Miami Ohio University Athletics
1990 Hall of Fame Inductees
1990 Hall of Fame Members
Charlie Coles '65: Charlie Coles ranks among Miami's all-time scoring list with 1,096 points. He lettered three years (1963-65) for coach Dick Shrider, who was inducted into Miami's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. A second-team all-Mid-American Conference selection for two years, he still ranks among Miami's career leaders for scoring average (15.4 ppg) and free-throw percentage (.802). Coles also owns one of the top-10 single-game scoring marks wirh 41 points against Miami (Fla.). He is in his second stint as a head men's basketball coach in the Mid-American Conference. Coles spent six seasons guiding the Central Michigan program where he earned MAC Coach of the Year accolades in 1986-87. The Chippewas posted a 22-8 mark and won the conference championship that season. Coles returned to his alma mater in 1995-96 as an assistant coach under Herb Sendek before taking the reigns to the program in 1996-97. In 1998-99, he guided the RedHawks through a magical season, which culminated in a berth to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. During his Miami tenure, his teams made an unprecidented five-straight MAC Championship game appearances, while two of his teams captured the regular-season MAC title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Rodger Cromer: Cromer guided Miami to 11 MAC titles in 1970, 1974, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1996 during his career as Miami's golf coach. Eight times he was been voted the "Coach of the Year" in the MAC, including four consecutive years from 1987-90. He was selected the 19898 NCAA District 4 "Coach of the Year" and was among the eight finalists for the national honor. Former Miami golfers Bob Lohr '83, Mark Brewer '87, and Mike Pero "89 are currently members of the PGA Tour. Lohr captured the Walt Disney World Open in 1988 and was 23rd on the PGA Tour money list. Both Brewer and Pero are members of the Canadian PGA Tour. Chris Roderick "70, a former head pro at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, was inducted into Miami's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. A 1962 graduate of Ohio University, Cromer earned his master's degree from Miami in 1963. He was inducted into the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996.
Dennis Smith '73: Smith is one of only four Miami baseball players to earn All-America honors; in his 1973 All-America season he helped lead the Redskins to their first MAC title and No. 14 final national ranking as team MVP. A right fielder and first baseman, he earned four letters from 1970-73 and helped the Redskins compile a 111-39 record under coach Bud Middaugh, who was inducted into Miami's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. This .740 winning percentage over a span of four consecutive years is the highest in Miami baseball history. At the time of his graduation, Smith ranked as Miami's all-time leader in eight categories: runs batted in (120), home runs (21), total bases (280), batting average (.342), doubles (32), runs (119), total hits (168) and triples (8). He is the only Miami baseball player to be selected All-America, three time first-team All-MAC and two time All-District. Following graduation in 1973, Smith was drafted into professional baseball by the Texas Rangers. Since he wore uniform #22 for Miami, it seems appropriate that he be inducted into the 22nd class.
Dave Thelen '58: Thelen earned three letters as a fullback and played on two MAC championship teams under charter member of Miami's Athletic Hall of Fame in coaches Ara Parseghian and John Pont from 1955-57. Selected first-team all-MAC in his last two years, he led the Redskins in rushing with 635 yards and six touchdowns in 1956 and 755 yards and nine touchdowns in 1957. He played professional football in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts. Thelen played in four CFL All-Star games in 1959, 1960, 1963 and 1964. In CFL history, he ranks fourth in carries with 1,530 and fifth in rushing yardage with 8,463. He rushed for 100 or more yards in 30 games, which ranks third in CFL history.