MAAC Announces 2014-15 Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll Class

MAAC Announces 2014-15 Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll Class

Bookmark and Share

MAAC Sports

EDISON, N.J. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has announced the latest class to be inducted in the MAAC Honor Roll, in which honorees will be enshrined in “The MAAC Experience” exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on November 1.

"The remarkable response from our past honorees reinforced within the MAAC the value and honor of being associated with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with this event," notes Rich Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC.  "The 2014-15 class of honorees has a successful history in basketball, and the conference membership looks forward to their induction in November into the MAAC Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll."

Each member institution of the MAAC honors one male and one female from its basketball “family” as part of the 2014-15 induction class. A dinner event will be on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Court of Dreams to recognize the Honor Roll inductees.

The MAAC Council of Presidents has named Barbara Church, Senior Associate Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator of the MAAC, the 2014-15 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Honoree for her service and dedication to the MAAC conference, student-athletes and member institutions throughout her years.

Each honoree will be profiled in the game program for the 2015 MAAC Basketball Championships, and will also be featured in a video display at “The MAAC Experience.”

 The 2014-15 MAAC Hall of Fame Honor Roll includes:

MAAC Honoree

Barbara Church
 

Institution Honorees

School

Male Honoree

Female Honoree

Canisius College

Lawrence “Sugar Ray” Hall

Kara Haun-Rehbaum

Fairfield University

Jack O’Connell

Donna Margine

Iona College

Sean Green

Noreen Winterfeldt

Manhattan College

Junius Kellogg

Lisa Toscano

Marist College

Jared Jordan

Corielle Yarde

Monmouth University

Walter Mischler

Dorothy McCrea

Niagara University

Tyrone Lewis

Kim Exler

Quinnipiac University

Billy Mecca

Tricia Fabbri

Rider University

Kevin Bannon

Jessica Beck

Saint Peter’s University

Marvin Andrews

Joann Balsamo

Siena College

Doug Poetzsch

Lily Grenci

Barbara Church – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

A member of the MAAC staff since 1990, Barbara Church brought her on-campus experience from Saint Peter’s College to the conference office. Her responsibilities include managing the MAAC budget and financial operations, overseeing the Conference’s compliance program, and serving as the HR Administrator and the Senior Woman Administrator.  With the help of her leadership, the MAAC continued expanding women’s conference-sponsored sports to include rowing, water polo, lacrosse and most recently field hockey.  Beyond administrative duties, Church serves as a mentor for many young interns, providing hands–on training and networking opportunities. A 1971 graduate of Montclair State College, Church was a physical education instructor and coach at Terang High School in Victoria, Australia and at Verona High School in New Jersey. She also served as field hockey coach and assistant to the sports information director at her alma mater. Church attended Washington State University in 1977, working as a graduate assistant, and earning her Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Recreation. She returned to New Jersey to become the Associate Athletic Director at Saint Peter’s College, where she served for 13 years. Church has been active on the state, regional, and national levels. She is the past president of the New Jersey Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NJAIAW) and the Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ). She has served on numerous Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) committees, on the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, the NCAA Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, the NCAA Student-Athlete Re-Instatement Committee, and the NCAA Certification Committee. In 1993, Church was inducted into the Saint Peter’s College Hall of Fame; in 1997, was the recipient of the NJAIAW Special Achievement Award; and in 1999, received the CAANJ Garden State Award for substantial and enduring contributions to the development of intercollegiate athletics in the state of New Jersey. In 2001, Church was selected as the recipient of the ECAC Katherine Ley Award. This award is presented annually to honor a female athletics administrator who demonstrates the values and characteristics displayed by Katherine Ley through leadership ability, dedication to women’s issues and presence as a role model for women in intercollegiate athletics. When the MAAC was formed in 1980, Church was working at St. Peter’s College, a charter member of the conference.  

Lawrence "Sugar Ray" Hall '85 – Canisius College

The all-time career scoring leader in Canisius basketball history, “Sugar” Ray Hall tallied 2,226 career points in 115 career games as a Golden Griffin from 1981-85. A Buffalo, N.Y., native, Hall averaged 16.5 points per game or better for his entire career, highlighted by his 20.9 points per game scoring average in 1984-85, and his 628 total points that season in 30 games ranks third on the school’s single season scoring list. During his time as a Griff, Hall helped the Blue and Gold to a combined record of 69-46 and in his senior season of 1984-85, the Griffs earned a berth into the NIT. Currently, Hall ranks among the top-10 in 10 different career statistical categories and in addition to being the program’s all-time leading scorer, he is the school’s career leader in career field goals made (812), career field goals attempted (1,646), career free-throws made (602) and career steals (219). A member of the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame, Hall was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Drafted by the Utah Jazz in the fifth round of the 1985 NBA Draft, he played eight years of professional basketball after leaving Canisius with his degree in communications and sociology. He has also been voted to the All-Time Little Three Team and the Canisius College All-Century Team.

