Hall of Fame
Joe Madson (’86) competed in both basketball and baseball for Bethany. Over the course of two years, he averaged 16 points per game for the Vikings basketball team, was voted Defensive Player of the Year by his teammates, named All Minnesota Community College Conference (MCCC), and earned All-State accolades his sophomore year. On the diamond, he was a starting outfielder, batted .294 with an on-base percentage of .394, and achieved a .964 fielding percentage. Madson went on to play basketball at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He returned to Bethany as an assistant basketball coach for the 1987-88 season, and an assistant baseball coach for the 1988 season. He also served as the head softball coach at Bethany for the 1989 season. Madson has taught English at Mankato East High School for over 30 years, also serving as the head varsity softball coach for the past 31 years and head varsity boys’ basketball coach for 23 years. Many teams he’s coached have qualified for the State Tournament, including his 2023-24 basketball team which finished Runner-Up State Champions, and his 2023 and 2024 softball teams which were back-to-back MSHSL AAA Champions. Madson is a member of the Mankato East Athletic Hall of Fame and the Minnesota State Softball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Madson is married to Tiann (Minor ‘92), and they have four children: Jordan (’19), Jax, Tenley, and Brogan. He is the son of longtime Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary employees, the late Juul (’40) and Clarice (’46 Huso) Madson, and is a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato.
