Twenty-seven editions. One hundred twenty two inductees. The celebration continues!
Tonight, we are proud to induct four remarkable individuals into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame for their athletic achievements and their contributions to our community.
In their own way, these inductees weren’t just in on the ground floor of their sport -- they helped pour the concrete. No American male had ever won a judo World Championship. Mike Swain changed that, using San Jose State as his launching pad. Sue Phillips was a star athlete at Archbishop Mitty High, then as the girls’ basketball coach remade the Monarchs program with an imprint that continues to set the standard for the entire state. Mission College didn’t even have a baseball program before Sam Piraro instantly turned it into a powerhouse. Then he took San Jose State to new heights, including the College World Series. Doug Cosbie turned heads with his athleticism at St. Francis High and Santa Clara University then used his speed and magnetic hands to help change the way NFL teams think about tight ends.
We will also present the 2022 Athlete of the Year Awards to five honorees whose resiliency is as impressive as their athletic achievements.
Our special evening would not be possible without the generous support of the sponsors, contributors and event partners who are both pillars of the community and champions of this event. In particular, the San Jose Sports Hall Fame would like to give an extra dose of appreciation to the SAP Center staff for sharing their beautiful building and making it possible for us to hold the celebration.
Thank You for your support of San Jose, Santa Clara County and the rich sports traditions that bring us together.
Celebration of 50 Years of Title IX 2022
Allie Montoya – Mountain View High School
Ethan Harrington – Palo Alto High School
AMATEUR
Natasha Andrea Oon – San Jose State
Jalen Williams – Santa Clara University
Doug Cosbie Sue Phillips Sam Piraro
Mike Swain
Video Production by Atomic Productions
Mike Kerhin, Producer Jason West, Editor
Max King, Director of Photography
Tony Giang, Motion Graphics
Danny Angotti, Executive Producer
Lucy Nazareno, Production Manager
Inductee videos written by Dan Brown, narrated by Ted Robinson
Honoree videos written by Dan Brown, narrated by Aubrie Tolliver
Allie Montoya has a career worth celebrating – unless you happen to be an opposing goalie. The striker from Mountain View High School is a scoring machine who spent her senior year delivering 27 goals and 10 assists to power the Spartans to the CCS Open Division title.
In a way, it’s a role Allie was born to play. Her father, Alberto, was a former first-round pick of the San Jose Clash, Her mother, Erin, played for Santa Clara University before being drafted by the San Diego Spirit in 2000.
But Allie has carved her own path -- by carving up opposing defenses. She was the 49ers Cal-Hi Sports Co-CCS 2022 Player of the Year with new Stanford teammate Elise Evans. That same year, Allie was selected as a Just Women’s All-American.
She helped MLVA 04G Barcelona win the 2018 and 2021 national championships in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). She also helped that team win three conference titles and three state cup championships. Allie was the 2021 ECNL Player of the Year.
Allie plays with incredible speed and a deft touch and has thrived at every level of competition. She attended multiple U.S. national camps ranging between Under-14 and Under-20 levels.
At an early age, Allie locked her sights on playing for Stanford. She fulfilled that mission and got off to a fast start as a freshman, scoring five goals with four assists in her first 15 games for the Cardinal.
FUN FACT: Like Allie, her father, Alberto, and her mother, Erin, both were also members of the US National teams!
On land, Ethan Harrington has covered vast expanses by living all over the world. But in the water? That’s where he specializes in the short stuff.
As part of his stellar junior year at Palo Alto High School, he captured the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle at the Central Coast Section Championships. A week later, he also won both events at the California State Meet.
His time in the 50 free (19.73 seconds) at the section meet established a CCS record. At the state meet, Ethan clocked a 43.60 in the 100. In both events, Ethan is in elite company for his age group. On the all-time list for 15-16 boys, he moved to 12th in the 50 free and 25th in the 100 free.
Ethan was born in New Jersey and spent his early years living in Switzerland. He learned to swim at age 5 while living in Canada and started competing at age 8 while living in China.
He found a new level while competing against serious competition with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics under coach Tony Batis. It proved to be a good match, as Ethan enjoys pushing his limits through challenging workouts and races.
Ethan kicked off the 2022 long course season with new lifetime-best times in the 50/100/200/400 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 50 fly, and 200 IM in June and July. He will begin swimming and studying at Princeton University next fall.
