28°3′38″N82°24′18″W / 28.06056°N 82.40500°W / 28.06056; -82.40500The University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to recognize and perpetuate the memory of student athletes, teams, coaches and administrators who have made demonstrably outstanding and significant contributions to the success, tradition and heritage of USF Athletics, and who demonstrate the character and values that define the highest principles of sport. Induction in the University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame is the highest honor afforded by the USF Athletics Department.[1]
The Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center, which is home to the USF Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame was established by director of athletics Doug Woolard in 2009 with the first 16 inductees. 12 of the inaugural inductees were members or coaches of the 1985 USF women's swimming team, which won the first and only NCAA national championship in USF history. Mark Harlan took over as athletic director in 2014, and no new members were inducted during his tenure. Michael Kelly brought the Hall of Fame back in 2019 after he became USF's new AD, though no class was inducted in 2021 due to the induction ceremony for 2020 being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Selection process
Nominations
Nominations are accepted from both the Hall of Fame voting committee and the general public. Individuals must have completed their bachelor's degree and be at least four years removed from their USF career to be nominated. Nominees are eligible for induction for up to three years after being nominated. If not selected in that period of time, they must be re-nominated for further consideration.[2]
Induction
Every year the three nominees with the most votes from the Hall of Fame committee, provided that they receive votes from at least five of the nine members of the committee, will be inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. Prior to 2019, any nominee that received six or more votes from the nine member committee was inducted, regardless of how many nominees passed that threshold. The annual induction ceremony takes place at USF's Homecoming football game.[2] In 2024, four new members were inducted.[3]
Voting committee
The USF Hall of Fame voting committee consists of nine members: a past Hall of Fame inductee, two USF Varsity Club Board members, the faculty athletics representative, a senior woman administrator, a USF Alumni Association representative, a former USF athletics coach or staff member, a distinguished community member and the director of athletics. All members of the committee serve a term of two years, with the exception of the athletic director, who serves on the committee for their entire tenure as AD and appoints the other members of the committee.[2]
Inductees
As of 2024, the Hall features 50 members: 41 players, 7 coaches, and 3 athletic directors with one member inducted as both a player and a coach.
Associate AD 1994–2001, AD 2001–2004. Considered the "Father of USF Football"[5]
Paul Griffin
1986–2001
2022
Oversaw the addition of two sports, 63 conference titles, and appointed several of the most celebrated coaches in USF history including Jose Fernandez, Ken Eriksen, and USF Hall of Famer Bobby Paschal[6]
Led the Bulls to 7 individual and relay national championships and a second place finish at the 1971 NCAA College Division Swimming National Championship[10]
Winningest head coach in program history, five-time conference coach of the year, led the Bulls to five 40-win seasons, eight conference championships, and nine NCAA appearances[12]
All-time leading scorer in USF men's basketball history, 1983 Sun Belt Player of the Year, Sun Belt All Decade team member, three time All Conference[13]
All players and coaches of the 1985 national champion women's swimming team were inducted into the Hall.[7] McHugh won the 1984 and 1985 individual national championships in the 100-yard freestyle event and was a member of two relay championship teams.[17]
All players and coaches of the 1985 national champion women's swimming team were inducted into the Hall.[7] Bercaw was a member of three relay national championship teams.[17]
All players and coaches of the 1985 national champion women's swimming team were inducted into the Hall.[7] Greaves was a member of two relay national championship teams.[17]
All players and coaches of the 1985 national champion women's swimming team were inducted into the Hall.[7] Mortell was a member of three relay national championship teams.[17]
All players and coaches of the 1985 national champion women's swimming team were inducted into the Hall.[7] Crenshaw won two individual national championships in the 1985 500-yard and 1650-yard freestyle events.[17]
All players and coaches of the 1985 national champion women's swimming team were inducted into the Hall.[7] Hewett won two individual national championships in the 1985 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events and was a member of two relay national championship teams.[17]
Three time C-USA Women's track & field Athlete of the Year, five time All American, holds seven program records, only walk-on to be inducted into the Hall[20]
Two time C-USA Player of the Year, first All American in USF Volleyball history, unanimous C-USA Player of the Decade (2004), holds seven program records[25]
USF women's basketball all-time leading scorer, John R. Wooden Award finalist, two time All American, three time All Conference, 2003 C-USA Freshman of the Year[27]
Three time C-USA Women's track & field Athlete of the Year, two time All American, seven time conference champion, C-USA All Decade team member, 2008 Haitian Olympic Team member[30]
Only two time, first team All American in program history, 2007 Bill Willis Trophy winner, 2007 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, three time All Conference[32]
Three time All American, four time All Conference, two time conference Pitcher of the Year, pitched two perfect games and nine no hitters, all time program leader in wins, saves, innings pitched, and strikeouts as of her graduation, member of the US Women's National Team from 2013 to 2015[33]
Second all time in program history for points and rebounds, two time All American, three time All Conference, holds the single season points record in program history[34]
First dual-sport athlete inducted in the USF Athletic Hall of Fame, NCAA National Runner-Up (2016 indoor triple jump), six-time All-American, won six individual conference championships in track and field and was a member of USF's 2013 AAC men's soccer tournament championship team[35]
2016 conference offensive player of the year, two-time all conference, led the Bulls to two bowl wins, first quarterback at any Florida school to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards[37]
Two-time first team All-American, won two NCAA Regional titles, four-time All-Conference selection and two-time conference Player of the Year, led Bulls to three conference titles[39]
Led Bulls to three conference championships, three-time All-American, four time All-Conference selection and two time conference Player of the Year, first USF athlete to win an Olympic gold medal[39]
All time Big East Conference leader in total offense, 2006 conference freshman of the year, led USF to their first three bowl games, second-most passing yards and fifth-most rushing yards in team history[12]
Two time All-American, four time all-conference, Conference USA player of the decade, led team to two conference titles and two NCAA tournament appearances, third-most assists and seventh-most goals in team history[12]
Three time All-American, 2013 Big East golfer of the year, led the Bulls to three conference championships and four NCAA appearances, holds school record for tournament victories, top-10 finishes, and rounds of par or better[12]
