CHICAGO, Ill. – North Park University Athletics is proud to announce the five members of the 2026 Viking Hall of Fame Class: Darnell Rios, Keith French, Lida Bond Kuehn, Juwan Henry and Dan Thyreen.

The class features accomplished student-athletes and coaches representing football, men's basketball, women's swimming, track and field, and decades of achievement within North Park Athletics.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, January 30, and will begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. CT. North Park will also recognize the Hall of Fame inductees at halftime of the Vikings' men's basketball game against North Central, scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.

Darnell Rios

A 2001 North Park graduate, Darnell Rios authored one of the greatest seasons by a running back in Viking football history during the 2000 campaign.

Rios earned First Team All-CCIW honors after leading the conference with 994 rushing yards in league play. He established North Park single-season records with 1,223 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, 92 points and an average of 7.0 yards per carry. He was also named the Vikings' Offensive Most Valuable Player.

Rios produced the top two single-game rushing totals in program history at the time, running for 322 yards against Carthage and 232 yards against Wheaton. His performance against Carthage ranked as the third-highest single-game rushing total in CCIW history. Rios completed his North Park career with 2,102 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Keith French

A 1983 North Park graduate, Keith French played an important role during the most successful era in the history of North Park men's basketball.

French was a member of the Vikings' 1979 and 1980 NCAA Division III national championship teams. During the 1980 NCAA Tournament, he scored a game-high 21 points in North Park's national semifinal victory over Franklin & Marshall and earned a spot on the Final Four All-Tournament Team.

One of the most efficient scorers in program history, French shot 65 percent from the field in a season and 61 percent during his North Park career. He also delivered a memorable 37-point, 20-rebound performance against Carroll while filling in for injured All-American center Michael Harper. Following his collegiate career, French was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1980 NBA Draft.

Lida Bond Kuehn

A 1986 North Park graduate and nursing major, Lida Bond Kuehn established herself as the most decorated swimmer in the history of North Park's women's swimming program.

Kuehn held school records in 13 of the program's 18 events, including the 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 1,000-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relay. She placed fourth in the 200 backstroke and fifth in the 500 freestyle at the 1985 Illinois Small School state meet.

Kuehn competed through left shoulder tendinitis before undergoing surgery that forced her to miss a season. During her recovery, she assisted head coach David Strang before returning to competition and serving two years as team captain. She later competed in Ironman triathlons and qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Helsinki, Finland.

Juwan Henry

A 2017 North Park graduate, Juwan Henry finished his career as one of the most accomplished scorers in North Park men's basketball history.

Henry scored 2,040 career points, becoming only the third player in program history and the 16th in CCIW history to surpass 2,000. He earned All-CCIW recognition three times, including consecutive First Team selections during his junior and senior seasons, and received All-America recognition.

As a senior, Henry averaged 18.5 points per game and scored a season-high 31 points in a victory over Dubuque. He helped North Park capture its first CCIW regular-season championship since 1987 and secure its first CCIW Tournament appearance. Henry was also the first Viking selected for the NABC Division III All-Star Game, scoring 19 points with five rebounds and three assists in an East All-Stars victory.

Dan Thyreen

Dan Thyreen made a lasting impact on North Park's track and field program through his leadership, innovation and commitment to developing student-athletes.

During his decade of coaching at North Park, Thyreen guided numerous All-CCIW and All-America performers. More than 18 athletes from his teams continued to hold school records at the time of his nomination, while 13 of North Park's top 20 performances in the men's and women's 400-meter hurdles were produced under his direction. His 2002 men's team also recorded what was then the highest CCIW Championship point total in program history.

A specialist in sprints and hurdles, Thyreen incorporated advanced approaches to calisthenics, plyometrics, strength, recovery and nutrition. He also emphasized discipline, accountability, resilience and personal growth while building a strong sense of community within the program.