Kara Haun-Rehbaum '84 – Canisius College

Kara (Haun) Rehbaum earned four varsity letters as a member of the Canisius women’s basketball team from 1980-84. During her time as a student-athlete at Canisius, Rehbaum played a key role in helping the Golden Griffins post a 90-21 overall record during her four years, and she was a part of the 1982-83 team that went 28-5 overall and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The program’s all-time career rebounding leader with 1,075 boards, Rehbaum was a three-time All-American and she ended her career with 1,661 career points. Those 1,661 career points stood as the program’s all-time scoring record for 13 seasons, and she currently ranks third all-time in career scoring in the program’s record book. Rehbaum went on to coach the Canisius women’s program for five seasons from 1993-98 and she was named the MAAC Coach of the Year in 1994 after leading the Blue and Gold to an 18-9 overall mark and an 11-3 record in MAAC play. A member of the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame, she currently serves as the Assistant Athletics Director and SWA at Division III Hilbert College, located in Hamburg, N.Y.

Jack O’Connell – Fairfield University

Jack O’Connell was part of the Fairfield University men’s basketball foundation, successfully laying the groundwork for nearly 60 years of Stags basketball. The Bridgeport, Connecticut native attended Fairfield Prep before signing on with the Stags, enjoying success that few had garnered before his arrival. He was one of the first Fairfield University student-athletes to reach 1,000 career points, a feat he accomplished during the 1954-55 season. O’Connell finished his career with 1,016 points, one of 40 1,000-point scorers in program history. He helped the program secure a .500 record or better in all four of his campaigns with an overall record of 44-33. His best season came in his senior year (1954-55) when he netted more than 400 points in 20 games, averaging 20.6 points per contest.  Additionally, in his final season, O'Connell also set the record for the most field goals and most foul shots, shooting 74% from the line.  In response to his strong showing against New York teams he received All-American and All-Metro honorable mentions from New York writers and coaches. O’Connell is very proud that he had the opportunity to play and help Fairfield build their program with his life-long friend and teammate Bob Gerwien as the two combined to be the first class at Fairfield University to have two 1,000 point scorers. 

Donna Margine – Fairfield University

Donna Margine held practically every record in school history upon her graduation in 1981, including the top scoring mark with 1,558 points. More than 30 years after her graduation, Margine still ranks among the top 10 scorers in school history, currently placing eighth. Her 16.9 career scoring average is second best among Fairfield student-athletes. A team captain, Margine remains the most accurate shooter in school history, leaving campus with a .556 field goal percentage (545 made, 949 attempts). She is one of only two Fairfield women’s basketball student-athletes to average better than 20 points per game in a season, registering 20.5 points every forty minutes during the 1978-79 campaign. All of these achievements were reached at a time in women's basketball before the introduction of the three point shot, and the use of the women's smaller ball.

Sean Green ‘91 – Iona College

Sean Green left his mark on Gaels history. Graduating as the 8th leading scorer and all-time leading three point field goal shooter, Green currently ranks 12th all-time at Iona with 1,550 points in his three seasons with the Maroon and Gold after transferring from North Carolina State University. He currently ranks 6th all-time in scoring average with 19.1 points per game, 8th in three point field goals with 131 and ranks 8th with 599 field goals. Green led the team in steals as both a junior and senior. He averaged 19.7 points per game as a junior and 23.2 points per game as a senior, tied for 5th all-time in program history.  His 696 points scored in 1990-91 ranks fifth all-time and was the third highest in school history at the time he accomplished it. A Second Team All-MAAC selection in 1989-90 and a First Team All-MAAC selection in 1990-91, Green was named a member of the MAAC All-Tournament Team in 1991 following the Gaels championship game defeat to Saint Peter’s. He scored 43 points versus Siena on March 3, 1991, tied for second most single-game points scored in school history and had nine games with 30 or more points, the second highest total in Iona history. Green played scholastically for Oak Hill Academy in Virginia which was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in 1987. Green was selected 41st overall (second round) by the Indiana Pacers in the 1991 NBA Draft. He played for three franchises (Indiana, Philadelphia, Utah) in three seasons in the  NBA before an eight year career began overseas that took him to Venezuela, Israel, Italy, Philippines, Turkey and France.

