[SAU Bees] St. Ambrose to induct four into Athletic Hall of Fame

A National Champion, a top golfer, a leading rusher and a two-sport All-American will comprise the 30th induction class into the St. Ambrose Athletic Hall of Fame. 

The four - Rob Firrell (track & field), Ed McCollough (men's golf), Nate Norman (football) and Casey Thompson (women's soccer and softball) - will be inducted on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, as part of Homecoming Weekend.

Rob Firrell became the first track & field national champion in St. Ambrose history when he won the weight throw with a toss of 17.99 meters (59.25 feet) at the 2003 NAIA Indoor National Championships. This came on the heels of an All-American third-place finish in the same event at the 2002 Championships. Firrell also won outdoor conference championships in the hammer throw and shot put his senior year. After graduating in 2003, Firrell returned to St. Ambrose as the throws coach for the track & field program from January 2007 through 2010. He coached Mandy Streu, who was an All-American in the shot put in 2010.

Ed McCollough was the top golfer on a St. Ambrose team that qualified for the NAIA National Championships in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He won numerous collegiate and other amateur events, including the Quad-City Amateur. In 1979, McCollough qualifed for the Ed McMahon Quad-Cities Open, which later became the John Deere Classic. He earlier played in the event as a freshman in 1973. McCollough also competed in the 1984 Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Flint, Mich. He was elected a member of the PGA of America in 1984, and served as a head golf professional at three different facilities. He graduated from St. Ambrose in 1977.

Nate Norman was a two-time All-American and one of the most prolific running backs in St. Ambrose football history. He rushed for a school-record 2,069 yards in earning first team All-American and conference player of the year honors in 2001. He earned second team All-American recognition in 2000. A three-time first team all-conference selection, Norman remains third on the school's all-time rushing list with 5,046 career yards. He is also third in program history with 38 career rushing touchdowns. Norman pursued a professional football career in the Canadian Football League before returning to St. Ambrose to complete his degree requirements in 2017.

Casey Thompson was a dual-sport standout, earning All-American recognition in both soccer and softball for St. Ambrose. She was a three-time honorable mention All-American in soccer. A four-time first team all-conference selection and three-time first team all-region pick, Thompson is fourth in program history with 58 career goals and third with 135 career points. In softball, the two-time conference player of the year earned first team All-American status in 2001 after batting .550, the best single-season batting average in program history. Her .408 career batting average is fourth in St. Ambrose history, and she remains the program leader with 278 career hits. Thompson graduated from St. Ambrose in 2003.

This will be the first class inducted into the St. Ambrose Athletic Hall of Fame since the 1994 and 1996 baseball teams entered in 2013.