Brenda Frese, Joe Smith Headline Maryland Athletics 2026 Hall of Fame Class

Ahmed Ghafir
20 minutes ago
9 min read

After news of a handful of inductees became public last month, Maryland Athletics has announced its full 2026 Hall of Fame Class.

Brenda Frese, Marissa Coleman, Joe Smith, Shawne Merriman, Taylor Cummings and Graham Zusi headline the nine-person class, the athletic department and M Club officially announced on Thursday. Maryland announced that the Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Friday, October 16, 2026 at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center in College Park with the reception will begin at 5:30 PM.

It may be an overdue honor for Smith after being honored 21 years after his time in College Park came to an end. After entrenching himself as one of the program's best players, Smith ended his college career named the Naismith and AP Player of the Year before becoming the top overall selection in the 1995 NBA Draft. Merriman entrenched himself among the program's best linebackers of the 2000s, building on success the program produced at the position just after EJ Henderson departed for the NFL, before Erin Henderson arrived while Merriman dazzled alongside former NFL linebacker D'Qwell Jackson.

It marks a deserving honor for Frese, who has made herself a fixture in Maryland Athletics for over two decades while delivering a national championship and 12 Sweet 16 appearances during her tenure. Marissa Coleman was a big part of the national championship team before etching her name all over the program record book, while she became one of only three players in program history to record both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Maryland also announced that Carol and Bob Baker will be honored with the Distinguised Citizen Award after attending 517 consecutive football games, home and away, between 1976 and 2020.

Full Release via UMTerps:

Marissa Coleman (2005-08), Women’s Basketball

Helped lead Maryland Terrapins women's basketball to the 2006 NCAA National Championship, hitting the game-clinching free throws against Duke Blue Devils women's basketball in the title game.
Became one of the most decorated players in Maryland women’s basketball history as a three-time All-American.
Earned 2009 WBCA All-America honors along with AP Second Team and USBWA All-America recognition.
Named 2006 ACC Rookie of the Year and selected to the ACC All-Rookie Team after an immediate breakout freshman season.
Four-time All-ACC selection, including First Team honors in 2009 and Second Team recognition from 2006-08.
Named the 2009 ACC Tournament MVP and earned three career All-ACC Tournament Team selections.
Played in a school-record 144 games and made 133 career starts, ranking among Maryland’s all-time leaders in both categories.
Holds the Maryland record for NCAA Tournament starts with 16 career postseason starts.
Became one of only three players in Maryland women’s basketball history to record both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
Finished her career with 2,205 points and 1,139 rebounds, ranking among the top scorers and rebounders in program history while also contributing 453 assists and 141 blocked shots.
Set Maryland’s single-game scoring record with 42 points against Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball in the 2009 NCAA Tournament and earned NCAA All-Regional Team honors that season.
Selected No. 2 overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics and went on to play 10 WNBA seasons with the Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, earning WNBA All-Star honors in 2015 while also playing professionally overseas.

Taylor Cummings (2012-16), Women’s Lacrosse

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Maryland women's lacrosse and collegiate lacrosse.
Became the first player in NCAA women’s lacrosse history to win the Tewaaraton Award three consecutive times (2014-16) as the nation’s top player.
Also earned the Honda Sports Award three straight years (2014-16) as the top female athlete in collegiate lacrosse. Two-time ESPY Best Female College Athlete nominee (2014, 2015)
Led Maryland to NCAA National Championships in 2014 and 2015, earning NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player honors both seasons.
Four-time IWLCA First Team All-American from 2013-16 and a three-time IWLCA National Midfielder of the Year (2014-16).
Named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in both 2015 and 2016 and earned four career all-conference selections across the ACC and Big Ten.
Earned NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team honors three times (2014, 2015, 2016) and was named the 2016 Big Ten Tournament MVP.
Named the 2014-15 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year after leading Maryland through one of the most dominant stretches in program history.
Made an immediate impact as a freshman by earning 2013 ACC Freshman of the Year honors.
Finished her Maryland career ranked second all-time in points (323) and goals (229), both the highest totals ever by a Terrapin midfielder at the time.
Set Maryland career records with 509 draw controls and 139 caused turnovers while also ranking among the program’s all-time leaders in assists and ground balls.
Starred internationally with the U.S. National Team from 2014-22, helping Team USA win world championships in 2017 and 2022 before retiring from international play after being named MVP of the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship Tournament.

