LA JOLLA, Calif. – The University of California San Diego Department of Intercollegiate Athletics proudly inducted five new members into its Hall of Fame Sunday during a ceremony at The Great Hall on campus.  The Class of 2023 includes Vance Albitz (baseball), Adam Burgasser (diving) former men's and women's water polo head coach Denny Harper, Amy Mettee Chanmugam (softball), and Scott Sargeant (track & field).

The group brings the total number of UC San Diego Athletics Hall of Famer members to 42. Albitz is the third inductee from baseball, Burgasser the fifth from men's swimming and diving, Mettee the second from softball, and Sargeant the third member of the men's track and field program. Harper became the fourth coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

"Our Hall of Fame exists to provide a place where we look for, and find, true inspiration," said UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards. "It is important that we recognize and celebrate the historic performances we had in Division III and in Division II, and -- in the future -- in Division I. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame falls in line with one of our core values, the pursuit of excellence."

The UC San Diego Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2013. Its intent and purpose are to recognize and honor scholar-athletes, teams, coaches, staff, and others who have made exceptional contributions to the tradition and heritage of UC San Diego Athletics.

Any scholar-athlete who has competed, met the eligibility of his/her time, and graduated from UC San Diego is eligible for consideration once 10 years have passed since the completion of his/her eligibility. Scholar-athletes must have competed for a minimum of two years at UC San Diego, unless there is unanimous agreement from the selection committee to waive this requirement.

No coach on the current UC San Diego staff is eligible for the Hall of Fame.

A Hall of Fame selection committee identifies candidates and selects inductees. No more than eight individuals will be accorded Hall of Fame status in each class. Hall of Fame inductions currently take place every-other-year.

UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2023

Vance Albitz
Baseball | 2007-2010
Torrance, Calif. (South Torrance HS)

• Former shortstop is No. 1 in UC San Diego record book in career runs, hits, and assists
• Ranks second all-time in career doubles, seventh in career triples, eighth in career RBI and ninth in career walks
• Holds four top-ten spots – including No. 1 in single season assists
• Holds three top-ten positions in both single season hits and single season runs
• Led team in runs, hits, and doubles in 2009, Led team in runs and triples in 2008
• 2010 ABCA All-America First Team
• 2009 ABCA All-America Second Team
• 2009 NCBWA All-America Honorable Mention
• Three-time ABCA All-Region First Team (2008, 2009, 2010)
• Three-time ABCA/NCAA Rawlings Gold Glove winner (2008, 2009, 2010)
• Two-time NCAA DII Defensive Player of the Year (2009, 2010)
• Two-time All-CCAA First Team (2009, 2010)
• Two-time All-CCAA Second Team (2007, 2008)
• Two-time UCSD Athlete of the Year (2009, 2010)
• Tritons made World Series appearances in 2009 (third place) and 2010 (runner-up)
• Team won CCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2010
• Signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 and Los Angeles Angels in 2014
• Started Gloves 4 Troops, which sends gloves to American soldiers around the world
• Currently a certified financial planner

• NCAA DIII National Champion in 3-meter dive (1996)
• NCAA DIII Diver of the Year (1996)
• Broke NCAA Division III 1-meter record (1995)
• Seven-time NCAA Division III All-American
• NCAA Silver Anniversary Award winner (2021), the first former UC San Diego scholar-athlete to win this award
• NCAA Top VIII Award (1997)
• UC San Diego Athlete of the Year (1996)
• UC San Diego Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete (1996)
• UC San Diego Distinguished Alumni Award (2011)
• Academic All-America First Team (1996)
• Academic All-America Second Team (1995)
• Academic All-America Third Team (1994)
• Three-time Academic All-District (1994, 1995, 1996)
• NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner (1996)
• Currently a professor in UC San Diego's Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics

• Five-time women's water polo national champion
• One-time national runner-up
• Two-time third place finisher
• Developed future Olympian Julie Swail and multiple national team players
• 17-time ACWPC National Coach of the Year
• 19-time Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Coach of the Year
• Won 697 games as men's head coach and 245 as women's
• Retired in Spring 2022 after more than 40 consecutive years of service to UC San Diego

• Infielder ranks second all-time at UC San Diego in career hits, doubles, triples, and runs scored
• Sits fourth in career batting average and steals, and sixth in career home runs
• Ninth in career walks and tenth in career assists
• Ranks second in single season hits, doubles, and assists, and third in triples
• Fifth in single season walks and eighth in single season home runs
• Led team in runs scored and steals all four seasons
• Led team in batting average and hits in 2001, 2002, and 2003
• Led team in home runs in 2002 and 2003
• Led team in doubles in 2002 and 2003
• Led team in triples in 2001, 2002, and 2004
• NFCA Division II All-America Third Team (2002)
• Four-time NFCA Division II All-West Region (First Team in 2002 and 2003, Second Team in 2001 and 2004)
• Four-time All-CCAA (First Team in 2002, 2003, and 2004, Second Team in 2001)
• Part of UC San Diego's first year in NCAA Division II and the CCAA when the team finished 34-17 overall (2001)
• Helped guide the Tritons to their first NCAA Division II Tournament with a record of 35-25 (2002)
• Currently a youth fitness coach and Zumba instructor with YMCA

• Thrower is a two-time NCAA Division III National Champion in hammer (1990, 1992)
• Five-time All-American (four times in hammer and once in discus in 1991)
• At NCAA Division III National Championships in hammer, placed first in 1990 and 1992, second in 1991, and fourth in 1989
• Held the NCAA Division III national record in hammer for over 12 years
• UC San Diego record holder in the hammer
• Graduated as the school record holder in discus, which was broken in 2021
• Qualified and competed at the Olympic Trials to represent Team USA (1992)
• Former inspirational speaker and mental performance coach

*Posthumous award

Nominations for potential inductees are accepted from the public.
CLICK HERE to nominate a UC San Diego Athletics Hall of Fame candidate electronically
CLICK HERE to download a printable UC San Diego Athletics Hall of Fame nomination form to fill out and mail in

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.