3C2A Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class
Sacramento, Calif. - The 3C2A Awards Committee is pleased to announce the 2026 Hall of Fame Class comprised of four outstanding individuals that have made a lasting impact on their institutions and the 3C2A with their exceptional dedication, hard work, and contributions, released Wednesday.
The 2026 class boasts men's basketball and men's golf coach, athletic director, and commissioner Newton Chelette (Antelope Valley College); women's golf champion Russamee Gulyanamitta (Cypress College); baseball and football coach, athletic director, and commissioner Mike Liddell (Butte College); and two-time men's basketball champion Swen Nater (Cypress College).
"It is a great privilege to welcome another notable and deserving class to our 3C2A Hall of Fame," 3C2A Executive Director Jennifer Cardone said. "Their legacies and contributions are invaluable to their schools, sports, and our association, and we look forward to celebrating them and their achievements."
The 2026 class will be honored at the Hall of Fame Induction Dinner during the annual 3C2A Convention at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank on Wednesday, Apr. 1. Cocktail hour will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner and the ceremony to follow at 6 p.m. Tickets to the event are available for purchase here.
Newton Chelette | Antelope Valley | Men's Basketball and Men's Golf Coach / Athletics Director
Attending a basketball game at Antelope Valley College gives you a glimpse of the impact that Newton Chelette had on that sport during his time as head coach. The court, aptly named after him, pays homage to the man who devoted his career to coaching over 46 years at every level, being named Coach of the Year many times, including at the 3C2A level - seven-time Foothill Conference Coach of the Year, two-time 3C2A Southern California Coach of the Year, and remains the winningest coach in AVC history.
But his devotion to the Marauders didn't end on the basketball court. Chelette also coached men's golf, taught physical education courses, served as Dean of Kinesiology and Athletics Director, and was Vice President of Student Services during his 30-plus year tenure. His work with the college and the community earned him the 2014 Lancaster Citizen of the Year award.
Externally, he held many roles on the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA) over the span of 16 years, served as president of the Foothill Conference, president of the Pacific Football Conference, chair of the California Statewide Competition Committee, vice chair and chair of the 3C2A Management Council, before assuming the role of Bay Valley Commissioner following his retirement from Antelope Valley.
Russamee Gulyanamitta | Cypress | Women's Golf
Russamee Gulyanamitta is a trailblazer in the sport of women's golf. As the first Thai golfer to reach the LPGA, that is only one of the firsts that Gulyanamitta has recorded in her impressive career on the green. She also marks the first female golfer to be inducted into the 3C2A Hall of Fame.
Having only competed for one season at Cypress College, she made it count. In her first year of eligibility, she won the 3C2A individual state title in 2000 before going on to finish runner-up at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship in the same season.
In her first professional outing at the SBC Futures Tour Barona Creek Women's Classic, she finished tied for 14th. By 2004, she was fully competing in LPGA events, tallying 15 total. And in 2007, she won the Thriftway Washington State Women's Open.
She continued to help grow the sport on the global scale by not only swinging the clubs herself, but she also caddied for her younger sister, Numa, in 2011, helping her win the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
Mike Liddell | Butte | Baseball and Football Coach / Athletics Director
Mike Liddell has devoted 50 years of his career to the North State. He received his AA from Shasta College, where he was All-Conference in baseball and football and was named the Shasta College Athlete of the Year for 1962-63. And then he worked his way down south soon after to Butte College, where he taught, coached, and served as athletics director for over 30 years.
While at Butte, Liddell served as head baseball coach, leading squads to nine state tournaments. And he was head football coach for five years with a record of 41-12 with three bowl appearances and winning the Golden Valley Conference in 1986 and 1989. Additionally, he spent 13 years as assistant coach on the gridiron.
He also sat in the athletics director's chair while coaching, leading the Roadrunners from 1981-2004. While athletics director, he served as the Northern California Football Association President. And upon his retirement, he was awarded Butte College Emeritus standing.
After serving one year as Interim Commissioner of the Golden Valley Conference, Liddell returned to the 3C2A in 2009 assuming the role of Big 8 Conference Commissioner that he held for 15 years. He was very active in many committees, chairing the 3C2A Policy Committee, serving as president of the Commissioners Association, and a member of the Conference and Constitution Committees.
Liddell is a member of the Shasta College Hall of Fame, Butte College Hall of Fame, Chico Sports Hall of Fame, Northern CA Sports Hall of Fame, California Athletic Directors Hall of Fame, and the California Community College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Swen Nater | Cypress | Men's Basketball
California Community College athletics offer an opportunity for student-athletes to develop, persevere, and grow in their respective sports. And that's what Swen Nater was afforded when he stepped on the hardwood at Cypress College.
While Nater didn't make the cut on his high school basketball team, Cypress head coach Don Johnson saw his potential. And together, Nater grew to be one of the most dominant and impactful players in program history. His perseverance and hard work paid off and by his sophomore season, he was named an All-American and was especially known for his rebounding.
He went on to transfer to UCLA to play for legendary coach John Wooden, where he would win two NCAA Championships in 1971 and 1972 and back up NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton. But again, his hard work paid off as he was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft and went on to have a successful professional career in the ABA and NBA.
As a rookie, he was named ABA Rookie of the Year in 1974. And over the course of his professional career, he was a two-time ABA All-Star, two-time All-ABA Second Team, NBA Rebounding Leader in 1980, and ABA Rebounding Leader. He capped his 11-year tenure with 8,980 points (12.4 ppg), 8,340 rebounds (11.6 rpg), and 1,235 (1.7 apg).