Long Beach State University Athletics
Class Of 2027 Inductees Announced For Long Beach State Athletics Hall Of Fame
10/14/2026 9:07:00 AM | General
Six individuals have been selected to join the elite of Long Beach State.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Athletics and Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran are thrilled to announce that five former student-athletes and one legendary coach will be inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame on January 20, 2027.
The class includes student-athletes Janet Fettig, Ruby Flores, Trise Jackson, John Mallinger, Chris Richardson, and former Dirtbags head coach Mike Weathers in what will once again prove to be an exciting evening celebrating the greats from Long Beach State.
Janet Fettig was the star player of the early years of Long Beach State Women's Soccer. The program was initially founded in 1983, and Fettig played for three seasons in 1984, 1985 and 1986 prior to the temporary dissolution of the program. Over that time, Fettig was outstanding, earning First Team All-Region honors in 1984 and scoring 33 goals, a mark that stood for over 20 years as the program record and still ranks second overall in program history. Her 21 assists also rank fourth in program history.
Ruby Flores was an excellent pitcher for the Beach and a great example of the impact athletics can make in building leaders for our community. Flores helped lead Long Beach State Softball to three straight Women's College World Series Appearances from 1990 through 1992, and her 1.05 career ERA remains in the program's Top 5 over 30 years later. The California Nominee as a senior for the NCAA Women of the Year, Flores went on to a distinguished career in public service, and has risen to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police with the Los Angeles Police Department.
A key member of some of the elite teams of Long Beach State Women's Basketball history, Trise Jackson played for three seasons for the Beach, and helped the team go to three straight trips to the NCAA tournament during that time, including reaching the Sweet 16 in 1991. A first-team All-Big West selection as a senior, Jackson averaged over 17.6 points per game to lead Long Beach State that season. Her 1,311 points rank 11th in program history in just three seasons, and her leadership was key as Long Beach State was one of the elite teams in the nation during her career.
Former PGA Tour golfer John Mallinger will also be inducted. Mallinger was a four-year letterwinner at the Beach, and was a two-time First Team All-Big West selection as a junior and a senior, leading Long Beach State in stroke average in all four seasons at the Beach. Mallinger earned his PGA Tour card in 2007, becoming the fourth golfer to finish their career at Long Beach State to move on to the top level of professional golf. In addition to winning over $6 million of prize money on the tour, Mallinger co-founded TravisMatthew, and continued to support the University as a philanthropic partner.
Decathlete Chris Richardson will also join the Hall of Fame in 2027. Transferring to Long Beach State from Cerritos College, Richardson was a two-time First Team All-American in his two competitive seasons at the Beach. Showcasing his athleticism, Richardson qualified for the NCAA Regionals in three events in both 2006 and 2008, earning Big West Men's Field Athlete of the Year honors in both of those seasons. As a senior in 2008, Richardson won both the javelin and the decathlon at the Big West Championship. He twice finished in the Top 5 in the nation in the decathlon, including a podium finish in 2006 where he placed third, and his 2006 score of 7,605 stood as the program record for 15 years, and still ranks third in program history. He has gone back to Cerritos College, where he has led the Falcon Track and Field program for the last 12 years.
Legendary coach Mike Weathers will join a lineage of fellow baseball skippers in the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame. Serving as an assistant coach under Dave Snow beginning in the 1993 season when the Dirtbags reached the College World Series, Weathers took over as head coach in 2002, posting a record of 311-213, winning back-to-back Big West titles and seven NCAA appearances, including back-to-back super regional appearances in 2003 and 2004. More than anything, Weathers was responsible for leadership and recruiting some of the highest profile players in program history, including Golden Spikes award winner Jered Weaver and over 20 other future MLB players, building a run of over 10 years where Long Beach State had more active major leaguers than any other college in the nation.
The 2027 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will return to the Long Beach Airport Marriott ballroom, with the dinner and program held on the evening of Wednesday, January 20. Tickets can be purchased now at http://www.longbeachstate.com/HOFTickets.
The class includes student-athletes Janet Fettig, Ruby Flores, Trise Jackson, John Mallinger, Chris Richardson, and former Dirtbags head coach Mike Weathers in what will once again prove to be an exciting evening celebrating the greats from Long Beach State.
Janet Fettig was the star player of the early years of Long Beach State Women's Soccer. The program was initially founded in 1983, and Fettig played for three seasons in 1984, 1985 and 1986 prior to the temporary dissolution of the program. Over that time, Fettig was outstanding, earning First Team All-Region honors in 1984 and scoring 33 goals, a mark that stood for over 20 years as the program record and still ranks second overall in program history. Her 21 assists also rank fourth in program history.
Ruby Flores was an excellent pitcher for the Beach and a great example of the impact athletics can make in building leaders for our community. Flores helped lead Long Beach State Softball to three straight Women's College World Series Appearances from 1990 through 1992, and her 1.05 career ERA remains in the program's Top 5 over 30 years later. The California Nominee as a senior for the NCAA Women of the Year, Flores went on to a distinguished career in public service, and has risen to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police with the Los Angeles Police Department.
A key member of some of the elite teams of Long Beach State Women's Basketball history, Trise Jackson played for three seasons for the Beach, and helped the team go to three straight trips to the NCAA tournament during that time, including reaching the Sweet 16 in 1991. A first-team All-Big West selection as a senior, Jackson averaged over 17.6 points per game to lead Long Beach State that season. Her 1,311 points rank 11th in program history in just three seasons, and her leadership was key as Long Beach State was one of the elite teams in the nation during her career.
Former PGA Tour golfer John Mallinger will also be inducted. Mallinger was a four-year letterwinner at the Beach, and was a two-time First Team All-Big West selection as a junior and a senior, leading Long Beach State in stroke average in all four seasons at the Beach. Mallinger earned his PGA Tour card in 2007, becoming the fourth golfer to finish their career at Long Beach State to move on to the top level of professional golf. In addition to winning over $6 million of prize money on the tour, Mallinger co-founded TravisMatthew, and continued to support the University as a philanthropic partner.
Decathlete Chris Richardson will also join the Hall of Fame in 2027. Transferring to Long Beach State from Cerritos College, Richardson was a two-time First Team All-American in his two competitive seasons at the Beach. Showcasing his athleticism, Richardson qualified for the NCAA Regionals in three events in both 2006 and 2008, earning Big West Men's Field Athlete of the Year honors in both of those seasons. As a senior in 2008, Richardson won both the javelin and the decathlon at the Big West Championship. He twice finished in the Top 5 in the nation in the decathlon, including a podium finish in 2006 where he placed third, and his 2006 score of 7,605 stood as the program record for 15 years, and still ranks third in program history. He has gone back to Cerritos College, where he has led the Falcon Track and Field program for the last 12 years.
Legendary coach Mike Weathers will join a lineage of fellow baseball skippers in the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame. Serving as an assistant coach under Dave Snow beginning in the 1993 season when the Dirtbags reached the College World Series, Weathers took over as head coach in 2002, posting a record of 311-213, winning back-to-back Big West titles and seven NCAA appearances, including back-to-back super regional appearances in 2003 and 2004. More than anything, Weathers was responsible for leadership and recruiting some of the highest profile players in program history, including Golden Spikes award winner Jered Weaver and over 20 other future MLB players, building a run of over 10 years where Long Beach State had more active major leaguers than any other college in the nation.
The 2027 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will return to the Long Beach Airport Marriott ballroom, with the dinner and program held on the evening of Wednesday, January 20. Tickets can be purchased now at http://www.longbeachstate.com/HOFTickets.
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