UM Sports Hall of Fame Announces 2017 Class
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame has announced its class of 2017 inductees for the 49th Annual UMSHoF Induction Banquet this coming spring.
The nine members of the Class of 2017 are football’s James Jackson, Jeremy Shockey and Darryl Williams, baseball’s Ryan Braun and Dan Davies, basketball Steve Edwards, tennis’ Audra Cohen, women’s basketball coach Katie Meier and Valeria Tipiana, the first volleyball player ever inducted.
“Once again, I’m pleased to introduce another great class of University of Miami Sports Hall of Famers for 2017,” said UMSHoF President Gerard Loisel. “We invite all Hurricane fans to join us this spring at our induction banquet as we welcome the newest members into the Hall of Fame.”
This year’s class will be formally introduced at halftime of the Miami-North Carolina football game on Sat., Oct. 15 as part of the “Hall of Fame Game” ceremonies.
The 49th Annual UMSHoF induction banquet will be held in April 2017. For information please contact the UMSHoF at 305-284-2775.
The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 by eight Dade County Circuit Court judges, all Miami alumni, who wanted to establish an organization that would recognize those student-athletes, coaches and administrators who excelled at their sport and brought acclaim to the University through their achievements and championships. With the addition of the Class of 2017, only 309 honorees have been inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame.
Ryan Braun, Baseball, 2003-2005
A two-time All American (2003 & 2005), Braun made an instant impact when he came to Miami in 2003 leading the team in batting average (.364) home runs (17) and runs batted in (76) and was named the National Freshman of the Year by Baseball America. As a junior for UMSHoF member Coach Jim Morris’ Hurricanes, he hit .396 with 18 home runs, 76 RBI’s, 23 stolen bases, was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award as college baseball’s top player and was named the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year. A first round draft pick (fifth overall) of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2005 MLB Draft, Ryan was named the National League’s Rookie of the year (2007) and Most Valuable Player in 2011.
Audra Cohen, Tennis, 2005-2007
Cohen garnered three International Tennis Association (ITA) All-American honors in her two years at Miami while playing for UMSHoF member Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. Cohen compiled a 76-4 singles record as a Hurricane, including a 42-2 mark in 2006-07. That year, she became the first singles player in program history to win the prestigious ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship and the first to win the NCAA Singles Championship. A two-time ITA National Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year, Cohen finished both of her seasons at Miami ranked No. 1 nationally in the ITA rankings. Including her season at Northwestern in 2004-05, Cohen was a three-time finalist for the Honda Sports Award, given to the best female collegiate athlete in U.S. in 12 different sports. In 2007, she became the first Miami tennis player to win the award.
Dan Davies, Baseball, 1983-1986
Dan was a crafty left handed pitcher who is third all-time in victories with 41 wins. He had his best season in 1985 leading UMSHoF member Coach Ron Fraser’s Hurricanes to the 1985 National Championship by winning 15 games (including 14 straight) against only two losses with a 2.66 earned run average. In 22 starts that season, second most in school history, he struck out 105 batters in 138 innings and tossed three shutout victories. He led the team in victories, or was tied for the lead, in 1984, 1985 and 1986, helping the Canes to the College World Series each year.
Steve Edwards, Basketball, 1992-1996
One of the most prolific long-range shooters in Miami history, Edwards still ranks second in the record books with 265 career 3-point field goals, a mark that is still the BIG EAST Conference record. Edwards, a two-time honoree as “Mr. Basketball” in the state of Florida, was named to the conference all-freshman team in his first year for UMSHoF member Coach Leonard Hamilton. Plagued by injuries his whole career, he still led Miami in scoring in three of his four seasons and ranks 13th all-time with 1,393 points and is 10th in career steals. “Stevie” led the Canes to their first post-season appearance (1994-1995) since the rebirth of the basketball program and back-to-back-winning seasons.
James Jackson, Football, 1996-2000
Though he shared the backfield with UMSHoF members Edgerrin James and Clinton Portis, Jackson was a true workhorse for the Canes, currently the fourth leading rusher in school history with 2,953 yards, just seven yards behind James for the third spot. His 541 rushing attempts is the second most by a Hurricane running back and his 29 rushing touchdowns is ranked fourth all time. His overall total of 32 touchdowns (29 rushing, three receiving) is tied for third place. A second team All-BIG EAST selection in 2000, he led the Canes in rushing yards (1,006), becoming just the fifth Miami rusher to pass 1,00 yards for a season, as the team completed its comeback to national prominence by going 11-1, and finishing No. 2 in the polls. Drafted in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft, James spent five seasons in the league.
Katie Meier, Coaching, 2005-Present
Entering her 12th season at the helm of the Hurricanes women’s basketball program, Meier has worked tirelessly to put her mark on Miami’s program and to build a winning tradition. In 2015-2016, she guided the team to its seventh consecutive postseason, a fifth trip to the NCAA tournament in the last six years and a sixth 20-plus win season in the last seven years, all extending program records. In 2010-2011, she led the Canes to a 26-3 regular season record, 12-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and gained their first ACC regular season co-championship, their first NCAA post season berth since 1992, and Meier was named the ACC Coach of the Year and the Associated Press Co-National Coach of the Year.
Jeremy Shockey, Football, 2000-2001
A junior college transfer, Shockey became a Miami legend with his first touchdown catch, a 13-yard pass from UMSHoF member Ken Dorsey in the final minute to defeat No. 1 Florida State on national television 27-24 to cement Miami’s return to national prominence. That season, he also caught a 44-yard, tackle-breaking touchdown as the Canes beat No. 2 Virginia Tech. In the 2001 National Championship season, he led the team with 45 receptions for 604 yards and eight touchdowns, and was named a first team All-American by CNNSI and second team All-American by the Associated Press, CBS Sportsline and ABC Sports, and first team All-BIG EAST. A first round pick (14th overall) by the New York Giants in the 2002 NFL Draft, he spent 10 seasons in the league winning two Super Bowls and being named to four Pro Bowls.
Valeria Tipiana, Volleyball, 2000-2004
One of the most honored players in the history of Miami volleyball, Valeria was named the 2002 BIG EAST Player of the Year, as well as a first team all-conference player in leading Miami to its first NCAA tournament appearance in only the school’s second year of competition. She was named second team All-BIG EAST in 2003, then was named a first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member when the Canes made the move to the ACC in 2004. That year, she became the first Hurricane player named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) honorable mention All-American. Tipiana was the first player to pass 1,000 career kills and is still in the top three in career points, kills, service aces, and digs. She becomes the first volleyball player inducted in the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
Darryl Williams, Football, 1989-1991
A two-time national champion (1989,1991), the safety out of Miami’s American High School, Darryl was a consensus All-American in 1991, so honored by the Associated Press, Kodak and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. A first team All-BIG EAST selection as well, he led the secondary with 84 tackles (49 solo), including 18 tackles (10 solo) in Miami’s 17-16 “Game of the Century” victory over Florida State. He was a first round draft pick (28th overall) of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1992 NFL draft and played 10 years in NFL, being named to the Pro Bowl in 1997.
For more information, contact UMSHoF Executive Director John Routh at 305-284-2775.
