Two people with connections to Madison College will be inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Assocation (WBCA) Hall of Fame later this year. Former WolfPack women's basketball coach Steven Bentin and former men's basketball player Eric Nelson are among the 30 people named in the 2026 induction class that will be honored on September 27 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Bentin led Madison College women's basketball from 2003 to 2006, racking up an impressive 78-16 record with an .830 winning percentage and taking the WolfPack to three straight NJCAA Division III National Tournaments. Additionally, Bentin's teams won three straight Wisconsin Technical College Conference (WTCC) titles, two Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association (WJCAA) crowns, and finished runners-up (2003-04), third place (2005-06), and fourth place (2004-05) at the national tournament. Additionally, the 2005-06 team still holds the program record for wins in a season with 32, while 2004-05 squad earned the NJCAA Battaglia Sportsmanship Award. Bentin was named WJCAA Coach of the Year twice and Region 13 Coach of the Year once. His players included three NJCAA All-Americans, five all-region recipients, six all-state selections, and seven all-conference honorees. Bentin also enjoyed successful coaching stints at Madison East and Madison West high schools.

Nelson, who is being inducted for his years of coaching at Madison La Follette and Monona Grove high schools, played for Madison College from 1985-1987 and remains the program's all-time assists leader with 335. The former Madison East HS standout also ranks third in school history with 145 steals. As a freshman in 1985-86, Nelson helped the then-Trojans to a WJCAA title and a Region 13 crown to earn the school's one-and-only appearance at a NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament. Over his two seasons, Madison was a combined 48-17, which also included a WTCC championship during his sophomore season.

Additional Links
WBCA announces 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees (Official Release)
Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Assocation (WBCA) Hall of Fame

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