The Bellevue University Athletics Hall of Fame began in 2013 to honor former athletes, administrators, teams and supporters who have helped to create the proud tradition of Bruin athletics.
The Hall of Fame discussions began in 2011/2012. Initially, it was part of a conversation between Bellevue University Athletic Director, Ed Lehotak, and former BU athletes, Buzz Garlock and Kevin Riley to honor the work and accomplishments of the man affectionately known as “Coach” Jerry Mosser. Early in the conversations, we expanded the group to include Ron Petak, retired editor of the Bellevue Leader, Joe Foral, former baseball coach at BU, Trish Siedlik, Head Volleyball Coach at BU, and the Mossers. Many lunches were shared at the Summer Kitchen in LaVista. As a result of these conversations, in 2013, the university honored Coach Mosser by naming the basketball/volleyball court in the Lozier Center as Coach Jerry Mosser Court. In the same year the Bellevue University Athletic Hall of Fame was instituted. Coach Jerry Mosser was the first and only inductee during the inaugural ceremony. Another way to honor Coach Mosser was the development of the Jerry and Gloria Mosser Scholarship Fund to assist Bruin athletes as they navigate the challenges of educational expenses. To fund this scholarship, a golf outing was started in the Fall of 2013. This event continues as the major fund-raising event for the scholarship fund.
Coach Jerry Mosser was an accomplished athlete. Coach attended Omaha Technical High School and was a starting guard for the 1963 state championship team that featured Freddie Hare and coached by Neal Mosser, Coach’s father. Many believe this to be the finest boy’s high school basketball team in the history of Nebraska sports. Coach went on to Creston (Iowa) Junior College where he met Gloria Pfundheller. They married in 1968. He finished his college career at Idaho State University, where he was a starter on the basketball and baseball teams. The basketball team included NBA star, Ron Boone. Following graduation, Coach served our country in the Joint Security Area of the DMZ in Korea.
Coach Mosser was hired in the Spring of 1972 to be the Athletic Director, men’s basketball coach, and baseball coach. When Coach Mosser started at Bellevue College, the athletic program consisted of a men’s basketball program, wrestling program, men’s golf program, and baseball program. The wrestling and golf programs were discontinued in the early 70’s. The fledgling basketball and baseball programs played under very challenging conditions. The basketball team played in the shell of what is now the Lozier Center. It was poorly lit, cold in the winter, had two tiny locker rooms and a tile playing floor. The baseball team played at Baldwin Field, and it was often difficult to find enough players to compete. The southern trip was to Peru State. Despite these challenges, Coach Mosser and his wife Gloria tirelessly built the Bellevue University Athletic programs into what they are today…nationally known, highly accomplished, and widely respected!
Coach Mosser brought a legitimacy to the basketball and baseball programs and the Athletic Department. He was well known in the Metro Omaha area, and his programs quickly became competitive and respected. His teams reflected his competitiveness, drive, and preparedness, and performed in a manner that reflected well on the program and the college/university. Coach had very high expectations for his athletes and himself. His lessons and legacy will forever live on in the many, many young lives he has forever influenced.
Since the Fall of 1972, the athletic program, under the leadership of Coach Mosser, grew from Men’s Basketball and Baseball to include Women’s Volleyball in 1976, Women’s Soccer in 1994, Men’s Soccer in 1995, and Women’s Softball in 1997. In continuing this legacy after Coach Mosser’s retirement, Ed Lehotak became the Athletic Director and added Men’s and Women’s Golf in 2011, Women’s Basketball in 2016, eSports in 2017, and Men’s and Women’s Cross Country in 2018.
It would be a mistake not to recognize the many contributions of Gloria Mosser. If there was an event that involved the athletic department, Gloria was at the side of Coach, doing whatever was needed to make the event/game a success. During their years at Bellevue University, Coach and Gloria acted as organizers, marketers, promoters, greeters, concessions workers, laundry workers, drivers, cleaners, advisors, supervisors, counselors, consolers, motivators, confidants, and “mom and dad” to many BU athletes and staff members. Gloria has been a loyal and fierce supporter of BU Athletics, and the devotion continues to this day.
