Ball State University Athletics
Inductees Named for 2026 Class of Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame
July 20, 2026 | Baseball, Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Women's Basketball, Women's Swimming and Diving, Women's Volleyball
Ceremony to take place on Oct. 2, 2026 at the Alumni Center
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State Athletics is pleased to announce its 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame induction class. This year's prestigious group features seven legendary Cardinals who have achieved extraordinary success during their collegiate careers in Muncie and as professionals, too.
The 2026 induction class includes Alex Call (baseball), Duane Clemens (men's basketball), Jahwan Edwards (football), Nathalie Fontaine (women's basketball), Dawn Ford (swimming & diving), Alyssa Rio (women's volleyball) and the historic 1972 men's golf team.
About the 2026 inductees:
Alex Call (baseball, 2014-16): A 2025 World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Call was originally a third-round draft pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2016. At Ball State, he was the 2016 MAC Player of the Year, a first team All-American and a first team Academic All-American. He ranks ninth in program history with a .351 career batting average and eighth in career hits (238). His professional journey includes stints with the Cleveland Guardians and Washington Nationals before winning a title with the Dodgers.
(Due to the Major League Baseball season Alex Call will be recognized at a later date)
Duane Clemens (men's basketball, 1997-00): Clemens led the Cardinals to the 2000 MAC Tournament championship, earning Tournament MVP honors and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, where he tied an NCAA Tournament record with eight steals against UCLA. A 2000 USBL draft selection, he finished his career sixth on Ball State's all-time scoring chart (1,585 points) and second in career steals (249). He led the team in scoring during both his junior (16.3 ppg) and senior (18.7 ppg) seasons.
Jahwan Edwards (Football, 2011-14): Edwards leaves an unmatched legacy as Ball State's career rushing leader with 4,558 yards and an all-time school record 51 rushing touchdowns. He is the only player to lead the Cardinals in rushing for four consecutive seasons and was a three-time All-MAC honoree. Following his historic college career, the powerhouse running back spent time with five NFL organizations including the Chargers, Falcons, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Browns.
Nathalie Fontaine (women's basketball, 2013-16): Fontaine surpassed hall of famer Tamara Bowie to become the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,166 points. The 2016 MAC Player of the Year and AP honorable mention All-American holds school records for single-game points (43), career games started (130) and free throws made (541), while guiding the Cardinals to four WNIT appearances. Internationally, she is a mainstay for the Swedish National Team and has starred in elite European leagues across Germany, Greece and Italy.
Dawn Ford (women's swimming & diving, 1990-93): One of the most dominant divers in conference history, Ford was named a two-time MAC Diver of the Year (1992 and 1993). She was a three-time first team All-MAC selection and captured three individual MAC championships, winning the 1-meter diving title in 1991 and 1993, and the 3-meter diving crown in 1993. She held both the 1-meter and 3-meter school records at the conclusion of her career.
Alyssa Rio (women's volleyball, 2007-10): The 2010 CVU.com Libero of the Year and MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Rio ranks second in program history with 2,089 career digs and a 5.03 digs-per-set average. She holds the school record for most matches with 20-or-more digs (49) and delivered a career-high 44 digs against Western Michigan in 2010, marking the fourth-highest single-match total in Ball State history.
1972 Men's Golf Team: Finishing the season ranked 14th in the nation, this legendary squad posted an 11-2 record in dual matches and a 36-4 match play record over a three-year span. They captured tournament titles at the Notre Dame Invitational and Purdue Invitational, and advanced to the NCAA Championships. The historic team featured four first team all-conference selections (Dick Falls, Rocky Schooley, Bob Koschman and Max Minnick) and produced four future PGA Members.
