General | 3/25/2026 11:00:00 AM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The late Dr. Paul Engelmann, former longtime University of Central Missouri Faculty Athletics Representative, and former Mules Golf standout Justin Yoder are two of 11 individuals who were named to the 2026 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Class, the association announced on Wednesday, March 25.
Engelmann served as the University of Central Missouri Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) from 1981 to 2017. A professor of economics, Engelmann began his career at what was then known as Central Missouri State College in 1971. In August 1979, he became Head of the Department of Economics, later serving as Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance. He was named Associate Dean of the UCM Harmon College of Business in July 2003. His work as the Mules and Jennies FAR allowed him to be heavily involved in the workings of the MIAA and NCAA Division II athletics. In fact, Paul served as the Parliamentarian for more than 20 Division II business sessions at the NCAA Conventions.
Engelmann worked under five presidents during his nearly 40 years as the FAR at UCM. He served as the FAR Council chair for the MIAA and on numerous MIAA and NCAA committees, including serving for many years as chair of the Division II Legislation Committee and, for two years, as Chair of the NCAA Division II Management Council. His work in athletics was recognized with the Meritorious Service Award from the Division II Conference Commissioners' Association (D2CCA) and the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representatives Association's David Knight Award for outstanding service. Dr. Engelmann was also inducted into the UCM Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
Engelmann passed away in December 2025.
Yoder was a three-time All-American for Mules Golf from 2006 to 2010. In 2010, he was the NCAA Division II national runner-up and won the MIAA Championship and Super Region titles. That season, he was named to the All-Nicklaus team, which honors the top 24 collegiate golfers in the country, regardless of division (I, II, III, NAIA, or NJCAA). He was a four-time All-MIAA and All-Region selection and earned two MIAA Player of the Year awards. His 72.8 career stroke average is still the second-best in Mules Golf history.
He won a school-record 12 tournaments during his career and was named a Vernon Kennedy Award winner as Central Missouri's Top Senior Male Student-Athlete.
Yoder was inducted into the University of Central Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
The 2026 class will officially be inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame at the 2026 MIAA Awards Celebration Ceremony on June 1 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.
MIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
- Miranda Campbell, Emporia State Softball Student-Athlete
- Paul Engelmann, Central Missouri Faculty Athletics Representative
- Natalie (O'Keefe) Goatley, Southwest Baptist Women's Track & Field Student-Athlete
- Josh Honeycutt, Emporia State Men's Track & Field Student-Athlete
- Lizzy Jeronimus, Pittsburg State Women's Basketball Student-Athlete
- Jessica Mainz, Washburn Women's Soccer and Basketball Student-Athlete
- Ron McHenry, Washburn Women's Basketball Coach
- Terry Oglesby, Men's Basketball Official
- Kim (Shank) Reed, Missouri Southern Women's Cross Country and Track & Field Student-Athlete
- Justin Yoder, Central Missouri Men's Golf Student-Athlete
- Washburn Men's Basketball Team, 2000-01
- Dennis Franchione, Pittsburg State Football Coach and Athletics Director [LEGACY INDUCTEE]
