Six legendary athletes and one iconic head coach set to join the ranks of Spartan greatness this September
Michigan State University has a storied history of athletes and many more will get to join the Hall of Fame Class in 2026. Plenty of great athletes and coaches have appeared at Michigan State across the school's long and storied history. Recently, on Thursday, July 16, the University Athletics Department announced their 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees. The Hall of Fame Class for the Spartans consists of six athletes spanning multiple decades and one head coach. Those six athletes include Lindsay Bowen, Dan Currie, Tico Duckett, Sue Latter-Addison, Kalin Lucas, and Leah O’Connor-Falland. The one head coach being inducted into the 2026 Hall of Fame Class is Walt Drenth. They will be joining a plethora of athletes and coaches that include the likes of Duffy Daugherty, Mark Dantonio, Mateen Cleaves, Bubba Smith, Kirk Gibson, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Sue Selke, etc.
Walt Drenth
Drenth was a track and field head coach at Michigan State University from 2004-2020. Drenth started in 2004 as just the head coach of the men’s cross country team and assistant track and field coach for the men’s team. On June 2, 2026, Drenth was named the director of the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country programs. Drenth led MSU track and field and cross country to great success in his time with the Spartans. He tallied up 729 Academic All-Big Ten honorees, 180 All-Americans, 81 Academic All-Americans and 169 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars. He has won five Big Ten titles in women’s cross country and a Big Ten Coach of the Year. A well deserved induction for Coach Drenth.
Leah O’Connor-Falland
O’Connor-Falland was one of Drenth’s cross and track runners from 2011-2015 with the Michigan State Spartans. She was a key contributor in helping the Spartans earn their first NCAA National Championship in cross country in 2015. In that same season she led the Spartans to their second straight Big Ten championship. In 2014 O’Connor-Falland was named Big Ten women’s cross country athlete of the year. A storied career for her as a representative of Drenth’s cross country and track teams with the Spartans.
Kalin Lucas
Lucas was a member of the men’s basketball team from 2007-2011 under Tom Izzo. Lucas was a Big Ten Player of the Year his sophomore season with the Spartans. He was also Michigan State’s MVP that season in which he led the team in scoring and helped them reach the National Championship game against North Carolina. Lucas has three All-Big Ten selections and is the fifth leading scorer in Spartans men’s basketball history. While Lucas did not end up playing much in the NBA, his accolades at MSU have earned him a well deserved spot in the Hall of Fame.
Sue Latter-Addison
Latter-Addison was in women’s cross country and track and field in the 1970s from 1975-1978 for the Spartans. She was a conference champion, a former head coach, and an All-American. In 1977 she helped MSU to their first team title. In 1978, she was a top scoring member for the women’s cross country team for the Spartans. Her career defining moment came at AAU Nationals where she won the national title in the 800 finishing with a time of 2:03.75 which stands as the MSU record in the event to this day.
Tico Duckett
Duckett attended MSU from 1989-1992 where he played football and ran track and field. Most of Duckett’s accomplishments came while playing football for the Spartans. Duckett was the Big Ten’s leading rusher in 1990 in his Redshirt Freshman season. A season in which he had the game winning touchdown against number one ranked Michigan on October 13, 1990. Duckett is to this day one of three Spartans with more than 4,000 career rushing yards. He also received two All-Big Ten selections in his time with the Spartan football team.
Dan Currie
Currie played football with the Spartans from 1955-1957 and was coached by Duffy Daugherty. He passed away in 2017. Currie was a three-year letterwinner for the Spartans in his time with the team. He was a starter on the offensive line playing guard for two years and center for his senior season. In that season he was also named the Spartans’ team MVP and earned First Team All-American Honors.
Lindsay Bowen
Bowen played women’s basketball from 2002-2006. Bowen was the main piece in helping the Spartans women’s team reach their first ever Final Four in 2005. Bowen joins two teammates from that 2005 roster who are already in the MSU Hall of Fame. Shimek and Kristin Haynie. She is MSU’s career leader in minutes played and fifth all-time in MSU history in points scored. That 2005 season was the most successful season for Spartans in women’s basketball history. Bowen has earned her spot in the MSU Hall of Fame.
These athletes and one coach will join the ranks of the greatest Spartans to ever grace the Athletics Department while at Michigan State University. A high accomplishment to achieve for each of these individuals as they join the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. The celebration for the inductees will be on Friday, September 11 and they will be recognized at the Eastern Michigan game on Saturday, September 12.
