2023 Kirkwood Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced
Cedar Rapids, IA – Kirkwood Community College Athletic Department has announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The three-member class will be officially inducted on February 3, 2023.
The Athletics Hall of Fame class features three highly decorated individuals in Kirkwood athletic history, two former Kirkwood student-athletes, and a prominent head coach. The inductees are Willie Collazo (Baseball, 1997-99), Cade Pleggenkuhle (Men's Golf, 1999-2001), and Kim Muhl (Women's Basketball Head Coach, 1989-present).
This year's class will be recognized with a formal social, dinner, and induction on Friday, February 3rd at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The class will also be recognized between the Kirkwood Women's and Men's Basketball games vs. North Iowa CC on Saturday, February 4, 2023.
Interested parties can now make plans to join the festivities and may purchase dinner tickets at the following link | www.kirkwood.edu/halloffame (by January 27, 2023)
Willie Collazo – Baseball, 1997-99
- NJCAA All-American First Team (1999)
- 3rd place finish at the NJCAA World Series (1998)
- Completed his collegiate career at Florida International University – NCAA Division I
- ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-America Second Team (2001)
- Drafted by the Atlanta Braves - 10th round of MLB Draft (2001)
- Pitched for Team Puerto Rico in the 1st MLB World Baseball Classic (2006)
- Made his MLB debut for the New York Mets on Sept 5, 2007 vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Played professionally for the Marlins, Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays
- Minor League Pitching Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays (2013)
- Named the pitching coach at Florida International University (2019)
Cade Pleggenkuhle – Men's Golf, 1999-01
- NJCAA All-American First Team, 4th place finish - NJCAA Golf Championship (2000)
- NJCAA All-American Third Team, 11th place finish - NJCAA Golf Championship (2001)
- Transferred to the University of West Florida, where he competed for one season (2002)
- Completed his collegiate career at the University of Iowa (2004)
- No. 1 golfer for the Univ. of Iowa Men's Golf Team (2004)
- Voted Hawkeye Men's Golf MVP (2004)
- Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Winner (2004)
Kim Muhl – Head Women's Basketball Coach, 1989-present
- 34 years as Women's Basketball Head Coach, current overall record of *991-167, overall win %.856 (*as of 1/4/23)
- Home record, current *408-33, home win %.926 (*as of 1/4/23)
- 8 NJCAA Division II National Championships
- NJCAA Women's Basketball National Coach of the Year (2022)
- US Marine Corps Coach of the Year (2017)
- NJCAA Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (2011)
- WBCA | Russell Athletic JC/CC Coach of the Year (2007)
- 8x NJCAA National Tournament Coach of the Tournament
- 20x NJCAA National Tournament appearances
- The only NJCAA Women's Basketball coach to complete an undefeated season
- 20x District Coach of the Year
- One player drafted to play professionally
- Estimate 510+ women's basketball players recruited and coached over his tenure
- Coached 44 All-American players
- 10 years as Kirkwood Softball Head Coach with an overall record of 391-138, .738%
- 34-year Kirkwood Faculty member
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