BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Following a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, six former Vikings will be inducted into the Western Washington University Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 21 (1 p.m.), on Whatcom Educational Credit Union Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
 
The ceremony is open to the public. There is no admission charge and parking is free in the C lots.
 
The 2022 class is the largest since the inaugural WWU hall of fame ceremony, which had seven inductees, was held in 1968.
 
2022 WWU Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Jodie Kaczor Berry (Women's Basketball)
• Michael Koenen (Football)
• Terri McMahan (Volleyball/Administration)
• Art Phinney (Softball Coach)
• Bill Roe (Track & Field and Cross Country)
• Dr. John Utendale (Faculty Rep./Ice Hockey)

Three are former Viking athletes. They include Jodie Kaczor Berry, a standout point guard in women's basketball at Western who has gone on to become a top NCAA Division I assistant coach; Michael Koenen, who played professionally for 10 years in the National Football League after a record-breaking career as a punter and placekicker for the Vikings, and Terri McMahan, who was a Western volleyball team captain in the early 1970s and went on to earn state high school hall of fame honors as a coach and administrator.
 
Rounding out the honorees are Art Phinney, who in 1998 coached Western softball to the school's first national team title in any sport, Bill Roe, a Viking assistant track & field and cross country coach for 35 years while serving on national and international organizations for those sports, and Dr. John Utendale, the school's Faculty Athletic Representative for 11 of his 28 years at Woodring College of Education, known for his achievements as an elite player and ice hockey activist during a groundbreaking career in that sport and higher education.
 
Phinney, Roe and Utendale will be inducted posthumously.
 
"This is an outstanding group we are inducting into the Western Athletics Hall of Fame," said WWU Director of Athletics Steve Card. "Three student athletes who all had wonderful careers at Western and followed that up with outstanding accomplishments in their chosen fields, two legendary coaches and a trailblazing professor and ice hockey player. They are all very deserving of our most prestigious honor."
 
The class of 2022 brings the hall's membership to 155 over the 120-year history of athletics at Western.
 
The induction ceremony is the 45th for WWU. Its hall of fame is the second oldest among Pacific Northwest colleges and universities.
 
Rower Audrey Coon Schwind was slated to be inducted with Kaczor Berry, Koenen and Phinney in 2020 before the pandemic hit. Scheduling issues prevented her from being at the May 21 ceremony, but she will be inducted in 2023.  
Jodie Kaczor Berry recently completed her eighth season as an associate head coach with the University of Oregon women's basketball program. A long-time assistant with head coach Kelly Graves, Kaczor Berry serves as the Ducks' post-player coach and helps in opponent scouting and recruiting.
 
Kaczor Berry also worked as Graves' top assistant for six years at Gonzaga and 11 seasons there overall in various capacities. She and Graves have won 70 percent of their games over a span of 19 years.
 
At Oregon, Kaczor Berry has helped the Ducks to five NCAA I tournament appearances, reaching the Elite Eight three times (2017-19) and Final Four once (2019). They won three straight Pacific-12 Conference regular-season titles from 2018 to 2020 and two Pac-12 tournament titles (2018 and 2020).
 
At Gonzaga, Kaczor Berry was part of 10 West Coast Conference regular season titles and seven trips to the NCAA I tournament.
 
With Kaczor Berry working with the offense, Gonzaga led the nation in scoring during the 2010-11 season, averaging 85.3 points per game. The Bulldogs also shot 49.4 percent from the floor that season, second-best in the NCAA.
 
At Gonzaga, Kaczor Berry coached five All-Americans and 14 all-WCC picks.
 
In her own playing career, Kaczor Berry was a four-year letter winner at Western, earning first-team all-conference honors in 2001 and 2002. She finished as WWU's career leader in three-pointers (210) and free throw percentage (81.9).
 
"I am thrilled Jodie is being inducted," said WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo, who just led the Vikings to the NCAA II championship game in her 31st season. "It is such a well-deserved honor. Jodie was one of the smartest point guards I have ever coached and understood the game like no other. She was a great shooter and wanted the ball in pressure situations."
 
