APU has had a plethora of elite athletes suit up in brick and black. These are the best of the best. (A women’s edition will be released next week)

Welcome to the ultimate list of the most elite male athletes to ever come through Azusa Pacific University. The student-athletes of APU have been consulted and through much contemplation, the populus has come to the conclusion of who the greatest athletes of all time to ever wear brick and black are. 

Football — Chrisitan Okoye (Class of 1986)

Known as “The Nigerian Nightmare” and “The Bruiser From Azusa,” Christan Okoye came to America in 1982 to train for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he would represent Nigeria in throwing discus for track and field. Soon after he came to APU, Okoye joined the football team as a running back and fell in love with the American game. 

In 1986, Okoye led the entire country in average rushing yards per game with 186.7. At 6’ 3”, 255 lbs, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds making him perhaps the greatest physical specimen to ever come out of APU. He was called a “linebacker with running back speed.” Okoye went on to impress NFL scouts in the Senior Bowl, where he set a record with four touchdowns in the game.

Okoye was drafted in the second round (35th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs. He became the all time leading rusher for the Chiefs, made two pro bowls and in 1989 he led the NFL in rushing with 1,480 yards, making him the offensive MVP of the league. 

Baseball — Stephen Vogt (Class of 2007)

Stephen Vogt is the most decorated baseball player to ever come through APU. He is a three-time All-American. Vogt holds nine school records during his career, including highest ever career batting average (.451), most hits (294), doubles (74), RBIs (199) and walks (158). On the defensive side, as a catcher Vogt had a career fielding percentage of .985 with only 18 errors in his 187-game career. 

Vogt was drafted in the 12th-round by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007. He made his debut for the Rays in 2012 and got his first big league hit as a member of the Oakland Athletics in 2013, a home run. During the 2013 playoffs, in game two of the American League Division Series, he had a walk-off RBI single in the ninth inning to win the game. Vogt is a two-time MLB All-Star, in both 2015 and 2016, and is currently playing for the San Francisco Giants. 

Men’s Basketball — Kevin Daley (Class of 2000)

Born in Panama City, Kevin Daley is a 6’6”, 190-pound forward who transferred from UCLA in 1997. He is one of the premier basketball players to ever play in a Cougar uniform. Daley was GSAC Player of the Year in 2000, a First-Team All-American, he set the record for most three points shots in a season and he led the Cougars to the NAIA Final Four. Following his collegiate career at APU, Daley went on to be a Harlem Globetrotter lead man. 

Men’s Cross Country — Aron Rono (Class of 2009)

Aron Rono is a legendary distance runner. His stats speak for themselves as he was a 15-time NAIA Champion. He has eight indoor titles for track distances races, which is the most in NAIA history. He also led the Cougars to three straight NAIA indoor national championships. For cross country, he won the NAIA crown in 2007 and 2008, the only APU athlete ever to win the individual national title. During the 2008 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship Meet, he won the 10,000, 5,000 and 1,500-meter races in the same meet; no one else has ever won the distance triple crown. To add to his unprecedented sats, Rono set school records in the mile (4:01.30), 5000 (13:33.37) and 10,000 (28:13.75).  

Track and Field — Bryan Clay (Class of 2002)

Bryan Clay is one of the most celebrated athletes to ever come out of Azusa Pacific. Clay is a seven-time NAIA Champion. He won three pentathlon national titles, another three in the long jump and one decathlon title. Clay set an NAIA record with 23 All-American Performances. He also set a number of school records in the decathlon (8,230 points) and pentathlon (4,056 points), leading the Cougars to three national championships. 

After college, Clay went on to be an Olympian where he won the Olympic Decathlon Silver Medal at the 2004 Games in Athens and the Olympic Decathlon Gold Medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. During the Olympic Trials in 2008, he broke the Decathlon record with 8,832 points.  

Men’s Soccer — Steven Lenhart (Class of 2007)

Steven Lenhart is one of the top footballers to ever come through APU. In his career he had 38 goals and 12 assists for the Cougars. Lenhart was named a NAIA All-American in 2007 and was awarded All-Tournament Team in 2006 and 2007. He was the MVP of the 2007 NAIA Tournament and lead the Cougars to the 2007 NAIA National Championship. 

Lenhart went on to play professional soccer in the MLS, after he was selected by the Columbus Crew as the 48th overall selection in the 2008 SuperDraft. He scored his first MLS goal during his 2008 rookie season against the LA Galaxy. Lenhart’s rookie year ended with an MLS Championship. He also was a part of the American CONCACAF Champions League from 2009-2011 where he scored four goals.  

Tennis — Sam Fletcher (Class of 2005)

Sam Fletcher was born and raised in Australia, but he chose to bring his tennis talents to APU. Fletcher was a First-Team All-American four times, he was the only person in NAIA history to receive the Ward-Ballinger Memorial Award three years running. He took the Cougars to three national championship match appearances and won the 2005 national crown. Fletcher led APU to four straight undefeated GSAC championships, with a record of 32-0. His career marked a school-record 205 match wins, with a singles record of 104-7 (.937).