The Saint Xavier University Athletics Department inducted five new members into the Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
Head baseball coach Mike Dooley, whose 33-year coaching career (21 as head coach) will come to a close after this season, became only the fourth head coach in school history to be inducted to the Hall.
One of Dooley’s former players, Luke Gregerson (class of 2006 and now an Oakland A), joined him as a 2014 inductee and also had his jersey number retired.
Former women’s soccer player Lissa Coby (classes of 2008 and ’13), former women’s volleyball player Traci (Looby) Collins (class of 2008) and former football player Chris Rodgers (class of 2008) rounded out the 2014 Hall of Fame class.
When Dooley retires at the end of the season, assistant coach Rocco Mossuto will take over the baseball program.
Dooley named Mossuto as one of the former players who he has hired to coach with him and intimated how important that relationship is.
“[Having former players] that are coaches is a special thrill for a coach. It also says something about what I think of them, because we don’t let everybody coach at this school,” said Dooley.
Dooley thanked three groups of people in his speech but deliberately thanked his former players last.
“You guys that came back tonight, and all the emails and phone calls I have, you’ll never realize how much you have touched me,” said Dooley.
“[Athletic director and women’s basketball] Coach [Bob] Hallberg and I have a saying which we both truly believe. ‘Great players make great coaches,’ and I’ll go to my grave believing that,” Dooley added.
Gregerson was especially happy to be inducted on the same night as his former coach.
“It’s awesome. Me and Coach [Dooley] have become pretty good friends over the years now,” said Gregerson, though he mentioned it was not always that way.
“I remember freshman year—all the times I got yelled at every single day by him and I thought, ‘This guy hates me.’ Throughout my time at Saint Xavier, it turned out I just love the guy as a coach and a person,” Gregerson said.
Coby said her most enduring memory from playing soccer at Saint Xavier was playing in the national tournament.
“Being with the women’s soccer team and being a part of a team that not only made it to Nationals, but achieved the highest ranking SXU ever achieved for women’s soccer [is my fondest memory],” said Coby.
Collins was thankful to the university for providing her the opportunity to play volleyball and make lasting personal connections.
“[At Saint Xavier] I lived out my dream of playing the sport I love day-in and day-out and fell head-over-heels in love with my husband,” said Collins.
Despite being the all-time leader in assists in Saint Xavier women’s volleyball history, Collins emphasized the importance of the team.
“Individual accomplishments are nice, but they don’t mean as much to me as team success. Volleyball is a true team sport,” said Collins.
Rodgers was especially happy to be inducted to the Hall of Fame with such company.
“It’s an honor to be among all these friends and family, and to be among such elite talent in the Hall of Fame here is a great honor,” said Rodgers. “It’s something that I’ve wanted to be in ever since I came and saw the board with all the other inductees.”
Rodgers, who coached football at Saint Xavier for a year, said that experience provided him a new perspective on what coaches do to mentor their athletes.
“When you’re out on the field playing, you think that [the coaches] are just watching film, but they’re also checking your grades and making sure you’re in the right classes,” said Rodgers. “They do a lot just to make us better people.”
It was a special evening for those who were inducted, their former coaches and their former teammates—one these new members of the Hall of Fame will never forget.
The Xavierite congratulates the 2014 inductees to the Saint Xavier University Hall of Fame and wishes them continued success.
Tim Carroll
Senior Sports Editor