The Buena Vista University Athletics Hall of Fame welcomes its Class of 2025 during an induction ceremony this Friday, Sept. 26. Before the induction ceremony, we shine the spotlight on each of the four individual inductees and the team inductee. TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT: Dan O'Hern, Class of 1979.

Dan O’Hern, a graduate of Northwest Webster High School in Barnum, Iowa, joined the Buena Vista men’s basketball team as a freshman in 1975-76. Despite seeing limited action on the hardwood that first season, O’Hern was still part of the program’s first conference title in 14 years. A year later as a sophomore, O’Hern began what would be an impressive three-year run to close out his career. He led the team in scoring that season at 15.9ppg and shot  42.9 percent from the field overall. He finished the year with 398 total points, 98 rebounds and 39 assists as the team went 14-11 and he landed Second Team All-Conference recognition.

As a junior, O'Hern bumped his scoring average up even more to a team-leading 19.7ppg and was second in rebounds at 112 en route to earning First Team All-Conference accolades. He capped off his career as a senior by going off for 26.2ppg and 4.6rpg. His 654 points scored for the year remains the second-highest single-season total in program history. For the second straight season, he landed First Team All-Conference accolades. He wrapped up his career with 1,544 points which is ranked sixth on the program’s all-time list. He made 624 total field goals, 296 free-throws and grabbed 325 rebounds. 

In addition to his time on the court, O’Hern was also a three-year member and letterwinner for Hall of Fame coach Jay Beekmann and the Beaver baseball team. As a freshman, he finished the year as the No. 3 starting pitcher and was handed the ball to start one game during the NAIA playoffs. A year later as a sophomore, he solidified himself as the No. 2 starter the entire year.

O’Hern graduated from BVU with a degree in physical education and went on to a lengthy and successful teaching and coaching career, primarily at Eagle Grove High School. Among his most memorable coaching highlights came as an assistant baseball coach and being part of a 2001 state runner-up team and a 2002 state championship team, with his son as a key player on both teams.

He and his wife, Diane, have two grown children, Ryan and Breann.