Dusty Kain inducted into Simpson Hall of Fame

INDIANOLA — Dusty Kain was a four-sport athlete at Prairie City-Monroe High School in Monroe. He went on to be a three-time first team All-Iowa Conference receiver for the Simpson College football team.

Kain was inducted into the Simpson College Hall of Fame on Oct. 7 at the Red and Gold Banquet during SC’s Homecoming weekend.

“It’s pretty cool,” Kain said of his induction. “As an athlete you set goals, and at Simpson the Hall of Fame plaques used to line the walls as you headed to the locker room. You passed them every day going to practice and, sure, you think about it a little.”

Kain said he was always small — 5-foot-4 inches and 94 pounds going into high school — and he worked hard on fundamentals in every sport he participated in.

“Once my body caught up with me, I was a fundamentally sound football player and baseball player. I ran good routes as a receiver,” Kain said.

When playing for Simpson, Kain was 5-foot-10 inches and 175 pounds, but he holds five Simpson school records. Kain has the school records for single season receiving yards (1,466), receptions (93) and touchdowns (14); and career receiving yards (3,210) and receptions (233).

As a sophomore in 2003, Kain had the greatest season by a Simpson receiver. That year, he hauled in 93 passes for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the Storm to a 9-2 record, a berth in the NCAA playoffs and received All-American honors.

“My sophomore season was a special one for Simpson. We had a great football team and made the playoffs. It was a fun team to play on,” Kain said. “Also that same year, our baseball team won the conference tournament and made the playoffs.”

He reached 1,000 receiving yards again as a junior in 2004 and was named a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy — the Division III Heisman — in 2005.

Kain was a four-year started and two-time All-Conference outfielder for the Storm baseball team. He said he played mainly in center field, but as a junior he played shortstop then went back to center field as a senior.

“A lot of people had an impact on my development as an athlete, starting with my parents. My PCM coaches — Fred Lorensen, Joel Grier and Todd Jones — were very important to me growing up,” Kain said. “My acceptance speech was 20 minutes long because I didn’t want to leave anyone out. I had tremendous teammates and coaches at Simpson.”

Kain is a 2002 graduate of PCM and is the son of Patti and Kelly Kain, of Prairie City. He graduated from Simpson in 2006 with degrees in sports administration and marketing. Kain and his wife, Kelli, have one daughter, Paisley, and live in North Liberty.

Kain played three seasons with the Arena Football League’s Iowa Barnstormers. He currently coaches football at Coe College in Cedar Rapids and works as a team sales representative for Decker Sports.

“Playing three years with the Barnstormers was fun. It’s not much of a paycheck, but I can say I played a professional sport,” Kain said.

Going into the Simpson Hall of Fame with Kain were Bruce Wilson, 1976, men’s basketball coach; Clint Manny, 2006, wrestling; Fay Bradley Parkins, 2001, golf; and Matt Chance, 1997, track and field and cross country.

Membership in the Hall of Fame is reserved for individuals who have lettered in a varsity sport at Simpson, have outstanding athletic and academic backgrounds, and have been successful citizens since their college years.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com