FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 21st moment on the list: Nova Southeastern University enshrines the inaugural 2007 NSU Athletics Hall of Fame class.
May 2, 2007
By the 2006-07, NSU had not only completed its transition to the NCAA and Sunshine State Conference, but it had become a national contender in multiple sports. With that, the school put in motion a hall of fame for the athletic department to recognize student-athletes, coaches and administrators who played a vital part in the quick rise of NSU Athletics.
For the inaugural class, 15 former student-athletes across seven different sports were nominated. NSU Director of Athletics Michael Mominey chaired a committee of 13, which included current Hall of Fame committee members Dr. Mark Cavanaugh (Associate Professor Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences), Lynne Cawley (Director of Alumni Affairs- College of Osteopathic Medicine), Gay Holliday (Associate Dean of Student Affairs), Tony Segreto (Former NBC 6 News anchor, NSU Board of Trustees member, Athletics Advisory Board Chair) and Joe Pineda (Assistant Dean for External Affairs -Huizenga School of Business).
In the end, the committee selected three transcendent student-athletes from the 1990's and two administrators responsible for the launch of the NSU Athletics program.
Dr. Abe Fischler led the class after he served as NSU's President for over two decades, and was instrumental in nurturing the Athletic Department during the founding years. He recognized the importance of athletics and the formation of an athletic department as an integral component in the building of Nova Southeastern University.
"Being an athlete began at the age of ten with playing stickball on the streets of Brooklyn, New York," stated Dr. Fischler. "In my teen and college years, my participation in baseball, basketball and soccer yielded lifelong friendships as well as lessons in cooperation, sportsmanship, conflict resolution and teamwork. As we all know, these lessons extend well beyond the ballfields, courts and other sports environments.
"I was truly honored to have been included in the inaugural class of the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and join others for whom sports participation has been such a formative and positive contributor to our lives."
Former AD and two-sport head coach Sonny Hansley was also inducted. As the first Director of Athletics and first Baseball and Men's Basketball coach for the Knights, Hansley was a pioneer and key administrator in the development and growth of the NSU Department of Athletics. As the Director of Athletics, Hansley guided the athletic department for 12 years, as it grew from one sport to nine sports. NSU Athletic teams cemented themselves as top competitors in the Florida Sun Conference and garnered numerous accolades and titles during Hansley's tenure.
"It was a great honor and thrill to be inducted into the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame," stated Hansley. "The fact that I was able to share the moment with my family, friends, former coaches and players made it more memorable. I was very fortunate to be at the university when it was decided to start an athletic program. I am extremely proud of what we all accomplished and it is very exciting to see the improvements that have been made in the facilities and the caliber of student-athletes that represent NSU."
David Riley was one of three athletes inducted in 2007. He was a standout guard on the NSU men's basketball team, after previously playing at Broward Community College. Riley's 1994-95 team amassed the most wins in a season, with 22 victories, of any team in the then 25-year history of the NSU men's basketball program. Riley averaged 20 points per game and helped lead Nova Southeastern to a national tournament appearance in 1995; the only time in men's basketball program history. He was named Florida Sun Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 1995 and was honored as an NAIA All-American in 1995.
Shannon Sawyer was a starting pitcher/infielder on the NSU softball team and the first female inducted into the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame. She was an FSC All-Conference selection all four years and was named to the NAIA All-Region Team in 1996, 1997 and 1999. In 1999 she was named the Florida Sun Conference Softball Player of the Year and was selected as an NAIA First Team All-American.
Finally, 2007 inductee Teofilo "Coquito" Cubillas, Jr. was a forward and team captain for the NSU men's soccer team for two seasons, after transferring from Division I power NC State. He was twice named First Team All-Florida Sun Conference (1999 and 2000) and NAIA First Team All-Southeast Region (1999 and 2000). Cubillas was named an NAIA All-American in 2000 and an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American 1999, as well as the Florida Sun Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year in 2000. After his collegiate career came to a close, he became the first NSU player to be drafted by a Major League Soccer team when the Miami Fusion selected him in the 2001 MLS Super Draft.
"I feel truly honored to be part of the first induction class for the NSU Hall of Fame," said Cubillas. "Cementing my name and accomplishments at NSU is a tremendous accomplishment not only on an individual level, but most importantly on a team level."
Since the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame took off in 2007, it has been a success. The hall now recognizes four coaches and administrators and 27 former student-athletes across nine sports.
Check back with NSUSharks.com next Tuesday for the next #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History."
Moment No. 1: NSU Athletics is Born
Moment No. 2: Knights Chosen as School Mascot
Moment No. 3: Hansley Hired as Director of AthleticsMoment No. 4: Nova Adds Four SportsMoment No. 5: Nova Joins NAIAMoment No. 6: Nova Adds Three More TeamsMoment No. 7: Nova Helps Form FIACMoment No. 8: Nova Wins First Conference ChampionshipMoment No. 9: Baseball and Volleyball Win First Conference TitlesMoment No. 10: NSU Adds SoftballMoment No. 11: NSU Adds Women's Soccer and Wins FSC Tournament ChampionshipMoment No. 12: NSU Names Ray Ferrero Jr. as School's Fifth PresidentMoment No. 13: NSU Adds Women's Basketball and Wins Conference Title in First SeasonMoment No. 14: NSU Jumps to NCAA Division II and Sunshine State ConferenceMoment No. 15: Kyle Ruwe Becomes NSU's First NCAA All-AmericanMoment No. 16: NSU adds Rowing, Tennis and Men's Cross CountryMoment No. 17: NSU Breaks Ground on University CenterMoment No. 18: Rembe Becomes NSU's First Female NCAA All-AmericanMoment No. 19: NSU Men's Golf Wins First SSC ChampionshipMoment No. 20: NSU Unveils Sharks as New MascotFor the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit
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