KU Well Represented in Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026
4/8/2026 1:40:00 PM | General
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas athletics and the University of Kansas are well represented as the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (KSHOF) announced its 32 inductees for the class of 2026 on April 8.
Jayhawks who are members of the KSHOF Class of 2026 include Cassie (Wait) Valentine (volleyball) and Ricky Ross (men's basketball). Joining the aforementioned is KU long-time volleyball coach Ray Bechard. Those honorees who are KU graduates include legendary artist John Martin and soccer executive Cliff Illig.
The 32 selections, including 12 posthumous honorees, will be honored at one of three events this summer:
--July 18 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, seven Kansas baseball legends will be inducted in conjunction with a Kansas City Monarchs game.
--July 25 at the Kansas Star Casino near Wichita, Kansas.
--August 16 in the Huhtamaki Shield Club at Sporting Park Kansas City, Kansas.
From the KSHOF release:
Cassie (Wait) Valentine – Valentine was a three-year volleyball starter and 2016 Big 12 Libero of the Year at Kansas. She was the starting libero for Kansas' 2015 NCAA Championship semifinal appearance, a first in program history. Valentine was the 2016 Big 12 Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and an All-American Honorable Mention as a senior. At Gardner-Edgerton High School, Valentine was the 2013 Kansas City Star Scholar-Athlete, the Kansas Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year and a three-time Kansas State Class 6A pole vault champion.
Ricky Ross – Ross played one season of men's basketball at Kansas in 1979-80 under head coach Ted Owens. The Wichita, Kansas guard was second on the team with an 11.7 scoring average and led KU in scoring in five games, including a 30-point effort against Pepperdine. Ross is considered one of the all-time best, if not the best, high school basketball players from Wichita. He attended Wichita South and played collegiately at Kansas and Tulsa. Ross was a McDonald's All-American, leading the Wichita City League in scoring as a senior at 32.1 ppg. He was elected to the KSHOF in 2023 but has been unable to attend the ceremony in the past.
Ray Bechard – Bechard coached volleyball at KU 27 seasons and was a five-time Big 12 Coach of the Year. The Grinnell, Kansas native's Jayhawk volleyball teams made 13 NCAA appearances, advancing to the second round three times and to the championship semifinals in 2015, a first in program history. The all-time winningest coach in KU history was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2025. Bechard played basketball at Barton County Community College and graduated from Fort Hays State. He coached volleyball at Lewis High School and then at Barton County for 13 years where he was national coach of the year two times.
Others with KU ties:
John Martin – Martin graduated from Ottawa High School and the University of Kansas. His art can be viewed all over the world - known for his work with Kansas Athletics, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and athletes Buck O'Neil, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and the creation of KC Wolf. Outside of Kansas, Martin has done work for MLB, NCAA, Ryder Cup, Lee Trevino, Dean Smith, Bob Cousy, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, and various schools including creating the logo for West Virginia University.
Cliff Illig – Illig graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and the University of Kansas. He brought professional major league soccer to the state as the principal owner of Sporting Kansas City. Illig has also been a top driving force to position Kansas City as a premier soccer city in North America, including landing the 2026 World Cup in KC. 2026 Kansas Citian of the Year. Illig is the Chairman of the Kansas City Sports Commission.
Jayhawks who are members of the KSHOF Class of 2026 include Cassie (Wait) Valentine (volleyball) and Ricky Ross (men's basketball). Joining the aforementioned is KU long-time volleyball coach Ray Bechard. Those honorees who are KU graduates include legendary artist John Martin and soccer executive Cliff Illig.
The 32 selections, including 12 posthumous honorees, will be honored at one of three events this summer:
--July 18 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, seven Kansas baseball legends will be inducted in conjunction with a Kansas City Monarchs game.
--July 25 at the Kansas Star Casino near Wichita, Kansas.
--August 16 in the Huhtamaki Shield Club at Sporting Park Kansas City, Kansas.
From the KSHOF release:
Cassie (Wait) Valentine – Valentine was a three-year volleyball starter and 2016 Big 12 Libero of the Year at Kansas. She was the starting libero for Kansas' 2015 NCAA Championship semifinal appearance, a first in program history. Valentine was the 2016 Big 12 Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and an All-American Honorable Mention as a senior. At Gardner-Edgerton High School, Valentine was the 2013 Kansas City Star Scholar-Athlete, the Kansas Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year and a three-time Kansas State Class 6A pole vault champion.
Ricky Ross – Ross played one season of men's basketball at Kansas in 1979-80 under head coach Ted Owens. The Wichita, Kansas guard was second on the team with an 11.7 scoring average and led KU in scoring in five games, including a 30-point effort against Pepperdine. Ross is considered one of the all-time best, if not the best, high school basketball players from Wichita. He attended Wichita South and played collegiately at Kansas and Tulsa. Ross was a McDonald's All-American, leading the Wichita City League in scoring as a senior at 32.1 ppg. He was elected to the KSHOF in 2023 but has been unable to attend the ceremony in the past.
Ray Bechard – Bechard coached volleyball at KU 27 seasons and was a five-time Big 12 Coach of the Year. The Grinnell, Kansas native's Jayhawk volleyball teams made 13 NCAA appearances, advancing to the second round three times and to the championship semifinals in 2015, a first in program history. The all-time winningest coach in KU history was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2025. Bechard played basketball at Barton County Community College and graduated from Fort Hays State. He coached volleyball at Lewis High School and then at Barton County for 13 years where he was national coach of the year two times.
Others with KU ties:
John Martin – Martin graduated from Ottawa High School and the University of Kansas. His art can be viewed all over the world - known for his work with Kansas Athletics, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and athletes Buck O'Neil, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and the creation of KC Wolf. Outside of Kansas, Martin has done work for MLB, NCAA, Ryder Cup, Lee Trevino, Dean Smith, Bob Cousy, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, and various schools including creating the logo for West Virginia University.
Cliff Illig – Illig graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and the University of Kansas. He brought professional major league soccer to the state as the principal owner of Sporting Kansas City. Illig has also been a top driving force to position Kansas City as a premier soccer city in North America, including landing the 2026 World Cup in KC. 2026 Kansas Citian of the Year. Illig is the Chairman of the Kansas City Sports Commission.
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