NATCHITOCHES – Ten standout student-athletes, a championship-collecting coach and two of the athletic programs' ultimate "glue guys" will forever be part of Northwestern State history.
 
A group of 13 former student-athletes, coaches and staff will be inducted into the Northwestern State N-Club Hall of Fame on Oct. 24 during the 2026 Homecoming ceremonies in a 9 a.m. ceremony on campus.
 
The group of inductees was chosen through a combination of a vote of Northwestern letterwinners and a selection committee.
 
Five-time track and field All-American Mike Brown leads a group of competitive-ballot inductees that span seven sports and includes another All-American in football offensive lineman Greg Buckley.
 
Buckley is joined by two fellow football standouts – quarterback Warren Patterson and tight end Carlos Treadway. Joining football with multiple selections are baseball – pitcher Jason Slanina and first baseman Anatole Vincent – and soccer – Katie Priest Riccobono and coach Jimmy Mitchell, the program's all-time leader in wins who took Northwestern to three NCAA Tournaments.
 
Women's basketball standout Louise Chase, softball pitching ace Crista Miller Hobbs and men's basketball post presence Byron Allen represent their sports while the final member of the 2026 class, John Fleckenstein, encompassed most of the athletic department during his time as a manager and trainer. Steve Pezant, a longtime presence officially and unofficially around Northwestern State athletics, has been selected as the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to Demon athletics.
 
Brown's five All-American honors are the second most among Demon track and field competitors. From 1973-76, Brown picked up two outdoor All-American awards (1973, 74) and two indoor (1975, 76) in his signature event – the long jump.
 
Brown, who will be inducted posthumously, added a fifth All-American honor as part of the Demons' 1976 4x100 relay team. Brown helped the Demons capture the 1974 Gulf South Conference outdoor championship in 1974 and finish as runner-up in 1975 while winning a pair of individual Gulf South long jump crowns.
 
Buckley earned All-American honors in 2004 when the Demons captured the Southland Conference championship. A three-time All-Southland Conference selection, Buckley was named as one of the Top 100 Demons of the Century during the 2007 centennial season celebration.
 
Buckley started for a pair of FCS playoff teams (2002, 2004) and helped the Demons set a single-season scoring record while allowing only six sacks as a team in 2004.
 
Patterson quarterbacked the Demons to a Southland Conference championship in 1997 and was part of the 1998 squad that reached the FCS semifinals. A Bunkie product, Patterson remains in the top 10 in career touchdown passes (29, 4^th) and in passing yardage (3,851, 8^th). He finished his career second and fourth in those categories, respectively.
 
Treadway rounds out the trio of football players who will be honored, giving him his second selection to the N-Club Hall of Fame. Two years ago, Treadway was named the Distinguished Service Award.
 
On the field, Treadway was a two-time All-Southland Conference tight end who was named one of 13 honorary captains on the Demons' All-Century Team as part of the 2007 centennial celebration. A first-team All-Southland and All-Louisiana pick as a senior, Treadway caught 44 passes for 575 yards and four touchdowns in his career. As a freshman, Treadway was part of the 1988 Demons that reached the FCS quarterfinals.
 
Slanina and Vincent were key components of some of the best years of Northwestern baseball's gilded history.
 
Slanina, a right-handed workhorse, was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection who also earned All-Southland Tournament team honors. His 23 wins (fifth), 40 starts (sixth), 197 strikeouts (sixth), 295 1-3 innings pitched (sixth) and 64 appearances (seventh) all remain in Northwestern's career top 10. Slanina was part of Southland Conference championship teams in his final two years (2001-02) under coaches John Cohen and Mitch Gaspard.
 
Vincent made his mark quickly, putting up the second-most RBIs (60) in a single-season in program history in his first season after transferring from Pratt Junor College. Vincent's .361 average, 11 home runs and 60 RBIs earned him first-team All-Southland honors as the Demons collected the Southland regular-season title. A year later, Vincent drove in 59 more runs, giving him the eighth-most career RBIs in school history at that point.
 
Vincent's .585 career slugging percentage was and still remains sixth in program history.
 
Priest Riccobono and Mitchell were pivotal members of Northwestern soccer teams that reached the NCAA Tournament.
 
Priest Riccobono was the Southland Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore – one of three All-Southland honors in her decorated career. A first-team All-Louisiana and All-Southland Conference Tournament selection in 2002, Priest Riccobono keyed a Northwestern defense that allowed 34 total goals in 23 matches, posting six shutouts en route to a Southland Conference Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
 
As a freshman, Priest Riccobono helped backline an NSU defense that set a school record for fewest goals allowed (27).
 
