By: Mark Reinhiller
The NJCAA Region IV Hall of Fame Class of 2023 features three former Chaparrals who etched their remarkable achievements in the history of College of DuPage athletics.
All three are members of the COD Athletics Hall of Fame.
“The history of COD athletics is rich in success,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Ryan Kaiser. “From 40 national championship teams to countless All-Americans, Jason, Paul and Jamie added to COD history. Their accomplishments during their athletic careers here at COD are remarkable achievements and worthy of this honor. They stand tall among those honored as the best in Region 4 history.”
The Region 4 Hall of Fame originated in 1995 and honors individuals and teams who have had exceptional achievements during or after Region 4 athletic competition. Individuals may be nominated and inducted four years after competing.
Jason Hyatt — Golf, 1997-98 (player); 2003-current (head coach)
Jason Hyatt (above right) played on two COD national championship golf teams for coach Erich Hauenstein (1997) and Lou Solarte (1998), capped by winning the 1998 NJCAA Division III individual championship. The Naperville native was the 1998 National Player of the Year, in addition to earning two All-N4C and one All-Region IV honor. Now in his 20th season as the Chaparrals’ head coach, Hyatt has coached 10 Region IV title teams (2003-04, 2012-14 and 2016-17, 2019, 2021-22) and earned Region IV Coach of the Year honors in each of those title seasons. Twelve of the Chaps’ 21 all-time regional championships have come with Hyatt’s involvement, either as a player or a coach. He was named to the NJCAA Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 2022.
Paul Spicer — Football, 1993-94
Paul Spicer (Indianapolis, above left) played defensive end for 11 seasons in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions (1999), Jacksonville Jaguars (2000-08) and the Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints (2009). He also spent time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (1998-99) and the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe (2001-02). While at COD, he was an All-American his sophomore season and helped lead the Chaparrals to 24 consecutive victories. He then played at Saginaw Valley State, where he was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference MVP in 1998 and led the conference in sacks (16.5). He spent four seasons as an assistant defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015-18) and, in 2019, became the defensive line coach at the University of South Florida. He served as an assistant coach for the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers in 2022 and is on staff with the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in 2023. He was named to the NJCAA Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
Jamie Walters Eickman — Volleyball, 1998-99
Jamie Walters Eickman was a focal point on the court by starring in her two seasons of Chaparrals volleyball. The Bloomingdale native helped her program become the first female COD program to win consecutive national championships, both under NJCAA Hall of Fame coach LuAnn Zimmick. The two-time All-American was the NJCAA Championship Most Valuable Player her sophomore season and earned All-N4C honors, All-Region IV honors and All-NJCAA Tourney honors in both seasons. Completing her collegiate career at nearby Benedictine University, she later coached at Dominican University, Aurora University and Augustana College.