Members of the UF Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022: Christian Taylor, Steve Beeland, Conor Dwyer, Joe Haden, Chandler Parsons, Jeff Demps, Jeremy Foley and Michelle Moultrie, left to right. (Photo: UAA Communications)
A Great Group of Gators Celebrated as Hall of Famers
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — What started as a night out to dinner with friends Scott Stricklin and Chip Howard, ended with an incredible announcement for former UF athletic director Jeremy Foley.
Stricklin, who replaced Foley as UF's athletic director in November 2016, presented Foley with a video from former Gators men's basketball coach Billy Donovan.
Donovan had news to share.
"Foley," Donovan told him, "I want to be the first to tell you that you have been selected for the UF Athletic Hall of Fame Honorary Letterwinner."
"I was blown away," Foley said.
Foley began his career at UF in 1976 interning with the Gator Ticket Office and worked his way up to athletic director, where he served from 1992 until 2016. The dedication to Florida Athletics trickled down from leaders like Foley all the way to the student-athletes.
On Friday evening, the 2022 UF Athletics Hall of Fame inductees were recognized and celebrated in front of their friends and family. Under the lights of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the Gator Greats reflected on their glory days at Florida.
"Tonight is a big night," Foley said.
Former Gators swimmer and Olympian Conor Dwyer at Friday night's UF Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Photo: Craig Haas/UAA Communications)
This year's inductees included Jeff Demps (Men's Track & Field & Football), Conor Dwyer (Men's Swimming), Joe Haden (Football), Michelle Moultrie (Softball), Chandler Parsons (Men's Basketball), Christian Taylor (Men's Track & Field) and Mike Zunino (Baseball). Meanwhile, Steve Beeland (Men's & Women's Tennis) was inducted as a Distinguished Letterwinner. Zunino, a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, was the only one not in attendance Friday.
The common theme within this induction class: greatness. Each member has gone on to be great beyond the collegiate level.
Chandler Parsons, an Orlando native, grew up wanting to play for the in-state Gators. He not only made that dream a reality, but was named the SEC Player of the Year and became a second-round pick in the 2011 draft, playing nine seasons in the NBA.
And now, his name is written in school history.
"It really was a dream come true playing here and now it's really humbling and a huge honor to be inducted," Parsons said.
In addition to greatness, the inductees all know what it means to represent the Orange & Blue. High expectations come with putting on that uniform, and Joe Haden lived up to that standard as a 2008 BCS National Champion and unanimous first-team All-American cornerback.
"We were just surrounded by greatness. You had no choice but to be good," Haden said.
Greatness is a by-product of the countless hours at practice, studying the game in the film room, and putting in those extra reps away from the team.
Swimmer Conor Dwyer can relate to the level of intensity and goal-oriented athletes that he was surrounded by in his time at UF. As a transfer student, Dwyer had his eyes set on his goals and dominated in the pool.
He finished his Gators career as a three-time national champion and eight-time SEC champion. He also competed on the U.S. national team in 2010-2011 and won two Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016 and a bronze medal in 2016.
"Being here around all of these amazing athletes, made you believe that you could do it," Dwyer said.
Gators Great Chandler Parsons with his fiancée, Haylee Harrison, and their daughter on Friday night. (Photo: Jordan McKendrick/UAA Communications)
And he did it.
Each inductee stamped their place in school history and contributed to the success of Gators Athletics. For many of the athletes, UF laid the groundwork for their professional careers.
Michelle Moultrie, four-time World Cup of Softball gold medalist, reflected on the contribution Florida has made on her path to success.
"It's been a really great foundation for me to start here," she said.
The Gators fostered dreams, providing athletes a place to grow and thrive, and has bred greatness.
That greatness was celebrated and etched in Gators history on Friday night.
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