Brenda Frese (2002-Present), Women’s Basketball Head Coach

Has served as head coach of Maryland women's basketball since 2002, building the program into a national powerhouse.
Led Maryland to the 2006 NCAA National Championship, the first women’s basketball national title in program history.
Guided the Terrapins to three NCAA Final Four appearances in 2006, 2014 and 2015.
Coached Maryland to seven NCAA Elite Eight appearances and 12 Sweet Sixteen appearances during her tenure.
Became the winningest coach in Maryland women’s basketball history with more than 600 victories at the school.
Captured 14 conference championships across the ACC and Big Ten, including regular-season and tournament titles.
Named National AP Coach of the Year twice, earning the honor in 2002 and 2021.
Received ESPN Coach of the Year honors in 2021 after leading Maryland to a Big Ten regular-season title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Earned five conference Coach of the Year honors, including four Big Ten Coach of the Year awards and the 2013 ACC Coach of the Year honor.
Built one of the nation’s premier recruiting pipelines, securing 16 Top 10 recruiting classes during her Maryland career.
Produced 23 winning seasons, including 19 consecutive 20-win seasons and seven 30-win campaigns.
Led the Terrapins to 22 NCAA Tournament bids while coaching numerous All-Americans, WNBA Draft picks and Olympic-level student-athletes.

Michael Howley (2000-03), Men’s Lacrosse

One of the premier defensemen in the history of Maryland men's lacrosse from 2000-03.
Won the 2003 Schmeisser Award as the nation’s top Division I defensive player.
Earned All-America honors three times, including First Team recognition in 2003 and Second Team honors in 2001 and 2002.
Named to the 2003 NCAA All-Tournament Team after helping lead Maryland to the Final Four.
Earned 2000 ACC Freshman of the Year honors after making an immediate impact in his first collegiate season.
Became one of only three Maryland defensemen at the time to earn All-ACC honors three times during a career.
Helped Maryland reach three NCAA Tournaments and establish itself as one of the nation’s top defensive teams during the early 2000s.
Finished his career with 179 ground balls, ranking fourth all-time among Maryland long-stick defensive players and among the program’s overall career leaders.
Known for his physical play, leadership and shutdown defensive ability against the nation’s top attackmen.
Represented the United States as a member of the 2002 U.S. Men’s National Team that captured the gold medal at the World Championships in Perth, Australia.
Selected in both the Major League Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League drafts following his collegiate career.
Played five professional seasons in Major League Lacrosse, continuing a standout lacrosse career at the professional and international levels.

Dennis Ivory (1976-79), Men’s Track and Field

One of the most accomplished jumpers in the history of Maryland track and field.
Still holds Maryland’s outdoor triple jump school record with a mark of 55-3, set at the 1978 NCAA Championships.
Earned First Team All-America honors in 1978 after finishing as the NCAA runner-up in the triple jump.
Held the ACC record in the triple jump for more than four decades, from 1978 until 2019.
Also owns the second-best long jump mark in Maryland history at 26-0.75, recorded in 1978.
Captured six ACC triple jump championships, winning three indoor titles and three outdoor crowns during his collegiate career.
Added three ACC outdoor long jump championships, showcasing his versatility as one of the conference’s elite field athletes.
Selected to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team in recognition of his lasting impact on conference track and field history.
Recipient of the 1979 McCormick Award, presented annually to the Baltimore-area senior who contributed the most to athletics.
Also earned the 1979 Maryland Watch Award as the top male athlete in the state of Maryland.
Ranked fourth nationally in the triple jump in 1979 by Track & Field News, cementing his status as one of the top jumpers in the United States.
Competed at the national and international levels during his career, including participation with the World University Team and standout performances in major meets such as the Florida Relays.

