Joe Hackett set six NAIA records his junior year which included starts (21), appearances (28), strikeouts (207 - still the NAIA record), innings pitched (177.2), complete games (15) and wins (20). He was selected as a 1981 NAIA First Team All-American.

Hackett led the Hawks' baseball team to back-to-back District 25 titles in 1980 and 1981 and was a team captain for three years. The Joe Hackett Award is given each year for the MVP on the baseball team and his No. 16 jersey is retired.