WILMINGTON, DE -- Former University of Delaware football All-American Dennis Johnson (top right) and longtime football assistant and basketball and golf head coach Irv Wisniewski (bottom right) were recently inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.

The 31st annual induction banquet, which honors legendary athletes and coaches in the state of Delaware, was held May 17 at the Bank One Center in Wilmington, DE. The 2006 induction class also included former Wesley College football coach Bob Andrus, outstanding diver Bart Buckalew, former major league baseball player Delino DeShields, former All-American swimmer Barbara Harris, former University of Maryland football player Richard Koffenberger, former Wesley College basketball coach Jim Wentworth, and triathlon athlete Len Leshem. Johnson and Buckalew were inducted posthumously.

The induction of Johnson and Wisniewski bring to 47 the total of former athletes, coaches, administrators, and media members with University of Delaware ties inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Regarded as one of the finest defensive linemen in University of Delaware football history, Johnson enjoyed an All-American career for the Blue Hens and head coach Tubby Raymond in 1970-72, leading Delaware to small college national titles in 1971 and 1972. He captained the 1972 squad to an undefeated 10-0 mark, was named first team All American, first team All-East, and played in the East-West Shrine Game. He recorded 215 career tackles.

A 13th round draft pick by the Washington Redskins in 1973, the Passaic, NJ native became the first UD alumni to start a National Football League game in 1975. He also played with the Buffalo Bills. He was inducted into the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. He died in 1997 at the age of 46.

Wisniewski did it all during his 37 years at the University of Delaware, serving as head coach for the Blue Hen men’s basketball and golf teams, as an assistant coach for the UD football team, and serving as a physical education instructor.

A native of Toledo, OH, Wisniewski was a standout two-sport athlete at the University of Michigan, leading the Wolverine football team to two national titles and the basketball team to the 1948 Big 10 title. He served as head football coach at Hillsdale (MI) College before being hired by Dave Nelson for the UD staff in 1952. As offensive line coach, he helped lead the Blue Hens to three national titles under Nelson and Tubby Raymond and coached several All-American players. He also played a big role in the development of the famous Delaware Wing-T offense.

He served as Delaware’s men’s basketball head coach from 1954 until 1966 and still ranks No. 2 all-time in coaching victories with 111, including an 18-5 mark in 1961-62. He also served as Delaware’s men’s golf head coach in 1955-63. In addition to his work at Delaware, he was active as an advisor to Poland’s Olympic basketball team in 1965-66 and coordinated several international tours for United States teams overseas. He was inducted into the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.