CALGARY – The University of Calgary announced Tuesday that four outstanding individuals and two historic teams will be inducted into the Dinos Hall of Fame, presented by Manulife, as the Class of 2026.

Celebrated in conjunction with the University's 60th anniversary, the Class of 2026 features three athletes, one coach and two teams, who will be officially inducted during a ceremony Thursday, Feb. 5, at the University Theatre.

Ross Collett (football), Sandy Drever (multisport) and John Jenkins (hockey) will be inducted in the athlete category. Marilyn McNeil (basketball) will be honoured as a coach, while the 1965–66 men's and women's basketball teams will also be inducted.

"As we celebrate 60 years at UCalgary, it's only fitting that our Hall of Fame Class of 2026 recognizes a group which helped lay the foundation for our future success," said Dinos Director of Athletics Ben Matchett. "Each of these four individuals and two teams left a legacy of success, and we are honoured to recognize them for their contributions as our newest Hall of Famers."



ROSS COLLETT
One of just eight Dinos to win the UCalgary Male Athlete of the Year award twice, Ross Collett was an early star on the football field. A four-year mainstay in the earliest days of the program, Collett was one of the first four conference all-stars in program history back in 1968. He was the Dinos Male Athlete of the Year in both 1967 and 1968, and the defensive lineman was drafted in the fourth round of the 1969 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders.



SANDY DREVER
An early star in multiple sports, Sandy Drever boasts an extensive athletics resume. The Calgary native made a significant impact at her hometown university, competing in basketball, field hockey and volleyball, and was named the Dinos Female Athlete of the Year in 1969. One year later, she led the women's volleyball team to the first national championship in school history. That same year, Drever represented Canada in volleyball at the 1970 World Student Games in Turin, Italy. She also spent eight years (1971-79) with Canada's national field hockey program, serving as team captain for three seasons, and was honoured on a Canadian postage stamp in 1979 following a world championship. After graduating, Drever coached swimming at the University of Alberta for three seasons, winning a national title, before moving on to the University of Victoria, where she led the Vikes field hockey program to its first of many national championships in 1984.



JOHN JENKINS
The first All-Canadian in Dinos men's hockey history, John Jenkins helped deliver the program's first conference championship. The 1974 Dinos Male Athlete of the Year played a pivotal leadership role on and off the ice for a young roster, helping shape the foundation of the program and a legacy that continues to resonate today. A three-time conference all-star, Jenkins earned All-Canadian honours in 1974 while serving as team captain. His success with the Scarlet & Gold led to multiple professional tryouts, including opportunities with National Hockey League teams.



MARILYN MCNEIL
An early pioneer for women and girls in sport, Marilyn McNeil recently ended a 53-year career in collegiate athletics that started at UCalgary. A standout athlete, McNeil was a member of the 1966 conference champion women's basketball team. In 1968, she graduated from the Dinos and won the Margaret Southern Award for contributions in women's athletics. She came back to campus to coach the Dinos for four seasons (1975-79), taking a team that had gone 3-17 prior to her arrival and leading them to a 16-4 finish her first season before bringing home the conference banner in 1979, being named the national coach of the year that same season. After her time in Calgary, she went on to spearhead incredible accomplishments in collegiate athletics, including serving as the director of athletics at Monmouth University – an NCAA Division I program in New Jersey. During her tenure there, the Hawks won 119 regular-season conference championships. Additionally, she was a tireless advocate for women and Title IX, adding seven women's sports at Monmouth under her leadership. 



1965-66 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
The 1965–66 women's basketball team claimed the first conference championship in program history, setting the standard for future success. A team built on speed and toughness, Dr. Jean Leiper's group went to Edmonton for the conference tournament and walked away with the first trophy in UCalgary history. The squad was comprised of a host of talented players, including Dinos Hall of Fame inductees Wendy Carson, Theresa Maxwell (Sekura), and Marilyn McNeil.



1965-66 MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
One of the most successful men's basketball programs in all of U SPORTS, the 1965-66 UCalgary squad helped establish the culture that continues to this day. That team brought home the first of its nine conference banners in program history. That year was also the first time the Dinos hosted the national championship. With Hall of Famer Wayne Thomas helping lead the way, Calgary brought home the silver medal. Both collectively and individually, that team has left its mark on Dinos men's basketball to this day.

The Dinos Hall of Fame Induction Gala, presented by Manulife, will take place on Thursday, Feb. 5, inside the University Theatre. Reception is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Full ticket information can be found here.

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