VCSU Announces 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Class
Five Individuals and One Team Being Inducted
VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Valley City State University will honor five individuals and one team with induction into the VCSU Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming weekend this fall. The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held Friday, September 18, 2026, as part of VCSU Homecoming festivities.
The 2026 Hall of Fame class includes former student-athletes, coaches, and teams whose accomplishments helped shape the proud tradition of Viking Athletics. Inductees into the VCSU Athletic Hall of Fame include Al Olson ’84, Andrew Warcken ’99, Brandon Bata ’07, Sekani Milligen ’13, and the 2012–13 VCSU Men’s Basketball Team. Greg Stemen ’88 will also be inducted into the Osmon Icon Coaches Hall of Fame in recognition of his coaching accomplishments following graduation from Valley City State University.
“This Hall of Fame class represents excellence, leadership, and lasting impact across multiple generations of Viking Athletics,” said Cory Anderson, Chair of the VCSU Hall of Fame Committee. “Each inductee helped shape the tradition and culture of VCSU Athletics through their competitive success, leadership, and commitment to their teammates and programs. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments during Homecoming weekend.”
Al Olson ’84 – Coach/Athlete
Al Olson’s impact on Valley City State athletics spans multiple sports and roles, leaving a lasting legacy as both a student-athlete and coach. As a student-athlete from 1980–84, Olson was a member of five conference championship teams and earned All-Conference honors in baseball in 1983 and 1984. He finished his baseball career with a .293 batting average and an outstanding .981 fielding percentage. He was also recognized as the 1983 Team Hardest Worker. As a coach from 1990–2001, Olson led the VCSU women’s basketball program to sustained success, compiling a 73–56 overall record. His teams captured the 1990–91 conference championship and the 1991–92 co-conference championship, while his 1993–94 squad reached a national ranking of No. 23. Olson won more than 100 games during his VCSU coaching career. Across every role, Olson demonstrated a commitment to excellence, consistency, and program-building that has had a lasting impact on Viking Athletics.
Andrew Warcken ’99 – Football
Andrew Warcken established himself as one of the most impactful defensive players in VCSU football history during his career from 1989–1992. A 1990 Honorable Mention All-American and two-time All-Conference selection, Warcken earned a reputation as a true playmaker in the Viking secondary. He finished his career with 14 interceptions, tied for fourth all-time in program history, and delivered one of the top defensive seasons in school history in 1990. That season, Warcken tied the VCSU single-season record with eight interceptions while earning All-American honors. He also tied a program record with three interceptions in a single game. In addition to his defensive contributions, Warcken made an impact on special teams, totaling 171 career punt return yards and averaging 10.06 yards per return. Warcken’s ability to create takeaways and shift field position solidified his place among the top defensive players in VCSU football history.
Brandon Bata ’07 – Men’s Basketball
Brandon Bata was one of the most efficient and productive players in VCSU men’s basketball history during his career from 2002–2006. Bata scored 1,246 career points, ranking 11th all-time in program history, while also collecting 646 rebounds, placing eighth all-time among Viking players. Known for his consistency and efficiency, Bata finished his career with a .621 field goal percentage — the second-highest mark in school history. His 65.5 percent shooting performance during the 2003–04 season remains a VCSU program record. Bata’s all-around play earned him All-Conference recognition and DAC Most Valuable Senior honors, solidifying his place among the top performers of his era in Viking basketball history.
Sekani Milligen ’13 – Men’s Basketball
Sekani Milligen established himself as one of the most dynamic scorers in recent VCSU men’s basketball history during his two-year career from 2011–2013. A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Milligen earned Second Team All-American honors in 2011 and Honorable Mention All-American recognition in 2012. Milligen played a key role in leading the Vikings to a 43–17 record over his two seasons, highlighted by a berth in the 2013 NAIA National Tournament. He scored 1,060 points in just two seasons, ranking fifth all-time in program history while averaging 18.6 points per game.
Known for his perimeter shooting ability, Milligen made 189 career three-pointers, including 104 during the 2012–13 season — the second-highest single-season total in VCSU history. His scoring ability, leadership, and impact on one of the most successful stretches in the program’s modern era solidified his place among the top players in Viking basketball history.
2012–13 Men’s Basketball Team
The 2012–13 Valley City State University men’s basketball team delivered one of the most significant seasons in program history. The Vikings finished with a 23–7 overall record, including a dominant 12–1 mark at home, and placed second in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) regular season standings. Most notably, the team earned a berth in the NAIA National Tournament — the program’s first national tournament appearance since 1987 — ending a 26-year drought. In the opening round of the tournament, VCSU narrowly fell to Indiana University Southeast in a hard-fought 75–72 contest. Led by head coach Jeff Kaminsky, the 2012–13 squad combined high-level performance with historic achievement, marking a turning point for the program and helping establish a new standard for success in Viking basketball. Team members included Christopher Embden, AJ McDonald, Patrick Rogers, Aaron Duske, Dillan Ostrom, John Raquel, Sekani Milligen, Ty Pratt, Gus Kueber, Anthony Saavedra, Harrison Weber, and Malcolm McDonald. The team was supported by athletic trainer Alyssa Sorensen, assistant coaches Matt Karlgaard, Nathan Stover, and Karl Sorby, and head coach Jeff Kaminsky. Karen Hall also served as the team’s national tournament host.
Greg Stemen ’88 – Osmon Icon Coaches Hall of Fame
Greg Stemen’s coaching career reflects a sustained record of success, leadership, and versatility across multiple programs and competitive levels. As head men’s basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University from 2001–2009, Stemen compiled a 141–97 record, ranking among the winningest coaches in program history. His tenure included a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) championship, NSIC Coach of the Year honors in 2008–09, and a postseason run that culminated in an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. Prior to SMSU, Stemen served as head coach at North Dakota State College of Science, where he posted a 69–40 record over four seasons. His teams captured two NJCAA Region 13 championships, and he earned Region 13 Coach of the Year honors twice. In addition to his basketball success, Stemen demonstrated exceptional versatility as head coach of the SMSU women’s golf program, guiding the Mustangs to four consecutive NSIC championships and three NCAA regional appearances while earning multiple Coach of the Year honors.
Across every stop in his career, Stemen built winning programs, developed student-athletes, and left a lasting impact on the institutions and athletes he served.
Additional details regarding the Hall of Fame ceremony and Homecoming weekend events will be announced at a later date.
For more information, contact the VCSU Foundation and Alumni Office at (701) 845-7203.