Four different UNF athletes competed in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Region, which UNF hosted at Hodges Stadium. 

UNF senior middle distance runner Smilla Kolbe stole the show by punching a ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. After posting a time of 2:02.29 in round one on Thursday, which was good for fifth place, Kolbe shortened her time by over two seconds to clinch her second consecutive championship appearance. 

“This year was honestly the first time I’ve even raced on this track,” Kolbe said in a video to UNF Athletics. “I’ve had only amazing races here, especially today to qualify on the home track qualifying for Oregon is amazing with the home crowd, the teammates.”

With a time of 2:00.09, Kolbe secured her fourth fastest 800-meter time and the second fastest of her career. 

“I feel like this year I’m in a different position than last year,” Kolbe said. “So, of course, I have way bigger goals this year.”

Just after winning ASUN Most Outstanding Women’s Track Performer of the Year, Kolbe lived up to the award by becoming the third Osprey to advance to consecutive championships. Joining the likes of Briana Frazier (2011, 2012), the other Osprey to win Track Performer of the Year, and Eden Meyer (2017, 2018), Kolbe will compete at Hayward Field from June 11-14.

Other Ospreys Who Competed In Regionals

Right after Kolbe’s heat, junior Ella Chandler participated in the 800-meter, placing sixth in her group. 

Fifth-year senior Aidan O’Gorman and graduate student Robert Pedroza ran preliminary races late last week, with O’Gorman finishing 24th in the men’s 10,000-meter race, while Pedroza was seventh in his 800-meter heat. 

Both athletes competed late into the night following a five-hour weather delay. According to UNF Athletics, Pedroza began his event just before midnight, while O’Gorman began his race just before one in the morning. 

While this is the end of Pedroza and O’Gorman’s careers, they depart UNF as record holders for their respective races.

___

For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact editor@unfspinnaker.com.

The Mira Costa boys volleyball team added another piece of history to their program.

The Mustangs, who had already won the CIF-SS and SoCal Regional Division I titles, ended their championship season, sweeping Archbishop Mitty 25-14, 25-16, 25-21 Saturday at Fresno City College in the inaugural state championship.

“It means a lot, for me personally and the program,” Mira Costa coach Greg Snyder said of winning the state final. “Mike Cook was coach (at Mira Costa) when I played and to do this with him (on the coaching) and this team, means a lot.

“We fell short last year and they were hungry this year.”

The Mustangs finished the season 37-2. After losing a five-set match against Marist (April 5), the Mustangs won their final 10 matches, losing just two sets. Those two sets came in the CIF-SS final against Huntington Beach. The Mustangs won that match in five sets. The loss to Marist was the only one for the Mustangs in the best three-of-five format. The other loss came against Loyola in the best-two-of-three tournament format.

“They were confident the whole season,” Snyder said.

The final stop on the long season started Saturday morning, leaving Manhattan Beach early in the morning for the trip to Fresno. After a long lunch, the Mustangs started to focus on in their final goal.

Their dominance continued, with their depth, again leading the way. Alex Heins, who Snyder said had “an incredible playoff run” led the way with 10 kills on 12 attempts. Thatcher Fahlbusch had nine. Mateo Fuerbringer and Grayson Bradford finished with eight kill each. Bradford also had six blocks.

“After losing to Marist and after the loss of their friend (Loyola tennis player Braun Levi), this group really turned a corner and focused on their goals,” Snyder said. “They played great volleyball and kicked it into another gear. They were too deep, too good, too skilled …it was a great run.”

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University track & field and cross country programs will host summer camps for each event group this June for boys and girls entering grades 8-12 in the fall.
 
The Rock will offer camps for the following groups of athletes:

All camps are open to boys and girls ages 12-18 or athletes that will be between grades 8-12 in the fall.
 

Each camp will offer overnight accommodations on campus and a commuter option that does not include overnight accommodations. Camps will include a full campus tour, lectures about proper nutrition and training for track & field athletes, workouts and practices, group games and all meals.
 

