West Babylon, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference will induct five new members to its Hall of Fame in 2019, the league announced on Thursday afternoon. The third class in the ECC Hall of Fame's history is comprised of three student-athletes and two administrators.
The student-athletes to be enshrined are Dowling's Gabriel Duran, Bridgeport's Sofia Hoflin, and Saint Rose's Damon Reed. Former Athletic Directors, Bob Hartwell of Adelphi and Bob Houlihan of Molloy, round out the five-person class.
The inductees were selected in a vote by a 12-person Hall of Fame committee comprised of ECC administrators, coaches, sports information directors, faculty athletic representatives, and the ECC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President. The five selections will be honored at the ECC's annual awards banquet on Monday, May 13 at Mercy College.
Gabriel Duran, Dowling (Baseball: 2008-2011)
Duran was one of the most decorated pitchers in ECC history with three All-Conference First Team selections and two ECC Pitcher of the Year honors during his tenure with the Golden Lions.
His sophomore season in 2009 is arguably the best season by a pitcher in ECC history. After tossing a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts against Felician in his first start of the season, the righty ended up with a 10-2 record with two saves, 83 strikeouts, and a 1.30 earned run average over 89.2 innings. He led Division II with 4.52 hits allowed per game and his ERA was good for third in the country.
His efforts led Dowling to unprecedented heights, as well. Duran picked up a save with 2.1 scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over Adelphi that clinched the first and only NCAA East Region Championship in program history. Then in the Golden Lions' first-ever Division II World Series, Duran tossed a complete game three-hitter allowing only one unearned run in a 3-1 win over No. 1 nationally ranked UC San Diego.
Duran's outstanding season earned him a long list of honors including the first of his two ECC Pitcher of the Year awards and consensus East Region Pitcher of the Year honors. He was also a consensus First Team All-American and was named the Division II National Pitcher of the Year by two of three award publications (Daktronics and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association).
His 2010 season was nearly as spectacular. He once again earned the ECC Pitcher of the Year award and consensus All-America honors (Second Team) after finishing with a 5-3 record and an eye-popping 0.74 ERA to go along with 68 strikeouts over 60.2 innings. His ERA total led all of Division II and still stands as an ECC single-season record. For the second straight year, he also led Division II in hits allowed per nine innings (4.6). In addition, Duran added no-hitters number two and three of his career with no-no's against Mercy and Bridgeport during the 2010 campaign.
Duran earned another All-Conference First Team selection in his senior season to wrap up his career with a 23-12 record to go with 301 strikeouts and a 2.32 ERA over 290.2 innings. His win, strikeout, and innings pitched totals all rank in the top-10 in ECC history.
Bob Hartwell, Adelphi (Athletic Director: 1986-2013)
Hartwell, who passed away in 2014, will be posthumously inducted to the ECC Hall of Fame for his leadership of the Adelphi University athletic department. In 1986, Hartwell was named the athletic director at Adelphi and was eventually promoted to Assistant Vice President in 2009. Under his direction, the department and its programs transformed, enjoying tremendous success on the conference, regional and national levels. Under his guidance, the Adelphi Panthers garnered eight NCAA National Championships, 10 NCAA Regional Championships, 33 conference postseason championships, 26 conference regular season championships, nearly 100 NCAA Championship appearances, and seven NYCAC/ECC Commissioner's Cups (98, 99, 01, 02, 03, 05, 08) during the Panthers time in the conference.
Hartwell's devotion to student-athletes, a commitment to ensuring that the NCAA Division II model of "A life in the balance" was followed, and his desire to teach each young man and woman to become a well-rounded person are values every Panther took upon graduating from Adelphi. In fact, the graduation rate of student-athletes was over 90 percent during his time in Garden City. In his honor, in 2012, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee created the Hartwell Cup, an award that honors the best overall athletic program based on athletic success, classroom performance, and community service.
An ardent supporter of opportunities for women in athletics, he added four women's programs, starting with volleyball in 1992, women's lacrosse in 2001, women's bowling in 2006, and resurrected the field hockey program in 2008 after a 25-year hiatus.
