In acknowledgement of his dedication to education, athletics and students at LLCC, former LLCC athletic director, men’s basketball coach and founding faculty member Dick Dhabalt will receive special recognition with the Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award. The award will recognize annually both one LLCC male and female athlete.

Mr. Dhabalt will be recognized with the award during half-time of the women’s basketball game, which will begin at 2 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 14 when the Lady Loggers take on the Lincoln College Lynx in Cass Gymnasium. The men’s game will follow at 4 p.m. Admission for the games is $5 for adults, $3 for students K-12 and is free for LLCC students, faculty and staff with an LLCC ID.

During his tenure at LLCC, Mr. Dhabalt served 20 years as athletic director, 20 years as head men’s basketball coach and 25 years as a faculty member teaching physical education and math. He was selected by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to serve as the Region IV assistant director and then director of Region XXIV. He was inducted into the NJCAA Region XXIV Hall of Fame in 1991, and is an athlete Hall of Fame member at LLCC, as well as his alma mater, Bradley University.