The camps will be led by a highly decorated staff that includes the Slippery Rock track & field coaching staff and other college and high school coaches from throughout the region, as well as multiple current and former track & field student-athletes from SRU.
 

Details regarding each camp and registration links for each camp can be found below. For more information, please contact SRU head track & field coach Bill Jordan at william.jordan@sru.edu.

About Rock Track & Field: The Slippery Rock track & field program is one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the Atlantic Region and routinely ranks among the top three in the region for both the men’s and women’s teams. SRU won the 2024 PSAC women’s cross country title and the 2024-25 PSAC women’s indoor track & field and outdoor track & field titles while the men’s team ranked in the top five in the region as well. Prospective student-athletes are encouraged to fill out a recruiting form HERE.

SRU CROSS COUNTRY / DISTANCE RUNNING CAMP

Registration and Full Camp Info: LINK

Dates: June 22-25

For: Boys and Girls Ages 12-18 (rising grades 8-12)

Description: The camp will serve as an early preseason conditioning camp for individuals or teams. Training in camp will be designed to lay the foundation for a successful summer training block. Athletes will learn mechanics and drills, race planning and implementation, strength and conditioning and mental toughness to navigate training and racing.

Cost: $425 (overnight) / $400 (commuter)

Contact: Bobby Over (robert.over@sru.edu)

Instructors: Bobby Over (SRU XC/Distance coach), current and former SRU distance runners

SRU POLE VAULTERS CAMP

Registration and Full Camp Info: LINK

Dates: June 27-29

For: Boys and Girls Ages 12-18 (rising grades 8-12)

Description: One of the top pole vault camps in the area that has developed hundreds of collegiate pole vaulters and some of the top vaulters in the state over the last 30+ seasons. Campers will learn vaulting and training techniques from some of the best pole vault coaches in the region with Brady Rhoades and his staff from The Vault Shack leading the group along with Tim Tray of Vault Athletics.

Cost: $400 (overnight) / $375 (commuter)

Contact: Bill Jordan (william.jordan@sru.edu)

Instructors: Brady Rhoades (Westminster pole vault coach and owner of The Vault Shack), Tim Tray (owner of Vault Athletics), staff members from The Vault Shack, current and former SRU pole vaulters

SRU THROWERS WEEKEND CAMP

Registration and Full Camp Info: LINK

Dates: June 27-29

For: Boys and Girls Ages 12-18 (rising grades 8-12)

Description: High quality, in-depth coverage of the discus, shot put and javelin, as well as a brief introduction to the hammer. Campers will learn warm-up drills, throwing drills and technique progressions in all three events. Sessions will include weightlifting, plyometrics, medicine ball workouts and other drills directly related to throwing.

Cost: $400 (overnight) / $375 (commuter)

Contact: Bill Jordan (william.jordan@sru.edu)

Instructors: Michael Petro (Hood College head coach), Tony Carr (SRU alum), Jim Geist (SRU throws coach), Judy Geist (SRU throws coach), current and former SRU throwers

SRU JUMPERS WEEKEND CAMP

Registration and Full Camp Info: LINK

Dates: June 27-29

For: Boys and Girls Ages 12-18 (rising grades 8-12)

Description: High quality, in-depth coverage of the high jump, long jump and triple jump. Campers can choose a jump to specialize in or can gain a wide breadth of knowledge for all jumps. The camp will include seven instructional sessions and one video lecture session on jumping technique and other topics directly relate to jumping. Camp will include weightlifting, plyometrics and speed and power development.

Cost: $400 (overnight) / $375 (commuter)

Contact: Tabitha Bemis (tabitha.bemis@sru.edu)

Instructors: Tabitha Bemis (SRU assistant coach), Al Dines (40+ years experience as coach and official), Dan Rockage (former SRU coach/Hickory High School), current and former SRU jumpers)

 

SRU SPRINTERS & HURDLERS WEEKEND CAMP

Registration and Full Camp Info: LINK

Dates: June 27-29

For: Boys and Girls Ages 12-18 (rising grades 8-12)

Description: Three-day camp that covers advances sprinting and hurdling techniques. Athletes will work on warm-up drills, hurdle drills, starts, techniques for high and intermediate hurdles and will go through sessions on weightlifting, plyometrics, aquatic workouts and other topics directly related to sprinting and hurdling.