The Vikings posted a 95-24 record during Kaczor Berry's four-year career and made trips to the NCAA II Tournament each season, Western reaching the national semifinals in 2000.
 
As a junior, Kaczor Berry received Little All-Northwest honorable mention, and was ranked seventh nationally in three-point percentage (42.7, 79-of-185) and ninth in three-point makes per game (2.7).
 
"My time playing for Carmen (Dolfo) will forever be a defining experience in my life, both on and off the court," said Kaczor Berry, a 2003 WWU graduate.  "I had the privilege to have incredible teammates throughout my time there. The growth and success we enjoyed during my years at Western opened so many doors throughout my career, and it's an honor to be recognized. I will remain forever grateful, and forever in debt to the Western community."
 
A graduate of Federal Way High School, Kaczor Berry was a student assistant coach for the Vikings during the 2002-03 season.
 
Kaczor Berry and her husband Eric, who were married in 2005, have two sons, Tyson 12 and Kyson 6.  
Michael Koenen had a 10-year professional career as one of the top punters and kickoff specialists in the NFL. He played for the Atlanta Falcons from 2005 to 2010 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2011 to 2014.
 
Koenen entered the NFL in 2005 as an undrafted college free agent. He signed a contract in April of 2005 and spent six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before inking a free agent contract with Tampa Bay in 2011 that made him one of the highest-paid punters in NFL history. His long kickoffs also contributed to the high salary.
 
In Atlanta's October 9, 2005 game against New England, Koenen made a 58-yard field goal, the longest field goal of his career at any level and then tied for ninth longest in NFL history.
 
Koenen finished his WWU career as the school's most prolific placekicker and punter, topping the record books in numerous categories. He was WWU's co-Male Athlete of the Decade for 2000 to 2009.
 
"We were so fortunate to have Michael on our team," said his WWU head coach Rob Smith, who directed the program for 17 years. "He was a true 'triple threat' when it came to kicking as he performed all three roles of punter, placekicker and kickoffs at an All-American level. As a coach, it's an incredible luxury any time you have a weapon like that … A very deserving honor for Michael, a true Viking legend."
 
Koenen's position coach at Western was Terry Todd.
 
"He was always a great talent, it was something we never took for granted, but he also worked very hard," said Todd. "Kicking and punting are two completely different skills … And he stayed positive. He knew the next opportunity was right around the corner. You have to be able to do that as a kicker."
 
Koenen redshirted his first season at WWU. When he debuted in 2001, it did not take long to show what he could do. In his first game, he kicked a school-record 54-yard field goal against Central Oklahoma. The next year, he set another school standard with a 73-yard punt.
 
Koenen completed his four years of eligibility at Western as one of the most decorated kickers in Northwest small college history. He finished as the Northwest small college, Great Northwest Athletic Conference and school record holder in kick scoring with 272 points. He also set school career records for made PATs (points after touchdown, 143), kickoffs for touchbacks (73), punting average (43.1) and yards punted (8,228), while being second in PAT attempts (150) and third in both field goals made (43) and attempted (74).
 
Koenen was named WWU Male Athlete of the Year for 2004-05, following an outstanding senior season. That year, he was selected to three All-America teams as a punter as well as D2football.com and Northwest Region Special Teams Player of the Year. He set school and GNAC season records for PATs (40-of-41, .976) and field goal  percentage (12-of-17, .706), while ranking No. 3 nationally in punting average (43.5) and No. 11 in field goals per game (1.20).
 
As a sophomore in 2002, Koenen led the nation in punting with a 44.9 average. He was a first-team pick on three All-America teams as well as a second-team Associated Press Little All-America selection. He was also Football Gazette Specialist of the Year.
 
"I can't say enough good things about my time at Western," Koenen said. "I got to meet some of the most amazing people! … I was initially a verbal commit to Eastern Washington but switched to WWU so I could be close to home and play for Coach Terry Todd, the special teams coach."
 
