Lonnie Kruse retired from coaching basketball two years ago, but his awards keep coming. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Sept. 15 that Lonnie Kruse is among the 2016 Hall of Fame inductees. Kruse was the head coach for the Sterling College Women’s Basketball team from 1981-2014 and was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in October 2015. He ended his career as winningest coach in Kansas women’s basketball history with a record of 706-244.

“Lonnie left a legacy at Sterling College, not just because of his record or the length of his coaching career, but what he stood for. He is a stellar coach and a real role model to his athletes and the coaches he worked with. I only worked with Lonnie for four of the years he was a coach, but I can say that he is very deserving of this Hall of Fame induction by the quality of student-athlete he produced and the testimonies that continue to pour into our office. I am proud to call him a Warrior,” said Gary Kempf, Sterling College Athletic Director.

Lonnie Kruse completed 33 seasons as Head Coach of the Sterling College women's basketball program. Under Kruse's direction, the Lady Warrior basketball program had 30 straight winning seasons from 1982-2012, and it has become known for being one of the strongest women's collegiate basketball programs in the state of Kansas and in the NAIA.

With Kruse at the helm, the Warriors won 12 KCAC regular season championships and made 16 NAIA National Tournament appearances, including ten Sweet Sixteen appearances, two Elite Eight appearances, and one NAIA Final Four appearance. He was named the KCAC Coach of the Year 12 times during his career.

In total, Kruse coached 66 players to earn first-team All-Conference selections, 18 NAIA All-American selections, and 42 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes. Kruse's honors included being inducted to the Sterling College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994, being the namesake for the Sterling College basketball court in 2013 and the KCAC Coach of the Year award named in his honor in 2014.

Kruse’s induction ceremony will take place at the Women’s Division II National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa, March 8-14, 2017, at the Tyson Events Center.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.