2024 Bethel Athletic Hall of Fame Induction, Alumni Awards Ceremonies

McKENZIE — Bethel University honored three former athletic greats and two contributors with inductions into the prestigious Bethel Athletic Hall-of-Fame Friday night. Bethel also presented Bethel’s University’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Sidney L. Swindle
Men’s Basketball (1957)
Dr. Sidney Leonard Swindle came to Bethel from Trimble, Tennessee. He attended Bethel from 1953-57. He played center for the basketball team and was the team’s captain for two years. Sidney graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science.

In 1958-60, Sidney attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis, Tennessee. He served in the United States Army as a captain from 1962-64.

After his service, he moved back to Tampa and he established a dental partnership with Dr. Milton T. Wood, which lasted from 1964-1994 when Dr. Wood retired. Sidney retired in 1998.

Danny Cronin
Men’s Basketball & Baseball (1993)
Dan Cronin is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Hep lives in Cincinnati and is a retired high school basketball coach with over 400 plus wins. He was also an MLB scout with the Atlanta Braves organization.

Dan’ s brother Mick Cronin is the head men’s basketball coach at UCLA.

Dan graduated from LaSalle High School in Cincinnati. He was an All-State and All-City performer in baseball and basketball during his prep career.

Dan played summer ball and was the center field for the Midland Redskins in 1988.

Dan attended Wright State University and played baseball before transferring to Bethel College in 1989, where he earned an Accounting & Business Administration degree in 1993.

His collegiate accolades include:
All-Time Assist Leader in school history (851) in just three years, Most Assists in a season (328), 1992-93 led NAIA in assist-to-turnover ratio 1992-1993, 2nd in NAIA in assists 1992-93 (9.9 per game), 2nd most Assists in a game (15), 1992-93 Academic All TCAC in both basketball and baseball (3x for each), Estimated Career batting average of .375 as leadoff hitter (No official stats kept).

Jana Roney Kahler
Women’s Basketball (2011)
Jana (Roney) Kahler is a graduate of Obion Co. Central High School. She played for Bethel from 2009-2012, after transferring from Murray State.

Jana helped lead the Lady Wildcats to back-to-back NAIA Elite 8 appearances in 2010 and 2011. She was twice selected as a member of the TransSouth All-Conference team, including being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. In 2012, Jana was selected as an NAIA All-American after finishing in the top ten of the nation in scoring average and rebounds.

Jana finished her career with 1, 204 points and 670 rebounds in only three seasons. She averaged 12.2 points per game and had an impressive career mark of shooting 47 percent from the floor.

Jean Killibrew McKinnie & Joe McKinnie
Contributors (1961)
Jean Killebrew McKinnie was born and raised in Paris, Tennessee.

Jean graduated from Grove High School in 1957 and Bethel in 1961. She worked from 1961 until 1964 for President Roy Baker and was very involved in men’s basketball.

Jean moved to Memphis in 1964 and met Joe, who was a long-time Cumberland Presbyterian.

The family moved to McKenzie in 1979 after Jean’s dad had passed away. They both worked for Bethel in the 80s - Jean in Dean’s office and Joe in maintenance. “We met our boys there,” stated Jean.

Jean said, “Bethel had budget problems, especially within the athletic department. After the games, the boys were getting a thin ham and cheese sandwich, and we decided we could help Bethel, the athletic department, and the team.”

Jean added, “Since we lived close to the gym, we started feeding our boys at our home. Thanksgiving dinner, evening cookouts, and any other time they needed help.

“Jean said, “The main thing we tried to do was give them a home away from home.”