CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced today the 2023 MAC Hall of Fame Induction Class as five new members are inducted in the MAC Hall of Fame.
The five inductees are Kourtney Brown (Buffalo -- women’s basketball), Mickey Cochrane (Bowling Green -- men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse), Ron Harper (Miami -- men’s basketball), Greg Jennings (Western Michigan -- football) and Herb Page (Kent State -- football, hockey, men’s golf).
“We have such a storied history within our Conference and it is important to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these five individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference,” said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. “We are honored to welcome this year’s class to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame.”
“The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame is a testament to the achievements of those that have competed and served in this great Conference,” added Steinbrecher.
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year’s class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 119 individuals from 17 classes.
The 2023 MAC Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Thursday, June 1st at the Metropolitan at The 9 in Cleveland, Ohio.
2023 MAC Hall of Fame Class:
Kourtney Brown – Buffalo (women’s basketball)
Brown played for the Bulls from 2006-11 and is Buffalo's all-time leader in blocked shots (260) and field goals made (805) while ranking second in scoring (1,995) and rebounding (1,124) and third in free throws made (385) and games played (123). In 2011, she became the first, and to this date the program's only, Mid-American Conference Player of the Year after averaging 22.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game to help lead the Bulls to a WBI postseason tournament appearance, the program’s first-ever postseason tournament invitation.
Brown finished her brilliant playing career by leading the MAC in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots her senior season and was the only player in the country in the top 10 nationally in those categories as she finished the season eighth in scoring, fifth in rebounding and blocked shots and sixth in field goal percentage.
She is a two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year and a 2011 honorable mention All-American. Brown holds the single-season MAC record for field goals made and is the MAC's career record holder for blocked shots. Off the court, Brown was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and earned Second Team Academic All-District honors in the 2010-11 season.
During the 2011-12 season, Brown played professionally in Spain for Caceres in the LF2, losing in the league semifinals. In her one year in Spain, Brown averaged 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
Following her playing career, Brown returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach for two seasons followed by two seasons on the staff at Louisiana Tech.
Brown is currently a Senior Process Integration Engineer at Samsung. She was inducted into the UB Athletic Hall of Fame in February of 2022.
Mickey Cochrane – Bowling Green (men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse)
Cornelius “Mickey” Cochrane, the father and architect of the Bowling Green State University men’s soccer and lacrosse programs, has earned nearly every award possible. He initiated both the soccer and lacrosse programs at BG in 1966, after serving as club coach of both sports at the University the year before.
On the soccer pitch, just seven short seasons after the sport’s inception at the varsity level, he coached the Falcons to the first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1972. The Falcons also captured the Ohio Conference championship in 1973 en route to that NCAA appearance.
By the time he stepped down from his coaching duties in 1977 (to concentrate on teaching as an associate professor in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation), Cochrane had compiled a 13-year record of 68-56-14 at BG, including a 61-39-10 mark over his final 10 seasons.
Cochrane received Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Coach-of-the-Year recognition on two occasions (1969 and 1972). He was bestowed the OCSA’s Honor Award in 1989 and was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993. He also is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.
Cochrane was a member of the first NCAA Soccer Tournament selection committee that shaped the inaugural tourney in 1959. He received the NSCAA's Letter of Commendation in 1964, served as the association’s president in 1969, was given the NSCAA’s prestigious Honor Award in 1978 (the association’s highest prize signifying lifetime service to the sport), and received the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America’s Jeffrey Award in 1984 for his work in the preservation of soccer history, records and memorabilia.
In lacrosse, Cochrane had an outstanding record of 88-24 in his 10 years as head coach. He led the Falcons to an undefeated season in 1970, securing the Midwest Lacrosse Association title and a Top Ten ranking by the Baltimore Sun newspaper. The Falcons also won MLA titles in 1974 and 1975. They participated in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's post season tournaments twice during his tenure.
Cochrane was named the USILA Coach of the Year in 1970 and coached in the Intercollegiate North - South All Star game in 1969 and 1974. He also coached the University's Women's Lacrosse team for a year. Cochrane was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995. Cochrane was a member of the first NCAA Tournament selection committee that shaped the sport’s inaugural tourney in 1959.
A 1952 graduate of Oberlin College, Cochrane earned three varsity letters, including two in swimming (1951 and 1952) and one in track (1952) and also participated in football and soccer. Following graduation from the school with a major in physical education, he earned his M.A. degree from the University of Maryland. Cochrane then taught physical education and coached soccer at Johns Hopkins University from 1954-64, Brook Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from 1956-57, and BGSU, of course, from 1964-77. In addition to lacrosse and soccer, Cochrane also coach wrestling, baseball, volleyball, swimming and track over the years.
Cochrane’s award list is seemingly endless. He received BGSU’s Honorary Alumnus Award in 1987, was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame half a decade later, and also is a member of the NSCAA and Oberlin University Halls of Fame. Additionally, Cochrane was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995.
Cochrane and his wife Pat still reside in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Ron Harper – Miami (men’s basketball)
Ron Harper attended Miami University where he played college basketball from 1983 to 1986. He was a standout player for the RedHawks, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors in his first season and being named to the All-MAC First Team in each of his four years.