The revival of Adelphi's Athletic Hall of Fame was also due to Hartwell's efforts. In 1991, after 10 years without any inductees, the first class of the new era was ceremonially welcomed. Since that time, the annual Hall of Fame dinner has been a focal point for celebrating the successes of former student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, and has grown to be sponsored by the Panther Club, the fund and friendraising arm of the Athletic Department, which he initiated in 1993.
Hartwell also played a central role in the upgrade of every athletic facility on Adelphi's campus. On his watch, the University upgraded baseball's William J. Bonomo Memorial Field in 2007, transformed historic Woodruff hall, designed and constructed the Center for Recreation and Sports and Motamed Field (formerly known as Stiles Field), the practice field and tennis courts in 2008, and most recently, the new Janet L. Ficke Softball Field, which was completed in 2011.
One of Mr. Hartwell's proudest accomplishments is the "Cans for Cancer" program in which Adelphi has participated over a decade. This program has been a department-wide initiative that was started in 2003 and generated over $50,000 toward Winthrop University Medical Center's Cancer Center for Kids, through the collection of redeemable cans on campus by Adelphi student-athletes.
ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff, who was an Athletic Director at fellow NYCAC member, Dowling College, during Hartwell's tenure said the following about his induction, "Bob served as a mentor and friend to many coaches, fellow administrators, and student-athletes across the conference and helped guide the conference as an active committee member and officer for several years. His reputation as a man of integrity, a leader, and educator in the world of athletics continues to this day."
* - Portions of Bob Hartwell bio courtesy of Adelphi University Athletic Department.
Sofia Hoflin, Bridgeport (Women's Soccer: 2006-09)
The University of Bridgeport women's soccer team won its first-ever National Championship this past fall but that might not have been possible without Sofia Hoflin helping put the program on the map during the mid-to-late 2000s.
Hoflin led the Purple Knights to a list of firsts in program history including their first ECC Regular Season Championship in 2006, their first ECC Championship in 2009, and their first NCAA Championship appearance in 2007. After those firsts, Hoflin led the Purple Knights to two more ECC Regular Season Championships (2007, 2009) and two more NCAA Championship appearances (2008, 2009).
She helped lead Bridgeport to those new heights as an offensive force on their front line. She burst on to the scene in her freshman season of 2006 with a 20 goal, nine assist, 49 point performance that earned her All-Conference First Team accolades and the conference's Rookie of the Year honor.
Hoflin followed her outstanding debut with three more seasons of double-digit goals scoring 17, 15, and 10 over her final three seasons. She wrapped up her career with totals of 62 goals, 29 assists, and 153 points. She currently still holds Bridgeport's program-record for goals and points in a career and ranks in the top-10 in conference history in goals scored.
In addition to the honors she earned her freshman campaign, Hoflin was named to the All-Conference Second Team her final three seasons. She also earned four selections to an All-Region list (NSCAA Second Team - 2006; NSCAA Third Team - 2009; Daktronics Second Team - 2006, 2007).
Bob Houlihan, Molloy (Athletic Director/Head Coach: 1980-2001)
Houlihan's relationship with Molloy College spans a 29-year period. He began his Molloy career in 1980 as the Softball coach and six years later assumed additional coaching duties as the women's basketball coach. In 19 seasons at the softball helm, he recorded over 300 victories, including a New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) Championship in 1995 and ECAC Championships in 1994 and 1995. He reached the postseason 18 times and coached six All-Americans. He amassed 134 basketball victories over 11 seasons, reaching the postseason tournament 10 times. He was a member of the NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee for three years and the ECAC Men's and Women's Basketball Committees for three and two years, respectively.
In 1988, Houlihan became the third Director of Athletics. During his tenure, he was instrumental in adding seven intercollegiate teams, including five men's programs. Baseball, men's basketball and men's cross country made their debuts during the 1992-93 academic year, marking the first men's athletic programs in the history of Molloy College. Soon after, men's and women's soccer, women's cross country and men's lacrosse began. Under his guidance, the student-athlete body grew from 40 to 200.
