September 9, 2004
The University of New Mexico Alumni Lettermen’s Association has announced the 2004 inductees into the Hall of Honor, plus honorees who will be recognized at the awards banquet in September. The Class of 2004 includes Jim Bruening, Barbara Butler, Larry Tuttle and the 2003-04 Lobo ski team that captured the first NCAA team title in school history.
Also recognized will be Lou Cullen (Posthumous Award), Scott Creagan (Distinguished Service), head ski coach George Brooks (Coach of the Year), Divan Coetzee (Male Athlete of the Year) and Jennifer Delich (Female Athlete of the Year).
Jim Bruening: Bruening was an outstanding linebacker on the 1952 football team that was voted the “Best Defensive Team” in the United States. He was honorable mention AP All-American in 1952, captain of the 1953 football team and honorable mention All-Skyline in 1953. Bruening was selected Most Inspirational Team Leader in 1953 and was the ASUNM Student Body President in 1955. He was selected as “Outstanding Man” and also served as Assistant Dean of Men at UNM. Bruening was instrumental in the fundraising efforts that led to the building of the UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel. He has presided as pastor for the 1st Presbyterian Church in Roswell, N.M., Colorado and Mesa, Arizona.
Barbara Butler: Barbara Butler was highly involved in sports at UNM from 1969-1973. She participated in volleyball, basketball and track and field. Butler is best known as the 1971 national discus champion. After completing her degree in Physical Education and Physical Therapy from UNM, she coached at UNM and Baylor. Butler then embarked on a career in Physical Therapy with the U.S. Naval hospitals. Traveling the world over, Butler is a certified Orthopedic Specialist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Manual Physical Therapists.
Larry Tuttle: Tuttle earned six athletic letters plus two freshman letters during his time at UNM. He was a three-year lettermen in basketball and baseball between 1950-52, earning All-Border Conference and honorable mention All-America honors in basketball following the 1949-50 season. Tuttle held the single-game scoring record for Lobo basketball and was the first 1,000-point scorer in school history. He was a teacher and beloved coach at Albuquerque’s Rio Grande High School from 1958-1972, and coached several all-star basketball games during his career. Tuttle continues to attend UNM basketball games.
2003-04 UNM Ski Team: The ski team brought home the first-ever NCAA title to the University of New Mexico, earning unprecedented admission into the Hall of Honor. The Lobos finished with 623 points, 42 points ahead of defending national champion Utah who came in second. The Lobos started out the meet in third place after the Giant Slalom. Senior Jennifer Delich brought home the women’s individual national title, making her the ninth Lobo to win an individual national championship. New Mexico moved into second place after the second day behind solid performances from the Nordic skiers. Junior Martina Stursova, sophomore Trine Lundamo and sophomore Geir-Endre Rogn all earned All-American awards in the Nordic Freestyle races. UNM vaulted into first place for good on day three behind the slalom team and national title performance by the men’s Alpine squad. New Mexico never relinquished its lead in the final races, making the 2004 NCAA Skiing Championships a memorable one for Brooks and the rest of the Lobos.
Posthumous Inductee / Lou Cullen: Cullen was a 1946 All-Border Conference fullback and legendary star at UNM. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degree from UNM. Cullen was head football and track coach at Farmington from 1948-54, assistant football coach under Bob Titchenal, Dick Clausen and Marv Levy at UNM from 1954-1959 and assistant football coach under Levy at Cal-Berkeley from 1960-63. He was the head coach at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colo., from 1963-70. Cullen was always very active in athletics and was known for being a “players coach.” He passed away on January 3, 2000.
Distinguished Service Award / Scott Creagan: Creagan is one of our own. He played linebacker at UNM from 1988-1992. After graduating from UNM in 1995 with a bacehelor’s degree in Communications, Creagan opened his own business in Albuquerque. He owns Graphic Connection, a custom screenprinting business that specializes in professional and corporate sportswear. Creagan is known for his generous nature of both his time and financial resources. He has served as President of the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association and presently serves on the UNM Lobo Club as its Vice President of Finance. Creagan gives back to UNM and the Albuquerque community by volunteering on boards and committees and sponsoring events.
2004 Coach of the Year / George Brooks (New Mexico `70): George Brooks completed his 34th year at the helm of the New Mexico ski program in grand style; by winning the school’s first national team championship. Brooks has been the only head coach in the history of the New Mexico program.
Initially a club sport prior to 1970, the UNM skiing program has been molded into a consistently competitive and nationally-ranked program. In the 34 years that Brooks has coached at New Mexico, his teams have placed in the top-10 at the NCAA Championships 21 times.
Brooks earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from UNM in 1970. He later earned his master’s degree in Sports Physiology, also from UNM.
Brooks has coached more than 65 athletes to All-American status on over 100 different occasions. He has also coached over 100 skiers to Academic All-American honors and all-conference awards.
Female Athlete of the Year / Jennifer Delich (skiing): Became the first Lobo to win the women’s NCAA Giant Slalom individual title, leading the Lobos to the 2004 NCAA Championship…3.1 GPA and captain of the UNM Ski Team…two-Time All-American and an Academic All-American in 2002…represented UNM at the 2004 NCAA Leadership Conference May 30-June 3 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla…she was one of 324 student-athletes selected from a pool of 1,173 nominations from institutions at Division I, II, and III level.)…Vice President of UNM’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)…three-time All-Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) performer.
Male Athlete of the Year / Divan Coetzee (tennis): 2004 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and a three-time all-conference honoree…ranked 22nd nationally and was the top-ranked player in the region…only Lobo to qualify for NCAA singles play three times…UNM recordholder for season wins…compiled a career record of 96-29 in three years to tie Pepe Caballero for the most wins in UNM history…maintained a 3.68 cumulative GPA while taking 21 and 24 credit hours the past two semesters to obtain his master’s degree in Business Finance in May in just four years…won his first Rolex Regional Championship, the fifth ever by a Lobo.