Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025

July 31, 2025 - North Central College head football coach Brad Spencer '04 has been named the recipient of the Ray Meyer Coaching Excellence Award by the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, becoming the first NCAA Division III coach to earn the honor. He is also just the third Division III coach ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining legendary Cardinal men's cross country/track & field coach Al Carius, who was inducted in 2013. 

Spencer has helped guide the Cardinals to the pinnacle of Division III football, leading North Central to national championships in 2022 and 2024 – and a runner-up finish in 2023 – with a 44–1 overall record across his first three seasons as head coach. Under his leadership, North Central has established 20 NCAA Division III records, including scoring offense, total offense, team rushing yards and passing efficiency. His teams have consistently led the nation in both offensive and defensive categories, while Cardinal players have won three consecutive Gagliardi Trophies, the annual award given to the top player in NCAA Division III football (quarterback Luke Lehnen in 2023 and 2024, and running back Ethan Greenfield in 2022).

Spencer served as North Central's wide receivers and tight ends coach from 2004-2014 before moving into the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator role from 2015-2021. He was named the Cardinals' head coach in 2022. Since his time on staff, North Central student-athletes have earned 123 All-American awards, 152 All-Region accolades, with 179 players being named First Team All-CCIW. In 2019, as offensive coordinator, he helped North Central capture its first-ever national title and was named FootballScoop Division III Coordinator of the Year.

A Naperville native, Spencer graduated from North Central as the program's career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches—records later broken by players he coached.

Joining Spencer in the Class of 2025 Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame are Alexandria Anderson, Dave Bolland, Tim Brosnan, Tim Hardaway, Mike Hartenstine, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Bobby Jenks, Russell Maryland, Jan McGrath, Sonny Parker, and Charles Tillman. Spencer joins Julianne Sitch (University of Chicago) as the other Division III head coach in the Hall of Fame. In 2022, Sitch achieved NCAA history by becoming the first woman to coach and win a national championship in men's soccer in any division.

Past recipients of the Ray Meyer Award include legendary coaches such as Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University), Geno Auriemma (University of Connecticut), Lisa Bluder (Iowa), Mike Brey (Notre Dame), and John Calipari (Arkansas), among others.

The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1979 as an exhibit trailer owned by the Olympia Brewing Company, parked at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Chicago Park District took over the exhibit in 1983. From 1988, the Hall of Fame exhibit and plaques were displayed in Mike Ditka's restaurant until the restaurant closed in 1991. The Hall of Fame moved to Maryville Academy in Des Plaines in 1996, where it was operated under the guidance of Father John P. Smyth. Today, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame is virtual and hosts its annual awards ceremony at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, where it is managed by Charles P. Carey, a Chicago businessman and former Chairman of Chicago's Board of Trade.

Spencer will be honored at the induction ceremony, along with the other members of the 2025 Class, on Oct. 15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.