"My parents always pushed me to be the best I could possibly be and my dad drove into me the discipline of working hard. The coaches at Western continued that drive and work ethic to prepare me for whatever was next in life, which for me happened to be more football."
 
Koenen was a first-team Washington Prep Football Report Class 3 All-State pick as a senior at Ferndale High School. He helped the Golden Eagles to a 12-1 record, and the semifinals of the state playoffs. He booted a school-record 47-yard field goal in a 17-14 win over Anacortes.
 
Koenen earned all-league honors in three sports at FHS. Besides football, the others were basketball and soccer.
 
Koenen and wife Devin (formerly Dykstra), who earned two letters at Western in both basketball and softball, have five children. They are Malachi 13, Markus 12, Mia 10 and twins Madeleine and Makenna 7.
 
Koenen, who lives in Blaine, is co-owner of Locker Room Fitness in Ferndale.  
During Terri McMahan's childhood, opportunities for women in athletics and other activities were not even close to those for men.
 
In 1972, Title IX, the federal policy that protects against gender-based discrimination, was signed into law. That same year McMahan graduated from Mountlake Terrace High School and began attending then Western Washington State College (now WWU).
 
From that time on, McMahan experienced, advocated for and helped others benefit from the changes made by Title IX as an athlete, coach, and administrator. While those changes seemed agonizingly slow as they were happening, they are nonetheless mind blowing after nearly 50 years, but still with a long way to go.
 
In the early 1970s, McMahan was a top player on the Western volleyball team, which had only recently gained varsity status. She went on to obtain Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) high school hall of fame honors both as a coach (2009) and as a director of athletics (2016).
 
While possessing a low-key demeanor, McMahan was an intense competitor, hard worker and tough-minded leader.
 
Just before and right after graduating from Western in June of 1977, McMahan was the head volleyball coach for one season each at Everett Community College (19-8) and Edmonds Community College (33-4 and third place in NWAC Northwest Region).
 
In 1978, McMahan was hired as a teacher/coach at Ferndale High School. There she coached volleyball from 1978 to 1992, transforming a program that had not won a match for two years into a Class 2A state champion in 1986 that finished a perfect 27-0.
 
Her Golden Eagles won five Northwest District One titles, nine Northwest League championships and had an 85-match league winning streak from 1985 to 1990.
 
In 1987, McMahan was named Washington State Volleyball Coach of the Year and the Whatcom County Sports Awards Coach of the Year. Six times she received NWL Volleyball Coach of the Year honors.
 
At FHS, McMahan also coached softball for 13 seasons, winning a league title and twice placing at state.
 
McMahan coached and taught at Ferndale for 15 years before being named the school's athletic director in 1993.
 
In 1997, McMahan took the Edmonds School District Director of Athletics job and was there for 11 years. In 2010, McMahan accepted the Director of Athletics position with Highline Public Schools and retired seven years later.
 
McMahan's 22-year career in athletic administration was one of vision, transformation and success, including unique and innovative projects beyond the normal AD job description.
 
Most notably, McMahan served as a mentor to girls and women throughout her career in addition to being known as a mentor to male and female athletic directors and coaches.
 
McMahan assumed leadership roles in each league and WIAA District she served including a stint on the WIAA Executive Board.
 
Besides Hall of Fame honors, her professional awards as an athletics administrator include Washington State Athletic Director of the Year in 2008, National Association of Sport and Physical Education Northwest Region AD of the Year in 2009, seven times named WIAA District or league/conference AD of the Year, the 2002 Washington State Athletic Administrators Outstanding Service Award and the 2001 WIAA District One Elmer Clarkson Award.
 
"It has been my honor to be an educator," McMahan said. "All I ever wanted to do was teach and coach. To have lived through the historic strides realized for women's sports along the way has been an indelible experience. There is little doubt in my mind that I would not have become a director of athletics had it not been for the monumental shift realized over the past 40-plus years. I owe a great deal to the courage and resilience of the women who paved the way as well as the men who understood equity and supported those of us who sought careers in athletics and athletics administration."  
In 1998, Art Phinney directed the Western softball team to the first national team championship in school history.
 
