Ed Frease

RAAA President

Board member since 2007

Ed graduated from Colorado State University in 1959 with a degree in electrical engineering and later earned a graduate degree in systems management from the University of Southern California. Ed served 20 years as an Air Force officer and then was with a business organization, the National Federation of Independent Business, for 17 years. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children. Both graduated from CSU.

Ed played baseball for three years at CSU under Coach Irv Ferguson. He continued to play baseball and fast pitch softball in the Air Force and also played service league basketball. He still plays basketball with the "old" guys at the Northside Azatlan Center in Fort Collins. Ed's son, Dean, also played baseball at CSU.

Ed currently chooses to not be in the work force (refuses to use the words retired or former). He spends a great deal of time these days fly fishing various rivers in Colorado and Wyoming.

Jack Capp

RAAA Vice President

Board member since 2008

Jack grew up in Greeley, Colo., and graduated from Colorado State University in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management and in 1967 with a master's degree in Wildlife Biology. While at CSU Jack worked summers for the National Park Service and Colorado Division of Wildlife and was founding president of the CSU student chapter of The Wildlife Society. Jack completed a 38-year career with the US Forest Service serving in assignments in New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Alaska, and two assignments in Washington, D.C., including one year for a U.S. Senator. Jack retired in 2005 and moved back to Fort Collins.

Jack played varsity baseball for CSU from 1962-65 and then coached the CSU freshman baseball team for one year. His son Craig played varsity baseball for CSU in the 1980s. Jack coached Little League baseball for eight years in Oregon and Colorado, high school summer baseball for two years in Colorado, and youth league basketball in Oregon and Colorado for six years.

Jack has three children and eight grandchildren. All three children attended CSU. Two children and five grandchildren live in Colorado. Jack is also an active member of the CSU Ram Club and is a lifetime member of the CSU Alumni Association, where he serves on the Board of Directors.

Rich Gregory

RAAA Secretary

Board member since 2007

Rich graduated from Colorado State Univeristy in 1958 with a degree in fish management. After a tour in the U.S. Navy, he attended graduate school at the University of Washington, where he earned a master's degree and returned to CSU to complete his Ph.D.. After completing graduate school, he taught at the University of Maine, Montana State University, and the University of Florida.

He played basketball for Jim Williams and, as a freshman, was coached by Bob Cates, Dennis Steuhm and Hal Kinard. He continued playing basketball for the U.S. Navy, a team in the old AAU league, and various city league teams. Rich finally hung it up about 10 years ago when he played in the national Senior Olympics tournament on a team with Gary Glick and former teammates Larry Hoffner and Chuck Newcomb. He remains active in basketball and coaches fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade girls planning to attend Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins.

He retired in June 2006 as Acting Director of the Natural Resource Program Center for the National Park Service, located in Fort Collins. The Center staff assists the national parks in assessing, restoring, and preserving their natural resources.

He and his wife Beverly have two children who are practicing law in Oregon.

Del Hessel

Board member since 2007

Del graduated from Colorado State University with an undergraduate degree in health science with a minor in coaching in 1963. He finished his master's degree in health science in 1964. Throughout his college career he spent his summer months fighting forest fires in the northwest with the smokejumpers.

He competed for the Rams in cross country and track and field, winning all-conference honors in both the 400 and 800 meters. Del was consistently ranked as one of the nations top-10 800 meter runners. He represented CSU in the NCAA championships, the USA championships, and the USA Olympic trials, and held the indoor school record in the 800 meters for 34 years.

Del coached at CSU for 17 years in two different eras, 1970-76 and again from 1996-06. Both his men and women's cross country teams competed in the NCAA championships numerous times while the track and field teams produced numerous All-Americans and four national champions. Del was inducted into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

Del is married to Laurie Hessel and has two sons, Mark and Andy.

Peter Johansen

Board member since 2007

Peter graduated from Colorado State University in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in ag business. He also received his masters of business from Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago in 1980. After several years in the U.S. Army he began his 30-year career in banking. He worked for a major Chicago Bank and, after retiring in 1997, was a Division Head for the bank's real estate trust services. He and his wife, Judy, returned to Fort Collins in 1999. They have one son and grandson currently residing in northern Illinois.

