BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Heading into the second year of consideration for the Cal State Bakersfield Athletics Hall of Fame, the pool of nominated Roadrunner student-athletes, coaches, administrators, supporters, and teams continued to grow. The job of the Selection Committee became increasingly more difficult, but they whittled the list down to a select group of honorees who will be enshrined in the CSUB Athletics Hall of Fame late this year.

Comprised of highly-decorated NCAA and professional Champions, national Athlete of the Year honorees, and pioneering leaders who established the dominance of Cal State Bakersfield Athletics, the 2026 class of inductees continues to venerate the best of the best of the `Runners.

CSUB Acting Director of Athletics Sarah Tuohy had this to say about the class of 2026: “The CSUB Athletics Hall of Fame is a living testament to the greatness this university has produced, and this year's class adds another remarkable chapter to that story. These honorees exemplify the pride, perseverance, and excellence that define `Runner Athletics, and their legacies will continue to inspire student-athletes for years to come. It is an honor to celebrate them and the enduring impact they have had on our program.”

Live on KBAK-CBS and FOX 58, Sports Director Greg Kerr announced one member of the 2026 class every night, June 14-19. The class includes the 1975-76 Wrestling Team, Head Coach Joe Seay (Wrestling), Head Coach Ernest “Ernie” Maglischo, and student-athletes April Burton (Women’s Track & Field), Kebu Stewart (Men’s Basketball), and Gyasi Zardes (Men’s Soccer).

The Class of 2026 will be formally recognized during the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, set for Saturday, September 26. Tickets for the induction ceremony will go on sale soon. For sponsorship opportunities and other inquiries, please contact the CSUB Athletics Department at athletics@csub.edu.

Joe Seay (1972-1985)
Wrestling – Coach

Joe Seay’s legacy at CSUB began with the very foundation of Roadrunner wrestling. As the program’s inaugural head coach, Seay joined CSUB for its first season in 1972-73 and spent 12 seasons building the `Runners into one of the nation’s most venerated NCAA Division II programs. Under his leadership, CSUB posted a remarkable 184-55-2 dual record, winning at a .768 clip while capturing seven NCAA Division II National Championships.

Seay’s Roadrunner teams became a national powerhouse, producing 30 individual National Champions and 89 All-Americans during his tenure in Bakersfield. His ability to build a championship culture from the ground up helped establish CSUB wrestling as one of the most successful programs in school history and laid the foundation for decades of `Runner excellence on the mat.

Following his time at CSUB, Seay continued to add to one of the most accomplished coaching careers in collegiate wrestling history. In 1985, he took over at Oklahoma State, where he led the Cowboys to a 114-8-2 record and back-to-back NCAA Division I team championships in 1989 and 1990. With those titles, Seay became the first collegiate wrestling coach to win national team championships at both the Division I and Division II levels.

Seay’s success extended to the international stage as well. He guided Team USA to its first-ever Senior World Freestyle Championship in 1993 and led the Americans to another world title in 1995. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Seay’s wrestlers helped Team USA win the freestyle medal count with five total medals, including three golds. His impact on the sport was recognized in 1998 when he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.

Before his historic collegiate and international coaching career, Seay launched his coaching journey at South Bakersfield High School, where he compiled an extraordinary 177-12-2 record and was named national high school Coach of the Year. From Bakersfield to Stillwater to the world stage, Seay’s career reflected championship leadership at every level.

1975-76 Wrestling Team
Distinguished Team

The 1975-76 Cal State Bakersfield wrestling team secured a landmark place in Roadrunner history by capturing the first National Championship ever won by the CSUB Athletics Department. In just the fourth year of the wrestling program’s existence, Head Coach Joe Seay led the `Runners to the 1976 NCAA Division II National Championship, setting the tone for what would become one of the most dominant eras in CSUB Athletics history.

That championship team featured an impressive group of `Runners, led by three individual National Champions: Dan Houtchens at 150 pounds, Mike Bull at 190 pounds, and heavyweight Bill Van Worth. In total, CSUB produced five All-Americans that season – Dick Molina and Florencio Rocha also placed at NCAAs – showcasing the depth and talent that helped lift the program to the top of Division II wrestling.

The `Runners were also outstanding in dual competition, posting an 18-3 record during the 1975-76 season. Their success included victories over Division I programs such as California, Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, and UCLA, proving that CSUB could compete with and defeat some of the strongest teams in the West.

The 1976 national title did more than make history; it launched a wrestling dynasty. Following that breakthrough championship, CSUB went on to win seven NCAA Division II titles in an eight-year span, finishing second in the only year it did not capture the crown. The program also began competing at the NCAA Division I National Championships in 1977, where the `Runners went on to earn four Top 10 finishes during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

April Burton (‘05) – Women’s Track & Field – Student-Athlete

April Burton’s career at CSUB stands among the most decorated in Roadrunner women’s track & field history. Competing for the `Runners from 2001 to 2005, Burton became a six-time NCAA Division II National Champion and a 13-time NCAA Division II All-American, establishing herself as one of the premier throwers in the country. Her national titles came across multiple events, including the discus, hammer throw, shot put, and weight throw, showcasing her rare versatility and dominance in the throwing events.