FUN FACT: Ethan says he was thrilled to race two-time Olympic gold medalist Anthony Ervin in the 50 freestyle, but quipped: “I hydrated very well. An unexpected half-hour delay forced me to race Anthony with a bursting bladder. He won.”
Even the famously combative commentator Skip Bayless has nothing but praise for the standout guard from Santa Clara University. On the day Jalen Williams was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA Draft, Bayless raved that Williams “played with NBA confidence and strength and command. Real feel for the game.”
Broncos fans would agree. Williams dazzled as a 6-foot-6 guard and made such an impression that he became the first Broncos player drafted by the NBA since Steve Nash in 1996. Not bad for a player whose Twitter bio once read: “Just a guy who rose from the concrete.”
Williams averaged 18 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. The Denver native led the West Coast Conference in total points while shooting 51 percent from the field. It was a fitting final season for the two-time All-West Coast Conference choice. Williams last year delivered 12 games with 20 or more points, including a career-high 30 points against Hawaii.
Above all, he carried the load with 18 points with 10 rebounds in Santa Clara’s epic upset of St. Mary’s, which was ranked No. 22 in the nation at the time. For all of that, he was a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, given to the nation’s top mid-major player.
Williams is something of a late bloomer, as he grew about 8 inches between his sophomore year and his senior year at Perry High School in Gilbert, Ariz. His reputation grew as well. He is just the fourth Santa Clara basketball player to be selected in the first round of the draft. The only Broncos player to go higher than his No. 12 spot was Ken Sears, who went fifth overall in 1955.
FUN FACT: Jalen has a tattoo on his calf of his favorite player, Kobe Bryant. He wore No. 24 in college and is currently wearing No. 8 for the OKC Thunder - both of Kobe’s jersey numbers.
Natasha Andrea Oon won the Juli Inkster Award, which goes annually to the winner of the highest-ranked female golfer during her last year of eligibility. Capturing an award named after a fellow San Jose State alum comes with an added perk: Inkster (SJSHOF ‘19) herself now serves as Natasha’s mentor as she sets off on her professional career.
“I’m excited to be her big sister to help her and guide her through it all,’’ Inkster told LPGA.com. “When I first came out here (on tour), it was tough. I learned a lot by myself, but it took a long time, and I hope she doesn’t have to go through that, and I’ll be there for her.”
Natasha showed a sign of big things to come during her Spartans career. She was a two-time All-American with 22 top-10 finishes.
She capped off her college golf career by recording one of the best post-season finishes in San Jose State history, winning both the Mountain West Championship and the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional individual titles.
Natasha finished as the individual runner-up at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships, becoming the first Spartan to finish in the top five since Janice Moodie finished second in 1997.
Since the school system in her childhood country of Malaysia varies from the United States, Natasha finished high school at age sixteen and went on to finish her San Jose State education in three years.
Now, she hopes to be the second Malaysian woman on the LPGA tour, following in Kelly Tan’s footsteps.
FUN FACT: Natasha showed her early promise by winning her age group at the 2008 Callaway Junior Worlds. She was 6!
Not only is Kim Hing one of the Special Olympics’ most versatile athletes, but she is also a terrific ambassador.
As a polished and charismatic speaker, Hing puts her oratory skills to use as an emcee, teacher, writer, artist and neurodiversity advocate. And her words have an impact as she was recently given the opportunity to lobby Congress to request 2023 funding for Special Olympics.
On the playing field, Hing could fill an entire episode of “Wide World of Sports.” Over the past 15 years, she’s participated in bowling, basketball, floor hockey, track and field, flag football and softball. Recently, she was elected to serve on the Special Olympics Board of Directors, a tremendous honor and one which she was so excited and humbled to receive.
Her success comes after overcoming many hardships and obstacles in her life. And now Hing tries hard to encourage others. She has worked as a teacher for Legend Learning and Family Resource Center, tutoring elementary school-age children, for nine years. Hing has been an active Athlete Leader for several years and she has not only given many speeches highlighting her extensive involvement with Special Olympics, but she has also served as the Master of Ceremonies for various fundraising events and initiatives. She has spoken at many schools to promote inclusion and she has served as a panelist for conferences and events to advocate for inclusive health care.
