Our fifth in a series honoring our 2018 Hall of Fame following the release of Fr. Joe Eagan, today we would like to highlight men's soccer player Hans Friessen '72.  Formal induction ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23 at the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner in the McLaren Center on the USF campus. The festivities will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the dinner program at 7:30 p.m. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the USF-San Diego basketball game on Feb. 24.
 

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In the history of the University of San Francisco, there are only a handful of people who can say they have earned All-American Honors three or more times. Former Don soccer player, Hans Friessen, is one of those select few. Making it to USF however happened by chance according to Friessen.
 
"I had an amateur contract with a team in Guadalajara," Friessen said. "I had organized a tour to come to the United States and we played in five or six soccer games throughout California. In one of those games, I was playing in Oakland and Steve Negoesco was there. After the game, he asked me if I was interested in having a soccer scholarship at USF and I said yes. That's how it all began. It was my love for soccer that took me to that team."
 
From that point on, not only did Friessen earn his All-American Honors, he also earned All-Conference Honors during his years as a Don. To add to his list of accomplishments, Friessen recorded the second best individual season tally of goals (25), and helped his team advance to the NCAA Tournament in every season while he was a member of the squad.
 
As a prolific and versatile soccer player, Friessen started to attract attention from other sports, as well. One day in his freshman year while Friessen was at practice, the football team happened to be on the field at the same time. Friessen was resting a pulled muscle in his leg and happened to notice the placekicker having a hard time making a field goal.
 
Friessen saw the kicker struggle to get the ball over the field goal post and that's when Friessen stepped in to offer some help. With his good leg, Friessen demonstrated how to get the ball on top of the goal. By chance again, Friessen had some interested eyes on him.
 
"I guess someone was there watching the football team and a couple of weeks later, Steve (Negoesco) told me the scouts from the San Francisco 49er's wanted to see if I would like to kick for them," Friessen said. "I said no. I wanted to go out on the field to run and score a goal, not walk on the field twice a game to kick a ball and make a couple of points. I wanted to play for the Dons, not the 49ers."
 
Friessen added that at the time, he knew very little about American football. Although he now finds American football exciting, it still isn't Friessen's thing and he is happy with the decision he made so many years ago.
 
As his collegiate career neared its end, Friessen signed a professional contract with Chivas de Guadalajara. However, it didn't start the way he had envisioned it. When Friessen first signed his contract, he didn't have an agent to help negotiate his terms. Because of that, Friessen started his new career with a very low salary. However this didn't bother Friessen because he ended up being rewarded with something he felt was worth more than money.
 
"Although my success story wasn't the one I expected, I did become very well known," Friessen said. "It has been a very big satisfaction for me to see people in the streets that I know or don't know, and they know who I am because of my wonderful experience playing in the professional league."
 
After his years as a soccer player, Friessen became a proud father of nine kids and is very happy with the way his life has turned out. Now, over 40 years later, Friessen still feels honored to have been a part of USF and, now, as an inductee into the Dons Hall of Fame.
 
"I have nothing but appreciation for the way I was treated when I was at the University of San Francisco," Friessen said. "It was a beautiful campus and everyone was very nice. I was cherished and loved. What else could I ask for? I really did enjoy my time at USF and I had a wonderful time with my Dons team."
 

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The rich and storied tradition of USF Athletics will come alive on Friday, February 23 with the formal induction ceremonies at the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner at the McLaren Center on the USF Campus. The festivities will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the dinner program at 7:30 p.m. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the USF-San Diego basketball game on Feb. 24
 
USF's Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018, which will comprise the 44th group of inductees, includes Hans Friessen '72(men's soccer), Stefan Gartrell '06 (baseball), Andrea Kagie '97 (women's basketball), Jessica Potter '08 (women's golf), Huey Thomas '65 (men's basketball), and Fr. Joe Eagan, who will be inducted in the special service category.
 
With the inclusion of the new members, USF's Athletic Hall of Fame now includes 272 individuals and 21 teams.
                                                                                                                                         
Individual reservations for the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner are priced at $75 while a table of 10 may be purchased for $725.
 

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The Athletic Department has announced the formation of an athletic alumni association whose mission will be to engage and connect former students across different sports, generations and geographical areas in an attempt to build and foster an on-going association with USF Athletics.

All former students who have competed for a minimum of one year in an intercollegiate sport are eligible, as are team managers and spirit squad members who compiled at least three years of service as an undergraduate

Join the Dons Honor Club