Cost: $400 (overnight) / $375 (commuter)

Contact: Bill Jordan (william.jordan@sru.edu)

Instructors: Nathan Shadeck (SRU sprints and hurdles coach), Tom Wise (SRU Hall of Famer), Vanere Maynard (SRU assistant sprints coach)

To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).

 

SPRINGFIELD, OH – The Volleyball Cats returned to the Final Four this past weekend at Wittenburg University. The Cats came up short in their run last year, losing to the St. Xavier Bombers in the State Title game in a heartbreaking sweep. 

The Cats would get their shot at revenge, this time coming in the State Semifinal. The Bombers entered the game ranked in the top ten nationally and number one in Ohio. St. Xavier presented a vastly different team this year; however, it lost brothers Andrew and Aiden Berkenmeier and star Brady Jones. The three combined for 29 kills in the state title match the previous year. The Bombers did return star outside hitter Joe Taggert, an Ohio State commit, who racked up 10 kills in the Bombers’ 2024 championship. 

The semi-final match began in a back-and-forth first set, which saw 19 tie points and seven lead changes. The Wildcats found themselves with a set point, with the score at 24-23, but drew back to even, making it 24-24. The Cats won the next point and had another chance to win the set but were denied by the Bombers’ reliable Taggert as he notched a clutch kill to even up at 25 a piece. The Bombers would collect the following two points and win the first set 27-25 to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Both teams accumulated many kills in the set, with St. Xavier picking up 18 and the Wildcats collecting 16. 

With a one-set deficit heading into the second, the Cats looked to even up the sets. It was a much more sound effort from the Cats in the set as they played with a lead for the majority of the set. The Cats’ most significant margin in the set got as high as five points to their 25-21 victory. Junior Outside Hitter Jack Ragon paved the way to victory, collecting nine kills in the four-point win to tie the match up at one. 

Set three was another close one that saw the Cats edge out a two-point win despite an early seven-point Wildcat lead. Trailing 13-6, Bombers head coach Bill Ferris called a timeout, which his team would utilize and go on a 7-to-1 run to get the set back to within one point, forcing the Cats to take a timeout of their own. From that point on, the set was back and forth until the Wildcats took a 25-23 victory, propelling themselves to a 2-1 lead in the semi-final match. 

With their season on the line, the Bombers had a strong fourth set. After a close start, St. Xavier pulled ahead at the midway point with a nine-point cushion, with the score 18-9. Head Volleyball Coach Dominick Adornato ’11 called a timeout in hopes of sparking his team, but the Bombers held on to win the set dominantly by a score of 25-16, forcing a fifth set. 

Fifteen points now separated the Cats from advancing to the state title match. The set started with each team exchanging kills before the Cats began to find their stride at the midway point. The Wildcats found themselves with an 11-7 lead late in the first-to-fifteen match-deciding set. St. Xavier called a timeout, hoping to spark a late comeback, but it failed. The Cats finished the match with a 4-1 run, defusing the Bombers and advancing to the State Final match. The Bombers’ Taggert picked up 28 kills in the loss. Cats’ Junior setter Andrew Brobbey collected 58 assists in the victory. Jack Ragon also had a standout game, slamming down 25 kills in the five-set win, while Henry Van Ginkel led the way with five blocks.

The win would be coach Adornato’s 100th-career win as head coach.

VB: The match point of the State Semifinal called by the SIBN! The Cats will face Thomas Worthington tomorrow at noon in the State Championship! #GoCats pic.twitter.com/QhB45RqSvJ

— SIHS Sports (@SIHSSports) May 30, 2025

Awaiting the Wildcats in the finals were the Thomas Worthington Cardinals (22-5), a team that swept the Wildcats earlier in the season on April 5. The Cardinals defeated New Albany in three sets the day before punching their ticket to the championship match. The Cardinals rostered multiple college commits, including star middle Finn Ruben, a Loyola commit, and JT McGuire, a North Greenville commit. 

