Dave Cottle Named to Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2014
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Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper
BALTIMORE – Loyola University Maryland’s Athletics Hall of Fame Committee has chosen 11 former Greyhounds student-athletes and coaches who will form the Class of 2014 induction class and will be enshrined on Friday, May 2, 2014.
The class, which is Loyola’s first induction class in more than 10 years, features nine former student-athletes: Joseph Barger ’89 (men’s soccer), Mark Gallagher ’98 (men’s swimming & diving), Kerri Johnson ’97 (women’s lacrosse), Timothy McGeeney ’95 (men’s lacrosse), Michelle Meyer ’96 (women’s lacrosse), John Mohler ’50 (men’s lacrosse, men’s swimming and diving, wrestling), Michael Morrison ’07 (men’s basketball), Dania Thompson ’76 (men’s basketball, women’s lacrosse), Nancy Turnblacer ’02 (women’s tennis). Two former coaches, Dave Cottle (men’s lacrosse) and Bill Sento (men’s soccer), will be inducted, as well, honoring their service to Loyola athletics.
"We are pleased to congratulate these 11 women and men as our Class of 2014 to the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame,” said Jim Paquette, Loyola’s assistant vice president and director of athletics. “Each made outstanding contributions to Loyola athletics, and we are excited to welcome them to a prestigious group."
A two-year captain for the men’s soccer team, Joe Barger is one of the program’s greatest defenders. A two-time all-conference player, he helped Loyola to a 30-game unbeaten streak over two seasons and the NCAA South Atlantic Championship in 1986 and 1989. During his senior year, Barger also competed for the men’s lacrosse team which reached the NCAA Quarterfinals. He is a member of the Fallston and Maryland Soccer Halls of Fame.
Dave Cottle is the winningest men’s lacrosse coach in Loyola history, posting an overall record of 181-70 from 1983-2001. Cottle guided Loyola through its transition to NCAA Division I and led the Greyhounds to 18 consecutive winning seasons and 14 straight NCAA tournament berths. In 1988, he was named the NCAA Coach of the Year, and in 1990 guided his squad to the NCAA Championship Game. He is a member of the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and he also holds a spot in Salisbury University’s Athletics Halls of Fame. Cottle is currently the head coach and president of Major League Lacrosse’s Chesapeake Bayhawks.
Mark Gallagher led Loyola to it’s first-ever men’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship in 1995. The 1997 MAAC Swimmer of the Year, Gallagher was a four-time conference champion in the 50-yard freestyle, and he graduated with numerous individual and team program records. His 50-meter freestyle record still stands to this day.
An outstanding student-athlete and leader, Kerri Johnson led Loyola women’s lacrosse during an era of unprecedented success. A three-time All-America selection, Johnson helped lead her teams to three NCAA Semifinals appearances, including an appearance in the 1997 NCAA Championship Game. Johnson received Loyola’s prestigious Ernest Lagna Award, which is awarded to Loyola’s top female student-athlete, and She went on to serve as both and assistant and head coach at Loyola and was a member of the United States National team. She is also a member of the Perry Hall High School and Greater Baltimore Chapter of US Lacrosse Halls of Fame.
Regarded as one of Loyola’s greatest men’s lacrosse goaltenders, Timothy McGeeney was a four-year starter for the Greyhounds. He anchored his team to four NCAA tournament appearances, receiving All-America accolades in 1992, 1994 and 1995. His 810 career saves still ranks atop Loyola’s all-time records. He also ranks first in single season saves with 245 during 1995 season. Tim went on to be a USCLA All-Club performer and win an MLL championship as a member of the Baltimore Bayhawks.
Michelle Meyer was three-time All-America selection, two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year and the 1997 National Midfielder of the Year. She is Loyola’s all-time leader in draw controls and ranks 7th in total points, leading her team to three NCAA semifinal appearances and the 1997 national championship game. A member of the 1997 US National team, she is also inducted to the Baltimore Chapter of US Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Together with her husband, Matt Dwan, Meyer is part of the only husband-wife duo in Loyola’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
John Mohler was a three-sport student-athlete on the Evergreen campus. An honorable mention All-America in lacrosse, he also led Loyola to back-to-back swimming and diving Mason-Dixon Conference Championships in 1947 and 1948. Mohler graduated and eventually became the lacrosse program’s head coach, before his untimely death at the age of 29 in 1956. Mohler’s legacy has been carried on at Loyola through the naming of the John Mohler Award, which is presented annually to the top senior male student-athlete. Mohler is also a member of the Maryland Lacrosse Club and Mount Saint Joseph High School Athletic Halls of Fame.
A standout for the men’s basketball team from 1985 to 1989, Michael Morrison is the school’s lone player of the Division I era to be selected in the NBA (Phoenix Suns, 1989, 51st overall). The program’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,697 points, Morrison was a two-time first team All-Northeast Conference selection who was named to the NEC’s 25th Anniversary All-Time Team in January 2006. The Takoma Park, Md., native went on to enjoy a 13-year professional playing career in the NBA and overseas. He returned to Loyola after retiring from the game to complete his degree in 2007.
Bill Sento holds the distinction of Loyola men’s soccer’s all-time winningest coach with an overall record of 255-112-40 as the program’s head coach from 1980-1999. and an overall record. Prior to entry into the MAAC, Sento led his teams to four ECAC Metro Champions and two-time NCAA South Atlantic Regional Champions. His teams earned eight MAAC regular-season championships, eight conference tournament championships, and they earned three NCAA tournament appearances. Two of Sento’s NCAA teams advanced to final eight; he was also named MAAC Coach of the Year in 1999.
Dania Thompson was a standout student-athlete during the formative years of women’s athletics at Loyola. An All-State selection in women’s basketball, she was the program’s leading scorer at the time of her graduation and helped he team to three winning seasons; she also excelled in lacrosse and tennis. In 1975, she helped her team to a first place finish in the Maryland Collegiate Women's Lacrosse Tournament. Thompson graduated from Loyola with honors with a degree in Biology with Cum Laude honors.
Nancy Turnblacer was a three-time captain of the women’s tennis program. Playing No. 1 singles all four years, she led the Greyhounds to four consecutive MAAC Championships and NCAA appearances, as well as an 80-14 overall record. She set records for most singles wins in a career at No. 1 (58) and most victories at No. 1 in a season (21). Turnblacer was also a tremendous student, earning Academic All-America Second Team honors and three MAAC All-Academic selections, as well as the Loyola Medal of Merit award.
The induction ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. in Loyola’s McGuire Hall. Additionally, the inductees will be recognized the following at the Loyola-Johns Hopkins men’s lacrosse game at the Ridley Athletic Complex.