Western Illinois University Athletics has announced the 2026 Hall of Fame class, recognizing three individuals whose excellence, leadership, and service have left a lasting impact on the proud tradition of Leatherneck Athletics. Former football standout Lee Russell, former track and field standout Kristin Rueter, and longtime Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Tom Cody will be formally inducted during Hall of Fame festivities on Oct. 2-3, 2026, in Macomb.
“The WIU Athletics Hall of Fame honors individuals whose accomplishments reflect the very best of what it means to be a Leatherneck. We are proud to celebrate the lasting contributions that Lee Russell, Kristin Rueter, and Dr. Tom Cody have made to Western Illinois University and WIU Athletics. We look forward to welcoming them, their families, teammates, and friends back to Macomb as we honor their achievements and recognize their place in Leatherneck history,” said Dr. Jeremy Robinett, Acting Administrator in Charge of Athletics.
Russell enters the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame as one of the most accomplished defensive players in program history. A standout linebacker from 2000-03, he earned First Team All-Gateway Conference honors in 2002 and 2003 after being named the league’s Freshman of the Year in 2000 and earning Second Team All-Conference recognition during his first two seasons. A three-time Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Russell was named Honorable Mention All-America in 2001, Third Team All-America in 2002, and First Team All-America in 2003 while finishing among the nation’s top vote-getters for the Buck Buchanan Award in consecutive seasons.
Russell remains Western Illinois’ career leader with 317 solo tackles, a record that still stands as one of the greatest defensive accomplishments in program history. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology before completing his master’s degree in secondary education in 2007. Following his playing career, Russell has built a distinguished career in federal law enforcement and currently serves as a Supervisory Criminal Investigator with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations after previous service with the United States Secret Service and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Rueter joins the Hall of Fame after establishing herself as one of the premier track and field athletes in Western Illinois history. During her Leatherneck career, she captured multiple conference championships while earning multiple All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors. Rueter was named the conference’s Most Valuable Performer and served as both team captain and team MVP, demonstrating excellence on the track, in the classroom, and as a leader among her teammates.
Upon graduating from Western Illinois, Rueter held three school records, and her legacy continues to be reflected throughout the program’s record book. She remains listed 11 times among Western Illinois’ all-time Top 10 performances, a testament to the sustained excellence she brought to the Leatherneck track and field program.
Dr. Cody is being recognized for more than two decades of extraordinary service to Western Illinois Athletics. Serving as the University’s Faculty Athletics Representative from 2000-23, he became the longest-tenured FAR in school history while working alongside five university presidents and seven directors of athletics. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Cody served as the vital liaison between the University, the NCAA, and the athletics department, ensuring institutional integrity while championing student-athlete success.
A respected leader at both the institutional and national levels, Dr. Cody served on numerous NCAA, conference, and University committees, including the NCAA Academic Eligibility Cabinet and the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. He played an instrumental role in implementing the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) at Western Illinois, helped strengthen the University’s compliance and financial aid processes, and was a founding member of LEAP (Leathernecks Excel as Athletes and People), a confidential support program focused on student-athlete mental health and performance. Even in retirement, Dr. Cody continues to serve Leatherneck Athletics as the color analyst for WIU football broadcasts while providing mental performance coaching for the men’s and women’s golf programs.
The 2026 Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted during a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 2, before being recognized at Western Illinois’ football game against Tennessee State on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The WIU Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and supporters whose accomplishments have made a lasting impact on Western Illinois Athletics. The 2026 class continues that tradition by celebrating individuals whose achievements, leadership, and service have strengthened the legacy of Leatherneck Athletics for generations.
***Courtesy of Western Illinois University***
