Joel Amidon - HOF Class of 2025

By TJ Brugger

Joel Amidon joined the team as a sophomore in 1998. He became a leader of the club, rising to the task of Treasurer, President, and Captain during his time at UW-Madison. He greatly values the many life and leadership lessons he learned during this era. The role of leadership on the club was vastly different from any previous roles he had held. Every role came with responsibilities on or off the field, where tasks needed to get done or there were actual consequences.

Skip Heffernan was the head coach, and Joel believes he has been one of the best teachers he ever had. Skip would give guiding wisdom that allowed the leaders of the team to find their own path to achieving the club’s goals. This greatly empowered the officers, and Joel has used these life lessons in everything from his own leadership, his parenting, and his career as a teacher educator. Joel also remembers forwards coach, John Sandner, giving timely wisdom and being there to share special moments. John gave guidance on how to be a good teammate and a good person, which has also influenced Joel’s life.

Joel remembers going on tour with the club to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Somehow, they took university vehicles down for a long weekend tournament. It would be the first time Joel would go through Mississippi, which is where he eventually settled down as a Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). The hosting club for the tournament made a passing joke that visiting teams could camp on the fields. This was a joke as the fields were not in the greatest location in the city. The club did not know this and pitched their tents at the fields, much to the amusement of the host team, and saved a lot of money on housing for the weekend!

University Bay Field has many special memories for those who played there, and Joel had a very significant memory of that field. Their rival UW - Eau Claire had come to play against the Badgers at the time. To that point, Joel had never beaten UW-Eau Claire, but he needed to win as he was going to leave the field engaged. Towards the end of a match, that would be a sound victory over UW-Eau Claire, Joel faked an injury on the field. As Skip came running onto the field to “assist”, he would beckon for Joel’s girlfriend to come “help”. As she came over, Skip slipped a ring into Joel’s hand. Joel would leave the field happily engaged and victorious over a rival.

Joel has sound advice for our players. He reminds players, “The time at UW goes quickly. Don’t miss a practice, don’t miss a game, don’t miss a moment to be with your coaches, don’t miss a moment to be with your teammates.” He reminds the team to be present in every moment you can; both on and off the field, with the people who mean so much to each other, doing things you may never do again.

For life advice, Joel says to not be afraid to show your emotions, and don’t be afraid to be emotional about the things that are important. “The guys, the club, I love them, and I’ll tell them I love them. I love my team, I love being a Badger, I loved representing the University on the field”. He continued, "You are doing hard things together with guys that you will never do these things with again. It is okay to get emotional, love your team, love what you are doing.”

Joel will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this coming August. Come and show your support for an essential man in club history. Thank you, Joel, for your support of the club and your love of the game.