Bowling Green State University Athletics
Steve Klein: 2006 BGSU Hall of Fame Inductee
September 01, 2006 | General
Sept. 1, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University Athletics Hall of Fame will welcome nine new members next Friday (Sept. 8). The 2006 class will be inducted during a formal dinner on the BGSU campus.
The class of 2006 includes Sara Collas '90 (women's cross country/track and field), Carlyn Esslinger '96 (volleyball), Steve Klein '98 (men's soccer), Brian Leaver '95 (football), Carla Marshack '92 (women's tennis), Jim McDonald '59 (men's basketball), Megan McGuire '91 (women's basketball and volleyball), Vince Palko '95 (football) and Andy Tracy (football and baseball).
The official induction ceremony will take place Friday, Sept. 8, in the grand ballroom of BGSU's Bowen-Thompson Student Union. The social hour begins at 6:00 p.m., with dinner served at 7:00 p.m. and the program starting shortly thereafter.
In addition, the class will be introduced at halftime of the Sept. 9 BGSU-Buffalo football game at Doyt Perry Stadium. The game begins at 3:00 p.m. and is designated as Hall of Fame Day.
Tickets for the Sept. 8 dinner are $35 ($30 for Varsity BG members), and advanced reservations are required. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Falcon Club office at (419) 372-7100. Football game tickets can be purchased through the ticket office by phone, at 1-877-BGSUTICKET, or on the web at www.BGSUFalcons.com.
The public is invited to attend the induction dinner.
The following is the third of a nine-part series that takes a look at this year's inductees...
STEVE KLEIN (men's soccer; 1993-96)
Klein, a native of Nashville, Tenn., ended his standout career in the Brown and Orange by being named the MAC Player of the Year and an NSCAA First-Team All American as a senior. A three-time All-Mideast Region honoree, he led the MAC and the region in scoring in that senior season of 1996, with 50 points on 18 goals and 14 assists. Klein tied the school single-season record for assists with 17 as a sophomore, earning all-league and All-Ohio first-team accolades that fall, and was on the all-region second team.
Klein scored 26 points as a junior, en route to first-team all-league, all-state and all-region recognition. He helped the Falcons to a four-year record of 57-20-4, including an 18-4-1 ledger as a senior, when BG won the MAC's regular-season and tournament crowns. BG advanced to the `Sweet 16' of the NCAA Championships in both his junior and senior seasons. Klein finished his career as the all-time leader in assists (45) and points (119), records that he still owns. His goal total of 37 ties him for third in BGSU career annals.
Since leaving BGSU, Klein has played professionally for several teams. After college, he was drafted by Major League Soccer's New England Revolution for the 1997 season, but saw limited time due to injury. He played a season for the Nashville Metros, and was with the Hershey Wildcats for three seasons, making the A-League All-Star Team in 1999.
Klein played three years with the Charleston Battery, and currently is in his second season with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the United Soccer League. In his inaugural year with the club, 2005, Klein was named to the USL First Division All-League First Team, and also received Vancouver's Midfielder of the Year award.
Klein and his wife have a three-year-old son, Steve Jr., and are expecting their second child in November.