As if that isn’t enough, she actively participates in Polar Plunge and Tip-A-Cop events.
FUN FACT: She is involved in Toastmasters, an organization that helps participants to prepare and give speeches.
Many consider him the best tight end athlete in Santa Clara County history. Starred in baseball, basketball and track at St. Francis High School.
But he made his name for the Lancers where he played for Coach Ron Calcagno (SJSHOF ’09) and then at Santa Clara University where he played for coach Pat Malley (SJSHOF ’00) and set several of the school’s receiving records, including for catches, yards and touchdowns.
From there, he went on to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys where the third-round pick played under legendary coach Tom Landry and starred as Dallas’ tight end for 10 seasons (1979-88). Cosbie was a three-time Pro Bowl player and was named All-Pro in 1985.
Over his NFL career he caught 300 passes, including 30 for touchdowns, and was a key figure for a starstudded group then known as “America’s Team.” He had three consecutive years of at least 500 receiving yards and helped pave the way for modern tight ends to be more involved in the passing game.
As former 49ers tight end Brent Jones (SJSHOF ‘05), another former Santa Clara star, once said: “He was really kind of the first generation of tight ends that made an impact, catching the ball.” Cosbie later was head football coach at Menlo College and served over the years as an assistant for both Cal and Stanford. He is in the Hall of Fame at St. Francis High and SCU.
Fun Fact: Served as a head coach in the Italian Football League, leading the Bergamo Lions who played about an hour outside of Milan. The team practiced from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. because most of the players had day jobs.
Triple-threat athlete and incomparable basketball coach
Phillips was an outstanding student-athlete at Archbishop Mitty HS playing volleyball, basketball and softball and earning multiple scholarship offers. She chose to attend Northwestern University where she became an All-Big Ten softball player before returning to her alma mater, where her contributions were just getting started.
Phillips has been honored as a CCS Honor Coach in softball and she led the Monarchs to CCS title in 1998. But winning one title is not enough as Phillips’ basketball teams have won 24 section titles, 14 NorCal titles and six state championships, and went a perfect 32-0 record 1999.
As one of her former star players, Haley Jones, said: “When she walks into the room, she just commands respect. People are going to listen to her.”
She was named National Coach of the Year by Student Sports Magazine that same year. And her success is not just limited to high school, for the past five years she has served as a head coach for USA Women’s Basketball capturing multiple gold medals at the U16 level.
Twenty years ago, she founded a non-profit – the San Jose Cagers – a girls’ basketball program for grades 4-12. Phillips serves both as the program’s director and one of its coaches. Phillips is an incomparable coach at every level.
Fun Fact: Went back to school in 2014 to earn a Master’s degree in performance psychology. She wanted to use it to improve even more as a coach. “I was doing this all while I was teaching full-time, coaching high school and doing USA Basketball,’’ she said. “There were times I was holed up in my hotel room finishing a paper.”
SAMHis name is synonymous with South Bay baseball after a lifetime of teaching the game from the youth league level all the way up to the pinnacle of college baseball.
The San Jose native learned the game from his father – with help from listening to Lon Simmons and Russ Hodges on old Giants broadcasts -- and grew up to become the winningest head baseball coach in Spartan history (806-632-6).
Piraro arrived at SJSU in 1987 after spending the previous seven seasons as Mission College’s first baseball coach. Piraro won five conference titles while with the Saints in addition to a pair of state championships, in 1981 and 1983. In 1996, he became the second-youngest coach to be inducted into the California Community College Baseball Hall of Fame.
At San José State, Piraro guided the Spartans to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. Those runs included a trip to the College World Series in 2000, marking the program’s first trip to the CWS. He was honored as the WAC Coach of the Year in 1997, 2000, 2008 and 2009 while tallying over 100 wins against nationally-ranked opponents in his tenure. In all, he produced seven All-Americans, six Freshman All-Americans and 80 all-conference selections.
Following his stellar collegiate coaching career, Piraro led the Willow Glen Rams to a Central Coast Section title.
He was as resilient off the field as he was in the dugout, as he overcame his battle with multiple myeloma – cancer of the bone marrow. Piraro missed 16 months fighting for his life but eventually returned to the diamond.