Noreen Winterfeldt ’92 – Iona College

Noreen Winterfeldt earned her spot in Iona’s all-time records ranking twentieth for career points accruing 1,064 during her time as a Gael. She was just the 11th 1000 point scorer in school history and was the team’s leading rebounder in three of her four seasons played. A 1989 MAAC All-Rookie Team selection, she averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a freshman. In her second season, Winterfeldt averaged 10.0 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. She set a career high in points per game as a senior with 10.2 to go along with 5.0 rebounds per game.

Junius Kellogg ’53 – Manhattan College

Kellogg entered Manhattan College in 1949 and was the first African-American to play basketball for the school. In 1951, Kellogg was noted for refusing a $1,000 bribe to shave points during basketball games. He contacted his coach Ken Norton who then called the authorities and touched off the largest college betting scandal in American history. Ultimately, the investigation involved 32 players from seven colleges and encompassed 86 games between 1947 and 1950. After graduating in 1953, he began playing for the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1954, he sustained a cervical spinal cord injury in an automobile accident and was paralyzed. Despite a grim prognosis, Kellogg went through several years of therapy to regain the use of his arms and hands. He was inducted into the Jasper Hall of Fame in 1979 and the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame in 1981.

Lisa Toscano ’79 – Manhattan College

One of Manhattan College's true pioneers of women's athletics. Four-year captain and co-founder of women's varsity basketball. Also helped establish the women's softball program. Also competed in volleyball and was one of the first female members of the crew team. Long-time trainer for Manhattan's men's and women's teams from 1987-2002. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance. NATA (National Athletic Training Association) Awarded 25 year of Service Award, Manhattan College’s Athletic Hall of Fame (1994), and Manhattan College’s Distinguished Service Award – Physical Education Department.

Jared Jordan ’07 – Marist College

Jared Jordan’s collegiate accomplishments helped himself and the Marist men’s basketball program earn recognition on the national stage. Jordan led the nation in assists in both his junior and senior seasons, becoming the first Division I player to accomplish this feat in consecutive years since Southern University’s Avery Johnson in 1986 and 1987. In his senior year, Jordan was named Most Outstanding Player of the inaugural Old Spice Classic, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America and the Haggerty Award winner as the Metropolitan Basketball Writers’ Association Player of the Year. That season, Marist won the MAAC regular-season championship outright, set a program record with 25 victories and won an NIT game at Oklahoma State for the program’s first postseason victory in its history. He finished his collegiate career with 1,538 points, a program-record 813 assists and 160 steals. Jordan is one just two players in program history to be selected in the NBA Draft. He was chosen 45th overall in the 2007 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Jordan has gone on to a successful professional career, primarily overseas. He has played for teams in Germany, Greece and Lithuania. Jordan also spent a season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA Development League, and appeared in NBA training camps with the New York Knicks and New Orleans Hornets.

Corielle Yarde ’12 – Marist College

Corielle Yarde is one of the finest all-around players to ever wear the Marist uniform. Her contributions are evident individually in the program’s record book, and from a team perspective in terms of success. She currently ranks in the program’s career top 10 in 10 statistical categories. Yarde is fourth at Marist in career scoring with 1,470 points, and is the only player in program history to rank in the top 10 in points, rebounds and assists. Yarde won four Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships in her collegiate career, and helped the Red Foxes earn first-round victories in the NCAA Tournament in 2011 against Iowa State and 2012 against Georgia. Marist won a total of 112 games in Yarde’s four years, and had a record of 66-6 in MAAC regular-season play. Yarde was a three-year All-MAAC selection who earned MAAC Player of the Week honors six times. As a senior, she was named MAAC Player of the Year, MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, First Team All-ECAC, First Team All-Met Basketball Writers’ Association and MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year. She often had her best performances in the biggest games, including a 21-point, seven-rebound effort against Georgia in a 2012 NCAA Tournament victory, and a 25-point, 12-rebound game at Duke in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Walter Mischler ‘62 – Monmouth University

Walter Mischler was Monmouth's first NAIA All-American, earning the distinction in 1962, while registering an NAIA national statistical best in rebounding and field goal percentage. Mischler, who was a First Team Central Atlantic Conference honoree in 1961 and 1962, scored 1,259 career points, making him the 11th-highest scorer in the school’s non-Division I history. Mischler holds the school record for points in a single game with 49 (Newark College of Engineering, 1/27/62) and rebounds in a season (625, 1961-62). Mischler was inducted into the Monmouth Athletic Hall of Fame in May 1981, as part of the first-ever class.

