From Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation
Bemidji State University will officially welcome seven individuals into its Athletics Hall of Fame, as part of the University’s Alumni B-Club/Athletic Hall of Fame Weekend Oct. 7-8, 2022. The 2022 inductees include four former student-athletes, another former student-athlete who went on to achieve remarkable success as a coach and a duo of long-time Bemidji State University and BSU Athletics supporters.
Former Bemidji State student-athletes Eddie Acosta III (football, 1999-2003), Kelly Lewis (men’s swimming & diving, 1975-79), John Murphy (men’s hockey, 1975-79) and Zuzana Tomcikova (women’s hockey 2008-12) will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The recipient of the Alumni Coaching Achievement Award is Dr. Alan J. Murdoch (1969) and being awarded with the John S. Glas Honorary Letter Winner Award are Paul and Paige Hanson.
Established in 1978, the BSU Athletic Hall of Fame will now include: 199 individuals, 25 BSU coaches, 22 teams, 10 selected for the Alumni Coaching Achievement Award and nine John S. Glas Honorary Letter Winners.
Dr. Alan J. Murdoch (1969)
Coaching Accomplishments:
A three-year letter winner in track & field and cross country while at Bemidji State, Dr. Alan J. Murdoch’s contributions to athletics later blossomed on the ice in Ames, Iowa. After graduating from BSC with a bachelor’s degree in health physical education and psychology, Dr. Murdoch went on to pursue a graduate degree in higher learning at Iowa State University. He founded the Iowa State men’s ice hockey program where he coached for 45 years and finished with a career record of 1,071-522-46, in addition to starting a women’s program and men’s junior varsity team. Dr. Murdoch’s ISU teams won 12 Central States Collegiate Hockey League Tournament Championships, one American Collegiate Hockey Association Championship, three ACHA runner-up finishes and played in four ACHA semifinalist games. He helped in the founding of the ACHA in 1991, becoming the organization’s first president and later having the national championship trophy named after him as the “Murdoch Cup.” Dr. Murdoch was inducted into the ACHA Hall of Fame in the spring of 2019.
A hockey enthusiast, Dr. Murdoch’s passion drove him to help in the founding of the CSCHL in 1970, starting the Ames Minor Hockey Association in 1973 and helping in the founding of the Iowa High School Hockey League in 1976. He also played a key role in raising of funds for the Cyclone Area Community Center, an indoor ice arena used by all ages from both the community of Ames and Iowa State’s students and staff. After 20 years, Dr. Murdoch again stepped up to play a role in securing private, university and community funds to build a new arena that opened in 2001.
Dr. Murdoch was also a main protagonist in USA Hockey choosing ACHA players to compete at the World University Games. Eighteen of his players have played for Team USA at the World University Games, where he has served as head coach, general manager and scouting coordinator. Dr. Murdoch was awarded the Team USA Hockey’s Adult Member of the Year in 2012 and the President’s Award for outstanding contribution to USA Hockey in 2019.
Dr. Murdoch retired from coaching in 2014 and currently serves as a Team USA Hockey Director Emeritus.
(Originally published at https://bsualumni.org/bemidji-state-reveals-2022-athletic-hall-of-fame-inductees/)
