photo by: Journal-World file photo

Kansas coach Mark Mangino holds aloft an orange as KU athletic director Lew Perkins, right, looks on.

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2024 class on Sunday, as it prepares to enshrine a group with 12 overall members and a particular emphasis on numerous Olympic connections.

“This is an accomplished group and one the Hall of Fame is extremely proud to recognize,” the organization’s chairman, Jim Dunning Jr., said in a press release. “They bring a considerable diversity of backgrounds and talents to the Hall. In this an Olympic year, I believe it is wonderful to shine a light on seven inductees with Olympic connections.”

The Hall of Fame, which has existed since 1961, will induct its latest group on Oct. 13 at the Hotel Topeka City Center, with tickets available beginning July 15 at www.kshof.org.

“Topeka as the location for the induction makes sense for several reasons, but the fact that all of our inductees are either from, live or competed collegiately in the Manhattan-Topeka-Lawrence-Kansas City corridor creates an opportunity for more of their family and friends to attend,” Dunning said in the release. “This event is about the honorees, and we want to do as much as we can to make it special for them.”

Because of that focus on northeast Kansas, the group includes the following seven inductees with KU ties:

• Dave Bingham, the baseball coach who led KU to its first two NCAA Tournament berths and lone College World Series appearance;

• Mark Mangino, the football coach who won three bowl games, including the 2007 Orange Bowl, during his tenure;

• Ron Neugent, a conference-title-winning swimmer who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team;

• Kelly Rankin, a former KU sprinter who went on to serve as head starter for two separate Olympic Games;

• Scott Russell, a Canadian Olympian in the javelin who got his start at KU;

• Sean Snyder, the longtime Kansas State player and coach who spent last season working for Lance Leipold at rival KU;

• Mark Turgeon, a guard for Larry Brown’s KU basketball teams who went on to a distinguished coaching career.

The remaining five honorees are Erik Kynard, Melvin Lister, Kevin Saunders, Will Shields and Annette Wiles.