Purdue standout Patacsil joins Central wrestling staff

PELLA—Central College has hired Big Ten Medal of Honor winner Jake Patacsil as assistant wrestling coach at Central College.

Patacsil posted a 120-41 career record at Purdue, ranking third in school history in career wins and earning all-America distinction after placing fifth at 149 pounds at the 2009 NCAA Division I championships. He was a three-time Purdue Outstanding Wrestler Award winner and a three-time finalist at the Midlands Championships. Patacsil served as team captain for three seasons. He received the team’s Most Improved Wrestler Award and the Durham Brothers Leadership Award. He was the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner for wrestling as well.

In the past season Patascil was coach for the Boiler Elite Wrestling Club and an assistant at Twin Lakes High School in Monticello, Ind.

The Big Ten Medal of Honor is presented to a male and female senior athlete at each league school for proficiency in scholarship and athletics. Patacsil, who earned a bachelor’s degree in math education in 2009, was the first wrestler to receive the distinction at Purdue.

Patacsil was a state and national champion at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in 2003-04.

“We’re excited to have him join the program,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “What impressed us most was that he has excelled in many areas. In addition to being an outstanding wrestler, he’s a great student and was involved in all aspects of being a student-athlete.

“We’re excited about what he brings to the table. His wrestling skills will dramatically help the guys in the wrestling room and on the mat. He will help us take that next step as a program and get us to where we want to go.”

Patacsil has a strong wrestling heritage. His father, Frank, and uncle, Ted, are former Purdue wrestlers and his grandfather, Joe Patacsil, was a 1950 national champion. Frank Patacsil is a long-time high school teacher and coach.

Van Kley, entering his fourth year at Central, is orchestrating a major turnaround with the Dutch and was co-winner of the 2009-10 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year Award. He piloted Central to its first winning season since 2000-01and a seventh-place showing at the conference tourney, the school’s highest in five years.

Patacsil replaces Jason Zastrow, who resigned after three seasons with the Dutch.

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Van Hemert hired as Central College’s alumni director

PELLA — Ann Van Hemert, a 2000 Central College graduate, was named Central’s new director of alumni relations. She will begin duties Monday, July 12.

Previously, Van Hemert worked in the admission office at Central, most recently as associate director of admission.

“After serving the college in the admission office the last eight years, I am excited for the opportunity to take on a different role at Central,” said Van Hemert. “Our alumni are the foundation for Central’s history and future. I have seen the positive impact alumni relationships have on Central, and I look forward to being a part of those connections.”

A native of Waverly, Iowa, Van Hemert was a member of Central’s three national championship volleyball teams. She also was an Upward Bound tutor counselor while attending Central and studied abroad on Central’s London, England, program.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, Van Hemert spent two years teaching and coaching at Grinnell High School.

“Ann is a great fit for this position and has worked with the alumni office with recruiting,” said Dave Sutphen, vice president of advancement. “She has a passion for Central and will be able to carry forward what has been started in alumni relations. This is a great opportunity for our office and for Ann. She is a great team player and did a wonderful job in admission and will carry her enthusiasm over to alumni.”

Central College has nearly 18,000 alumni.

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Central College’s Larry Happel inducted into CoSIDA Hall of Fame

PELLA — Longtime Central College sports information director Larry Happel was one of seven inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America’s (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame at its annual convention workshop July 4-7. An awards gala, sponsored by ESPN and the NCAA, was Tuesday, July 6, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in San Francisco, Calif.

Happel has been sports information director at his alma mater since 1979, when he started as an undergraduate student. He completed a degree in communications in 1981. During his time at Central, he also has been director of college relations, director of publications and assistant director of the news bureau in addition to his duties as sports information director. In 1999, he added associate director of marketing and media relations to his title.

“Larry has been as loyal and as dedicated of an employee as Central College has had in terms of his passion for the institution and its students,” said Al Dorenkamp, athletics director at Central College. “He’s a tireless worker and Central has received many accolades because of his initiative.”

Happel has been a member of CoSIDA since he started his career and served a three-year term on the board of directors from 2002-05. A member of the special awards committee since 1999, he has also served on the membership services, allied organizations and writing contest committees. Happel has won numerous awards for writing and publications within his field. In 2006, CoSIDA presented him the Warren Berg Award for outstanding achievement in the college division.

In 2003-04, he took a one-year sabbatical to serve as a visiting assistant at the University of Tennessee’s sports information office. Abby Gonzales, now Central’s news and marketing writer, served as interim sports information director while Happel was away.

“Larry has done a tremendous job in his field and has been a role model to me and many others,” said Gonzales. “He takes the time to teach student workers about the sports information world, but most importantly, he truly cares about Central College.”

Other Happel commitments include serving on the Host Communications NCAA Championships Program Advisory Committee, and a nine-year (1991-2000) term on the Hewlett-Packard Division III Football All-American team selection committee. He has been on the D3hoops.com women’s basketball ranking committee since 2006. Happel has served as the host sports information director for 24 NCAA football playoff games, including national semi-final games in 1984, 1988 and 1990, and has helped Central host five NCAA Division III championship finals in four sports.

Happel is highly regarded by his sports information peers. Dave Wrath, associate director of athletics at Augustana College (Ill.), nominated Happel for the award.

“Cleary, Larry Happel understands the craft of being a sports information director, and he understands it well,” said Wrath. “He is always willing to serve and is a respected figure in the small college circles. He is dedicated to his role and runs a top-notch shop in terms of productivity and service.”

Other 2010 inductees included Max Corbet of Boise State University, Roger Crosley of Emerson College, Carol Hudson of Old Dominion University and Barb Kowal, CoSIDA’s director of external affairs. The late John Eggers of Oregon State University and Dave Kellogg of U.S. Air Force Academy are both veterans committee selections.

Founded in 1957, CoSIDA has grown to over 2,400 members comprised of sports public relations, communications and information professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the United States and Canada.

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