The first set of the OHSAA State Title match was a strong showing from the Wildcats that saw the blue and gold take a 25-17 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the game. Ragon led the way, picking up seven kills in the opening set with help from Will Overburger, who had three kills, and Ethan Rosetti, who had two kills. Errors plagued Thomas Worthington as they committed 10 of them in the set, while the Wildcats only had three. 

With a 1-0 lead in the match, the Wildcats looked ahead to the second set. In a much more rocky effort, the Cats pulled out a 25-23 win despite trailing by seven points at one point. The Cats made 12 errors in the set; however, a six-block effort, matched with 13 kills, helped boost the Cats to achieve a two-point win. Overburger led the way for the Cats in the set with five kills, two blocks, and no errors. Gavin Schafer put up four blocks paired with three kills as well. The Cats now had a 2-0 advantage, looking to pull out the brooms and sweep the Cardinals. 

The Cardinals had something different planned, though. In the third, make-or-break set, the Cardinals seemed to find new life with their season on the line. Thomas Worthington went on a 9-2 run to start the set and ran away with the set from that point forward. Presented with a 19-9 deficit, the Cats took a timeout in hopes of sparking a late set comeback, but the Cardinals suppressed it as they went on to win the set by a score of 25-17. To force a fourth set, the Cardinals racked up 13 kills, four blocks, and three aces in the set, paired with only four errors. 

While the fourth set was closer in the end, it was still a weak showing by the Wildcats. The Cardinals started the set with a 9-3 run, forcing an early Ignatius timeout. Seemingly, every time the Cats thought they might be amid a comeback, Thomas Worthington put their foot down and picked up clutch points. The Wildcats took another timeout down 17-9, hoping for a late comeback. The Cats went on an 11-8 run to end the set, but it wasn’t enough, as the Cardinals won 25-20. The Cats made an uncharacteristic 13 errors in the losing effort, forcing the match to a fifth set. 

With the threat of a reverse sweep on the line and a tenth set in just two days, the Cats seemed to be doomed as Thomas Worthington started the State Champion deciding set with a 7-0 run. With fifth sets being first to fifteen points, the Cats would pull off the impossible after a timeout. 

Following an attacking error by Thomas Worthington, Ragon slotted back to the service line, working on a six-point deficit. Ragon then went on a seven-point spree, collecting four service aces to give the Cats a lead.

After JT McGuire picked up a kill for the Cardinals, the match was tied at 8-8. The Cats then collected the following two points with a Rosetti kill and a Cardinal error. Worthington fought back, though, with McGuire’s kill and an Oliver Marker ace. The Cardinals went on a 3-1 run, putting themselves two points away from winning the match. 

The Wildcats took a timeout, however, and got themselves back on track. The Cats stormed out of the timeout and went on a 3-1 run, setting themselves up with a 14-13 lead, match point. The Cardinals won the next point, though, evening the match-up and forcing extras. On the next point, Ragon picked up one of the most significant kills of his career, giving the Cats another shot at match point. Jim Skerl ’74 award winner Will Overburger hopped back to serve for the Cats with a chance to give the Cats glory. 

VB: The match point called on the SIBN as the Cats secure their second program title, first OHSAA title! It was the first Volleyball State Championship call on the SIBN! #GoCats pic.twitter.com/Q4CKobCs03

— SIHS Sports (@SIHSSports) May 31, 2025

The Cardinals struggled on serve and never got to set up an attack, electing to free the ball over the net. As Overburger tracked the ball, he realized it was fading out of bounds and let it go. The ball landed out, and the Cats crowned themselves OHSAA Division 1 Champions, returning from down seven in the final set. The Championship was the Wildcats’ second in program history, first since the OHSAA officially sanctioned the sport in 2023. 