Fun Fact: As early as 5 years old, Sam began collecting baseball cards. While his friends put the bubblegum cards in their bicycle spokes. Sam amassed a carefully curated collection that he held onto – and left in his sons trust!
Mike Swain helped transform the future of U.S. Judo with his stunning victory at the 1987 World Championships, where he became the first North American judoka to win the title. It remains a landmark victory that showed other U.S. athletes what was possible in the sport.
He was born in New Jersey but made his way to the South Bay after being recruited by legendary San Jose State coach Yosh Uchida (SJSHOF ‘95).
By blending Uchida’s brilliant teachings with regular training trips to Japan, Swain became one of the top international competitors in the history of the sport.
Beyond his gold at the ’87 games, he won silver at both the 1985 and 1989 World Championships – that’s three consecutive trips to the finals, which were held every other year during that era. Swain also won gold at the 1987 Pan American Games.
He is a four-time Olympian, winning the bronze medal in the ’88 Games as well as a five-time World team member and was the 1996 US Olympic Judo coach for the Atlanta Games.
As Marti Malloy, another Olympic medalist for San Jose State said: “Mike changed my life before I knew Mike. Because growing up doing judo as a kid, Mike was an example of what my future in the sport could look like.”
Fun Fact: A lack of financial support nearly forced Swain to quit after he competed at the ’84 Olympics. But Chips and Technologies, Inc., a company that made integrated circuits in Silicon Valley, signed on with the Olympic Job Opportunities Program (OJOP) and gave Swain a position as an international marketing associate. Chips and Technologies also gave him time off, with pay, to train and compete
1995
Donna de Varona – Swimming Lee Evans – Track & Field George Haines – Swimming Coach
Jim Plunkett – Football Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer –Football Bud Winter – Track & Field Coach
1996 Peggy Fleming Jenkins –Figure Skating John Hanna – Football Coach Julius Menendez – Boxing & Soccer Coach Yosh Uchida – Judo Coach
1997 Payton Jordan – Track & Field Coach
1998
Hal Davis – Track & Field
Pablo Morales – Swimming
L. T. “Buck” Shaw – Football Coach
Debi Thomas – Figure Skating Bill Walsh – Football Coach 1999
Millard Hampton – Track & Field Claudia Kolb – Swimming
Pat Malley – Football Coach Patty Sheehan – Golf
2000
Don Bowden – Track & Field
Jack & John Elway – Football
Francie Larrieu Smith – Cross Country
Charles “Chuck” Taylor – Football
2001
Joe Leonard – Auto Racing
Ernie Nevers – Football
John Ralston – Football Coach
Dave Righetti – Baseball
Carroll Williams – Basketball Coach
2002
Dennis Awtrey – Basketball
Ed Burke – Track & Field Betty Hicks – Golf Carney Lansford – Baseball Craig Morton – Football
2003
Anne Warner Cribbs – Swimming Becky Dyroen-Lancer –Synchronized Swimming Andre Phillips – Track & Field Billy Wilson – Football
2004
John Brodie – Football Amy Chow – Gymnastics
Kurt Rambis – Basketball Pat Tillman – Football
2005 Brent Jones – Football
Barbara & Kathy Jordan – Tennis Benny Pierce – Football Coach Ken Venturi – Golf
2012 Steve Bartkowski – Football Brandi Chastain – Soccer Roger Maltbie – Golf Willy T. Ribbs – Auto Racing 2011 Rudy Galindo – Figure Skating Art Lambert – Water Polo Dan Pastorini – Football Peter Ueberroth, Olympic Leader –Baseball Commissioner Kristi Yamaguchi – Figure Skating
2013 Frankie Albert (In Memoriam) –Football Gary Cunningham – Baseball Coach Paul Child – Soccer Tara VanDerveer – Basketball Coach
2014 Julie Foudy – Soccer Owen Nolan – Hockey Steve Schott – Baseball Dick Vermeil – Football Coach 2015 John Carlos – Sprinter Chris Carver – Swimming Coach Jeff Garcia – Football Mani Hernandez – Soccer
2009 Bob Murphy – Stanford Broadcaster Ron Calcagno – St. Francis High School Football Coach Sheryl Johnson – Field Hockey Ronnie Lott – Football 2016 Mike Bruner – Swimmer Raymond Townsend – Basketball Aly Wagner – Soccer Doug Wilson – Hockey 2017 Ken Caminiti (In Memoriam) –Baseball Dwight Clark – Football Mark Marquess – Baseball Coach Jack Roddy – Rodeo Danielle Slaton – Soccer
H P M E
2010 Arturs Irbe – Hockey Bruce Jenner – Track & Field Keri Sanchez – Soccer Dave & Mark Schultz – Wrestling 2
Now in its 26th year, the REACH Youth Scholarship Program recognizes the powerful impact sports can have on the lives of young people. The nomination process will begin early next year, and the scholarships will be awarded in the spring at a breakfast reception at the San Jose Marriott. It is always a meaningful and uplifting event.
