Pitt will enshrine a star-studded class in its annual Hall of Fame induction dinner this September.
The 10-person class will be inducted on Sept. 13 at the Pitt Hall of Fame Dinner and introduced to the public on Sept. 14 when the Panthers will host West Virginia for the Backyard Brawl, Heather Lyke announced Thursday morning.
“Our Hall of Fame classes annually showcase not only the greatest athletes in Pitt history but also the very best to ever compete in their respective sports,” Lyke said in the Pitt release. “These ten honorees embody that same legendary excellence.
“This class features iconic performers representing six different sports and, for the first time ever, the field of broadcasting. Their achievements truly inspire Pitt pride, and we look forward to celebrating their richly deserved inductions this fall.”
The class includes:
- DeJuan Blair (Men’s Basketball)
- Dick Groat (Broadcaster; Posthumous)
- Bill Hillgrove (Broadcaster)
- Amy Jackson (Women’s Swimming)
- Brianna Kiesel (Women’s Basketball)
- George McLaren (Football; Posthumous)
- Jamie Pelusi (Women’s Soccer)
- Darrelle Revis (Football)
- Al Romano (Football)
- Steve Lewis (Track and Field Coach; Posthumous)
Nominations for the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame were solicited from the general public. Candidates must be five years removed from their final year of collegiate competition and not currently be playing professional sports.
The Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee then evaluated the candidate pool and provided a recommendation on the class to the director of athletics.
The class includes legendary broadcasters Dick Groat (who was a decorated MLB player) and Bill Hillgrove, former football players George McLaren, Al Romano and Darrelle Revis, basketball player DeJuan Blair, women’s basketball player Brianna Kiesel, women’s soccer player Jamie Pelusi, swimmer Amy Jackson and track & field coach Steve Lewis.
Pitt is inducting the class of 2024 as its sixth since Lyke established the Hall of Fame in 2018.
2023
Richard Bradshaw (swimming and diving coach)
Ruben Brown (football)
Matt Cavanaugh (football)
Chris Doleman (football)
Larry Fitzgerald (football)
Keith Gavin (wrestling)
Bobby Lewis (baseball)
Joe Luxbacher (men’s soccer coach)
Mauree McCandless (track & field)
Suzanne Pulley-Klacik (swimming and diving)
Clive Vaughan (men’s basketball)
Allison Williams-Murphy (track & field)
2022
Keisha Dumas (track & field)
Russ Grimm (football)
Larry Harris (men’s basketball)
Rickey Jackson (football)
Jerome Lane (men’s basketball)
Debbie Lewis (women’s basketball)
Angela Lopez (swimming and diving)
Jerry Richey (track & field)
Rande Stottlemyer (wrestling coach)
2020
Jennifer Bruce (women’s basketball)
Chantee Earl (track & field)
Bobby Grier (football)
Craig Heyward (football)
Brandin Knight (men’s basketball(=)
Ann Marie Lucanie (volleyball)
Ken Macha (baseball)
Curtis Martin (football)
Bob Peck (football)
Donna DeMarino Sanft (gymnastics administrator and coach)
Pat Santoro (wrestling)
Jackie Sherrill (football coach)
Arnie Sowell (track & field)
Pop Warner (football coach)
2019
Sam Clancy (men’s basketball)
Jimbo Covert (football)
Najuma Fletcher (track & field)
Don Hennon (men’s basketball)
Sue Heon (swimming and diving)
Charley Hyatt (men’s basketball)
Lorri Johnson (women’s basketball)
John Majors (football coach)
Mark May (football)
Lee McRae (track & field)
Rex Peery (wrestling coach)
Ed Peery (wrestling)
Hugh Peery (wrestling)
Joe Schmidt (football)
2018
Doc Carlson (football, baseball and basketball)
Mike Ditka (football, baseball, basketball and wrestling)
Tony Dorsett (football)
Herb Douglas (football, track & field)
Bill Fralic (football)
Marshall Goldberg (football)
Hugh Green (football)
Roger Kingdom (football, track & field)
Billy Knight (men’s basketball)
Dan Marino (football)
Lisa Shirk (gymnastics)
Trecia-Kaye Smith (track & field)
Charles Smith (men’s basketball)
Kathy Stetler (swimming and diving)
Jock Sutherland (football coach)
John Woodruff (track & field)
