Athletics Hall of Fame to Welcome 14 Members, 1992 Fencing Team
12/14/2020
Temple University will welcome 14 new individual members and the 1992 NCAA Champion Fencing Team into its Athletics Hall of Fame, Acting Director of Athletics Fran Dunphy announced today.
Besides the NCAA champion fencing team, the Class of 2020 is comprised of a world champion men’s rower, Chris Kerber (1986-90), a NCAA champion men’s gymnast, Darin Gerlach (1995-98), two All-Americans, Todd McNair (football, 1985-88) and Nicole Ross Burris (women’s lacrosse, 1995-99), Conference Player/Performers of the Year Afia Brown (women’s track, 1998-01) and Kamesha Hairston (women’s basketball, 2003-07), football standouts Joe Morelli (1961-64) and Bob Mizia (1973-75), football coach Al Golden (2006-10), women’s volleyball star Dr. Zenzile Johnson-Mendoza (1993-96) and men’s basketball great Mik Kilgore (1988-92).
Temple University President Richard M. Englert headlines three administrators who will also be part of the Class of 2020. Dr. Englert is joined by former Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw (2002-13) and longtime public address announcer Merv Jones (1998-2019), who passed away this summer.
“The Hall of Fame Class of 2020 truly represents the best of Temple Athletics. Nine different programs and seven decades comprise this stellar class that includes champion teams, coaches, athletes and staff. These men and women not only stood out during their time here at Temple University, but, more importantly, in life.”Acting Director of Athletics Fran Dunphy
2020 Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Class Profiles
Under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Nikki Franke, Temple posted an overall record of 17-1 in winning its only NCAA title in the sport. Senior Muna Bitar placed fifth for the Owls at the NCAA Championships and was named All-America for a third time in her career, while sophomore Jennie (Dhondt) Salmon was named Honorable Mention All-America. Other leaders of the team included junior Aleizha Batson, who finished with a 42-9 record and sophomore Lisa (Honig) Beckman also who posted a 37-14 mark. Rounding out the team that season were April Smith, Dawn Moyer, Alyson Beasley, Carole Burns, Kathryn Dominguez, Kerry Tillet and assistant coach Zoila Palacio.
Served as Temple’s Director of Athletics for 11 years...Instrumental in helping turn Owls’ football program around starting with the hiring of Al Golden…Helped Temple find a football home in the Mid-American Conference and later the Big East/AAC for all sports...Negotiated a three-game deal with Notre Dame with home game later being highlighted on ESPN Gameday…Named 2011 UnderArmour Athletic Director of the Year, which corresponded to Temple’s first Bowl win (New Mexico Bowl) since 1979…Hired Matt Rhule, who would later go on to coach the Carolina Panthers, as head football coach in 2012…Inducted into NACDA Hall of Fame (2014) and Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame (2019).
Won 12 Atlantic 10 Conference titles and was named 2001 A10 Indoor Championship Performer of the Year…Indoor A10 Titles: 55m and 200m in 2000; 200m 400m and 4x400m relay in 2001…Outdoor A10 Titles: 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in 2000; 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m in 2001.
Has served as Temple University President since 2016 and for 45 years in a number of prominent positions, including Acting Director of Athletics in 1996…During his tenure as acting AD, he oversaw the ground-breaking of the now Liacouras Center as well as the men’s basketball team and women’s fencers earning berths in the NCAAs…In his role of Vice President of Administration one of his responsibilities was overseeing the department of athletics.
Recovered from a knee injury as a junior to win the NCAA National Championship on the floor exercise in 1998 becoming one of just 12 Temple gymnasts to win an individual title… Earned NCAA All-America honors on floor exercise as a freshman in 1995...Won the 1996 EIGL title on floor event.
Credited for resurrecting Temple Football…Led Owls to first Bowl appearance in 30 years – 2009 Eagle Bank Bowl…In 2009, led the Owls to a school record nine consecutive wins…Named 2009 MAC Coach of the Year…Team rewrote 18 school season records in 2009…Currently assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Named 2007 Atlantic 10 and Big 5 Player of the Year…Compiled 1,573 points (8th alltime at TU), 757 rebounds (11th) and 235 steals (5th)…Selected with the 12 pick of the 2007 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun…Inducted into the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame in 2019.
One of top defensive specialists in school history…Collected 1,342 career digs (3rd all-time upon graduation, 9th currently)…First Team All-Atlantic 10 in 1996, Honorable Mention in 1994…Currently an Emergency Room doctor in Detroit where she is on the front lines dealing with COVID patients.
Served as Temple’s Public Address announcer for 21 years while also working in the sports media relations office four years (2000-04)…Served as the PA announcer for NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games (2006, 2012) and the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Philadelphia Regional…Passed away in 2020.
Two-time World Champion…Won four medals at the Dad Vail Regatta, Ladies Plate Winner Henley Royal Regatta, two-time Pan-American Games Gold medalist, and won multiple U.S. National Championships…Placed among the top six lightweight men for both the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Games, serving as an alternate in Atlanta…Head coach of Cornell Lightweight Men since 2008, leading crews to IRA National Championships…IRA Coach of the Year four times since 2014… Recently named to the coaching staff of the Under 23 and Senior US National Teams.
Started all 124 games during his four-year career, scoring 1,471 points, pulling down 627 rebounds, dishing 380 assists and making 148 steals… His TU teams advanced to three NCAA Tournaments, including the 1991 Elite Eight…Inducted into the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1998…Passed away suddenly in 2018.
Sixth best rusher in Temple history (2,383 yards on 576 attempts)…Compiled 16 career rushing touchdowns and eight 100 yard rushing games…Honorable mention All-American (1987); AP All-East 1987, 1988… Played 8 NFL seasons (KC and Houston) accumulating 803 rushing yards, 2,435 receiving yards, 10 TDs…Currently an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
One of top return men in Temple history...Ranked fifth on all-time interception list with 11… Tied with Temple Hall of Famer Anthony Young for third in school history with two career punt returns for TDs. His 88-yarder vs. Villanova in 1975 ranks fifth in school history…Second on Temple’s all-time career list in punt returns (70) and third in punt return yards (514).
Four-year letter winner as a two-way performer in football and was also a member of the Temple track team…In 1963 he led the conference in interceptions (5) and was selected as an all East Conference halfback… The 1963 season was the first winning season (6-3-1) in nine years…Named recipient of 1964 Owl Award for outstanding student-athlete…Offered a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers.
Second Team All-American as a senior in 1999…Also named 1999 A-10 Player of the Year and A10 Most Outstanding Player of Championship…Three-year starter and member of three NCAA Tournament Teams… Scored 67 goals as a senior, tied fifth on Temple list, and 145 career goals (Top 10 at time).
Congratulations to all of our Hall of Fame inductees!
