University of Minnesota Athletics
Maturi, Hunter Inducted into DECC Hall of Fame
5/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
May 25, 2017 WDIO News Coverage
Duluth News Tribune Features: Maturi | Hunter
Former University of Minnesota director of athletics Joel Maturi and Golden Gopher women's basketball great Debbie Hunter were inducted into the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) Hall of Fame on Wednesday night. The DECC Hall of Fame honors prominent athletics figures with ties to Northeastern Minnesota or Northwestern Wisconsin. Wednesday marked its 26th induction class.
Maturi served as Minnesota's director of athletics from 2002 to 2012. Early in his tenure he oversaw the merger of the men's and women's athletic departments. He also led the fundraising and construction of TCF Bank Stadium as Gopher football returned to campus. With Maturi at the helm, Minnesota claimed national titles in wrestling and women's hockey and Gopher athletes won more than 40 Big Ten and WCHA championships.
Maturi previously served as athletic director at Denver University and Miami University in Ohio, as well as a stint as an associate athletic director at Wisconsin. Maturi played basketball at Chisholm High School before attending Notre Dame. He coached high school sports in Wisconsin and was later inducted into the state's basketball hall of fame.
Hunter is the Gophers' all-time leader in two categories. During her 1979-83 career, she compiled 632 assists and 413 steals. Her 241 assists and 139 steals in the 1980-81 season remain program records. Hunter was an All-America honorable mention selection and was later inducted into the Gophers' "M" Club Hall of Fame in 2003.
Hunter went on to become a coach. She guided Bethel to three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances before moving on to Colorado College and Austin College, where she retired in 2010. Prior to arriving at the U of M, Hunter was part of Cloquet High School's first girls basketball team in 1975-76. The two-time all-state honoree led the Lumberjacks to their first state tournament appearance as a junior and was a Ms. Basketball finalist as a senior.
Duluth News Tribune Features: Maturi | Hunter
Former University of Minnesota director of athletics Joel Maturi and Golden Gopher women's basketball great Debbie Hunter were inducted into the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) Hall of Fame on Wednesday night. The DECC Hall of Fame honors prominent athletics figures with ties to Northeastern Minnesota or Northwestern Wisconsin. Wednesday marked its 26th induction class.
Maturi served as Minnesota's director of athletics from 2002 to 2012. Early in his tenure he oversaw the merger of the men's and women's athletic departments. He also led the fundraising and construction of TCF Bank Stadium as Gopher football returned to campus. With Maturi at the helm, Minnesota claimed national titles in wrestling and women's hockey and Gopher athletes won more than 40 Big Ten and WCHA championships.
Maturi previously served as athletic director at Denver University and Miami University in Ohio, as well as a stint as an associate athletic director at Wisconsin. Maturi played basketball at Chisholm High School before attending Notre Dame. He coached high school sports in Wisconsin and was later inducted into the state's basketball hall of fame.
Hunter is the Gophers' all-time leader in two categories. During her 1979-83 career, she compiled 632 assists and 413 steals. Her 241 assists and 139 steals in the 1980-81 season remain program records. Hunter was an All-America honorable mention selection and was later inducted into the Gophers' "M" Club Hall of Fame in 2003.
Hunter went on to become a coach. She guided Bethel to three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances before moving on to Colorado College and Austin College, where she retired in 2010. Prior to arriving at the U of M, Hunter was part of Cloquet High School's first girls basketball team in 1975-76. The two-time all-state honoree led the Lumberjacks to their first state tournament appearance as a junior and was a Ms. Basketball finalist as a senior.
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