BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue University is proud to announce the induction of two former student-athletes, one athletic contributor, and one exceptional team into the Bellevue University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024. The inductees include JeLani Johnson (Men's Basketball, 2008-12), Gloria Mosser (Athletic Contributor, 1972-Present), Amanda Neumann Thompson (Softball, 2011-13), and the national runner-up 2003-04 Men's Basketball Team.
JeLani Johnson, Men's Basketball (2008-12)
JeLani Johnson, a standout player from 2008 to 2012, etched his name into Bellevue University basketball history with his stellar performances throughout his career.
Johnson's achievements include earning Third Team All-American honors in 2012 while also being named the BU Male Athlete of the Year for 2011-12. Additionally, he earned the title of MCAC Defensive Player of the Year and landed a spot on the All-Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference first team.
Johnson's outstanding accomplishments were recognized by the Omaha World-Herald, which named him to the NAIA All-Nebraska first team.
His impressive statistics include being the most recent 1,000-point scorer in school history and ranking 13th all-time in scoring (1,071) in BU men's basketball history. Johnson also holds the fourth position in career steals (135), sixth in career assists (322), and 12th in career rebounds (456).
Johnson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from BU in 2012. He currently resides in Omaha and is employed at Bellevue University as a Content Marketing Specialist.
Johnson and his wife, Stephanie, have three children: JeLani, Jack, and Jaida.
Gloria Mosser, Athletic Contributor (1972-Present)
Gloria Mosser was the person behind the person that built the Bruin athletic program from the ground up. As the wife of Jerry Mosser, she worked tirelessly to help him establish the athletic programs and traditions that Bellevue University enjoys today.
Mosser has been a guiding force and a "mother away from home" for many, many Bruin athletes. To this day, she is still politely and respectfully called Mrs. Mosser. She attended all of the athletic games and events, hauling her own children, and continues to attend contests today bringing now her grandchildren.
Mosser is fiercely supportive of Bellevue University. She was always there to provide food, support, and a helping hand, regardless of what that required. Although Coach (Jerry) Mosser has been remembered for his leadership and guidance of the Bellevue University Athletics programs, Gloria Mosser was always by his side, supporting the charge.
Amanda Neumann Thompson, Softball (2011-13)
Amanda Neumann Thompson left an indelible mark on Bellevue University softball with her outstanding performances from 2011 to 2013.
Neumann Thompson's accolades include being named a second-team NAIA All-American in 2013, earning the title of MCAC Player of the Year twice (2011, 2013), and MCAC Pitcher of the Year in 2011. Her remarkable achievements extend to the academic realm, as she was recognized as a three-time MCAC Scholar-Athlete and a two-time Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Her prowess on the field is evident in her impressive career statistics, where she ranks among the top 10 in numerous categories, including Home Runs: 3rd (48), RBIs: 3rd (182), Most Wins: 6th (51), and Lowest opponent batting average 4th (.221).
Thompson Neumann earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bellevue University in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Administration and Crime Management. She is currently the President of Fleet & Procurement at HorsePower Brands.
Thompson Neumann is married to former Bruin Baseball standout Brandon Thompson. They have three sons: Patrick, age 7; Miles, age 5; and two-year-old Thomas.
2003-04 Men's Basketball Team
The 2003-04 men's basketball squad carved its name in program history with its remarkable achievements, culminating in an appearance in the NAIA national championship game.
After starting the season with a 6-5 record, including two losses to NCAA Division II teams at the Maverick Classic in Omaha, the team embarked on an extraordinary 27-game winning streak, setting a program record, ending with a memorable run to the National Championship game, finishing with an impressive 33-6 overall record.
Capturing the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) regular-season championship with a flawless 14-0 record, the team displayed dominance with only two games decided by less than 10 points. Their journey continued with a triumphant conquest of the MCAC Tournament, showcasing a remarkable 24.5 points per game margin of victory. The semifinal saw a commanding victory over Newman with a score of 87-60, followed by a decisive win against College of Ozarks in the final, ending with a score of 90-68.
Earning distinction as the first Final Four team in program history, the 2003-04 squad built upon the foundation of their Elite 8 appearance in the previous season. Their path to the championship game included victories over St. Scholastica (78-55), Siena Heights (78-75), MidAmerica Nazarene (74-50), and Sioux Falls (70-62). Although they fell short in the final against Oregon Tech (81-72), their remarkable journey left an indelible mark on the program's legacy.
Individual accolades further underscore the team's excellence, with Jared Anderson and Brent Heller earning spots on the NAIA II National Championship All-Tournament Team. Head Coach Todd Eisner, a Hall of Fame inductee from the class of 2017, was honored as the MCAC Coach of the Year. Additionally, Brent Heller and James Mills received All-MCAC 1st Team honors, while Clint Duis earned All-MCAC Honorable Mention accolades.
Noteworthy statistical achievements include Brent Heller's impressive rankings in the top 10 nationally in four categories, including total assists, total steals, assists per game, and steals per game.
As a team, the Bruins ranked second in the nation in scoring defense per game, giving up just 62.9 points per contest and third in scoring margin at +14.8 points per game. BU finished the season ranked sixth nationally in field goal percentage at 49.2% percent and 12th in steals per game at 10.28 per contest.
Prior to their remarkable 27-game win streak, the 2003-04 Bruins had been allowing 70.3 points per game. From there, BU rode one of the most disruptive defenses in program history, allowing just 59.2 points per game during the streak, heading into the National Championship Game.
The Hall of Fame Ceremony
The induction ceremony will take place on the BU campus in the John B. Muller Administrative Services Building, Symposium Room on Saturday, Aug. 3. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner will commence at 6:30 p.m.
The induction ceremony will be preceded by the Hall of Fame Golf Outing on Friday, Aug. 2, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Eagle Hills Golf Course in Papillion.
More information regarding registration for the ceremony will be provided shortly via the BUBruins.com website.
Note: The Bellevue University Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2013 to honor former athletes, coaches, teams, and administrators who have helped create a proud tradition in intercollegiate competition at Bellevue University.