Mitchell spent 13 seasons on the sidelines, building the soccer program into a consistent winner that positioned itself at or near the top of the Southland in most seasons. During his Northwestern tenure, Mitchell averaged more than 10 wins a season, finishing with a program-record 131.
 
Mitchell delivered the first three NCAA Tournament berths in program history while earning All-Louisiana Coach of the Year honors in 2000 and 2002 while coaching three conference championship teams, three conference Player of the Year honorees, 33 All-Southland Conference picks and 25 academic all-conference players.
 
Both basketball programs are represented by one player each.
 
Allen, who stood 6-foot-7 and weighed 260 pounds, proved to be a powerful presence in the post for back-to-back Southland Conference regular-season champions (2005, 2006) and the 2005-06 "Demons of Destiny," whose upset win against third-seeded Iowa in the NCAA Tournament remains a staple of March Madness lore.
 
Allen averaged a career-est 10.2 points per game in his freshman season and finished his career with the 25^th-most rebounds in program history (502). A versatile athlete, Allen threw the discus for the Demon track and field team in 2003 and earned an NFL tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals before embarking on a five-year professional basketball career overseas. Allen was chosen as part of the "Fab 50" modern era roster as part of the Demons' All-Century Team in 2012-13.
 
Chase was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection who embellished her resume with a pair of Southland All-Tournament selections as well as twice being named to the LSWA All-Louisiana Team.
 
A four-year starter, Chase finished her career ranking 11^th in scoring (1,391) and ninth in rebounds (761) on Northwestern's career list. A Ringgold product, Chase averaged 14 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the 1998-99 Southland champions and averaged 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as a senior when the Lady Demons posted a 24-6 record – the best single-season winning percentage in school history.
 
Miller Hobbs was a standout in the circle for the softball program, spinning a remarkable three solo perfect games in her career.
 
The school record-holder for pitching appearances (130), Miller Hobbs was perfect against Southern (Feb. 2, 2002), Prairie View A&M (March 12, 2003) and McNeese (April 3, 2004) and added her name to another perfect game in 2001 when she and fellow N-Club Hall of Famer Amanda Ortego perfected Centenary.
 
Miller Hobbs helped Northwestern capture the 2002 Southland Conference Tournament title, earning an NCAA Tournament berth. Her work in the circle has remained tough to duplicate as she remains in the top 10 in program history in fewest walks per seven innings (0.99, 2^nd), complete games (59, 3^rd), innings pitched (614 2-3, 3^rd), shutouts (15, T-3^rd), strikeouts (442, 5^th), wins (48, 5^th) and saves (5, T-5^th).
 
She owns the school single-season record for fewest walks (11) and fewest walks per seven innings (0.51), both set during the 2004 season – a year in which she also earned first-team Academic All-Southland Conference honors.
 
The final competitive ballot selection is someone whose career spanned most of the athletic department.
 
Fleckenstein spent eight years at Northwestern, beginning as a student equipment manager before transitioning into a hybrid role that included assisting N-Club Hall of Fame athletic trainer Eugene Christmas' staff.
 
A student manager for the football team during his undergraduate time at Northwestern State, Pezant has remained a fixture around Demon athletics. He has spent more than two decades as an official security leader for Demon football, handling both game security on the sideline and assisting with team travel during his time as a Louisiana State Police trooper.
 
After his retirement from the state police, Pezant continued to volunteer with the program during his time as a city marshal. In addition, Pezant has been a longtime supporter of Demon athletics, actively participating in softball's Outfield Club, basketball's Sixth Man Club and baseball's Cooking Club.
 
For Pezant, the influence of Northwestern athletics stretched through his family as his daughter, Sonja, is a former director of football operations for the Demons.
 
N-Club Class of 2026 Bio Capsules
Byron Allen (men's basketball, 2002-06) – Massive (6-7, 260), muscular post player whose presence created opportunities for teammates on two straight SLC championship teams (2005, 2006) and vexed major opponents in milestone wins over Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Oregon State and No. 15 Iowa in 2006 NCAA Tournament … two-time honorable mention All-SLC who played five seasons of pro ball overseas, averaging 7.5 rebounds in 2011-12 for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in Japan … scored 10.2 points per game as a freshman, never again cracking double digits but finishing with 997 career points (8.8 pg) and 502 rebounds (25th all-time) … shot 57% as a senior, 51% as a sophomore to lead deep, talented team that won 74 games in four seasons, 57 in his final two seasons … earned his bachelor's in electronic engineering technology as a junior ... threw the discus in 2003 for the track team … got a tryout with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals in summer 2006 … named to Demons' All-Century team in 2012-13 as part of the Fab 50 modern era roster (for Division I players since 1976- 77).
 
