Published on July 17, 2026 6:54 am
Last Updated on July 17, 2026 8:47 am
Bob Horst
The National Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee is proud to announce Coach Bob Horst, former Newton High School Head Football and Track and Field coach, as a 2026 inductee in the Coaching Division.
Over his 37-year coaching career, Horst made stops at Mt. Vernon High School, Flora High School and finally Newton High School. During his legendary 23 years at Newton, his football teams made 18 playoff appearances, compiling a 27-18 career playoff record. In 2005, his team went undefeated, capturing the Apollo Conference title and finishing as Class 4A State Runner-Up. Horst closed out his football coaching career with an overall record of 166-79.
In 2006, Horst led the Newton Eagles to their first-ever IHSA Class A Boys Track and Field State Championship.
Coach Horst’s contributions to high school athletics have been recognized previously as well: he was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001 and received the Heritage Circle Award in 2024.
Dan and Kristi Paulson
The National Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee is proud to announce Eastern Illinois University Co-Coaches Kristi and Dan Paulson as 2026 inductees in the Coaching Division.
Over their 16-year collegiate softball coaching career, the Paulsons’ teams have accumulated an overall record of 279-95.
While serving as co-coaches at Parkland Community College, the coaching duo led their teams to three Region 24 (NJCAA) National Junior College Athletic Association titles and three appearances in the Junior College World Series — finishing seventh in 2021, fifth in 2023, and ninth in 2024. They also captured four straight Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) titles and were named MWAC Coach of the Year from 2021 to 2024, closing out their time at Parkland with an overall record of 205-56.
As head coaches at Eastern Illinois University (EIU), the Paulsons have compiled an overall record of 74-39, capturing two Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) regular-season and tournament titles in 2025 and 2026. Their 2025 team advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Austin Regional, and their 2026 team competed in the
Stillwater Regional.
The Paulsons were also named 2026 OVC Coaches of the Year.
In addition to their collegiate coaching duties, the Paulsons founded Premier Fastpitch in 2011, a program that has produced numerous top-10 finishes at national tournaments.
The 2026 Induction Ceremony will be held Friday evening, November 13, 2026, at the Teutopolis Banquet Hall in Teutopolis, Illinois. The event begins with a banquet that is open to the public. Tickets go on sale September 20 on Eventbrite and in person at the KC Hall in Teutopolis. The price is $12 per ticket, plus a processing fee if purchased through Eventbrite. The induction ceremony will start with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by the meal at 6:30 p.m. The main program is planed to begin at 7 p.m.