Dean inducted into ECU Hall of Fame
Jun. 10—Rogers State University Dean Dr. Susan Willis was inducted into the East Central University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Willis was inducted with ECU's 2005 men's cross country team for being the first team from ECU to advance to the NCAA National Championships. Willis is currently the School of Professional Studies Dean at RSU, but served as coach for men and women's cross country for 13 years at ECU.
"During that time she qualified runners to participate in the National Championship 11 out of 13 years," according to an ECU press release. "Her runners won four All-American awards and many all-region and all-conference awards."
Willis was an athlete herself, playing basketball and running cross country. She has also earned the titles of LSC and NCAA Central Regional Coach of the Year. Willis said being inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame is meaningful to her because she was inducted with her team.
"It's wonderful," Willis said. "It was special because I shared it with that team... It's just nice to look back on what we did and feel like we made a difference."
Willis took on the role as coach in addition to being a professor. She said she cherished building relationships with her athletes.
"They are just the best student athletes I think there are," Willis said. "They are so disciplined and just good students. I enjoyed the relationships I had with them so much."
Her team finished 11th in the National Championship in 2005.
"I thank all of my athletes because they made me look good," she said.
