonton, Chicago) and was the 2005 Fourth Round pick of the San Jose Sharks. In the NHL, Stalock went 70-65-20 with a 2.70 GAA, .908 save percentage and 11 shutouts in 179 regular-season games (148 starts) with the Sharks, Minnesota Wild and Blackhawks and 1-4 with a 2.54 GAA and .910 save percentage in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games (five starts). A 2008-09 AHCA West First  Team All-American, (third goaltender in program history to earn that distinction), he was also a 2008-09 First Team All-WCHA selection. Stalock was the 2009 WCHA Final Five,  leading UMD to become the first program to win the WCHA Final Five championship with three wins in three days. Stalock was a 2006-07 WCHA All-Rookie Team honoree, a two-time Huffer Christiansen Team Most Valuable Player and the 2006-07 Jerry Chumola Team Rookie of the Year. Just the second Bulldog to lead the WCHA in goals-against-average, he was also named to All-DECC Team and won the 2008-09 Duluth Hockey Company Fan Favorite Award. Stalock still ranks fourth in career goals-against-average (2.48) and save percentage (.910).

The University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1991 and enshrined its charter class exactly 61 years to the day after the first Bulldog varsity athletic event took place (a football game at Northland College on Sept. 20, 1930). It now consists of 179 distinguished members, representing 21 sports. The the 2026 UMD Athletic Hall of Fame Class will be inducted on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 in a ceremony inside Weber Music Hall.