VB: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BECOMING AN OHSAA SPORT, THE WILDCATS ARE YOUR 2025 STATE CHAMPIONS! #GoCats pic.twitter.com/2XCRDIrBya

— SIHS Sports (@SIHSSports) May 31, 2025

Freshman (2024) – USF
* 2024 AAC Regular Season Champion
– Played in 24 of USF’s 29 matches on the year, checking in for a total of 54 sets.
– Finished her freshman campaign having recorded 32 digs, 11 aces and one assist.
– Was one of seven players to record double-digit aces on the season for the Bulls.
– Made her collegiate debut on August 31 against No. 25 ranked Georgia at the FSU Invitational.
– Recorded her first career ace the following match on September 1 against UC Santa Barbara.
– Logged a career-high six digs in USF’s October 13 contest against Tulsa.
– Finished with 2+ services aces in a single match on two separate occasions.
– First came on October 27, when she notched a pair of aces against UTSA.
– She followed this up the very-next match with a career-best three aces versus FAU on October 30.
– Helped contribute to USF finishing their season 19-10 overall (14-2 AAC) and capturing the 2024 AAC regular season title.

Murrieta Valley High School (CA) 

* 2023 First Team All-League

* 2022 Varsity Defensive Player of the Year

* 2021 Varsity Defensive Player of the Year

* 2023 Southwest Freeway All-Tournament Team

* 2023 Varsity Nighthawk award-winner

* Unified Special Olympics Letter

* Unified Special Olympics First Team All-League

* Unified Special Olympics Second Team All-League

– Graduated from Murrieta Valley High School in 2024.

– Helped lead the Nighthawks to a 62-29 (.681) record across her three seasons of varsity volleyball.

– First Team All-League honoree during her senior season.

– Multi-time Varsity Defensive Player of the Year for her team.

– Named to the Southwest Freeway All-Tournament as a senior.

– Also brought in multiple student and student-athlete of the month honors while attending MVHS.

Personal

– Goes by “Jazi”.

– Born July 1, 2006.

– Daughter of John and Niki Vandenburgh.

– Has one brother: Talo.

– John (father) plated college baseball at BYU (1990-92).

– Intends on majoring in special education at UTC.

TAMPA, Fla. (June 2, 2025) – Amir Abdur-Rahim, Scott Hemond, Kitija Laksa, Jim Leavitt, and Kawika Mitchell have been selected for induction into the University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as the Class of 2025. The five-member class includes two head coaches and three standout student-athletes and marks the 11^th Hall of Fame class in program history, bringing the total to 43 individual inductees and one team.
 
This year’s class features head coaches Abdur-Rahim, who led the USF men’s basketball program in 2023–24, and Leavitt, the first head coach in USF football history (1997–2009). They become the sixth and seventh head coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame, representing six sports. Hemond (baseball, 1984–86), Laksa (women’s basketball, 2015–19), and Mitchell (football, 1999–2002) increase the number of student-athletes honored individually to 33.
 
The 2025 class will be inducted Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Marshall Student Center on the USF campus, the night before the Bulls football team takes on Charlotte in a Friday night prime-time clash. Additional details regarding the 2025 USF Athletic Hall of Fame induction will be distributed at a later date.

“The class of 2025 is a powerful reflection of the excellence, tradition, and growth that define USF Athletics,” said Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly. “This group represents some of the most impactful figures in our history — individuals who elevated their programs, inspired our community, and helped propel USF Athletics to new heights. We’re thrilled to welcome them into the Hall of Fame and to celebrate their legacy with Bulls Nation.”

 

Abdur-Rahim, who greatly impacted the entire university and Tampa Bay area before passing away Oct. 24, 2024, led the Bulls to a program-record 25 wins, their first-ever top 25 ranking, and the program’s first regular-season conference championship, with sellout crowds filling the Yuengling Center. He was a special induction into the five-member 2025 Hall of Fame class, voted in by the committee less than a year after his passing. He is the second men’s basketball coach to be inducted, joining Bobby Paschal.

 

USF football’s first head coach, Leavitt led the Bulls from the program’s infancy to a No. 2 national ranking in 2007, becoming the fastest program in FBS football history to go from inception to a top 10 national ranking. He remains the winningest coach in program history, posting a 95-57 record (.625) over 13 seasons (1997-2009) while leading the Bulls to five straight bowl games, eight wins over nationally ranked FBS opponents (including three in the top 10), and 26 weeks ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll. 

