STANDISH, ME - Saint Joseph's College introduced the 2009 Athletics Hall of Fame Class on Saturday, November 14th at the induction ceremony hosted in the Saint Joseph's Dining Hall.
Three individuals and the first-ever team were honored for their athletic achievement at St. Joe's: baseball pitcher Brent Dan '02 (Sumner, ME/Buckfield), two-sport standout Sue (Picard) Rondeau '02 (Saco, ME/Thornton Academy), Sister Joyce Mahany and the 1977 Baseball Team.
Danielle (Bouchard) Santucci '95, who was voted into the SJC Hall of Fame in 2002, was also on hand to officially accept her induction at this year's ceremony.
Prior to the individual inductions, a tribute was given to the numerous accomplishments and contributions of former Saint Joseph's College Administrator and Head Basketball Coach Chris Kiernan, who regrettably passed away in mid-August at the age of 65 after a courageous battle with cancer. His family was on hand for the remembrance.
Kiernan, a member of the first SJC Hall of Fame Class (2000), worked simultaneously as Dean of Student Affairs, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Director of Athletics and Men's Basketball Coach. He pioneered the Men's Basketball program and obtained uniforms from Assumption Prep with the nickname "Monks" spread across the front; nearly 40 years later St. Joe's remains as the only NCAA athletic program with the Monks moniker.
The Saint Joseph's Athletics Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 and, with the addition of this year's class, has 50 honorees.
