Jim Helmer, who coached the Southwestern College cross country team to 84 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships during his 35-year career as head cross country coach, will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. The announcement of the 2018 induction class, which includes University of Kansas legend Paul Pierce and former Kansas City Royals owner Ewing Kauffman, was announced last week by Kansas Sports Hall of Fame officials.

Helmer coached the Moundbuilder cross country and track and field programs to 84 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in his 35-year career. Under his guidance, the Southwestern men's cross country team won 32 KCAC championships, including 31 straight championships from 1980-2011. He also coached Southwestern to 29 KCAC outdoor track and field championships, and a KCAC indoor track and field championship. Helmer was a 31-time KCAC men's cross country coach of the year, and was named the KCAC men's track and field coach of the year 32 times.

The induction will mark Helmer’s third hall of fame induction. He was inducted into the Southwestern College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991, and was inducted into the NAIA Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2001. 

The annual induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, Oct. 7, in Wichita. For more information, visit www.kshof.org.