Burton’s championship resume reached its peak in 2005 when she captured NCAA Division II indoor national titles in both the shot put and weight throw before adding outdoor national championships in the hammer throw and shot put. That same year, she was named the CCAA Female Athlete of the Year and the NCAA Division II Track and Field Athlete of the Year, cementing her place among the top student-athletes in the nation.

Her success also helped lift Cal State Bakersfield women’s track & field to new heights. At the 2005 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships in Abilene, Texas, Burton led the `Runners to their highest team finish in program history, as CSUB placed second nationally with all their points scored by just four throwers. She continues to hold school records in the hammer throw and weight throw, leaving a standard of excellence that remains today.

Burton’s journey was defined not only by championships, but by resilience. After arriving at CSUB as a single mother, she balanced family, school, and elite-level competition while continuing to grow into one of the greatest athletes in program history. During her collegiate career, she married, had another child, redshirted, and then returned to competition to win additional national championships. Head Coach Alan Collatz described her as “a powerful woman who wasn’t afraid of working hard,” noting that she endured tremendous challenges and continued to thrive.

Ernie Maglischo (1983-1993) – Swim & Dive – Coach

Ernest “Ernie” Maglischo’s decade-long tenure at CSUB helped establish Roadrunner swimming & diving as one of the most dominant programs in NCAA Division II history. Serving as CSUB’s head men’s swimming coach from 1983 to 1993, Maglischo led the `Runners to a second-place national finish in his first season before guiding the program to eight consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships. Under his leadership, CSUB swimmers earned numerous All-American honors and helped build one of the greatest championship runs in school history.

Maglischo’s impact on the sport extended far beyond Bakersfield. Over the course of a coaching career that spanned more than three decades, he became the only coach to win NCAA team titles at three different universities: Chico State, Oakland University, and Cal State Bakersfield. His teams captured 19 conference championships, and he mentored Olympians, NCAA champions, Olympic Trials qualifiers, and generations of elite swimmers.

In addition to his success on deck, Maglischo became one of the most respected authors and educators in competitive swimming. He authored seven influential books, including the Swimming Faster series and A Primer for Swimming Coaches, while also serving the sport through the NCAA Swimming Rules Committee and the USA Swimming Sports Medicine Council. His expertise was recognized internationally as he consulted for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team in 1984, 1988, and 1992, and coached the Ecuadorian Olympic Swim Team in 1996.

A lasting figure in the advancement of swimming technique, training, and coaching education, Maglischo’s legacy continues to influence athletes and coaches around the world. In 2025, he was selected for induction into the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame, further cementing his place among the most accomplished and influential coaches in the history of the sport.

Kebu Stewart (‘97) – Men’s Basketball – Student-Athlete

Kebu Stewart’s two-year career at CSUB left a lasting mark on Roadrunner men’s basketball history. After transferring to Cal State Bakersfield from UNLV, Stewart led the `Runners to a 55-8 record from 1995 to 1997, capped by CSUB’s third NCAA Division II National Championship in 1997. A dominant force in the paint and one of the most accomplished players in program history, Stewart delivered one of the greatest individual seasons ever by a Roadrunner in 1996-97, averaging school records of 21.5 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.

Stewart’s production rewrote the CSUB record books. His career averages of 20.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game also stand as program records nearly 30 years later. During the 1997 NCAA Division II Elite Eight, Stewart was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and went on to earn NCAA Division II Player of the Year honors after leading the `Runners to the national title.

One of the top Division II players of his era, Stewart was later selected to the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Elite Eight Team, an elite group recognizing the top performers in the history of the Division II men’s basketball championship. He was one of just 10 student-athletes and two coaches chosen for the honor.

Following his historic CSUB career, Stewart was selected in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He played his rookie season in Philadelphia and later signed with the Dallas Mavericks before continuing his professional career overseas. After his playing career, Stewart remained connected to the game by moving into coaching at the high school level, continuing to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation of basketball players.

Gyasi Zardes (‘12) – Men’s Soccer – Student-Athlete

Gyasi Zardes built one of the most decorated careers in CSUB men’s soccer history, establishing himself as one of the top attacking players ever to wear the Blue and Gold. A Roadrunner letterwinner from 2009 to 2012, Zardes was a two-time All-American, a Hermann Trophy semifinalist, and a two-time MPSF Player of the Year. His 38 career goals and 94 career points rank second all-time in CSUB history, cementing his place as one of the most prolific offensive weapons in program history. 

After his CSUB career, Zardes began his professional journey with the LA Galaxy in 2013 and helped the club capture the 2014 MLS Cup. He later continued his success with Columbus Crew, earning MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2018 before winning his second MLS Cup in 2020. Zardes also had stints with the Colorado Rapids and Austin FC, and in 2023 became just the 13th player in MLS history to score 100 career goals. 

Internationally, Zardes represented the United States Men’s National Team from 2014 to 2022, earning 68 caps and scoring 14 goals. He was part of U.S. squads that won CONCACAF Gold Cup titles in 2017 and 2021, adding to a career defined by achievement at the collegiate, professional, and international levels. 

Beyond the field, Zardes has remained committed to giving back, especially in his native Southern California community. He has also continued to support CSUB by returning to Bakersfield to speak with both the men’s and women’s soccer programs, sharing his experience with the next generation of `Runner student-athletes.