Glory borne from ‘black and gold’ sweat, tears

Glory borne from ‘black and gold’ sweat, tears

Cal State L.A. welcomes four members to the Class of 2011 Hall of Famers

Cal State L.A. Hall of Fame Athletes from the Class of 2009 pose with President James M. Rosser and Director of Athletics Dan Bridges at the induction ceremony. From (l-r) Rosser, former All-American volleyball player Andrea Ferchaw, Colorado Rockies pitching coach and former CSULA pitcher Bob Apodaca, track and field national champion Petra Juraskova, and Bridges. In the collage, Ferchaw, Juraskova and Apodaca are shown during their competitive days.

Cal State L.A.’s Athletics Hall of Fame became a little “stronger and faster” with the addition to its roster of preeminent student-athletes, coaches, and Golden Eagle administrators and staff four individuals who have shone in competition and leadership.

Women’s track and field stars Nicole Duncan-Chance and Diana Williams Muhammad, former Director of Athletics Carol M. Dunn and former Faculty Athletics Representative Fleur Yano are the Class of 2011 inductees. Their admission into the Hall of Fame raises the elite membership to 109.

“This is another outstanding class to induct into the Athletics Hall of Fame,” Cal State L.A. Director of Athletics Dan Bridges said. “We’re very excited to honor these four individuals; they are all very deserving.”

Instituted in 1985 to recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals who participated as players, coaches, leaders and advisers in the University’s intercollegiate athletics, Cal State L.A.’s Athletics Hall of Fame includes many inspiring individuals. Among them are tennis legend Billie Jean King, two-time Olympic track and field gold medalist Mal Whitfield, actor Tommy “Tiny” Lister, current Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jay Gibbons, and former Major League Baseball pitcher and current Colorado Rockies Pitching Coach Bob Apodaca. (A complete list of inductees by sport is included in the sidebar).

“It is an honor to have all my hard work be recognized and appreciated,” Duncan-Chance said.  “This is a legacy I will leave for my children; I hope that it will inspire them to succeed at whatever they aspire to become in life.”

Nicole Duncan-Chance ’02

Duncan-Chance, who was inducted into the NCAA Division II Track and Field Hall of Fame along with Lister in 2008, was a standout when she starred for three seasons at CSULA. She was the fourth athlete—regardless of gender— to win NCAA championships in the 100 and 200 meter dash and the long jump in the same year. (Lisa Dillard of NCAA Division III Christopher Newport, Chandra Sturrup of Division II Norfolk State and the great Jesse Owens at Ohio State were the first three to accomplish the 100-200-long jump trifecta.)

Duncan-Chance, the NCAA Division II Female Athlete of the Year in 2002, completed her Cal State L.A. career with eight individual NCAA championships and 14 All-America awards in indoor and outdoor track and field.

Diana Williams Muhammad

Not to be overshadowed, Muhammad holds Cal State L.A.’s record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.94 and is part of the 4x100 relay team that set the school standard with a time of 44.1. She earned five All-America awards while at Cal State L.A. and is in the University’s all-time top-10 competitors in three events.

A two-time Olympian (1980 and 1984), Muhammad also won the United States championship in the 100 meters in 1987, and was part of the gold-medal 4x100 relay team at the 1987 IAAF World Championships. She is currently the head coach of the Chicago State University women’s cross country and track and field teams.

Carol M. Dunn

Dunn is being recognized for her remarkable leadership. As Cal State L.A.’s athletics director from 1988-2005, she saw a combined 78 appearances by CSULA teams in NCAA championships and 33 individual NCAA titles for student-athletes. She also made gender-equity in sports a top priority.

Dunn, a National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics “2001 Athletic Director of the Year,” served on the prestigious NCAA Council from 1995-2000. She was the women’s basketball head coach from 1981-85 and associate athletics director from 1982-88.

“When I received the call that I was going to be inducted into the Cal State L.A. Hall of Fame, I was honored and humbled to be included with this distinguished group,” Dunn said. “I had the opportunity to witness for myself the great talent of Diane [Muhammad] and Nicole [Duncan-Chance], and I worked with Fleur [Yano], whose skills were exceptional.”

Fluer Yano

As Cal State L.A.’s faculty athletics representative from 1987-96, Yano monitored the eligibility and academic progress of Golden Eagle student-athletes. She was elected to the Intercollegiate Athletics Board, a position held until her 1996 retirement.

Yano joined Cal State L.A.’s Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty in 1964, served on the Academic Senate and chaired the Educational Policy Committee during her tenure. She also was the resident director for the CSU study-abroad program in Sweden for one year, and the coordinator of the University’s China exchange program.