 

Joining Leavitt in representing USF football in the Class of 2025 is linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who starred for Leavitt-led teams as the Bulls transitioned from FCS to FBS football and set the Bulls’ career tackles record, which stood for 15 seasons. He went on to an eight-year NFL career that included being a key contributor to the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XLII-winning team. Mitchell is the sixth football player inducted into the Hall of Fame and the third defensive player.

 

Hemond was an elite defensive catcher with power and speed who earned All-America honors before becoming the highest Major League Baseball Draft selection in program history. He went 12th overall in 1986 and played a seven-year MLB career. He is the fourth baseball player selected for the Hall of Fame.

 

Laksa was an electrifying scorer and the 2018 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year who twice earned All-America recognitions and was on pace to set the program’s all-time scoring record (she finished sixth) before a knee injury cost most of her senior year. The Bulls earned three NCAA Tournament bids and an NIT appearance during her career before she was selected 11^th overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft. Laksa is the fifth women’s basketball player selected for the Hall of Fame.

 

The USF Athletic Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 2009, swells to 43 individuals and one team representing 17 sports and three athletic directors among its honored members of outstanding contributors to Bulls athletics. The 2025 class will be the sixth to be inducted since 2013.

 

USF Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and their biographies may be found on the USF Athletics website.

 

 

Class of 2025

 

Amir Abdur-Rahim – Men’s Basketball Coach (2023-24)*

A beloved coach who orchestrated one of the most memorable seasons of any USF team while guiding the 2023-24 men’s basketball team to the American Athletic Conference regular-season title and a Top 25 ranking in his first (and only) year.

 

Abdur-Rahim passed away tragically on Oct. 24, 2024, during a medical procedure, a tremendous loss that greatly impacted the entire University, Tampa Bay area and the athletics community nationally. All Bulls athletic teams wore an “AAR” patch on their uniforms in a season-long tribute to the impact he had on so many not just as a winning coach but an outstanding person and connector of the community whose “Love Wins” motto was carried on and recognized far and wide.

 

Abdur-Rahim was named the 2024 AAC Coach of the Year and NABC District 24 Coach of the Year after leading the Bulls to a program-records of 25 victories overall, 16 conference wins, and a 15-game winning streak, surpassed only four times in the state of Florida Division I men’s basketball history. USF claimed the first regular-season conference title and first Top 25 national ranking (reaching No. 24 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls) in the 53-year history of the program. The excitement around the program generated three consecutive sellout crowds in a rocking Yuengling Center to close the regular season home schedule.
 
Following his passing, the Amir Abdur-Rahim Student Section was named for him at the Yuengling Center and the AAC named him the Honorary 2025 AAC Coach of the Year while establishing and Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award in his honor.
 
Prior to arriving at USF, Abdur-Rahim was named the 2023 Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year, NABC District 3 Coach of the Year and Hugh Durham Award winner (Division I Mid-Major Coach of the Year) while leading Kennesaw State to a 26-9 record, A-Sun Tournament title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament.
 
Scott Hemond – Baseball (1984-86)
An elite defensive catcher with power and speed, Hemond earned All-America honors and is the highest Major League Baseball Draft selection in program history, being selected 12^th overall in the 1986 Draft by the Oakland Athletics.
 
A Baseball America Freshman All-American in 1984 and Third Team All-America selection in 1986, Hemond is one of two USF baseball players (USF Hall of Famer Ross Gload) to earn first-team all-conference honors three times, doing so in the Sun Belt Conference in 1984, 1985 and 1986. His No. 11 jersey was retired by USF and is displayed on the Bulls’ stadium outfield wall.
 

He was named the 1986 USF Male Athlete of the Year after he hit .335 with nine home runs and 55 RBI while posting a .984 fielding percentage with 54 assists at catcher, which made him a Golden Spikes Award finalist (college baseball’s “Heisman Trophy”). He had a 15-game stretch in which he picked off five runners at third base, two more at first, and threw out 11 opponents trying to steal. He finished his career with 29 home runs (seventh all-time) and 169 RBI (seventh all-time) after posting 14 home runs and 68 RBI in 1985 and six home runs, 46 RBI, and a .326 average as a freshman in 1984.
 