Thea LaFond (2012-15), Women’s Track and Field

Decorated 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist in the triple jump, making her the first-ever Maryland track & field alum to win an Olympic medal.
Set a Dominican national record of 15.02m at the Paris Olympic Games while earning her country’s first-ever Olympic medal.
Seven-time NCAA All-American across multiple events, establishing herself as one of Maryland’s most decorated multi-event athletes.
Outdoor All-American in the high jump (2013 national champion, 2014 runner-up) and triple jump (2014 honorable mention).
Indoor All-American in the pentathlon (2nd in 2013 and 2014), high jump (2015 champion), and triple jump (2015 runner-up).
Still holds the Maryland outdoor school record in the triple jump (13.48m).
Ranks among Maryland’s all-time outdoor leaders, including 1st, 3rd, and 4th in the shuttle hurdle relay (anchor leg), 4th in high jump, 7th in 100m hurdles, and tied for 10th in long jump.
Finished her career as the school record holder in the indoor 60m high hurdles and remains 2nd all-time in the event.
Holds top Maryland indoor rankings: 2nd in triple jump and pentathlon, 4th in high jump and long jump.
Named 2015 Big Ten Women’s Field Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Championships Field Athlete of the Championships.
Earned 2014 ACC Indoor Women’s Field Performer of the Year and ACC Indoor Championships Field Performer honors, also winning ACC titles in the pentathlon and triple jump.
Collected additional accolades, including 2013 ACC Outdoor Women’s Most Valuable Field Performer, 2013 USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, and two-time All-ACC selection.

Shawne Merriman (2002-04), Football

Starred at Maryland from 2002-04 and became one of the most dominant defensive players in program history.
Earned Second Team and Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2004.
Named First Team All-ACC in 2004 after a standout junior season.
Recipient of the 2004 Jim Tatum Memorial Award as Maryland’s Lineman of the Year.
Finished his career with 22 sacks, ranking second in Maryland history at the time and still among the program’s all-time leaders.
Recorded 32.5 career tackles for loss, finishing seventh in school history at the conclusion of his career and remaining in Maryland’s top 10 all-time.
Posted 17 tackles for loss in 2004, tying for fifth on Maryland’s single-season list.
Led the Terrapins in sacks in both 2003 and 2004 with 8.5 sacks each season.
Nicknamed “Lights Out,” he was selected No. 12 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.
Named the 2005 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 10 sacks in his first professional season.
Earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2006, led the NFL with 17 sacks that season and was selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2005-07.
Played eight NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills, totaling 45.5 career sacks and establishing himself as one of the league’s premier pass rushers.

Joe Smith (1993-95), Men’s Basketball

Starred at Maryland from 1993–95 and became one of the greatest players in program history after arriving as a highly touted recruit and earning Third Team Parade All-American honors in 1993.
Named Naismith College Player of the Year in 1995.
Earned Associated Press (AP) Player of the Year honors in 1995.
Selected as United Press International (UPI) College Player of the Year in 1995.
Won the Adolph Rupp Trophy in 1995.
Earned Consensus First Team All-American honors in 1995.
Named Third Team All-American by UPI as a freshman in 1994.
ACC Player of the Year in 1995 and ACC Rookie of the Year in 1994.
Two-time First Team All-ACC selection (1994, 1995).
Averaged 20.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game during the 1994–95 season.
Finished Maryland career with 1,524 points and 815 rebounds, recording 34 double-doubles and helping lead the Terrapins to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances under head coach Gary Williams.
Selected No. 1 overall in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 1996, and played 16 NBA seasons in over 1,000 games with teams including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Graham Zusi (2005-08), Men’s Soccer

Two-time NCAA Champion at Maryland and the only Terrapin to be part of both the 2005 and 2008 national championship teams.
Delivered one of the most iconic moments in program history, scoring the lone goal in Maryland’s 1–0 victory over North Carolina in the 2008 NCAA Championship match.
Earned 2008 Soccer America First-Team All-American honors, capping a standout senior season.
Named to the 2006 ACC All-Tournament Team during Maryland’s run of conference success.
Finished his collegiate career among Maryland’s all-time leaders in points (75, 13th), goals (28, T-14th), and assists (20, 13th).
Selected in the second round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City).
Spent his entire professional club career in Kansas City, becoming a one-club legend and long-time midfield anchor. He is the longest tenured player to have played with one club in MLS history.
Became a six-time MLS All-Star (2012–2015, 2017, 2018), including a rare run of four consecutive selections.
Earned MLS Best XI honors twice (2012 and 2013) as one of the league’s top midfielders.
Represented the United States men's national soccer team in 55 international appearances.
Competed in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, recording two assists in four matches, including the setup for the late game-winner vs. Ghana.
Established a legacy as one of Maryland soccer’s all-time greats and a model of consistency, leadership, and longevity at both the collegiate and professional levels.

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