Dorothy McCrea ‘73 – Monmouth University

Dorothy McCrea earned 11 letters in four sports during her tenure at Monmouth, competing in basketball, tennis, softball and field hockey. McCrea became the first woman in Monmouth history to score 1,000 career points, and held a single-game basketball scoring record of 39 points. McCrea was inducted into the Monmouth Athletic Hall of Fame in May 1981 as part of the first-ever class.

Tyrone Lewis – Niagara University

Lewis became first the freshman in conference history to earn MAAC Tournament MVP as he helped lead Niagara to the 2007 MAAC title. The Purple Eagles earned their third NCAA Tournament appearance and defeated Florida A&M, 77-69, in the opening round for the program’s first win in the NCAA Tournament in 37 years. Lewis is third all-time in scoring (1,849), first in steals (250) and 3-pointers made (290), eighth in blocks (76) and ninth in free throws made (395) in Niagara University history. Lewis finished his career as the only player in MAAC history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals. He totaled 1,849 points, 523 boards, 222 assists and 250 steals while adding 290 3-pointers. Lewis earned MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in his junior season.

Kim Exler ‘93 – Niagara University

Kim (Kuhn) Exler (1989-93), who made a living off scoring and more specifically from the three-point arc, landed in the Hall of Fame in 1998. Until 2004, Kuhn was atop both the scoring and three-point charts. She tallied 1,734 career points and sank 261 treys. The 1989-90 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, her name can be found in 13-of-15 career statistical categories. She, along with fellow Hall of Famer Pamela Lee, have scored 43 points in a game (Holy Cross, Feb. 24, 1990), and Kuhn is second behind Lee in career scoring average (15.9). On the single-season lists, Kuhn’s three-point totals from all four seasons are among the top 10 in three-pointers and attempts. Against Holy Cross, 30 of her 32 points from beyond the arc, setting the school record with 10 treys on 17 attempts.

Billy Mecca – Quinnipiac Universirty

A member of Quinnipiac's athletic department since 1978, Bill Mecca is in his 12th year as Senior Associate Athletic Director. In his present role, Mecca is responsible for all internal operations of the department, including supervision of scheduling, facilities, game officials, game operations and sports medicine. A 1978 graduate of Niagara University, Mecca earned a bachelors degree in business administration while playing four years of basketball under long time Utah Jazz president Frank Layden. Mecca has fulfilled a variety of roles in his tenure at Quinnipiac. For his continued success as a leader in the department of athletics, Mecca was inducted into the Quinnipiac Hall of Fame in 2009. From 1978-91, he was an assistant men's basketball coach, head men's tennis coach, and assistant director of athletics under the legendary Burt Kahn. In 1991, Mecca was named head men's basketball coach and served five seasons before being promoted to his current role. In his spare time, Mecca provides radio and television color analysis for the Quinnipiac men's and women's basketball games, as well as the sideline report for men's ice hockey, on AM 1220 WQUN, WCTX-TV and NESN. In 2009, Mecca began a new venture with Quinnipiac as the co-host of the Emmy Nominated "Bobcats Unleashed in HD".

Tricia Fabbri – Quinnipiac University

The all-time winningest coach in Quinnipiac women’s basketball history, Tricia Fabbri recently completed her 19th season on the Bobcats’ sideline. In 2013-14, the program’s first season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Fabbri guided the Bobcats to a 21-13 record and a trip to the championship game of the MAAC Tournament. Quinnipiac earned an at-large bid to the WNIT which marked the program’s third straight national postseason tournament appearance. In 2012-13, Quinnipiac’s final season in the Northeast Conference (NEC), Fabbri and the Bobcats completed one of the most decorated seasons in program history. Quinnipiac went 30-3 and won the NEC Championship to earn a trip to its first ever NCAA Tournament. Fabbri was named the 2013 NEC Coach of the Year by her peers – for a third time in her career – and also accepted the Sterling House “Spirit Award” at the annual celebrity breakfast in Stratford, Conn. As a player, Fabbri was named to the MAAC 25th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Fairfield University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002, she was also inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Delran (N.J.) High School Athletic Hall of Fame before being inducted into the Albert Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey Hall of Fame in 2006. That year, she also received the St. Clare Award at the 22nd Annual Franciscan Sports Banquet. Fabbri has amassed a 294-256 (.535) record during her time in Hamden, serving as the most by any women’s basketball coach in Quinnipiac history.

