Four Spartans Among 19 to be Inducted to SSC Hall of Fame
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference has announced its 2007-08 Hall of Fame Class, which will be take place on Saturday, June 14, at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. Former UT greats Shannon Abarbanel, Crystal Ashley, Keith Fulk and Bryan Williams are among the 19 inductees.
This year's inductees comprise the 17th class to be elected into the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame. A total of 128 student-athletes, coaches, and administrators have been inducted into the distinguished group since the inaugural class of 1991-92.
Every member institution with eligible student-athletes, coaches, and administrators is represented in the 2007-08 class. Lynn and Tampa lead the way with four inductees. Florida Southern will place three new representatives into the Hall. Barry, Florida Tech, and Rollins have two inductees each, while Eckerd and Saint Leo have one.
The Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame was founded in 1991 to honor those persons who have made outstanding contributions to the conference. Its purpose is to perpetuate the memory of those who brought distinction, honor, and excellence to the SSC. Tampa is currently represented by 25 individuals in the SSC Hall of Fame.
Abarbanel, who played softball for the Spartans from 1992-93, was a two-time first-team all-SSC selection and the 1993 SSC Player of the Year. She remains the lone UT player to earn the top softball honor. In the UT career records, she currently ranks second in batting average (.346), first in slugging percentage (.575), first in on-base percentage (.418), eighth in doubles (21) and first in sacrifice flies (7).
Ashley, who played women's basketball at UT from 1992-95, concluded her career as a three-time all-SSC honoree. She was also a two-time WBCA All-American and the 1994 SSC Player of the Year. In tournament play, she was named the 1995 SSC Tournament co-MVP and an NCAA Regional all-tourney selection. With 1,610 career points and 1,025 rebounds, she is one of four Spartans to be in the 1,000 point and 1,000 rebound club. She currently ranks in Tampa top 10 in points (3rd), scoring average (5th, 14.4), field goals made (2nd, 663), field goal percentage (2nd, .560), free throws made (7th, 284), rebounds (3rd), rebound average (5th, 9.2), blocked shots (3rd, 230), steals (5th, 218), game played (5th, 112) and games started (5th, 98).
Fulk, who will be inducted as a men's soccer coach, led the Spartans from 1996-2001 and played for UT from 1980-84. He also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater from 1994-95. He led the Spartans to the 2001 national championship and is the lone person in UT history directly associated with all three soccer national titles. Fulk earned a championship as a player in 1991, as an assistant coach in 1994 and as the head coach in 2001. In Sunshine State Conference play, he led his Spartans to three SSC championships (1996, 1997, 2001) and was twice named the SSC Coach of the Year (1996, 2001). He was also the 2001 South Region and National Coach of the Year. His six year coaching record at Tampa stands at 81-24-7.
Williams, who played men's basketball at Tampa from 1987-91, was a first-team USA Today/Basketball Gazette All-American in 1990. He was also a second-team NABC All-American in 1990 and third team Basketball Times All-American in 1990 and 1991. A three-time all-SSC selection, Williams was also named to the all-South Region on three occasions. He brought UT national prominence when he set an NCAA record (all divisions) for making at least one 3-pointer in 74 consecutive games (record has since been surpassed). He holds school records for steals in a game (9), season (118) and career (333) and for 3-pointers made in a game (10) and season (113). Williams also led Tampa to two SSC championships and two conference runner-up finishes and three consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances with a second-place South Region finish in 1989. Among career leaders, he ranks third in UT history in scoring (2,195), third in scoring average (17.8), third in field goals made (782), first in three-pointers made (303), first in three-point percentage (.409), first in steals (333), first in steals average (2.7).