Sept. 14, 2011

DEKALB, Ill. -- Northern Illinois Athletics announced the latest additions to its Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 2. Four individuals, one team and one family make up the 2011 Hall of Fame Class, set to be inducted on Friday, October 7, as the Huskies celebrate Hall of Fame Weekend around the October 8 football game against Kent State.

The induction class includes: Lee Hansen (baseball, 1969-72), Cindy Conner (women's basketball, 1990-93), Nikki Kozak (volleyball, 1990-93), Justin McCareins (football, 1997-2000), the 1993 NIU Volleyball Team and the Roy Family (special category, men's soccer).

"On behalf of everyone in the NIU Athletics family I would like to congratulate the inductees in the 2011 Hall of Fame Class," NIU Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher said. "These Hall of Famers accomplished outstanding things during their time at NIU and truly represent what it means to be a Huskie. I look forward to this year's Hall of Fame Weekend, it is a wonderful tradition and it is always special to see so many Huskie legends return to campus."

The 30th induction class will join the current famed 188-individual, 16-team roster of the Northern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1978. The charter NIU men's Hall of Fame induction took place in 1978, and after a five-year hiatus, it resumed on an annual basis in 1983. The women's Hall of Fame originated in 1986 and the two halls were combined in 1988. The storied group represents a virtual "Who's Who of Huskie athletics" featuring early program pioneers, All-America picks, national champions, top 20 teams, All-Pro athletes, and prominent sports-related figures.

Lee Hansen (Springfield, Ill./Mt. Carroll), baseball, 1969-72
Hansen starred as an ace hurler for the NIU baseball team from 1969-72 and sits second on the all-time pitching wins list for the Huskies (18). As a senior in 1972, Hansen earned All-Midwest Conference First Team honors and All-NCAA Regional Tournament team accolades while posting an 8-1 record with a 1.96 ERA.

Hansen finished his NIU career with a 2.46 ERA, fifth-best in school history, and ranks second with 15 career complete games. As a sophomore in 1970, Hansen posted a 1.59 ERA and had a streak of 30 consecutive scoreless innings.

Cindy Conner (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), women's basketball, 1990-93
Conner ranks 10th all-time in scoring for the Huskie women's basketball program, having scored 1,520 points while helping lead NIU during one of its most successful periods in program history. An honorable mention All-American selection by the United States Basketball Writers Association in 1993, Conner helped the Huskies to a 24-6 record and Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament championships.

Conner was also named to the First Team All-North Star Conference in both 1991 and '92 while also earning North Star Conference Newcomer of the Year recognition in 1991.

Conner ranks fourth all-time in NIU history in blocked shots (143) and is eighth in school history in field goals made (606). She is also in the top-15 in Huskie history in rebounds with 693 (12th) and steals with 189 (14th).

Nikki Kozak (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton St. Francis), volleyball, 1990-93
Kozak, also a member of the 1993 volleyball team being inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame, was named the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year as a senior in 1993. Kozak also earned Mid-Continent Conference Tournament MVP honors as the Huskies posted a 29-win season during Kozak's senior season.

Kozak currently ranks second on NIU's all-time digs list (1,455), eighth on the school's aces list (125) and 12th all-time in school history in kills (1,215).

Justin McCareins (Naperville, Ill./North), football, 1997-2000
McCareins was named the 2000 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year while also earning First Team All-MAC honors and Honorable Mention All-America accolades from The Football News during his final season as a Huskie.

Following his career at NIU, McCareins was drafted in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. He played with the Titans from 2001-03 before joining the New York Jets for four seasons from 2004-07. McCareins finished his NFL career by rejoining the Titans in 2008.

The 1993 Volleyball Team
The 1993 NIU volleyball team posted a 29-6 overall record, including a perfect 18-0 mark in Mid-Continent Conference Play. The Huskies swept through the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament, defeating Valparaiso and Wright State to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA Tournament, the Huskies defeated Illinois State in three sets in the first round before falling at Penn State in the second round.

NIU placed five players on the All-Mid-Continent Conference team as Nikki Kozak, Amy Foulke, Kori Schauer and Shelby Snyder all earned first team honors, while Becky Ramsey received second team accolades. Kozak, Foulke, Ramsey and Snyder also earned Mid-Con All-Tournament team recognition.

The 1993 volleyball team roster: Holly Bauer (McHenry, Ill./Johnsburg), Joyce Book (St. Louis, Mo./Bishop DuBourg), Tammy Campbell (Denver, Colo./Colorado Academy), Amy Foulke (Salem, Wis./Central), Danielle Gerenz (Eagan, Minn./Rosemount), Nikki Kozak (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton St. Francis), Becky Ramsey (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Dana Romans (Hammond, Ind./Bishop Noll Institute), Kori Schauer (Belvidere, Ill.), Rita Schultz (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley), Shelby Snyder (Fountain Valley, Calif.), Becky Stewart (Greendale, Wis.), Amy Vander Meer (Palos Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg), head coach Pete Waite and assistant coaches Jenelle Lantagne and Mark Swaya.

The Roy Family (Willy Roy Sr., Willy Roy Jr., Karsten Roy and Markus Roy, men's soccer, 1987-2000)
The Roy family was elected to the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in the special category for its collective contribution to the Huskie men's soccer program. Willy Roy Sr. was head coach of the NIU soccer team from 1987-2002, posting a career record of 142-131-22. He was named the National Soccer Coaches Assocation of America Division I Regional Coach of the Year in 1989.

As a player, Willy Roy Sr. played for the U.S. National Team 20 times and was elected to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989. Each of Roy's three sons played collegiately at NIU for their father. Willy Roy Jr. played at NIU from 1987-90 and earned All-Midwest First Team honors in 1990 and All-Midwest Second Team honors in 1989. Markus and Karsten Roy each played at NIU from 1988-91. Markus was named to the All-Midwest First Team in 1991 and the All-Midwest Second Team in 1989; he also earned Academic All-American honors in 1990 and '91. Karsten claimed All-Midwest Second Team honors in 1990 and '91.