UM Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Unveiled
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Ken Dorsey and Brett Romberg, members of Miami’s 2001 national champion football team, highlight the UM Sports Hall of Fame seven-member Class of 2013, President Wally DiMarko announced Thursday.
The Class of 2013 includes Ed Contreras (baseball, 1957-59), Dorsey (football, 1999-2002), Bryan Gillooly (diving, 1994-98), Norm Parsons (administration / coaching, 1972-2012), Romberg (football, 1999-2002), Don Soldinger (coach, 1984-88 & 1995-2006) and Jay Tessmer (baseball, 1994-95).
One of Miami’s first true power hitters, Contreras led the Canes in home runs and RBI in each of his three seasons (19 HR, 67 RBI in 77 games) and also led the team in batting in 1958 (.316) and 1959 (.310). He left Miami as the school’s single-season and career home runs leader and he still holds the UM career slugging percentage record (.615) for under 300 at bats. He played for legendary major leaguer and UM coach, Jimmy Foxx, and also played basketball for UM Sports Hall of Famer, Coach Bruce Hale.
Dorsey quarterbacked the Hurricanes to their fifth national championship in 2001 and was named MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl. He was a 2002 All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The 2001 and 2002 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Dorsey set eight UM career records, including total offense, passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and attempts. He is the winningest quarterback in program history (38-2) and he won the 2001 Maxwell Award as the top player in college football.
Gillooly was a two-time NCAA diving champion, winning the 10-meter platform title in 1996 and the 3-meter springboard in 1998. He was a 12-time All-American, garnering the honor in the 1- and 3-meter springboards, and the 10-meter platform in each of his four years at Miami (1995-98). He was also named the 1996 NCAA Diver of the Year and was a BIG EAST Academic All-Star in 1996-97. Gillooly was a finalist at the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Parsons, who served as the women’s golf coach from 1973-78 and men’s golf coach from 1980-88, coached the women’s golf team to the 1977 and 1978 AIAW national championships. He served UM as Director of the Herbert Wellness Center (1996-present), Director of Campus Sports and Recreation (1977-96), and Intramural Director (1972-73) among other positions. He coached current UMSHoF members Cathy Morse, Woody Austin and Nathaniel Crosby.
In 2002 Romberg was a consensus All-American and Rimington Award winner as the nation’s best center. He was a first-team All-BIG EAST selection in 2001 and 2002, while never allowing a sack in his time as the Hurricanes center. Miami went 35-2 in his 37 consecutive starts at center, helping lead the Canes to the 2001 national title and three BIG EAST titles.
Soldinger was the linebackers and tight ends coach for Jimmy Johnson from 1984-88 and was the running backs and special teams coach under coaches Butch Davis and Larry Coker from 1995-2006. He was on the 1987 and 2001 national championship coaching staffs; he also coached six of the seven Miami running backs that rushed for 1,000 yards in a season (Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James – twice, Clinton Portis, Danyell Ferguson, Frank Gore and James Jackson). In his 16 seasons as a Hurricanes assistant coach, Miami won 158 games.
Tessmer was a first-team Collegiate Baseball All-American in 1995 after collecting 20 saves – tied for second-most in school history – and posting a 1.31 ERA to lead Jim Morris’ squad to the College World Series. He finished second nationally in Division I with a 1.16 ERA in 1994, while his career 1.24 ERA ranks second in school history. He holds the UM record for fewest walks per 9 innings (1.42 average) and has the second-most appearances by a pitcher in a season (45 in 1995). Tessmer finished his career fifth with 23 saves and played professionally for the New York Yankees.
The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1966 by eight Dade County Circuit Court judges, who wanted to establish an organization that would recognized those student-athletes, coaches and administrators who excelled at their sport and brought acclaim to the University of Miami through their achievements and championships.
With the addition of the seven newest members, the Sports Hall of Fame will increase to 274 honorees. The newest class will be inducted Thu., April 11, 2013, at the 43rd annual UM Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, which will be held at Jungle Island.
For more information on attending the Induction Banquet, fans can visit www.UMSportsHallofFame.com or call 305-284-2775.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2013
Ed Contreras, Baseball (1957-59)
Ken Dorsey, Football (1999-2002)
Bryan Gillooly, Diving (1994-98)
Norm Parsons, Administration / Coaching (1972-2012)
Brett Romberg, Football (1999-2002)
Don Soldinger, Coach (1984-88, 1995-2006)
Jay Tessmer, Baseball (1994-95)