The program relies on donations and sponsorships to help fund the scholarships. If you would like to support the program or if you know a high school senior who should apply for a REACH scholarship please contact Carrie Benjamin at carrie@sjsa.org or (310) 709-8470.
Mayor Sam Liccardo & the City of San Jose Event Management
Carrie Benjamin, Exec. Director, SJSHOF Induction Ceremony Ginna Baldassarre, Volunteer Auction Directors/ Adobe Robert Braunstein, Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Dan Brown, The Athletic Darren Centi, SJSA Staff
James Hamnett, Derek Michelson, Kelsey Wagner & the building staff at SAP Center Keyon Johnson, On Key PR Shayla Moore, Zoom Room Dog Training
Khristine Lugo & Ashley Noda, Volunteer Registration Directors Kirk Reynolds, SC Consult
Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush Ben Nadler BD Entertainment San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Athletics Gordan Kalinic & the staff of ARAMARK
Suppliers & Vendors
Amy Blach, AMB Designs
Isabel Galindo, Standard Party Rentals Freshly Baked Eatery Glenn Karren, Design Signs Gordon Biersch Brewing Company Interior Plant Design Leann Sirkin, Flair Design + Photography Joan Escover, JP Graphics Joseph George Wines Olympic Trophy Shawn Futagaki, Flower Divas Jayne Capelin, That’s Doughable
Derrick Erwing, Northern California Special Olympics
Amy Villa, San Jose State University Tyler Geivett, Stanford University
Matthew Penland, Santa Clara University Lauryn Gilllins, BDA Sports Erin Montoya Edward and Ligia Harrington
Thank you, especially, to the Inductees, Honorees, your family and friends
Charlie Faas, Chair, Board of Directors John Poch, Executive Director
Carrie Benjamin, Director of Events and Community Programs Darren Centi, Event Specialist
Kelly Brix & Carrie Kerns, Mainstay CPA
the San Jose Arena Authority for their dedication and partnership for the past 25 years.
DAVID DAVIS
KEN BIRDSALL
DAN BROWN
ANNE CRIBBS
BRUCE EDWARDS
DERRICK ERWING
CHARLIE FAAS
JON GUNDERSEN
STACI GUSTAFSON
STEVE HALLGRIMSON
JAMES HAMNETT
BRAD KROUSKUP
BOB LEININGER MARK MARQUESS
MATTHEW MARTINUCCI
LARRY MCGOVERN
PAMELA MEHTA
JED METTEE
LINDA MORASCH
TONY MORICI
CHRIS MORRISEY
RON OLANDER
BILL RING
BRIAN RISSO
DANIELLE SLATON
LARRY STONE
DAWN SWEATT
MARIE TUITE
TIM WALSH
EDWARD WEBB
RUSTY WEEKES
Board Chair, Johanson & Yau Hillhouse Construction
The Athletic Class of 2003 Inductee, Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee March Development
Special Olympics Northern California San Jose State University United Mechanical
Santa Clara University Athletics Berliner Cohen, LLP SAP Center at San Jose Toeniskoetter Development Retired
Class of 2017 Inductee, Stanford University Athletics Team San Jose Heritage Bank of Commerce Resilience Orthopedics, MD San Jose Earthquakes Ponderosa Homes Reitred
San Jose Arena Authority
The Olander Company, Inc. Ring Trust Stanford University
Class of 2017 Inductee, Santa Clara Univeristy Athletics Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office Berliner Cohen, LLP Tuite Consulting Los Gatos Insurance Services Burr Pilger Mayer, Inc. San Jose Arena Authority