Phinney coached the Vikings for seven seasons from 1995 to 2001, posting a record of 186-110-1. Western won 30 or more games in each of his last four years at the helm.
 
In 1998, the Vikings made a remarkable run to win the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national title after receiving the seventh and final at-large berth to nationals.
 
Phinney received NAIA National Coach of the Year honors for that achievement.
 
"Coach had a way of recruiting the perfect mix of athletes, competitors, and amazing personalities - ultimately fine tuning the Cinderella team of 1998," said Jen Brandolini Register, a team co-captain that season.
 
Phinney was named Pacific Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1996 as Western won the PNWAC title. He also was the Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year in 2001 when the Vikings took that league's West Division crown.
 
Prior to Western, Phinney was the head coach at Skagit Valley College for three years (1985-88), directing the Cardinals to a 74-40 record and three runner-up finishes at the Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
Phinney died of a heart attack on Monday, July 15, 2019.
 
For the eight years prior to his death, Phinney was the Sports Ministry Director at Living Hope Church in Vancouver, Washington.
 
A 1985 graduate of Skagit Valley College, Phinney directed numerous coaching, hitting and pitching clinics for club, high school and college teams. He was a 1978 graduate of Burlington-Edison High School.  
Bill Roe was a fixture in the WWU track & field and cross country programs for 35 years as well as being nationally and internationally known in the administration of those sports.
 
Roe coached distance runners for the Vikings. His athletes set more than 20 school records and earned numerous NAIA and NCAA All-America honors.
 
"Bill was revered in the track & field and cross country world," said WWU Director of Athletics Steve Card. "We were blessed to have him as part of our program."
 
Roe, who was a meet director extraordinaire, passed on February 28, 2020 at 69 from a heart attack.
 
"Bill was an amazing person," said 35-year head WWU Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Pee Wee Halsell. "He loved doing cross country and track meets and road races. Setting up for events was what he did and that's what he loved."
 
"He was an icon in northwest running and impacted people all over the world. He was a very kind man, very giving, never had any enemies. He was opinionated, but always listened - a good friend."
 
Roe was a long-time USA Track & Field official and leader. He served as President of the USATF for two terms from 2000 to 2008. The founder of Seattle's Club Northwest in 1972 and of the Pacific Northwest Association of USATF in 1973, Roe's resume includes work in nearly all capacities of the sport: as a coach, meet director, clinician, official, administrator, and executive. He also was founder of Northwest Runner magazine.
 
"Bill Roe was a dedicated loyal advocate for and an integral part of our sport," said USATF CEO Max Siegel. "His knowledge and kindness will be missed by everyone he knew in his nearly 50 years of service. Bill Roe is irreplaceable."
 
Roe was a member of the founding USATF (then TAF) Board of Directors in 1979 and served on the organization's Board of Directors from 1986 until 2009. He became one of three vice presidents in 1988, re-elected in 1990 to a second two-year term. In 1992 and 1994, he served two-year terms as secretary, and in 1996 was re-elected to the position of vice president for a four-year term. He served as an international team leader or coach nine times during his career.
 
Roe, who was elected to the World Athletics (formerly IAAF) Cross Country Committee in 2015, directed the USA team to four World Cross Country Championship appearances from 2001 to 2004.
 
Roe was a U.S. delegate to the IAAF World Congress in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. He was a Master official and referee from the time USATF's certification program was founded in 1980. He directed a number of track & field meets, cross country meets and road races each year, including a series of a dozen summer all-comers meets in Seattle that began in 1969.
 
Roe moved to Bellingham in 1985 to pursue an advanced degree in education, and was a graphic designer/desktop publisher for Western's Woodring College of Education from 1989 until 2002. After that, he freelanced in graphics and publishing in Bellingham and Seattle, and in event management throughout the Northwest, while continuing to coach at WWU.
 
