Idaho State to Induct Seven into Sports Hall of Fame

Each year, Idaho State University inducts former student-athletes and dedicated Bengals to the ISU Sports Hall of Fame. For the 2023 ceremony, ISU is excited to induct seven new members to the impressively growing list of hall of famers. 

The Sports Hall of Fame Awards Brunch and Ceremony will take place on February 25 at 10 a.m. in the Wood River Room in the Pond Student Union and is free to attend. Please RSVP by emailing alumni@isu.edu or calling the Alumni Office at (208) 282-3755.

Inductees will also be highlighted that evening at the men’s basketball game as the Bengals take on Eastern Washington in Reed Gym. 

Congratulations to this year’s ISU Sports Hall of Fame inductees:

Annamarie Hofstetter – Soccer, 2006-2009

• Big Sky Conference Champions in 2006
• Earned Big Sky Female Scholar-Athlete Award all four seasons 
• First Team All-Big Sky Conference and was named CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-America, ISU’s first ever honor in soccer

From a young age, Annamarie Hofstetter developed a passion for athletics. While at Idaho State, she excelled as a center-midfielder and was named a First Team All-American by ESPN the Magazine during her senior season at ISU. She graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology.

After graduation, her athletic pursuits transitioned to triathlons, and she qualified for and raced in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI, in 2011. She received her medical degree from the University of Nevada- Reno in 2016 and completed her residency at the Family Medicine Residence of Idaho in Boise, completing the program in 2019. She now works for a St. Luke’s clinic in Southeast Boise as a primary care physician with a special interest in women’s health and integrative medicine. 

Joe Mattie – Football, 1969-1973

• 1973 Big Sky Conference First Team All-Big Sky Conference Linebacker
• Team Captain in 1973
• Single season record holder for 208 tackles in 1973, 27 in one game
• Full scholarship recipient to play linebacker (at 185 pounds!)

Joseph Edward Mattie played every sport possible. In 1969, he moved 2,400 miles cross country to a little town in Idaho and play football. He walked onto the ISU field, knowing he would have to prove himself as a valuable player and earn a scholarship knowing he didn’t have the money to pay for it otherwise. Not only was he able to prove himself, but he was also able to help his team achieve numerous accolades over the next several years. 

Mattie graduated in 1974 with a degree in education. He married the love of his life, Florence, had a beautiful daughter, and started a 38-year-long teaching career. Joe taught everything from special education to driver’s ed to football, physical education, and health. He retired in 2013 and moved to Boise, Idaho, where he still resides. 

Cassie Merkley – Track and Field,  2006-2010

• Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship in 2007
• Indoor Champions in 2008 
• Individual winner in 60 hurdles, high jump, and pentathlon
• Broke the heptathlon record at the first outdoor meet in 2008, qualifying for Nationals

Cassie Merkley grew up as a three-sport athlete in high school and first learned what a heptathlon was as she watched her sister Hillary compete in it at the Big Sky Conference Championships. Growing up in Washington, Cassie had the opportunity to compete in the heptathlon and won her first as a sophomore in high school. After that, Cassie received multiple scholarship offers to continue competing at the collegiate level. She quickly became one of the best multi-event athletes in the Big Sky, earning her first All-Conference honors as a freshman indoors. Later that Spring, the women's team won their first-ever Big Sky Championship as a team, and she again scored points individually that contributed while also starting to make her way into the top 10 all-time performances in ISU history. During her time as a Bengal, she set 5 new school records, won 4 conference championships, and punched her first ticket to the NCAA Championships. She qualified and competed in the NCAA Regional Championships every year while at ISU.

After graduating from Idaho State with a bachelor’s in secondary education and a minor in coaching, Cassie moved to Twin Falls to teach high school mathematics and coach.

