SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Former Drury softball head coach Jerry Breaux and former track and field head coach Don Keeton were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday (May 19). In addition, Drury baseball alum R.J. Knese was honored as part of the Diamond 9, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to high school and college baseball or softball in Missouri.
 
Breaux led Drury softball for six seasons, compiling a 129-117 record and guiding the Panthers to their first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 2022. That season, Drury set a program-record 37 wins, and pitcher Kristina Bettis became the program's first All-American. Under Breaux, five players earned seven All-Region honors. Prior to Drury, Breaux coached at LSU-Alexandria for two seasons to a 99-22 record. His Hall of Fame induction also reflects his 22-year tenure at Evangel, where he went 640-382-2, won 10 conference titles, and claimed six straight championships from 2004-09. Breaux currently serves as co-head coach at Evangel and works with Branson Parks & Recreation.
 
Former Drury track and field coach Don Keeton was also inducted. Keeton helped re-launch Drury's men's and women's track and field programs in 2008-09 and led the Panthers for eight seasons. During his tenure, he coached national outdoor qualifiers Troy Groover (high jump), Emile Gray (high jump), and Erin Dolan (10,000-meter run), and guided Jamie Villa Zapatero to an indoor conference title in the 3,000-meter run. Before Drury, Keeton spent 31 years as head coach at Parkview High School. After his time with the Panthers, he returned to the high school ranks, coaching at Greenwood and Kickapoo.
 
Also recognized at the ceremony was former Drury baseball standout R.J. Knese, who received the Diamond 9 Award. A graduate of St. Mary's High School in St. Louis, Knese was a three-time All-GLVC infielder for the Panthers. He earned Midwest Region Gold Glove honors and ABCA All-Midwest Region recognition as a senior. Knese ranks among Drury's all-time leaders in multiple categories, including batting average (.355, 5th), slugging percentage (.501, 12th), at-bats (775, 4th), hits (275, 3rd), doubles (50, 2nd), triples (15, 2nd), runs scored (171, 3rd), RBI (164, 4th), and stolen bases (45, 7th).
 
Breaux and Keeton were inducted alongside José Oquendo, Steve Lael, Lisa Law, Tom Davidson, Dick Jones, Ed Bramer, the Billings High School Baseball Era (1986–95), Springfield Thunder Softball, and the Adrian High School Boys Track and Field Era (1982–1997).
 
The Diamond 9 class featuring Knese also included Kelsey Schulte Chrisman, Chris Curry, Chase Blakey, Beth McGill, Mathias Miller, Bob Tuttle, Alicia Mercer Wollard, and Ashley Meredith White.
 
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