A 1968 graduate of Nathan Hale High School in Seattle and the University of Washington (General Studies – Sports Programs Administration) in 1973, he earned a teaching credential from WWU in 1989.
 
"Bill was an accomplished leader, coach, and administrator in our sport, said Dr. Ralph Vernacchia, former WWU Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Coach and nationally known Sports Psychologist. "His selfless service and invaluable contributions to the WWU Cross Country and Track & Field programs and the University over 35 years are a fitting tribute to his legacy."  
Dr. John Utendale was an elite player and hockey activist as a part of a groundbreaking career in sport and higher education.
 
In 1955, Utendale became the first Black hockey player to sign an NHL contract. He never played for the Detroit Red Wings, but that was the time of just the six original teams and signing a contract meant that you were an exceptional player.
 
In 1972, Utendale became the first Black faculty member in Western's School of Education. He led the university's Student Personnel Administration graduate program for more than 25 years. His program was one of the first that intensely recruited and dramatically increased the number of minority students at now Woodring College of Education.
 
Utendale, who retired from Western in 2001, was the school's Faculty Athletic Representative for 11 years (1985-96). During that time, he served a two-year term as chair of the NAIA Council of FARs.
 
As a FAR, Utendale was the school President's liaison with athletics and as chair of the national FAR council, he was an ex-officio member of the Council of Presidents, the main NAIA governing body. A school's FAR, who cannot be a member of the athletic department, does the final certification of athletic eligibility for its student-athletes.
 
Utendale was nationally recognized for his academic work by his peers and moved into full professorship at Western. His distinguished career with WWU included many posts, among them president of the State Higher Education Personnel Board, chair of the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations, director of the Seattle Urban Centre, program chair of Human Resources Development and president of the Northwest Association of Student Affairs Professionals.
 
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Utendale, a graduate of Victoria Composite High School, received a teaching certificate from the University of British Columbia in 1961. He returned to Edmonton and earned his bachelor's degree in just two years (1965) at the University of Alberta.
 
Utendale obtained his master's degree (1968) at Eastern Washington University and was hired at Washington State University. During his three-year tenure (1969-72), he was assistant dean of students, academic coordinator for the athletic department, a member of the Washington State Human Rights commission, and taught a course in the Black studies department, all while completing work on his Doctorate in Education degree (1972).
 
From WSU, Utendale moved to Western, and he remained in Bellingham until his death in 2006 following a battle with cancer.
 
The love of Utendale's life, besides education, was ice hockey, which was interwoven throughout as a player and coach.
 
The NHL contract that Utendale signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 1955 came three years before Willie O'Ree broke the NHL's color barrier in 1958 with the Boston Bruins. Utendale attended three or four camps, but he never played for the Red Wings, instead seeing action for three seasons with a Wings' farm team, the Edmonton Flyers.
 
Utendale moved east for a couple years and played for four teams. He eventually returned to western Canada, married Maryan "Mickey" Maddison Leonard in 1959, and starting his university education.
 
His on-ice career ended in 1969. Had his story ended here, Utendale would already have established himself as a significant figure in the history of the sport of hockey.
 
With the conclusion of his playing career, Utendale's focus shifted to what would be a long and influential career in post-secondary education.
 
But during his time as an educator, hockey continued to play a significant role in Utendale's life. He helped found the Bellingham Area Minor Hockey Association and the city's junior A team, the Bellingham Blazers, which he also coached; and served as Western Regional Director for the Amateur Hockey Association of the U.S.
 
He coached the WWU club team for nine years, winning four straight Western United States Collegiate Club championships from 1982-85.
 
In 1980, Utendale was also an assistant training coach with the U.S. Olympic team, becoming the first Black member of the coaching staff of the national men's hockey team. That group upset a formidable Russian squad in the semifinal round and won gold at the "Miracle on Ice" Lake Placid, New York, Olympics.
 
On January 28, 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed a House Bill honoring Utendale for his lifetime of barrier-breaking contributions as an athlete, educator and civil rights trailblazer.