Donald Bielke A retired professor and coach at California Lutheran University is among the newest members of the Athletics Hall of Fame at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

Donald Bielke of Thousand Oaks was among six former Valparaiso standouts inducted during campus ceremonies last Saturday.

The Fort Wayne (now Detroit) Pistons of the NBA drafted Bielke following a college career in which he became one of the leading rebounders in Valpo history and was named the Indiana Collegiate Conference's most valuable player.

His average of 15.4 rebounds per game in the 195253 season is a school record, and his total for that season remains second highest in school history. His 40 points against Villanova tied the school record.

A two-sport standout, Bielke earned Little All-America honors in track as a sophomore and junior, setting a school record in the shot put and matching the school record in the 120-yard high hurdles. He served as captain of the basketball and track teams.

Bielke coached at Concordia Junior College in Oakland for 16 years before moving to Cal Lutheran, where he was head basketball coach for 10 years and taught kinesiology.

As a coach, his teams won more than 550 games and four conference championships.

At the time of his retirement, Bielke was named professor emeritus at Cal Lutheran.

Bielke, who attended high school in St. Paul, Minn., is active in numerous community activities, serving terms as president of the Kiwanis Club and as lieutenant governor in the Kiwanis district. He previously served on the YMCA board.

Courtesy of Karin Grennan, CLU media relations coordinator.