Saint Peter's University Adds Don Kennedy & Tonya Grant to 2014 MAAC Honor Class
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. – The 2014 MAAC Honor Roll Class will add two members on behalf of Saint Peter’s University at the MAAC Basketball Championships in March. Don Kennedy, the Peacock’s all-time winningest men’s basketball coach, and Tonya Grant, the Peacock’s all-time leading women’s scorer, will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the “MAAC Experience” exhibit.
Don Kennedy finished his record setting career as the men’s basketball coach with a record of 323-195 from 1950-1972. He guided the Peacocks to five NIT appearances, and coached eight 1,000 point scorers, during his tenure. The Peacocks posted winning records in 19 of his 22 seasons, including three 20-win seasons. In 1967-68, Saint Peter’s registered a program record 24 wins. Kennedy was a proponent of a fast paced offensive game. Saint Peter’s advanced to three consecutive NAIA Tournaments, before making their first NIT appearance in 1956-57. The Peacocks enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history in 1967-68 when it finished 24-4 and fourth in the NIT. During that NIT run, Kennedy guided the Peacocks to a 100-71 win over top-ranked Duke. In Kennedy’s final two seasons at the helm, Saint Peter’s posted a combined 34-18 record and a trip to the NIT.
Tonya Grant was a force for Saint Peter’s from 1986-90. She concluded her career amassing 2,020 points, and is the Peacocks fourth leading rebounder, with 964 boards. Tonya was named to the MAAC’s 25th Anniversary Team in 2006. She is currently the MAAC’s fifth all-time leading scorer, tied for sixth in per game average at 18.0 points per game, fifth with a .542 field goal percentage, and 13th with 964 career rebounds. Grant was an All-MAAC selection all four years of her career, including a two-time first team choice (1988-89, 1989-90), and was chosen as MAAC Player of the Year in 1990. She scored a Saint Peter’s record 716 points as a senior, averaging 25.6 points per game, also a school record. During her career at Saint Peter’s, she led the Peacocks to a 79-33 record. She was inducted into the Saint Peter’s Hall of Fame in 1996.
The MAAC Honor Roll is part of the 600 square foot “MAAC Experience” display at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Each year one honoree selected by the MAAC Council of Presidents joins one male and one female honoree from each of the 11 MAAC institutions. The 23-member 2014 induction class will be enshrined to the MAAC Honor Roll on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Court of Dreams. The Honorees’ names will be added to the “MAAC Experience” exhibit. Additionally, each honoree will be profiled in the 2014 MAAC Basketball Championships game program and will also be featured in a video display at The MAAC Experience available for viewing by the general public. Lastly, the honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the 9:00p.m. MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship quarterfinal on Saturday, March 8.
The complete 2014 MAAC Honor Roll Class:
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MAAC Honoree:
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Brad Tracy
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School
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Male Honoree
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Female Honoree
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Canisius
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Frank Swiatek
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Dr. Ellen Conley
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Fairfield
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George Bisacca
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Dianne Nolan
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Iona
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Kevin Hamilton
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Celeste Grier-Johnathan
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Manhattan
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Luis Flores
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Marianne Reilly
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Marist
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Mike Hart
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Julianne Viani
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Monmouth
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Ron Kornegay
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Joan Martin
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Niagara
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Juan Mendez
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Joan Thornton
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Quinnipiac
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Keith Gaither
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Patricia Hayes
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Rider
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Jack Madden
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Kelly Eckardt Zawodny
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Saint Peter’s
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Don Kennedy
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Tonya Grant
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Siena
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Billy Harrell
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Lisa (Serafino) Ruggiero
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