The University of Southern Indiana Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the selection of the 2016 USI Athletic Hall of Fame class that will be inducted during homecoming week in February. The class of five individuals and one former coach was selected by a nine-member USI Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.
Any Screaming Eagles fan was eligible to nominate student athletes or teams on the 10th anniversary of their last season of competition, or a coach/administrator who has been separated from the Department of Athletics for two years. Special individuals (e.g., Varsity Club members) also were eligible for nominations as well.
This year’s class includes Ernie Brothers ’76 (Men’s Basketball, 1973-76), Heather Cooksey Platt(Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field, 2002-06), Shane Gibson ’93 (Men’s Soccer, 1989-92), Brian Merrill ’96 (Men’s Golf, 1992-96), Candace Perry Fairer (Women’s Track & Field, 2003-05), and Don Bisesi (Women’s Golf Head Coach, 2000-15).
“I continue to be amazed by the amount of outstanding student-athletes and coaches this University has had,” said USI Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall. “The Class of 2016 truly represents our growing tradition here at USI. The six individuals that will be honored in February are truly worthy of this extraordinary honor. I know that the entire USI community is proud of this class and what it accomplished while at USI.”
Plans are underway for the induction ceremony on the evening of February 10. A listing of previous USI Athletic Hall of Fame inductees can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.
2016 USI ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS
Ernie Brothers Men’s Basketball, 1973-76: Brothers was an outstanding played for ISUE, marking the first player to score 1,000 points. He held the career and season scoring average when he graduated in 1975.
Heather Cooksey Platt (Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field, 2002-06): Cooksey was USI’s first-ever female national champion, earning the title in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships in 2004. One of the most decorated women’s student-athletes in school history, Cooksey earned a combined 11 All-America honors and 16 All-GLVC awards, in addition to winning two GLVC Cross Country championships as well as GLVC Runner of the Year awards. She was the Great Lakes Region Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2004 as well as the Great Lakes Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in 2004. The GLVC Freshman of the Year in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field in 2002-03, she finished first in more than 40 races during her career at USI and completed her career ranked first all-time in 12 different events and currently holds nine school records.
Shane Gibson, Men’s Soccer 1989-91: Gibson was a member of the USI inaugural Division I team in 1992, He also was USI’s first men’s soccer GLVC Player of the Year in 1990, in addition to winning All-Region honors in 1990; All-State in 1991; and a two All-GLVC awards. Gibson was one of the team captains in 1990 and 1991 and a member of three GLVC championship team.
Brian Merrill, Men’s Golf 1992-96: Merrill is a four-time All-GLVC, a two-time All-District and a two-time Academic All-American. He has held the USI record season scoring average (75.2) since 1994, while his 76.1 career average ranks fourth all-time. Merrill had four rounds under 70, the only USI men’s golfer to accomplish that feat, and helped lead USI to its only NCAA II National Championship appearance in 1996.
Candace Perry Fairer, Women’s Track & Field 2003-05: Perry Fairer is the first women’s track & field student athlete to win a NCAA II Outdoor national championship in a field event, taking the long jump in 2004 and was a four-time All-American in the long jump (two indoor and two outdoor). She later transferred to Indiana University for her last two seasons to compete in the long jump.
Don Bisesi, Women’s Golf Head Coach 2000-2015: Bisesi led the USI women’s golf team to 10 NCAA Division II East Super Regional appearances between 2004 and 2015 before transitioning to honorary head coach in the fall of 2015 before passing away in December. Under Bisesi, the Eagles either qualified as a team or had an individual qualify for the NCAA post-season in 13-straight years. Bisesi, who died last week after a long battle with cancer, also was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year twice during his tenure.
