Chippewa Valley Times

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its 2025 Hall of Fame Class, featuring notable figures from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The class includes volleyball coach Lisa Herb, diver Sara Schierl (Smith), and football player Jim Van Gorden.

These inductees will be honored at the WIAC Hall of Fame Banquet on July 26, 2025, at UW-Stout's Memorial Student Center in the Great Hall. They join a distinguished group within the conference's Hall of Fame, which currently comprises 114 members.

WIAC Commissioner Danielle Harris remarked, "I would like to congratulate the outstanding inductees, who have helped solidify the conference's status as the premier NCAA Division III conference." She added that it is their goal to continue recognizing significant contributors every three years.

Lisa Herb is celebrated for her successful tenure as a volleyball coach at UW-Eau Claire from 1985-2006. Her career record stands at 627-208, making her one of NCAA Division III's most successful coaches. Her teams reached seven "Sweet 16" equivalents and she was named conference coach of the year twice. Herb also briefly coached women's basketball and served as interim women's athletic director for UW-Eau Claire.

Sara Schierl (Smith) made history as UW-Eau Claire’s only women’s diver to win four national championships. Her achievements include sweeping diving competitions in 1985 and setting a national scoring record in 1987. Post-graduation, Schierl pursued a professional high diving career globally and now coaches diving at UW-Stevens Point.

Jim Van Gorden was an accomplished quarterback for UW-Eau Claire during his college years. He earned first-team All-American honors in 1964 and led his team to consecutive conference championships in 1963 and 1964. Following his collegiate career, he had brief stints with the Green Bay Packers and Joliet Explorers before embarking on a coaching career at Bloomer High School.

Further details about purchasing tickets for the banquet and additional information about each inductee will be available later on www.wiacsports.com.