Hemond, who played with USA Baseball in 1985, helped lead the Bulls to a 131-67 record (33-19 in Sun Belt play) over his career while USF won conference regular season and tournament titles in 1986 and earned an NCAA Atlantic Regional berth. The 1986 Bulls posted a program-best record of 52-16 and earned their highest national ranking at the time.
 
He had a seven-year MLB career, playing with the A’s, White Sox, and Cardinals at every position but pitcher and shortstop and logging 12 home runs and 58 RBI in 298 games. He was named to the Cape Cod League Hall of Fame in 2007 after winning the Cape MVP and battling title (.358) in 1986, joining catchers Thurman Munson and Jason Varitek in accomplishing the feat.
 
Kitija Laksa – Women’s Basketball (2015-19)
An electrifying scorer and notable scholar-athlete who helped lead the women’s basketball program to three NCAA Tournament appearances, Laksa twice earned All-America recognition and was on pace to become the program’s all-time leading scorer before a knee injury cost most of her senior season.
 

 
She finished with 1,764 points to rank sixth all-time and a 17.8 points per game scoring average that ranks third all-time. She shot 39.1 percent from three (second all-time) and a record 89.6 percent from the free throw line, including leading the NCAA in free throw percentage with a 96.5 percent mark in 2017-18 when she missed just four times in 115 attempts. Laksa led USF in scoring in two seasons, posting 21.1 points per game in 2017-18 and 19.2 ppg in 2016-17, and set USF scoring marks for a junior (717 points) and sophomore (634 points) which rank as the second and fifth-highest season totals overall.
 
Twice earning WBCA All-America Honorable Mention (2017 and 2018) and selected for All-American Athletic Conference honors three times (first team in 2017 and 2018; second team in 2016), Laksa was also named to the 2016 AAC All-Freshman Team and earned recognition as the 2018 AAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In 2018, she also earned national recognition among the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Final 5.
 
The second-fastest player to reach 1,000 career points (63 games) in program history, she posted a program record 13 games with 30 or more points and is the only Bull to log two 40-point games, posting 41 vs. Ohio State (2018) and 40 vs. Southern (2017). She also set the USF freshman scoring record, and then AAC freshman record, with 38 points vs. SMU in 2016. She did this while helping USF go 93-43 (45-21 in AAC play) over her career and earn three NCAA Tournament bids and one NIT appearance as the Bulls won 20 or more games three times and reached the NCAA second round in 2015-16.
 
A Latvian National Team player who averaged 19.3 ppg in a six-game FIBA EuroBasket qualifier in 2025, she was selected 11^th overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm. She has played professionally in Latvia, Italy and Turkey, including being a member of the 2024 EuroLeague champion Fenerbahce.
 
Jim Leavitt – Football (1997-2009)
The first football coach in USF history, Leavitt was hired in 1996 to lead the USF program into existence from mobile trailers parked on the east end of campus. He guided USF football from a practice-only season in 1996 to its debut in 1997 and three FCS seasons before a fast transition to FBS football in year four. Over 13 seasons, he compiled a program-best 95-57 record (.625) while leading the Bulls to a No. 2 national ranking in 2007 and five straight bowl games (winning three).
 

Leavitt led USF to an invitation to join Conference USA starting in the 2003 season and two years later an invitation to compete in the Big East starting in 2005. The Bulls posted a 9-2 mark in 2002 as an FBS independent and compiled a pair of nine-win seasons in 2006 (9-4) and 2007 (9-4) as members of the Big East.
 
Leavitt’s teams defeated three top 10 ranked opponents (No. 5 West Virginia, No. 7 West Virginia and No. 9 Louisville) and eight FBS ranked foes overall, including victories over No. 11 Kansas, at No. 13 Auburn, at No. 18 Florida State, No. 20 West Virginia and No. 25 Bowling Green. The Bulls became the fastest program to go from inception to a top five national ranking as USF claimed the No. 2 spot in the Associated Press poll during Week 7 of the 2007 season following upset wins at No. 13 Auburn and vs. No. 5 West Virginia in Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls spent three weeks in the top 10 and 26 weeks overall ranked in the AP poll under Leavitt.
 
