Joe Smith, Brenda Frese among nine-person class inducted into Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame

7 minutes ago

4 min read

Ahead of Saturday's homecoming game with Maryland football hosting Rutgers for a 12:30 PM ET kickoff, Maryland Athletics officially inducted its 2026 Hall of Fame Class on Friday night featuring several overdue and deserving honors:

Marissa Coleman (women's basketball)

A key piece in Maryland's 2006 national title, it was Coleman who hit the game-sealing free throws to take down Duke to wrap up her career as a three-time All-American. Coleman was named the 2006 ACC Rookie of the Year and became a four-time All-ACC selection, while closing out her career named to the AP Second Team All-American. Coleman is one of three players to eclipse 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career before becoming the number two overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft.

Taylor Cummings (women's lacrosse)

One of the most decorated athletes in Maryland Athletics history, Cummings ended her career as the first player to win the Tewaaraton Award three consecutive years, in addition to being named a two-time ESPY Best Female Collegiate Athlete nominee and leading Maryland to the national championship twice. Cummings finished her career ranked second all-time in points (323) and goals (229), both the highest totals ever by a Terrapin midfielder at the time, before spending eight years with the US National Team.

Brenda Frese (women's basketball coach)

One of the university's most successful coaches since she arrived in 2002, leading the program to its first title in history just four years later, Maryland has made three Final Four appearances, seven Elite Eight appearances and 12 Sweet 16 appearances in addition to 14 total conference titles across both the regular season and tournament. Frese has also become a two-time AP Coach of the Year selection, in addition to a five-time conference Coach of the Year honor winner while leading the team to 22 NCAA Tournament appearances and 23 winning seasons, along with 19 consecutive 20-win seasons and seven total 30-win seasons.

Michael Howley (men's lacrosse)

A three-time All American selection and winner of the Schmeisser Award in 2003, awarded to the top defender in DI, Howley became one of only three Maryland defenders to be named an All-ACC selection. He helped Maryland reach the NCAA Tournament three times while his 179 ground balls rank fourth in program history.

Dennis Ivory (men's track and field)

After dazzling in the 70s, Ivory still holds the program record in outdoor triple jump at 55-3, set at the 1978 NCAA Championships. Ivory earned First Team All-American honors in 1978 while winning six ACC triple jump championships and earning the 1979 Maryland Watch Award and McCormick Award.

Thea LaFond (women's track and field)

Becoming the first Maryland T&F alum to win an Olympic medal after winning a gold medal in the triple jump in 2024, LaFond send a Dominican national record of 15.02m at the Paris Olympic Games. That came after becoming a seven-time NCAA All-American across multiple events, while she still ranks among Maryland's all-time outdoor leaders in shuttle hurdle relay, high jump, hurdles and long jump in addition to a pair of top-five indoor rankings. LaFond was named the 2015 Big Ten Women's Field Athlete of the Year. She was also named the 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 (football)

Merriman ended his three-year tenure as a First Team All ACC and honorable mention All-American in 2004 after totaling 17 TFLs, tied for fifth on the all-time single season record book His 22 sacks ranked second in program history while his 32.5 career TFLs ranked seventh at the end of his tenure. Nicknamed 'Lights Out,' Merriman went on to become the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the then-San Diego Chargers where he went on to become the Defensive Rookie of the Year after notching ten sacks. He also earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2006 after leading the NFL. Following his four-game suspension, Merriman resumed his career with the Chargers before spending the final three years of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills. His son, 2029 QB Justin Merriman, now stars at St. Frances where he's blossoming into a must-know name in his class.

Joe Smith (men's basketball)

A long overdue honor for one of the program's best players, Smith arrived as an elite prospect before earning Third Team Parade All American honors in 1993. He followed it up by being named both AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year in 1995, in addition to becoming a consensus All American, after averaging 20.8 points and 10.6 rebounds in 1994-95. Smith notched 34 double-doubles and led head coach Gary Williams to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances to restore the program, only to become the top overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. After earning All-Rookie First Team honors in 1996, Smith spent 16 seasons in the NBA and played in over 1,000 games.

Graham Zusi (men's soccer)

A two-time NCCAA champion, Zusi was named a First Team All American as a senior and ended his career as the all-time leader in points, goals and assists. His goal in the 1-0 win vs. North Carolina served as one of the iconic moments in program history, while he went on to become a second round pick in the MLS. Zusi went on to become a six-time MLS All Star while his 14 seasons with the Kansas City Wizards, now Sporting Kansas City, made him the longest tenured player to have played with one club in MLS history. He also appeared on the USA national team in the 2014 World Cup where he recorded two assists in four matches, including an assist in the 86th minute goal to defeat Ghana.

Related Links