Former president and wife headline 2024 CWU Athletics Hall of Fame class

CWU Athletics inducted its 2024 Hall of Fame class on Saturday, May 4, inside Nicholson Arena.

This year’s class includes CWU President Emeritus Jim Gaudino and his wife, Katie, whose support for Central’s athletics programs was evident from the time they arrived on campus in 2009.

Over the 12 years that Gaudino was president, he and his wife attended nearly every Wildcat home event. Gaudino played a significant role in phase one of the Wildcat Commons Project, which included the renovation of Tomlinson Stadium and the construction of the Recreation Sports Complex and track and field facility.

He was also crucial in securing $55.5 million in funding for the freshly done renovation of Nicholson Pavilion — a project that was completed in fall 2023. Joining the Gaudinos in this year’s Hall of Fame class are: 

• Shaina Afoa, a three-sport athlete in basketball, track and field, and volleyball;
• Greg Olson, a former CWU football assistant coach who most recently served as quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks last season; and
• Johnny Spevak, a former football and basketball standout for the Wildcats. 

Spevak (’10) still holds four CWU football career records: receptions (318), receiving yards (4,426), receiving touchdowns (54), and touchdowns scored (54), and set 10 Great Northwest Conference records during his four years with the Wildcats.

       

Afoa (’11) is an associate head coach for the Alaska-Anchorage women’s basketball team, and Olson (’86) has been an NFL coach since 2001. He also served on the CWU coaching staff from 1990-93.

“This year's Hall of Fame class is a great example of what it takes to have a successful athletics program,” CWU Director of Athletics Dennis Francois said earlier this year. “They include student-athletes who graduated from Central and went on to accomplish great things in their lives, as well as administrators — and their significant others — who support athletics and the impact they have on the university as a whole.”