Six sports involved
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University Department of Athletics proudly announces the newest inductees to the NMU Sports Hall of Fame. The 2025 class includes Jennie (Long) Barlage (volleyball), Dean Ellis (coach), Renee LeBlanc (women’s soccer), Troy Mattson (coach), Berndt Rognstad (nordic skiing and football), and the 1990-91 and 1991-92 women’s swim & dive teams.
A ceremony to honor the inductees will be held on Friday, September 19, following the Homecoming parade. Tickets for the ceremony will go on sale in early July. The inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the Homecoming football game vs. Davenport on Saturday, September 20, at 1 p.m.
Jennie (Long) Barlage
Volleyball | Class of 1994
A two-time national champion in 1993 and 1994, Barlage is one of the most dominant two-way players in program history. At the time of her induction, she is one of only seven players to eclipse the milestone of 1,000 career kills and digs. She is third in career digs (1,556) and service aces (183), while ranking eighth in career kills (1,237).
Barlage played in all 149 matches throughout her career, tying her for the most all-time. She also holds the program record by playing in 495 sets over her stellar four-year career.
She was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Second Team All-American in 1994, where she also earned recognition on the NCAA II Elite Eight All-Tournament Team. That season, she finished with 392 kills, 360 digs, and 55 aces. Barlage was recognized on the All-GLIAC First Team in 1993 and on the AVCA All-Great Lakes Regional Team in both 1993 and 1994.
Barlage will be the 13th volleyball individual to be inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame.
Dean Ellis
Men’s Basketball | Head Coach
The winningest coach in men’s basketball history, Ellis compiled a 369-303 (.554) record over his 24-year coaching career from 1986-2010. In 18 of those seasons, Ellis led Northern to a .500 record or better.
The 1993 campaign was a notable one, as Ellis and the Wildcats won the GLIAC regular season title. He was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year after a 22-8 (.733) record. In 2000, the Wildcats were GLIAC Tournament Champions, and the team finished at 24-6 (.800), the best second-winningest season in program history. He led the Green and Gold to three NCAA Tournaments, advancing in two of them.
Ellis will be the 22nd coach to be inducted.
Renee LeBlanc
Women’s Soccer | Class of 2007
The most-decorated attacker in the history of NMU women’s soccer, LeBlanc holds several program records. She stands atop the career leaderboard in career goals (44) and points (99), all while only playing in 70 games over her four-year career.
In 2005, she recorded a program-record 16 goals, six of which were game-winners. Her 37 points that season are tied for the NMU single-season record. The following year, she scored 14 goals for 30 points. Her eight game-winning goals that season still hold as the NMU record, while the 15 she recorded throughout her career are also a program-best. Over her career, she totaled 233 shots and 117 shots on goal. LeBlanc was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team in 2006 and 2007.
LeBlanc makes history as the first women’s soccer player to be inducted into NMU’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Troy Mattson
Women’s Basketball | Head Coach
With over 40 years dedicated to NMU Athletics, Mattson will become the 23rd coach to be inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame.
He coached the Women’s Basketball team from 2005-22, compiling a career record of 240-231 (.510). The 2013-14 season was one of several notable ones, as the Wildcats were crowned GLIAC Tournament Champions. NMU made the NCAA Tournament three times under Mattson, advancing to the Round of 32 twice.
Prior to his that, Mattson was on the Men’s Basketball coaching staff from 1988-2005 and was a four-year letterwinner from 1982-85. During his playing career, he scored 1,018 career points, one of only 34 to reach that milestone in the program’s history. He also led the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Mattson was also the head Tennis Coach from 1994-2003, where he was the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002 and the Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2002
Berndt Rognstad
Nordic Skiing and Football | Class of 1976
Rognstad was a dual-sport athlete in Nordic Skiing and Football. He placed third at the Nordic Skiing National Championships in 1973, finished second in 1974, and fifth in 1975. He was also signed on as a kicker to the NMU Football team, mostly serving as a kickoff specialist. He was a member of the 1975 National Championship team. Rognstad’s humor was always there as he made his football debut in the “00” jersey. Throughout his career, he was a perfect 18-18 on PATs.
Rognstad signed an NFL contract with the Atlanta Falcons, but tragically lost his life in an automobile accident in 1976.
Rognstad will be the 6th male nordic skier and 115th football player to be inducted.
1990-91 & 1991-92 Women’s Swim & Dive Team
The 1990-91 and 1991-92 Women’s Swim & Dive teams will be inducted into the Hall of Fame together. The two teams were the most historic in program history. The 1991-92 team placed second at the 1992 NCAA National Championships for the program’s best-ever finish while the 1990-91 squad finished in third.
The teams combined for 16 NCAA Championships over the two seasons, with nine coming in 1991 and another seven in 1992. Kirsten Silvester was a four-time National Champion each season, was the Division II Swimmer of the Year, and was the first DII swimmer to win four titles in one season. The 1992 group also earned the program’s first-ever GLIAC Championship.
The teams were coached by Anne Goodman James, who was the 1991 CSCAA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year and the 1991 and 1992 GLIAC Coach of the Year.
