TED KESSINGER of Bethany College in Kansas was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame last Saturday, July 17, at the two-day Enshrinement Festival in South Bend, Ind.
"The 2010 Divisional Hall of Fame Class consists of players and coaches who have defined excellence in our sport," said Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Ole Miss. "We share the pride felt by their families, friends and schools and look forward to immortalizing their achievements in college football's ultimate shrine."
KESSINGER, who was 219-57-1, boasts a near 80 percent all-time winning percentage, the Bethany College football program never had a losing season with coach Ted Kessinger at the helm, making him one of the most successful coaches ever in NAIA history.
In 28 seasons at Bethany, Kessinger won at least a share of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) title 16 times and took home 11 conference coach of the year honors. Nearly 400 of his players were named All-KCAC. Coaching 43 NAIA All-Americans and 49 NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes, his teams ranked in the final NAIA top 25 poll 20 times in his 28 seasons. Kessinger led his teams to 13 national championship playoff appearances and was the NAIA's winningest active coach in both percentage of victories and total wins before retiring in 2003.
The KCAC Character of Champions Award has been named in his honor, and he is a lifetime member of the American Football Coaches Association. Serving as a special consultant to Bethany College president, Kessinger resides in Lindsborg, Kan.
The complete Divisional Hall of Fame Class includes:
2010 DIVISIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS PLAYERS:
EMERSON BOOZER - Maryland Eastern Shore, HB (1962-65)
TROY BROWN - Marshall, WR (1991-92)
BRIAN KELLEY - California Lutheran, LB (1969- 72)
MILT MORIN - Massachusetts, TE (1963- 65)
COACHES:
WILLIE JEFFRIES* - 179-132-6 (.574); Howard (1984- 88), Wichita State (1979-83), South Carolina State (1973-78, 1989-2001)
TED KESSINGER - 219-57-1 (.792); Bethany (Kan.) (1976-2003)
The NFF launched its Divisional Hall of Fame program in 1996 during its annual enshrinement festival. A total of 124 players and coaches, counting this year's class, have been inducted from the divisional ranks, including Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech), Walter Payton (Jackson State), John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), and coach Eddie Robinson (Grambling State). Of the 4.72 million who have played college football since 1869, the newest class of inductees joins only 866 players and 186 coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame.
ABOUT The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Bowl, the Campbell Trophy, endowedby HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. Learn more at http://www.footballfoundation.org/.
NFF Media Contacts:
Phil Marwill, director of communications
917.579.4256
Email: pmarwill@footballfoundation.com
Hillary Jeffries, director of special projects
972-556-1000
