LA JOLLA, Calif. – The University of California San Diego Department of Intercollegiate Athletics proudly inducted five new members into its Hall of Fame Saturday morning during a ceremony at The Great Hall on campus as part of Homecoming Weekend. The Class of 2025 includes Tom Black (men's volleyball), Alex Henley (women's swim), former women's tennis head coach Liz LaPlante, Bruce Nakamura (men's golf), and Renee Sprowl Kalt (women's track & field).
The group brings the total number of UC San Diego Athletics Hall of Famer members to 47. Black is the second inductee from men's volleyball, Henley is the fourth from women's swim and dive, Nakamura becomes the second men's golfer selected, and Sprowl Kalt is the third inductee from women's track and field. LaPlante became the fifth coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"The beauty of our Hall of Fame is that it tells the complete story of what it means to be a Triton scholar-athlete. Yes, these are individuals who achieved remarkable success on the field of competition – conference championships, national championships, record-breaking performances that still echo through our program history. But what makes them truly worthy of this honor is that they were champions in every arena," said UC San Diego Director of Athletics Andy Fee. "They excelled in the classroom, understanding that the scholar in scholar-athlete comes first. They balanced the demanding rigor of a UC San Diego education with the commitment required to compete at the highest levels. They proved that you don't have to choose between academic excellence and athletic achievement – at UC San Diego, we demand both."
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.
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.
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 in NCAA Division I. The 24-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 84 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 NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
