Nebraska Eight-Man HOF 2026 Class Announced

Two coaches and thirteen players inducted into the Nebraska Eight-Man Football Hall of Fame

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Nebraska Eight-Man Football Coaches Association has announced its Class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductees, which includes two coaches and thirteen players. The induction ceremony will be held on June 20th at the Osborne Family Sports Complex in Hastings, Nebraska during the 49th annual Sertoma Eight-Man All-Star Game.

Why it matters

The Nebraska Eight-Man Football Hall of Fame celebrates the history, growth, and success of eight-man football in the state, honoring the top players and coaches who have made significant contributions to the sport over the years.

The details

The 2026 Hall of Fame class includes players Clint Belina, Adam Broders, Taylor Dixon, Kole Ficken, Ben Ideus, Brett Kaczor, Shannon Messersmith, Nate Most, Mark Olsen, Justin Swedburg, and Lance Thorell. The class also includes the Mlinar family as a "Family Legacy" inductee, as well as coaches Mike Speirs and Steve Colfack.

  • The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 20th, 2026.
  • The ceremony will take place at halftime of the 49th annual Sertoma Eight-Man All-Star Game in Hastings, Nebraska.
  • Kickoff for the all-star game is set for 6:00 p.m.

The players

Clint Belina

Former player from Howells.

Adam Broders

Former player from Bloomfield.

Taylor Dixon

Former player from Wauneta-Palisade.

Kole Ficken

Former player from Bruning-Davenport.

Ben Ideus

Former player from Lewiston.

Brett Kaczor

Former player from Ewing.

Shannon Messersmith

Former player from Hayes Center.

Nate Most

Former player from Giltner.

Mark Olsen

Former player from Hampton.

Justin Swedburg

Former player from Axtell.

Lance Thorell

Former player from Loomis.

Rich and Jerry Mlinar

Inducted as a "Family Legacy" for their contributions to eight-man football.

Mike Speirs

Inducted as a coach, previously coached at Howells-Dodge.

Steve Colfack

Inducted as a coach, previously coached at Butte.

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What they’re saying

“There will be more on the class, some sooner than later, but for now I would like to report Belina, Broders, Dixon, Ficken, Kaczor, Messersmith, Most, Swedburg and Thorell were all Huskerland feature story subjects, back in the day. In addition, Coach Speirs and Coach Colfack were also featured in our Meet the Coach series.”

— HuskerlandBob (on3.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Nebraska Eight-Man Football Hall of Fame continues to honor the top players and coaches who have made significant contributions to the sport, preserving the history and legacy of eight-man football in the state.