Jessica Beck – Rider University

The Rider athlete of the year for the 1995-96 school year, Beck was the first basketball player ever at Rider to reach the 1,000 plateau in both points and rebounds. To date the only other basketball player to do that was Jason Thompson of the Sacramento Kings. Beck ranked 11th in the nation in rebounding as a senior to earn first team All-Metropolitan (New York, New Jersey) honors. She led the entire Northeast Conference in rebounding for three consecutive years, while setting Rider records for rebounds in a game, rebounds in a season and rebounds in a career. A two-time team MVP, Beck earned All-Conference honors three times after being a member of the conference All-Newcomer team as a rookie. Her four teams won 63 games and lost 48.

Kevin Bannon – Rider University

Coach Bannon led Rider to five conference championship games, with one East Coast Conference appearance and four in the Northeast Conference. He also guided the Broncs to two conference championships and back-to-back NEC titles which garnered two NCAA appearances. Bannon reached the 100-win plateau faster than any other Rider basketball coach, compiling a 131-103 record during his eight seasons at Rider (1989-90 to 1996-97). Twice voted the NEC Coach of the Year, Bannon was also a Metropolitan Basketball Writers Coach of the Year and a New Jersey Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. His teams were 40-6 in Alumni Gym against NEC teams, helping to create the “Broncs’ Zoo.” Bannon inherited a Rider team that was 5-23 and improved every year until going 21-9 in 1994. His Broncs won 18 or more games in a season five times.

Marvin Andrews '91 - Saint Peter’s University

Marvin Andrews finished his collegiate career at Saint Peter’s third all-time with 97 blocked shots. During his career with the Peacocks, he scored 888 points, grabbed 437 rebounds, recorded 163 assists, and registered 108 steals. Andrews best season came in the 1990-91 season where he averaged 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and blocked 38 shots which ranks 16th all-time at Saint Peter’s for an individual season. During the 1990-91 season, Andrews earned All-MAAC Second Team honors, MAAC Tournament MVP, and All-Met Second Team honors as he led the Peacocks to a MAAC Tournament title. He recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists against Texas in NCAA Tournament.

Joann Balsamo ’92 - Saint Peter’s University

Joann Balsamo sits atop many statistical categories in Saint Peter’s women’s basketball history, including holding the second spot in career points with 1633. She posted 537 points in 1991 and followed that performance up with 526 points in 1992, sitting at 3rd and 4th place respectively for the single season points record at Saint Peter’s. Inducted into the Saint Peter’s Hall of Fame in 1997, Balsamo led the Peacocks to an overall record of 87-30 during her career, including a 41-13 mark in MAAC play. A two time All-MAAC 1st team selection (1991 & 1992), Balsamo helped her team to a regular season championship in 1990, and took Saint Peter’s to two consecutive MAAC championship games, winning the MAAC championship in 1992 while being named tournament MVP. She posted three 20+ point games in her career and scored a career-high 34 points against Fordham on Dec. 21, 1991.

Doug Poetzsch ’85 – Siena College

Doug Poetzsch earned spots in Siena’s all-time records ranking eighth for rebounding with 742 career rebounds and 13th for career points amassing 1,398 during his time as a Saint. He led the helm as team captain from 1984-85, guiding a Siena team that would post the program’s first Division I 20-win season. He also became the first junior in Siena’s Division I history to be selected as captain. Poetzsch averaged 18.9 points per game as a senior from 1984-85, and earned the honors of 1985 Second Team GTE Academic All-American, 1985 Honorable Mention Associated Press All-American and 1985 ECAC Metro All-Conference team.

Lily Grenci ‘13 – Siena College

Lily Grenci ranks 23rd in scoring in Siena women’s basketball history (1,074), fourth in free throws made (347) and 19th in rebounding (624). The two-time Saints team captain ranked second in the MAAC in scoring and third in rebounding in both her junior and senior seasons. A two-time First Team All-MAAC selection and 2013 MAAC All-Tournament Team selection, Grenci became the first student athlete in program history to be named one of just 30 candidates nationally for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award. Excelling off the court as well as on it, Grenci was a two-time Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar Athlete Team selection, three-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection, was inducted into Siena College’s Alpha Kappa Delta International Society in Sociology and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Siena College in 2013 with a B.A. in Sociology. Lily is currently entering her second season as a women’s basketball graduate assistant coach at Division II LeMoyne College under former head coach Gina Castelli.

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The MAAC, headquartered in Edison, N.J., consists of 11 member institution: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University and Siena College. ANC Sports Enterprises is the league’s marketing consultant and has the exclusive sales rights to the MAAC.  For more on the conference please visit, www.maacsports.com. Follow the MAAC on Facebook and Twitter: @MAACSports. Follow MAAC Basketball on Twitter using the hashtag #MAACHoops.

–MAAC–