| VINCENNES, Ind., March 19, 2025 – The Vincennes University Athletics Department has a strong tradition of coaching excellence. Current VU coaches Dennis Chattin, Todd Franklin, Gary Sien, and five past Trailblazer coaches are being honored with NJCAA Coaches Legacy Awards for their brilliance.
The awards celebrate the all-time winningest coaches in NJCAA history. For the first time in the association’s nearly 90-year history, coaches are being recognized in this fashion.
The eight VU coaches who have received this honor are current VU coaches Dennis Chattin (Men’s Golf), Todd Franklin (Men’s Basketball), and Gary Sien (Women’s Volleyball), in addition to former VU coaches Jerry Blemker (Baseball), Harry Meeks (Women’s Basketball), Tina Miller (Women’s Volleyball), Dan Sparks (Men’s Basketball), and Gary Sparks (Men’s Bowling).
VU Director of Athletics John Meeks said, “VU has a deep-rooted tradition of coaching excellence, and this incredible recognition by the NJCAA is a testament to the lasting impact our coaches have had on student-athletes and the University. All eight of the legendary Trailblazer coaches receiving this honor have set the standard for leadership, integrity, and success. Their dedication has shaped generations of student-athletes and elevated VU Athletics on the national stage. We proudly celebrate their legacies and the tradition of excellence they represent.”
Almost 200 coaches across 28 sports were nominated by the member colleges where they coached.
The Coaches Legacy Awards honorees will be honored on Tuesday, June 17, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The luncheon will precede the 2025 NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards event scheduled for later that day.
Dennis Chattin, Men’s Golf
Chattin has led VU men’s golf since 2003. During his tenure, he has amassed three NJCAA National Championships (2013, 2016, and 2018), as well as third (2008), fifth (2012), and seventh (2009)-place finishes in the National Championship Tournament. Chattin is a three-time NJCAA National Coach of the Tournament honoree (2013, 2016, and 2018) and a six-time NJCAA Region Coach of the Year (2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2018). Under Chattin’s leadership, VU has secured six NJCAA Region Championships, and 11 golfers have received NJCAA All-American honors. He was inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2022.
Todd Franklin, Men’s Basketball
In his 15th season as the VU Men’s Basketball coach, Franklin has compiled 415 wins against only 86 losses, an 82.8 winning percentage, while guiding the Trailblazers. The pinnacle of his coaching achievements came in 2019 as he led VU to the NJCAA National Championship. He was recognized for his efforts by being named the 2019 National Association of Basketball Coaches NJCAA Coach of the Year and the 2019 Spalding NJCAA Men’s Basketball Division I Coach of the Year. Franklin also led the Trailblazers to a third-place finish in the 2014 NJCAA National Championship Tournament and fourth-place finishes in 2013 and 2018. Franklin has coached in 16 National Championship Tournaments, starting with the 2002-2003 season. Franklin, who also led Southeastern Illinois College to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 NJCAA National Championship Tournament, has a career coaching record of 745 wins and 183 losses, ranking him seventh in wins amongst active NJCAA coaches in all divisions. Franklin was inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018.
Gary Sien, Women’s Volleyball
Sien, VU’s current women’s volleyball coach, ranks fifth in wins amongst active NJCAA coaches in all divisions. Boasting a career spanning 23 years with stints at VU and Kankakee Community College, Sien holds an overall coaching record of 762 wins and 357 losses, an impressive 68.1-percent winning percentage. Sien’s inaugural 2016 season as VU’s head coach was the first season the Trailblazers competed at the NJCAA Division I level in volleyball. Sien recorded his 700th career victory at the NJCAA level on October 30th, 2022, in VU’s Region 24 Tournament Championship victory over John A. Logan College. Sien’s VU volleyball program will ride an impressive streak into the 2025 season, having won four consecutive NJCAA Region 24 Tournament Championships since 2021. A focused academician, Sien’s student-athletes have garnered 21 Academic All-American honors.