Isaac Mitchell – Football, 1999-2004

• 2002 Outstanding Special Teams Player of the Year
• 2003 and 2004 Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year
• Ended career with 2,534 yards rushing, 808 receiving yards with three touchdowns
• Signed with the Buffalo Bills as a Free Agent in 2004

Isaac Mitchell's football career began at Pocatello High school earning him all-region and all-state honors. He committed to Idaho State and was recognized as one of the best running backs in the state. In 2000, he played in all 11 games and finished that year with 53 carries and 254 yards, 5th most in ISU history at that time for a freshman. In his sophomore year, he earned second-team all-Big Sky Honors, and his rushing total was fifth highest in school history. He was also only one of two players in school history to record 80+ yard-scoring plays in a single season. Isaac finished his career with 2,534 rushing yards, the third most in school history. 

Over his career at ISU had eleven 100-yard rushing games that were the second most in school history. With a successful career at Idaho State, Mitchell signed on with the Buffalo Bills in 2004. He played in the National Football League that year before returning home to Pocatello to build a very successful real estate career.  

Donell Morgan – Basketball, 1993-1995

• Won 19 games and were the Big Sky Champions in 1993-94
• First Team All-Big Sky in 1993
• Team Captain for the 1994-95 season
• Contracted to play at the professional level overseas for five years

Donell Morgan grew up in the inner city, starting his basketball career in high school and continuing through college, which led him to play basketball around the world. After retiring from basketball, Donell worked first-hand with troubled youth at Echo Glen Children’s Center, a detention home where he helped young men & women piece their lives back together. For ten years, he coached basketball at Umpqua Community College, kick-starting his mentorship of young African American men and becoming the first African American coach in Douglas County. 

Morgan worked to open two Boys and Girls clubs in his hometown of Tacoma. As executive director at Elevate Oregon, he continues to mentor students and build life-changing relationships. An energetic and engaging speaker with an MBA from Willamette University, Morgan aims to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders who will transform communities and build a better future. 

Richard Rodgers – Football, 1972-1975

• 1st Team All-Big Sky Conference Center in 1975
• Team Captain in 1975
• All-American 2nd Team Center
• All-American NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship in 1976

Rich Rodgers was never a fan of large cities but instead had an attraction to hunting and fishing and living out West. Attending Idaho State while earning a degree in biological sciences with an emphasis in conservation enabled him to hunt, fish, ski, and play football.

Upon graduation, Rodgers attended the University of Idaho after receiving the NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship and received his master's degree in range conservation. He worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Moscow while earning his degree and then moved to Challis, Idaho, where he worked as a range conservationist for the U.S. Forest Service. He was later employed by the Salmon National Forest and became Assistant District Ranger in Leadore, ID. 

Rodgers was diagnosed with cancer in March 1993. He made a valiant effort to fight the disease as he underwent cancer treatment for a year. During that year, when he wasn't in treatment, he worked with the determination and professionalism for which he was known among family, friends, and teammates. In February 1994, Rodgers lost the only fight he wasn't able to win and passed away at the age of 39. Rodgers was the sole recipient of the United States Forest Service Western Regional Bob Day Award in recognition of his accomplishments in range resource management while coping with his terminal illness. 

Jerry Miller – Lifetime Achievement Award, 1982

• Since 1982, broadcasted 2,124 games for ISU’s football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer, volleyball, and softball
• Called ISU’s 5-4 shootout win over #14 Utah in SLC in 2003
• Served as President of the Gate City Rotary Club during the 2012-2013 term

Jerry Miller came to ISU from KSL Radio where he was the sports editor and backup announcer for BYU Basketball and the Utah Jazz. His ISU sport contract included football and men’s basketball, which ran for 12 years. After taking over as general manager at KISU, Miller began broadcasting women's games in the 2000-01 season, starting with basketball. He covered women’s basketball, volleyball, soccer, and softball in addition to men’s basketball and football. 

Miller also served as President of the Gate City Rotary Club during the 2012-2013 term, where he came up with the ISU flag fundraising idea. As a result, the club now posts about 500 ISU flags at Pocatello/Chubbuck homes and businesses for every ISU home football game.