Peter was a track athlete for Vern McHone at CSU. In the late 1960's, he discovered cross country skiing. He taught, competed, coached, and officiated ski competitions for the U.S. Ski Association and ski team for 25 years. From 1981-99, he was the cross country chief official for USSA and in 2000 was the chair of the Cross Country Committee (the mini-national governing body under USSA for Olympic sports). He officiated internationally for World Cups and three Winter Olympics before retiring after the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002.

Currently, he officiates track and field for CSU and the Mountain West Conference. He is also the director of several local not-for-profit organizations and is the alumni representative on the Lory Student Center Governing Board at CSU.

Linda Meserve

Board member since 2005

Linda graduated from Colorado State University in 1986 with a bachelors of science degree in physical education with a concentration in wellness/fitness. She has worked for the State of Colorado since 1988, first at the University of Southern Colorado which is now Colorado State University - Pueblo and now at Colorado State University. She and her husband Rick have a six-year-old son who is the love of their lives.

She swam in 1981 in coach John Mattos' second class of swimmers and continued swimming under Coach Mattos through 1985. She was one of two seniors that swam and lettered for the four years. Linda swam the 400 Individual Medley, the 200 Butterfly and the 200 Breaststroke. She was always a supporter of her team.

Linda is currently a purchasing agent at CSU specializing in independent services contracts, hotel contracts, athletics and many unique services that the University requires. In her spare time Linda likes to travel with her family, play kids' games with her son and garden.

Matt Phillips

Board member since 2001

Matt was raised in Grand Junction, Colo., and came to Colorado State University to play football from 1990-94. While at CSU, Matt earned his undergraduate degree in finance and then went on to earn his master's of business. After college, Matt worked as a financial analyst for LSI Logic. In 2002, he started a career as a financial professional and now runs the Northern Colorado branch for AXA Advisors.

In August 2001, Matt married Eileen (Amador) Phillips, who ran track at CSU from 1991-96. They have two sons, Marcus Matthew (2005) and Julius James (2007). Matt attributes many of his accomplishments in life to his experiences at CSU. He is grateful to CSU and believes the RAAA is a good outlet to stay connected and give something back to the institution that did so much for him.

Angela Knopf

Board member since 2011

Angela attended Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Ore., where she was a dominating three-sport athlete. Her forte' and passion was volleyball and she was awarded a full scholarship at Colorado State University to play for Coach Tom Hilbert.

While at CSU, Angela helped the Rams reach as high as third in the national rankings, the highest the program had ever achieved. She led the Rams to three Sweet 16 finishes and received many honors during her collegiate playing career. Angela was a two-time first-team All-American, a two-time Mountain West Player of the Year and Colorado Volleyball Sportswoman of the year. Angela earned the Vriginia K. Frank Award given to CSU's most outstanding female athlete and was named Colorado's NCAA Woman of the Year. She left her mark on the record books in several categories which still stand today. CSU inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2006.

Angela was a standout in the classroom as well as on the court. She majored in mathematics and graduated with a 3.73 grade-point average, while earning honors as a two-time Academic All-American.

Angela continued to pursue a volleyball career after CSU. She joined the USA Volleyball Olympic training team in January 2002, but health issues forced her to withdraw in May of that year. Once healthy again she joined the professional beach volleyball tour and played through the 1999 season, gathering numerous honors and recognition along the way.

Angela makes her home in Fort Collins where she is a licensed math teacher and math tutor as owner of High Five Tutoring. She is also a private volleyball coach.

Jennifer Buford

Board member since 2011

Jenn graduated from Colorado State University in 1999 with a degree in liberal arts. She played a key role as a member of the most successful softball team in school history (1997) and was also a member of the most successful women's basketball team (1998-1999) in school history.

Jenn was one of the most celebrated softball players at CSU, competing for the Rams from 1994-98. In 1996 she was named second team all-WAC. She earned second-team All0-America honors in 1997, and was also selected as a first-team all-region performer, first-team All-WAC and team MVP. Jenn went on to play professionally with both the Carolina Diamondbacks and the Florida Wahoos.