Mike Brown (track and field, 1973-76) – A five-time NAIA All-American, the second-most All-America honors by any NSU athlete (Brian Brown, no relation, had 6 as a high jumper), Brown is one of the program's best long jumpers … his 26-2 best in 1976 was a school record and now stands 6th in Demon history … his All-America honors came indoors in 1975 and 1976, and outdoors in 1973 and 1974, along with a 1976 A-A award as part of Jerry Dyes' 4x100 relay team … he still holds part of a school record as one leg on the spring medley team … his jumps helped the Demons win the Gulf South Conference Outdoors in 1974 along with a runner-up finish in 1975 … he won two individual GSC long jump crowns.
 
Greg Buckley (football, 2001-04) – An All-America guard for the 2004 Southland Conference champions, Buckley was a three-time All-SLC selection … he started for playoff teams in 2002 and 2004 … earned first-team All-Louisiana honors as a senior after the Demons set a single-season scoring record and allowed only 6 sacks … member of Top 100 Demons of the Century roster chosen in 2007 centennial season celebration.
 
Louise Chase (women's basketball, 1996-2000) – Two-time All-Southland second team forward who also earned All-Southland Tournament honors in her junior and senior seasons … two-time All-Louisiana pick … a four-year starter (107 of 112 games) whose 1,391 points rank 14th all-time (11th when she finished her career) … ninth all-time in rebounding (761) … helped lead Lady Demon basketball to the 1998-99 Southland regular-season crown (22-7, 16-2) by averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds, shooting 49.7 percent from the field … capped her career contributing to a 24-6 record, the best single-season winning percentage in school history, with averages of 13.2 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds … the 5-10 Ringgold product had 112-game career totals of 1,391 points (12.4 pg), 761 rebounds (6.8 pg), 145 steals (1.3 pg), and a 46.7 percent FG rate … Lady Demons were 74- 39 overall/45-23 in SLC in her four seasons.
 
John Fleckenstein (Equipment manager/athletic trainer, 1979-87) – Began his career as a student equipment manager and transitioned into a hybrid role that also included traveling with all sports and assisting Eugene Christmas' athletic training staff … he washed uniforms, fixed equipment and taped ankles, knees and shoulders at all hours ... an unsung hero among support staff members … "Without his tireless devotion to every team, the athletic experience for all of us would have been very different," said his nominator ... remains an avid supporter today and a Demon Brothers Booster Club member.
 
Crista Miller Hobbs (softball, 2001-04) – First-team All-Southland and All-Louisiana selection as a pitcher in 2002, when Lady Demons returned to NCAA Tournament … threw three career solo perfect games ... still holds the school record for pitching appearances (130) and ranks in the top 10 in fewest walks per seven innings (0.99, 2nd), career complete games (59, 3rd), innings pitched (614.2, 3rd), shutouts (15, T-3 rd), strikeouts (442, 5th), wins (48, 5 th) and saves (5, T-5 th) … tied the school single-season record for wins with 21 in 2002, the same season in which she held opponents to a .189 average (3rd in program history) … 21-9 mark in 2022 is tied for 3rd in single-season winning percentage (minimum 20 decisions) … set a school record for fewest walks allowed (minimum 100 innings pitched) in 2004, permitting only 11 free passes, which also set a school record for fewest walks per seven innings (0.51) … tossed three of the four solo perfect games in program history – vs. Southern (Feb. 2, 2002), vs. Prairie View A&M (March 12, 2003) and vs. McNeese (April 3, 2004) and was part of another perfect game with N-Club Hall of Famer Amanda Ortego against Centenary on March 22, 2001 … helped Northwestern to the 2002 Southland Conference Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Regionals … helped that 2002 pitching staff rank 23rd nationally in ERA at 1.41 … first-team Academic All-Southland Conference as a senior in 2004, graduating magna cum laude in health and exercise science … lauded for her ability to make adjustments from pitch to pitch and her leadership.
 
