CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Former Cedarville University basketball coach Dr. Don Callan was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame on May 19 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
When Callan retired as the Yellow Jacket head coach in 1995, after serving in that capacity for 35 years, he was the third-winningest active coach in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He finished his career ranked 19th all-time in the NAIA with 578 victories.
Callan’s teams won four Mid-Ohio Conference championships and were National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national runners-up in 1988 and 1990. The Yellow Jackets won three NCCAA Midwest Region titles.
Callan closed out his career with eight consecutive 20-victory seasons and a .577 winning percentage.
As Cedarville’s athletic director from 1961 to 1998, Callan presided over an increase in varsity programs from two to 14. In 2003, Cedarville’s athletic center was renamed the Callan Athletic Center. He was inducted as a charter member into the Cedarville Athletic Hall of Fame as well as those of the NAIA, NCCAA and his alma mater, Taylor University.
One of the hallmarks of Callan’s career is that he was a founder of the Missions Involvement Service (MIS) at Cedarville University in keeping with his 50-year commitment to worldwide sports evangelism. According to the MIS web site, “The world needs action. Over the last four decades, thousands of students, faculty, staff, and alumni have stepped up to that challenge and served globally on short-term mission trips.”
Many other basketball legends and achievements in high school, college and professional basketball were recognized as well. The evening was a celebration of basketball, it’s rich history, and those who have contributed to the game in the state of Ohio.
For more information, go to the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame & Museum ...
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