LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – As the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) celebrates its 75th anniversary in the 2025-26 season, the league is honoring 300 of its most prominent contributors throughout September 2025. The first group of 75 honorees, designated as "Made in the PSAC," celebrates former student-athletes who have gone on to influential careers after graduation—many of whom have made their mark well beyond the playing field.

"For 75 years, the PSAC has been more than a conference—it's been a proving ground for excellence, leadership, and lifelong impact," said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. "The 'Made in the PSAC' honorees reflect the very best of what our institutions represent. Their achievements stand as a testament to the transformative power of Division II athletics and the values that define the PSAC: integrity, resilience, and a commitment to something greater than oneself."

Founded on March 11, 1951, as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference (PSTCAC), the PSAC has grown from its 14 founding institutions into one of the largest conferences in the NCAA across all three divisions. The 75th anniversary celebration will continue with the release of the 75 Greatest Female Athletes on September 10, 75 Greatest Male Athletes on September 17, and Distinguished Keystones on September 24.

ESU Athletics: Celebrating Alumni Excellence
East Stroudsburg University (ESU) Athletics is proud to recognize the following alumni included among the "Made in the PSAC" honorees for their lasting contributions and leadership after graduation:

Gary Kessel (Wrestling, 1974–77): National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee as a Meritorious Official, Kessel has officiated at 16 NCAA Division I Championships and 12 finals over a 40-year career. He was a two-time PSAC champion and 1977 Outstanding Wrestler at ESU.

Mary Pakenas Gardner (Swimming, 1971–74): One of the first female athletic directors in the country at Bloomsburg, Gardner served for 23 years and was Bloomsburg's first field hockey coach. She was named the 2003 NACWAA Division II AD of the Year. At ESU, she was a three-time AIAW champion and four-time Eastern champion.

James Franklin (Football, 1991–94): Penn State's head football coach since 2014, Franklin led the Nittany Lions to the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal and 2016 Big Ten championship. He was the first PSAC quarterback to achieve both 2,500 passing and 500 rushing yards in a season.

Kathy Flores (Track & Field, Basketball, 1975–77): A pioneer in women's rugby, Flores is a US Rugby and World Rugby Hall of Famer, captained Team USA to its first and only world title in 1991, and was 2014 USA Rugby Coach of the Year. At ESU, she was a two-time EAIAW javelin champion and basketball point guard.

Charlie Chronister (Basketball Coach, Bloomsburg, 1970–2000): An ESU graduate, Chronister is Bloomsburg's all-time winningest coach, finishing with 559 victories and the most coaching wins in PSAC men's basketball history.

Merrily Dean Baker (Field Hockey, Swimming, Women's Lacrosse, Archery, Basketball, Gymnastics, 1961–64): The first woman to serve as AD in the Big Ten (Michigan State) and second-ever at a Division I football institution. Baker is a NACDA Hall of Famer and former AIAW President who lettered in six sports at ESU.

Jane Moffett (Basketball, Field Hockey, 1949–52): A trailblazer in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the first Warrior in the US Field Hockey National Tournament, Moffett set school records in basketball and field hockey.

These alumni exemplify the legacy of excellence, leadership, and service that defines East Stroudsburg University and the PSAC.