Leavitt coached 11 All-Americans (four First Team) and 38 all-conference players as the Bulls posted 10 winning seasons and reached a bowl game every year from 2005 to 2009, including the program’s first-ever bowl appearance (2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl), first bowl win (2006 Papajohns.com Bowl) and victories in the 2008 MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl and 2009 International Bowl.
 
Following his time at USF, Leavitt served as linebackers coach for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers (2011-14), helping them to an NFC Championship and Super Bowl XLVII. He also served as defensive coordinator at Colorado (2015-16), Oregon (2017-18), FAU (2020) and SMU (2021).
 
Kawika Mitchell – Football (1999-2002)
A linebacker who was one of the first standout stars in program history, Mitchell helped set the foundation for hard-nosed USF defenses. He set the program career tackles mark that stood for 15 years and helped the Bulls successfully leap from FCS to FBS football before becoming an NFL Super Bowl Champion.
 

Selected First-team All-FBS Independent in 2002, Mitchell starred for Bulls teams that were not members of a conference and thus did not receive conference accolades or significant bowl consideration. He finished his career with 367 tackles, which stood as the program record for 15 seasons and now is second all-time. Mitchell posted a then-record 117 tackles as a senior in 2002 (now tied for third in a season) and 106 in 2001 (eighth). His 19 tackles for loss in 2002 are tied for second-most all-time in a season, including posting five at No. 2-ranked Oklahoma (where he had 13 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble). His 37 career tackles for loss rank eighth all-time.
 
Twice a candidate for the Butkus Award (presented to the nation’s top linebacker), Mitchell’s teams went 31-13 over his career. He was the defensive leader for a 2002 team that went 9-2 in the Bulls’ third FBS season, posting a win over No. 25 Bowling Green and suffering their only losses at No. 2 Oklahoma (the eventual Rose Bowl champion) and at Arkansas (which went on to play in the SEC Championship).
 
Mitchell was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 47^th overall pick (second round) in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons and 97 games (86 starts) in the NFL, posting 487 tackles, 12.0 sacks, and six interceptions. He was a strong member of the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XLII-winning team, posting a sack in the game. 
 
USF Athletics Hall of Fame
Individual Inductees: 43
Teams: 1
 
BY SPORT
Administration (3): Dick Bowers (AD), Lee Roy Selmon (AD), Paul Griffin (AD)
Coaches (7): Sherry Bedingfield (WTen, also as an SA), Dan Holcomb (MSoc), Robert Grindey (MSwimming), Bobby Paschal (MBB), Eddie Cardieri (BSB), Amir Abdur-Rahim (MBB), Jim Leavitt (FB)
Teams: 1984-85 Women’s Swimming Team
Football (6): Anthony Henry, Marquel Blackwell, George Selvie, Quinton Flowers, Matt Grothe, Kawika Mitchell
Women’s Basketball (5): Wanda Guyton, Jessica Dickson, Shantia Grace, Courtney Williams, Kitija Laksa
Baseball (3): Ross Gload, Chris Heintz, Scott Hemond
Men’s Basketball (3): Charlie Bradley, Rodenko Dobras, Chucky Atkins
Men’s Soccer (3): Fergus Hopper, Jeff Attinella, Jeff Cunningham
Softball (2): Monica Triner, Sara Nevins
Women’s Track & Field (2): Karine Black, Dayana Octavien
Volleyball (2): Michelle Collier, Erica Berggren
Men’s Track and Field (1): Matthew O’Neal
Men’s Tennis (1): Jeff Davis
Women’s Tennis (1): Sherry Bedingfield
Women’s Soccer (1): Evelyn Viens
Men’s Golf (1): Chase Koepka
Women’s Golf (1): Kelly Lagedrost
Rifle (1): Michelle Scarborough
Men’s Swimming (1): Joe Lewkowicz