Jerry Blemker, Baseball
Blemker skippered baseball for nearly four decades, with stints at VU and Three Rivers College. While at VU, Blemker led the team to the NJCAA Region Tournament 13 times, had 180 players transfer to 51 different four-year colleges, and saw more than 27 of his student-athletes sign professional contracts. Blemker also coached a gold-medal-winning North Team in the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival. In 2007, Blemker was inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His 1,188 victories rank eighth amongst inactive NJCAA coaches in all divisions, and his career coaching record stands at 1,188 wins and 879 losses. In 2009, VU’s baseball complex was named in honor of the late coach, who passed away in May 2012.
Harry Meeks, Women’s Basketball
Meeks is the most successful coach in the history of VU Basketball. He took over as the Trailblazers women’s basketball coach before the 1991-92 season. The following year, he led VU women’s basketball to its best record in school history, 32 wins and two losses, and a fifth-place finish in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. A highlight of Meeks’ VU tenure was his 1997-98 team that reeled off 29 consecutive wins to start the season. Meeks recorded his 700th career win at VU on March 13, 2021, and passed Dan Sparks (Men’s Basketball) for the most wins in VU basketball history on April 1, 2021, with his 707th career win. In 33 years at VU, Meeks compiled an overall record of 750 wins and 283 losses, a 72.6-percent winning percentage, and currently ranks fifth amongst inactive NJCAA coaches in all divisions. Meeks entered the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020 and retired from VU as athletic director and women’s basketball coach in 2024.
Tina Miller, Women’s Volleyball
Miller was appointed leader of the VU women’s volleyball program in 1983, guiding the Lady Trailblazers to 24 winning seasons during her time at VU. Her 2006 team finished the season 53-9, placing fourth nationally at the 2006 NJCAA National Championship Tournament. For her efforts, she was selected as the NJCAA Region 12 Coach of the Year and the NJCAA District E Coach of the Year. In 2006, she was honored with the American Volleyball Coaches Association Victory Club Award to celebrate her 700th career win. Overall, Miller’s teams featured three NJCAA All-Americans and 13 Academic All-Americans. After 27 years of tremendous success, she retired in 2010, ranking first in wins amongst active NJCAA Division II women’s volleyball coaches. She currently ranks sixth amongst inactive NJCAA coaches across all divisions with 866 career wins, compiling an overall coaching record of 866 wins against 433 losses for a 66.7 winning percentage.
Dan Sparks, Men’s Basketball
Sparks’ days at VU began as a student-athlete, as he guided VU to its first national championship in men’s basketball in 1965. In 1980, Sparks took over as coach of the program, leading the Trailblazers until 2005. During his tenure, Sparks totaled the most victories of any VU men’s basketball coach, with 706 wins to only 196 defeats, earning him a 78.3-percent winning percentage. Sparks guided the Trailblazers to 13 NJCAA National Championship Tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in the 1986 NJCAA National Championship Tournament. Sparks, whose coaching resume includes a stint at nearby Wabash Valley College, was inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a player and coach in 2000. Sparks retired in 2013 after coaching 24 NJCAA All-Americans, four NBA first-round draft picks, and 15 professional players. His 869 career wins rank him sixth amongst inactive NJCAA coaches in all divisions.
Gary Sparks, Men’s Bowling
Sparks began his time at VU as a bowler for the 1979 Trailblazers. He returned to VU in 1992 as coach of the Men’s and Women’s Bowling teams to start the most dominant VU Athletics run. On the men’s side, Sparks led VU to 26 top-five NJCAA National Tournament finishes and 12 NJCAA National Championships (1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014). On the women’s side, Sparks’ bowlers rolled their way to 12 top-five NJCAA National Tournament finishes. His former student-athletes hold four current NJCAA records, while three were inducted into the NJCAA Bowling Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and 41 were named NJCAA All-Americans. A 2-time National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Coach of the Year and 12-time NJCAA Coach of the Year, Sparks was inducted into the NJCAA Bowling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004. He retired from VU in 2018. |
