The DSC Athletic Department inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame Thursday night.
Former DSC Women’s Soccer coach Heather Mendenhall Dahl, former Major League pitcher Bruce Hurst, former DSC Men’s Basketball star Marcus Banks and former DSC Football head coach Greg Croshaw were inducted as part of Dixie State College’s Centennial Celebration.
Dahl, coach of the Dixie Rebels for two seasons, talked about the building of the women’s soccer program at Dixie State College.
“I had a big vision for this community and a love for the sport,” said Dahl.
Hurst, despite being drafted 22nd overall in the 1976 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, played basketball for the Dixie Rebels during the offseason.
Hurst spoke of his appreciation for Dixie and its people.
“My life here and my growing up in St. George; I am so grateful for my roots here in Utah’s Dixie,” he said.
No one made an impact quicker at Dixie State College than Marcus Banks. Banks, who hails from Las Vegas, helped Dixie to a 36-2 record his sophomore season and a third place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament.
Banks would go on to play for seven NBA teams and credits Dixie State as the place which sparked his career.
“ I didn’t want to come here at first,” Banks said. “I wanted to go right to UNLV but I was too young, didn’t have any experience, and this was probably the best place for me.”
Greg Croshaw is third all-time in NJCAA career wins, with a career record of 214-56-1. Croshaw coached 36 NJCAA first-team All-Americans and four NJCAA players of the year over his career at Dixie. Croshaw additionally led the Dixie College Rebels to two national runner-up finishes.
Croshaw spoke well of his former players, including one story about former tailback Corey Dillon.
“After two-a-days were over, and he came and said ‘Coach, do we have more plays?” Croshaw said. “And I said ‘well, I’ll tell you what Corey; we’ll run sweep right and left, and iso right and left.’ I said ‘let’s see how this first game goes.’ So we played the first game, rushed for over 200 yards, carried the ball about 40-something times and I said ‘Corey, you want any more plays?’ And he said, “No, these will do.”
The Dixie State College Athletics’ Hall of Fame started in 2007 to acknowledge individuals who made a lasting contribution to Dixie State College and its athletic department. After this year’s induction, the Hall of Fame features 17 members.
