Marist College Pays Tribute to Mike Hart & Julianne Viani by Adding to 2014 MAAC Honor Class
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. – The 2014 MAAC Honor Roll Class will add two members on behalf of Marist College at the MAAC Basketball Championships in March. Mike Hart, a standout for the Red Fox men’s basketball program, and Julianne Viani, one of the all-time great backcourt performers in Marist basketball history, will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the “MAAC Experience” exhibit.
Mike Hart was a local product out of Poughkeepsie who stayed home and became a celebrated player for the Marist College program. The 6-5 Hart played from 1971 to 1975, primarily at small forward and power forward, but also saw action in the backcourt when needed. The lefty was known as a smooth shooter. Although plagued by a leg injury that limited him to just nine games as junior, Hart still managed to score 1,343 career points, the all-time leader when he graduated, and still in the Red Foxes’ Top 10 at No. 8. Hart helped the Red Fixes advance to the NAIA Region 31 championships in as a senior, when Marist posted a 16-10 record. He prided himself on being a coachable athlete, under the tutelage of head coach Ron Petro. Following his graduation from Marist, he went on to a successful career as a land surveyor.
Julianne Viani, a 5-8 point guard, led Marist to four consecutive MAAC Championships and the accompanying automatic berth to the NCAA Championship tournament. Viani scored 1,447 points, No. 5 all-time at Marist and good for 11.2 points per game. More importantly, she directed the Red Foxes from her point guard position, leading the Red Foxes to a 113-20 record overall, and 67-5 mark in MAAC play. She contributed 441 assists, third all-time in Marist history. Julianne earned All-Rookie honors her freshman season, and was an All-MAAC selection as junior and senior. She has since gone on to a bourgeoning career as a TV sports announcer. She has served as the analyst for the MAAC’s women’s basketball championship, shown on ESPNU, for two consecutive years.
The MAAC Honor Roll is part of the 600 square foot “MAAC Experience” display at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Each year one honoree selected by the MAAC Council of Presidents joins one male and one female honoree from each of the 11 MAAC institutions. The 23-member 2014 induction class will be enshrined to the MAAC Honor Roll on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Court of Dreams. The Honorees’ names will be added to the “MAAC Experience” exhibit. Additionally, each honoree will be profiled in the 2014 MAAC Basketball Championships game program and will also be featured in a video display at The MAAC Experience available for viewing by the general public. Lastly, the honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the 9:00p.m. MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship quarterfinal on Saturday, March 8.
The complete 2014 MAAC Honor Roll Class:
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MAAC Honoree:
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Brad Tracy
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School
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Male Honoree
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Female Honoree
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Canisius
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Frank Swiatek
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Dr. Ellen Conley
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Fairfield
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George Bisacca
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Dianne Nolan
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Iona
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Kevin Hamilton
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Celeste Grier-Johnathan
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Manhattan
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Luis Flores
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Marianne Reilly
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Marist
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Mike Hart
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Julianne Viani
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Monmouth
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Ron Kornegay
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Joan Martin
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Niagara
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Juan Mendez
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Joan Thornton
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Quinnipiac
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Keith Gaither
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Patricia Hayes
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Rider
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Jack Madden
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Kelly Eckardt Zawodny
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Saint Peter’s
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Don Kennedy
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Tonya Grant
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Siena
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Billy Harrell
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Lisa (Serafino) Ruggiero
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