During his college career, Harper became Miami's all-time leading scorer with 2,377 points and was also the school's all-time leader in rebounds with 1,119. He helped lead the RedHawks to two NCAA tournament appearances in 1984 and 1985, and was named the MAC Player of the Year in 1985 & 1986.
Harper's success at Miami University led to him being drafted in the first round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he began his professional basketball career. His jersey number, 34, was the first number retired by the University in recognition of his outstanding achievements on the basketball court.
Harper played for several NBA teams during his career, including the Cleveland Cavaliers (1986-1989), Los Angeles Clippers (1989-1994), Chicago Bulls (1994-1999), Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2001), and Detroit Pistons (2001-2004). He won five NBA championships during his career, three with the Chicago Bulls (1996-1998) and two with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2001).
Harper was known for his versatile playing style, as he could play both guard positions and small forward. He was also known for his defensive skills, as he was a four-time NBA All-Defensive team selection. Harper was also a skilled scorer and averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game over the course of his career.
After retiring from the NBA, Harper served as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons (2005-2007). Harper currently resides in New Jersey with his family.
Greg Jennings – Western Michigan (football)
Greg Jennings attended Western Michigan University where he played college football from 2002 to 2005. He was a standout wide receiver for the Broncos and set numerous school records during his time there.
Jennings was a four-year starter for the Broncos and was a two-time All-MAC selection. He finished his college career with 238 receptions for 3,539 yards and 39 touchdowns, all of which were school records at the time. He also set the school record for most receiving yards in a single game with 259 yards against Ball State in 2003.
Jennings' success at Western Michigan led to him being drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, where he began his professional football career. His jersey number, 15, was later retired by the university in recognition of his outstanding achievements on the football field.
Jennings played for several NFL teams during his career, including the Green Bay Packers (2006-2012), Minnesota Vikings (2013-2014), and Miami Dolphins (2015). He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and won Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers in 2011.
Jennings was known for his exceptional speed and agility on the field, as well as his ability to make clutch catches in important moments. He finished his career with 571 receptions, 8,291 receiving yards, and 64 touchdowns.
After retiring from football, Jennings pursued a career in broadcasting and has worked as a studio analyst for both Fox Sports and CBS Sports. He has also been involved in several philanthropic efforts, including the Greg Jennings Foundation, which provides academic and athletic opportunities for underprivileged youth. Jennings currently resides in Minnesota with his family.
Herb Page – Kent State (football, hockey, men’s golf)
A Markham, Ontario native, Herb Page came to Kent, Ohio, as a three-sport, student-athlete (golf, football, ice hockey) in the fall of 1970 and was a pillar in Kent State University's athletic success. His first Mid-American Conference Championship ring came as the kicker on the famed 1972 Golden Flashes football team. Page became the first member of the Varsity "K" Hall of Fame to be inducted in as both an athlete (1985) and coach (2019).
His storied career as head coach includes 17 NCAA Championship appearances with four top 10 finishes, 28 NCAA Regional appearances, 90 team tournament titles and 23 MAC Coach of the Year honors. The 1984 men's golf team earned Page his first of 23 Mid-American Conference titles as head coach.
After leading the men's golf team to 22 MAC crowns and being a part of 20 conference titles in 20 seasons from the women's team, Page is the proud owner of 43 MAC Championship rings.
Taking over in the fall of 1977, Page's 41 seasons are the most by a head coach in any sport throughout Kent State's history. For two years, Page served as a graduate assistant coach for both golf and soccer under Frank Truitt. He was also an assistant at Kent State's golf course and ice arena.
Page was instrumental in launching the women's golf program in 1998. The women's golf team has since won 20 consecutive MAC Championships, the longest streak by any sport in the history of the conference. Jan Dowling, Kent State's first recruit and one of the program's most decorated golfers, later made Kent State among the first programs to have a woman serve as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams. She is now the women's head golf coach at Michigan.
As an undergraduate at KSU, he earned eight varsity letters — four in golf and two each in football and ice hockey. He was the golf team’s captain his senior year and the placekicker for two of the most successful grid teams in school history — the 1972 MAC champions and the 1973 team that set a school record with nine victories. In 1974, Page was named the MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was drafted in the fifth round by the British Columbia Lions as a placekicker, although he never played in the Canadian Football League. In hockey, he was a starter on the first KSU hockey club team – the “Clippers”. Page was selected as “Clipper-of-the- Year” in 1971 and ranked in the top five in scoring in both his junior and senior seasons.
Page earned both his bachelor's and master's degree at Kent State. In August of 2012, the experience at his alma mater came full circle as he delivered the University's commencement address.
In 2019, Page was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Northern Ohio PGA Golf Hall of Fame, Kent State's Varsity "K" Hall of Fame, the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame and the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. In 2008, Page was honored with the GCAA Labron Harris Sr. Award, presented to the college whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of the game of golf. He was also chosen to coach the U.S. team at the 1998 World Junior Championships and the International Team at the 2018 Palmer Cup.
In September of 2007, the Ferrara and Page Golf Training Center was dedicated. The state-of-art $2.2 million facility remains one of the best in the nation. Dr. Emilio Ferrara, who served on Kent State's board of trustees provided the lead gift. A longtime mentor to Page, the pair have worked together at Windmill Lakes Golf Club for nearly four decades.
Page and his wife Paula reside in Kent, Ohio.
