OMAHA, Neb. (Sept. 24, 2025) – Omaha Athletics will welcome five inductees into the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 induction class, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hall of Fame.
 
The induction will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, at the UNO Alumni Association's UNO Alumni Honors Brunch at the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. The inductees will be recognized on-ice at the Omaha Hockey game Friday, Oct. 24 at Baxter Arena vs. UMass with the opening faceoff set for 7 p.m. CT.
 
This year's class includes Diane Ninemire (softball); Abayomi (Taiwo) Onatolu (football); Rose Shires (volleyball head coach); Sami Spenner Richardson (track and field) and Dhafir (Roy) Washington (wrestling).
 
"This year's Hall of Fame class is especially meaningful as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame," said Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell. "Each of these individuals embodies the excellence, commitment and impact that define Omaha Athletics. Their achievements continue to inspire our current student-athletes and elevate the profile of our university. We are proud to celebrate their contributions with our campus and community."
 
Diane Ninemire – Softball
Ninemire arrived at Omaha beginning her sophomore year, helping lead the Mavericks to three Women's College World Series appearances. A member of both the women's basketball and softball teams, Ninemire played shortstop and left field at Omaha. Ninemire led the Mavericks in doubles (five) in 1979 and scored 18 runs that season to go along with a triple and home run.

Ninemire went on to become a hall of fame Division I head coach, leading the California Golden Bears. Retiring in 2022, Ninemire led Cal to 12 WCWS appearances, including a national crown in 2002. Cal advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of her first 26 years leading the program. Since her first year in the dugout as head coach in 1988, she compiled a record of 1,355-687-1, more wins than any other coach in school history. Ninemire is a two-time National Coach of the Year and four-time conference coach of the year. Ninemire was inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
 
Taiwo Onatolu – Football
Onatolu was a First Team All-American linebacker in 2004 and earned Second and Third Team All-American honors during his time in the black and red. A First Team All-North Central Conference selection in 2003, 2004 and 2005, Onatolu was named NCC Most Valuable Player in 2004 after a season that saw him post 98 tackles and five interceptions, three of which he returned for a single-season school record three touchdowns. Onatolu was also recognized as the team's Outstanding Linebacker (2002-04) and earned the Hepburn Trophy for defensive excelling in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
 
Onatolu finished his four-year stint at Omaha as the program's second all-time tackler with 371 tackles. He also tallied 46.5 tackles-for-loss to rank second in school history and 12.5 sacks in four seasons (top 10 all-time at Omaha). Onatolu recorded seven career interceptions at Omaha. After playing, the Papillion, Neb. native went on to coach at Omaha and at the FBS level, currently serving as the assistant coach – defensive ends/special teams coordinator at Kansas.
 
Rose Shires – Volleyball Head Coach
Shires retired in 2019 after 31 overall years with the volleyball program, including 29 as head coach. The winningest head coach in Omaha Volleyball history, Shires recorded 510 career victories, including the 1996 NCAA Division II National Championship. The 1996 AVCA National Coach of the Year, Shires led that squad to a program-best 35-2 record, the fewest losses in program history. The 1996 Omaha Sportscasters Association's Sportswoman of the Year and the Omaha World-Herald State College Coach of the Year, Shires also earned the Lite 96 Leadership Award and was selected as one of the "Fabulous 50 Women of Nebraska" by the Daughters of Sarah Women's Auxiliary.
 
Seamlessly leading Omaha into the Division I era, Shires was named the 2015 Summit League Coach of the Year. In her final season (2018), Shires' squad finished with 17 victories and four Mavericks earned seven All-Summit League plaudits. Shires coached nine players to 27 All-America awards, while 42 of her student-athletes combined for 71 all-conference honors and 18 earned 34 all-region honors. 22 of her teams earned AVCA academic honors for boasting team grade point averages (GPA) of 3.30 or higher. Away from the court, Shires served in leadership roles on AVCA and NCAA committees, worked as a consultant for USA Volleyball, volunteered with USA Special Olympics and spent 26 years as an instructor in UNO's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
 
Sami Spenner Richardson – Track and Field
Competing as a Maverick from 2010-14, Spenner Richardson ended her time at UNO owning eight program records with her name appearing in the record books 73 times. Spenner Richardson set the then-All-Class American Collegiate record in the pentathlon in 2014 and before that was an All-American in the heptathlon in 2011. The USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Year in 2014 both indoors and outdoors, Spenner Richardson was a three-time Summit League Athlete of the Year and was the Most Outstanding Athlete of the Summit League Championships four times. A recipient of UNO's Connie Claussen Senior Achievement Award, Spenner Richardson was a four-time Summit League Academic All-League honoree.
 
Her Omaha indoor records included: 60m hurdles (8.52); long jump (20-9 ¾) and pentathlon (4,498). Outdoors, Spenner Richardson recorded records in the 200m (23.54); 100m (13.91); long jump (20-9); triple jump (41-11 ¾) and heptathlon (6,003). Additionally, Spenner Richardson finished with top five results indoors with the: 60m (7.51); 200m (24.24); 800m (2:12.87) and heptathlon (6,003). Outdoors, she recorded top five marks in the 100m (11.65); 400m (23.86); 800m (2:11.93), high jump (5-8 3/4) and discus (120-1 ¾).
 
Dhafir (Roy) Washington – Wrestling
Washington was a three-time national champion at Omaha, wrestling at 145 and 150 lbs. He claimed titles in three consecutive seasons: 1968, 1969 and 1970. A four-time All-American, Washington was recognized in 2009 as part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's (RMAC) All-Century Wrestling Team. Wrestling from 1967-70, Washington helped lead Omaha to the 1970 NAIA National Championship. In 1969, Washington led the charge as the team finished 14-1, its best finish at the time. Washington, his brother Mel and Curlee Alexander guided Omaha to a second-place finish at the NAIA national tournament that season. That team was coached by Don Benning, a UNO alum and 1982 hall of fame inductee.
 
He finished his Omaha career with a record of 82-6-1 (.927) including two 150-pound NAIA championships and was proclaimed to be "one of the finest, if not the best wrestler in the 16-year history of the sport at this university" in the 1970 yearbook.
 
Washington passed away in 2003.
 
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