After completing her softball eligibility, she joined the basketball team as a fifth-year senior and helped the 1998-99 squad win the Western Athletic Conference championship and eventually reach the Sweet 16 in the national tournament.

To top off her college career, Jenn was named Colorado Sportswoman of the Year in 1998 and was inducted into the CSU Hall of Fame in 2010.

Jenn is still deeply involved in athletics. She is a high school and college basketball referee, and also coaches a competitive club softball team.

Jenn lives in Fort Collins and works with the Chase Bank organization.

Jean Saltz

Board member since 2002

Jean graduated from Colorado State University in 1956 with a degree in physical education. For three years at CSU Jean was a Pepperette and head cheerleader. She was a swimmer and diver before girls sports were officially recognized by the University. Jean made good use of her degree teaching P.E. and Health for 30 years, including 29 years in Fort Collins.

Jean is now retired and living near Red Feather Lakes. She keeps busy with eight children, 28 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mike Doland

Board member since 2010

Mike graduated from CSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974. Mike received a master's degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 1976.

Mike was a high jumper at CSU under coach Del Hessel. From Manhattan Beach, CA Mike was coached in high school by former CSU coach and athlete, Jerry Quiller. After injuries shortened his jumping career, Mike served as an undergraduate assistant for Coach Hessel.

Mike began his business career in market planning for the then new Copper Mountain ski area and then as Executive Director for The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) before starting his own Sports marketing company, SportStar USA. In 1994, Mike purchased Omni Promotional, an event and promotional materials company located in Louisville, CO.

Mike and his wife Julie, have a daughter, Shelby and a son, Chase.

Doug Peden

Board member since 2012

Doug graduated from CSU in 1972 with a teaching degree in Social Studies. His 37 year career took him to Nebraska, Indiana and Colorado. The final 31 years were at the Falcon School District in suburban Colorado Springs. At Falcon, Doug was a teacher, coach, athletic director (building & district), assistant principal, and the final 20 years were spent as the Human Resources Executive Director.

While at CSU, Doug played basketball and baseball. He was a member of the 1969 NCAA team that made it to the Elite 8. The highlight of that season was beating CU, the Big 8 champion, in the first round of the sweet 16.  Doug played basketball for Jim Williams and Tiny Grant. Doug also played two years of baseball for Irv Ferguson.

Leadership has come easily as he was the President of the Colorado Athletic Directors Association (CADA), President of the Colorado Association of School Personnel Administrators (CASPA), and President of the American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE). Doug is currently the Executive Director for the American Association for Employment in Education.

Doug is married to Jackie who he met at CSU. She is retired as the Food Service Director for the Manitou Springs School District. They live in Arvada where the trip to Fort Collins is much easier. They have two children, Tim who lives in Denver and Stephanie who lives in Seattle.

Greg Pollard

Board member since 2013

Greg “Roc” Pollard has remained close to the CSU program since earning his bachelor's degree in 2000 with a BA in liberal arts. He earned a master's degree in education from Biola University in 2007, where he researched collegiate student-athletes and created a curriculum for African American collegiate student-athletes to increase graduation and retention rates. The relationship between Greg and CSU grew stronger when Pollard worked with the Black/African American Cultural Center as a mentor through the John Mosley Student-Athlete Leadership Program in spring 2012.

During Greg’s time as a student-athlete at CSU (95-00) he excelled as a defensive lineman with 105 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. He became the first Ram football player to appear in three bowl games during his career. Pollard went on to play professional football in the Canadian Football League.

Greg joined the CSU staff in the fall of 2012 as an academic coordinator in the department of student-athlete academic/support services assisting with football and men’s and women’s track & field. During Greg’s time in SAAS, he helped create the Black Student-Athlete Alumni Association.

Prior to joining the CSU staff, he worked as an educator and Dean of Students for the last 12 years. In his role as Dean of Students, Pollard designed and implemented behavioral expectations and a mentoring program for at-risk male students.

The Los Angeles, Calif., native and wife Maisha (Colorado State alum) have three daughters: Nyrema, Nyla, and Nia and two dogs: Brownie and Bentley.