The Class of 2005-06 includes former women’s basketball star Carrie Coffman, former softball player and Academic All-American Amy Pera and veteran college and pro football assistant coach Pete Hoener. In addition, the 1985-86 men’s basketball team will receive a photo in the Hall of Fame.
The official induction ceremony will take place during halftime of Saturday’s Missouri Valley Conference game versus
Carrie Coffman Women’s Basketball 1991-95 Rockford, Ill. Jefferson H.S.
One of three players in Bradley women’s basketball history to record at least 1,000 points and 700 rebounds, Coffman finished her career sixth on the school’s all-time women’s basketball scoring list and she still ranks eighth today with 1,313 career points. Coffman also ranks third with 740 career rebounds and her 30 games with at least 10 boards remains a school record.
A three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 1995 and honorable mention notice in 1993 and 1994, Coffman still holds the program record for double-doubles in a season (19) and career (28). She led the Braves in scoring as a senior in 1994-95 by averaging 17.6 points per game and she paced the team in rebounding during each of her final three seasons. Coffman’s 11.6 rebounds per game during her senior season is the second-best single-season rebounding average in program history.
Pete Hoener Football 1969-70
A member of Bradley’s last football team in 1970, Pete Hoener has remained in the game as a long-time assistant coach at the college and professional level. He just completed his sixth season as an NFL assistant and his first year as the tight ends coach for the
Prior joining the 49ers, Hoener was the offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears in 2004 and he also has worked for the Cardinals, during the 1985 and 1986 seasons in
Amy Pera Softball 1992-95
A four-year letterwinner at shortstop for the Bradley softball team, Pera was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference pick (1994 and 1995) and was the 1992 Gateway Conference Rookie of the Year. In addition to being selected twice to the Valley Scholar-Athlte Team, Pera was voted a third-team GTE Academic All-American in 1995 by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
The winner of the 1995 Bradley University Watonga Award, Pera still holds the program records with 139 career runs scored and 423 assists. Her 194 career base hits and 12 home runs were school records when she graduated and now rank fourth all-time. She also still ranks third with her .343 career batting average and second with 68 stolen bases.
Pera’s play helped the Braves to a 69-28-1 record during her final two seasons in 1994 and 1995, including a
1985-86 Men’s Basketball Team
The 1985-86 Bradley men’s basketball team will be inducted into the Hall of Fame 20 years after becoming the last Missouri Valley Conference team to go unbeaten (16-0) during league play. The 1985-86 Braves posted a 32-3 overall record, tying the school record for wins in a season. The team’s 29-1 regular-season record and 22-game unbeaten streak both were the best in the nation in 1985-86.
With current head coach Jim Les running the show at point guard and supported by rising star Hersey Hawkins, the Braves earned an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament and the team’s 83-65 victory versus #20 UTEP at the West Regional in Ogden, Utah remains Bradley’s last NCAA Tournament victory. The team’s magical season came to an end two days later, falling to eventual national champion
After losing to Horace Grant’s Clemson team in the first round of the 1985 Rainbow Classic, the Braves bounced back to beat defending national champion Villanova in overtime in the second round and Wake Forest in the final round. The 1985-86 Braves also are remembered for a pair of length-of-the-court, buzzer-beating plays to win a pair of road games in a three-day period: Jan. 11 at Drake and Jan. 13 at