Jimmy Mitchell (soccer, 1999-2011) – Easily the most accomplished coach in NSU soccer history, leading the program to 131 victories in his 13 seasons, including the first three NCAA Tournament appearances … he took little time to make a major impact, leading NSU to its most successful season, a 15-8 regular season record and 10-2 mark in Southland play, winning both the regular season and tournament titles … also led the program to tournament berths in 2002 and 2005 and won the All-Louisiana Coach of the Year in both 2000 and 2002 … in addition to the three conference championships, he had three conference players of the year under his watch, as well as 17 first-team and 16 second-team All-Southland selections, as well as 25 academic all-conference selections.
 
Warren Patterson (football, 1995-98) – Ranks among NSU passing leaders as the starter on the 1997 Southland champion and, when not injured, on the 1998 Demons' squad that made the FCS semifinals in its second straight playoff appearance … threw for 3,851 yards (then fourth, now eighth in school history) and 29 TDs (then second, now fourth all-time) in his career … tossed 12 TDs (seventh all-time) in nine regular-season games in 1998, including 4 (tying a school record, broken in 2014) vs. Henderson State.
 
Katie Priest Riccobono (soccer, 2001-04) – The 2002 Southland Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore was a three-time All-Southland defender … first team pick as a sophomore for the 2002 Southland Tournament champs/NCAA Tournament Lady Demons, then second team as a junior and senior ... first-team All-Louisiana in 2002, also All-Southland Tournament that year for a 12-6-5 overall/6-2-4 squad that finished third in the regular season … keyed 2002 NSU defense that allowed only 34 goals and posted six shutouts, allowing two goals in league play only once (in a 5-2 win) … as a freshman, helped NSU defense set school record with only 27 goals allowed … scored one career goal, only 16 career shots … Lady Demons were 38-35-9 in her career, with only one losing season and two .500 marks.
 
Jason Slanina (baseball, 1999-2002) – Two-time All-Southland pitcher, first team as a sophomore in 2000 when he was also All-Southland Tournament … his 23 wins is fifth in school history … 64 appearances is seventh … 40 starts is sixth … 197 strikeouts is sixth … 295.1 innings pitched is sixth … was third-team All-Southland as a senior RHP … overall career 23-15 record as a weekend starter … Demons won Southland Conference championships in 2001 and 2002 under John Cohen, then Mitch Gaspard.
 
Carlos Treadway (football 1989-1992) – Two-time All-Southland Conference tight end who has risen to upper level management in Ford Motor Credit, now serving as Executive Vice President of Ford Credit and CEO of Ford Credit Europe … moved to London in November 2021 and previously lived in China for several years … inducted in university's Long Purple Line Alumni Hall of Distinction at homecoming 2022 ... has been actively engaged on NSU Alumni Association and Demons Unlimited Foundation board and in other roles supportive of NSU football and the university … first-team All-Southland and All-Louisiana as a senior, second-team as a junior, honorable mention as a sophomore … played in 7 games as a true freshman on the 1988 Southland championship team that reached the FCS quarterfinals … career: 39 games, 44 catches, 575 yards, 4 TDs … named one of 13 honorary captains on the Demons' all-century team in the 2007 centennial celebration as a tribute to his leadership and value to his teams.
 
Anatole Vincent (baseball, 2002-03) – Two-time All-Southland catcher and first baseman, earning first-team honors as a junior and third-team status in 2003 … batted .361 with 11 homers and 60 RBI, second at the time in school history (now tied for fifth) … drove in 59 RBI as a senior (third at the time, now tied for eighth) … his 119 career RBI ranks eighth, was third on the list after 2003 … career .585 slugging percentage is sixth all-time at NSU and has not been bettered since … hit .328 in his two seasons … helped 2002 Demons win the Southland crown with a 43-17 overall mark, 17-10 in the league under first-year coach Mitch Gaspard … NSU was 35-22/16-11 in his senior season.
 
Distinguished Service Award
Steve Pezant – Beginning as a student manager for football in 1988-90, and since graduation after he became a Louisiana State Trooper, Pezant has made supporting NSU Athletics a high priority both in service and in the stands … has been an official security leader for football since 2002, not only playing a key role in travel and handling game security on the sideline but assisting as needed throughout the years. Before coming on board officially when Scott Stoker became head coach, he was the bus escort and helped in a semi-official capacity throughout his LSP career, and continues now on a volunteer basis while working as a City Marshal … Pezant has been a leader in softball's Outfield Club, basketball's Sixth Man Club, and baseball's Cooking Crew and has helped any coach in any sport when asked or if possible … has helped cook for team and department events for many years ... has made countless road trips near and very far to support NSU teams … he and wife Tammie are parents of Sonya, who became football Operations Director for coach Brad Laird.