FIU bringing back its Hall of Fame after nearly two decades. Here’s who could get in
This year, for just the second time in FIU history, there will be a Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
FIU’s only Hall of Fame induction ceremony – so far – happened in 2006 as four athletes were honored: baseball’s Mike Lowell; women’s golf’s Pat Bradley; women’s basketball star Andrea Nagy and men’s basketball star Dwight Stewart. Coach/administrator Judy Blucker, who established women’s sports at FIU, was also inducted.
Rick Mello was FIU’s athletic director when that class was announced.
However, as pointed out by Julie Berg – FIU’s Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator – Mello was “replaced two weeks before” the 2006 induction ceremony.
Mello was succeeded by Pete Garcia, who ran FIU athletics from 2006 to 2021, and, during that time, the Hall of Fame remained silent.
But then Scott Carr was hired as FIU’s AD in December of 2021, and one of his first conversations with Berg revolved around the Hall of Fame.
“(Carr) immediately said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Berg said.
The nomination deadline for this year’s class is set for March 15.
To be eligible, 10 years must have passed from an athlete’s final season at FIU. Five years must pass for coaches or other non-athletes to be eligible.
FIU’s Hall of Fame selection committee has five voting members. Berg is not one of those voters, and she said she prefers to keep those five names anonymous so they are not inundated by pressure tactics by well-meaning FIU supporters.
Berg said FIU, going forward, will have yearly induction ceremonies.
This year’s ceremony will be connected to one of FIU’s home football weekends, although the exact date is not yet known.
“I’m beyond excited,” Berg said. “We have so many fantastic athletes and coaches to choose from.”
Carr said a Hall of Fame is the “pillar” of any athletics department.
“It was imperative that we re-establish the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame,” Carr said, “so we can honor those who have had a profound impact on our history.”
That just leaves one major question:
Who will make FIU’s 2025 Hall of Fame Class?
Here are this reporter’s recommendations for a stellar 10-person 2025 class:
▪ T.Y. Hilton: He’s the obvious first choice – a four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016. At FIU, he was a four-time first-team All-Sun Belt player.
▪ Karl Kremser: As men’s soccer coach, he directed the only national championship teams in FIU history. He led FIU to NCAA Division II national titles in 1982 and 1984 and second-place finishes in 1980 and 1985. In 1996, he led FIU to second place in Division I, losing 4-1 to St. John’s.
▪ Tayna Lawrence: Competing for Jamaica’s track team, she won a gold medal in the 4X100-meter sprint at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. She also won two silver medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
▪ Raja Bell: He played 12 years in the NBA, making the playoffs six times. In 2007, he was named to the NBA’s first-team All-Defense. In 2008, he made the NBA’s second-team All-Defense.
▪ Danny Price: He won more than 1,000 games for FIU’s baseball program from 1980 to 2007. As a player, he recorded the first hit in FIU history in 1973. Honoring Price would be a highly emotional and well-deserved event.
▪ Cindy Russo: She led FIU’s women’s basketball program to an incredible run of 20 consecutive winning seasons, including six NCAA Tournament berths. She practically invented the tactic of basketball coaches recruiting Europe.
▪ Jerica Coley is FIU’s all-time leading scorer for women’s basketball. In fact, no FIU men’s basketball player has exceeded her totals.
▪ Carlos Arroyo: His number has been retired by FIU and also by the Puerto Rican National Team. He won six gold medals, two silver and four bronze while competing for Puerto Rico. He also played 569 NBA games and competed in pro leagues in Turkey, Israel and Spain.
▪ Yarimar Rosa became FIU’s first and only four-time All-American in volleyball. She had her number retired after becoming FIU’s career leader in kills.
▪ Nancy Olson was FIU’s first – and so far only – female athletic director, earning that post in 1979. She started FIU’s men’s basketball program, and she petitioned FIU baseball to become a Division I program.
For future years, there will still be plenty of other FIU sports greats who deserve induction, including Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith, who made the Pro Bowl last year.
Butch Davis, the only coach to take FIU to three bowl games, is another worthy candidate.
Infielder Brad Eldred reached the major leagues in 2005 and became an All-Star in Japan in 2014 and 2016.
Ena Guevara, representing Peru, competed in two Olympics, and she finished fifth in the marathon at the 1987 Pan American Games.
Infielder Edwin Rios won a World Series title with the Dodgers in 2020, playing in seven playoff games that season.
Among other FIU Hall of Fame candidates, possibly for future years, would include football players Antwan Barnes; Jonathan Cyprien; Anthony Gaitor; Kris Mitchell; James Morgan; and Tyrese Chambers; soccer players such as Santiago Patino; Tyrone Marshall; Steve Ralston; and Jeff Cassar; golfer Moira Dunn; and swimmers Sonia Perez and Johanna Gustafsdottir.