Houlihan was the President of the NYCAC for two terms and recording secretary for three years. He served as sport chair for volleyball for three years, baseball and women's soccer for two years, and women's basketball and softball for one year.
In June of 2001, Houlihan was elevated to Vice President for Student Affairs at Molloy. He was the chief student affairs officer, providing leadership and vision for student support services, including athletics, health, public safety, and student government-sponsored clubs and activities. He was also responsible for organizing freshmen- and transfer-student orientations, handling all graduation festivities, and developing and implementing student life programs.
A 20-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, he served as a Detective for 17 years before his retirement in 1986. His assignments included: Narcotics, Organized Crime Bureau, Special Investigations Division, Homicide Squad, and Major Case Squad. He was the recipient of 22 citations and was a member of the Honor Legion. He has been sharing his police experiences with the Molloy students as an Adjunct Professor in the Criminal Justice Department since 1988. He has also taught classes in Molloy's Physical Education Department.
In 2005, Calhoun High School honored him with their Leadership Award. The Long Island Tigers Association recognized him with their Community Service Award in 1993. He was the recipient of the Molloy College Distinguished Service Award in 1995 and the Rockville Centre Service Award in 1999. In 2013, Bob was awarded "The President's Medal," which is the highest award Molloy College gives out.
As with Hartwell, ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff, spent years working within the NYCAC as a fellow Athletic Director colleague of Houlihan. "He consistently maintained a reputation as a man of integrity, a leader and someone who did things the right way," said Dranoff. "He was also a leader in the conference, heading up the league as president during periods of change and it was his sense of humor and easy going personality but also a strong work ethic and desire to support his colleagues that helped the conference grow and survive."
* - Portions of Bob Houlihan bio courtesy of Molloy College Athletic Department.
Damon Reed, Saint Rose (Men's Basketball: 1996-2000)
Reed was a force in the paint for the Saint Rose men's basketball team during the late 1990's. After a solid freshman campaign in which he tallied 8.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, Reed turned into one of the best big men in the country over the final three seasons of his career. He turned in three straight seasons of averaging a double-double (16.4 ppg - 10.1 RPG in 97-98; 17.8 ppg - 12.0 rpg in 98-99; 16.4 ppg - 10.9 rpg in 99-00) while never shooting less than 55.7 percent from the field. He was also adept at swatting away shots in the paint, averaging nearly two blocks (1.8) per game during his career.
Reed was a huge factor in Saint Rose being a conference and regional power. The Golden Knights won three NYCAC Championships during his four years and just missed out on a fourth with an overtime loss to Adelphi in the 1999 final. Saint Rose also made four straight NCAA Championships during his time in Albany, with two of the appearances culminating in regional championships (1998 & 1999). Reed was also part of the only NYCAC/ECC men's basketball team to ever advance to the Division II Final Four, which the 1998 Saint Rose squad did with a 77-73 overtime win over Truman State in the Elite Eight.
His outstanding play earned him a trophy case full of awards. He was a three-time NYCAC All-Conference First Team pick, the 1999 NYCAC Player of the Year, and the 1998 NYCAC Championship Most Outstanding Player. He also claimed three straight Daktronics All-Region selections (Second Team - 1998; First Team - 1999, 2000). Lastly, Reed earned numerous All-America honors. He was named to All-America lists by four different publications (Basketball Times First Team - 1999, 2000; Daktronics Second Team - 1999, 2000; Division II Bulletin Third Team - 1999; and NABC Third Team - 1999) and was named the Division II National Player of the Year by the Basketball Times in 2000.
Nearly 20 years after the conclusion of his collegiate career, Reed's name is still littered throughout the conference record book. He is first in conference history in rebounds (1,280) and free throws made (605). Reed also ranks among the top-10 in ECC history in points (8th - 1,874) and blocked shots (4th - 236). In addition, Reed's rebound total is the 10th best in NCAA Division II history.