Marietta, Georgia, August 16, 2019 – Life University Athletics has announced its inaugural Hall of Fame class that features five prominent alumni Friday morning, August 16.
The first class will feature Roger Kaiser (MBKB), Mike Spino (MXC, MT&F), Silah Misoi (MXC, MT&F), Zoila Stewart (WXC, WT&F) and Gary Lambert (MRUGBY).
Kaiser was the men’s basketball coach at Life U from 1991-2000. During his tenure, he developed the basketball program into a household name within the NAIA. He claimed three national championships in 1997, 1999 and 2000, as well as runner ups in 1994. Kaiser led the Running Eagles to the NAIA National Tournament for eight consecutive years from 1993-2000. He was named the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000 and was inducted into the NAIA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Spino was the men’s cross country and track & field coach from 1991 to the early 2000s. At the helm of program, he captured four cross country titles in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, two indoor track and field titles in 1997 and 2000 and won four consecutive outdoor track and field titles from 1997-2000. He was named the NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1995, as well as the Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2000. Spino also was named the Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2000. During his tenure, he coached 39 individual NAIA National Champions and currently sits second all-time in individual titles at one event with five in 2000.
Misoi competed with the men’s cross country and men’s track and field teams at Life University from 1996-2000. During his time as a Running Eagle, he claimed nine individual national championships and was a 12-time NAIA All-America selection. He earned All-America honors all four years in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. In his four years on campus, Misoi won three of the four NAIA Men’s Cross Country titles. On the track, he won the 3,000 Meter race in 1997 and 1998, outdoor 5,000 Meter race in 1997 and 1998, indoor 5,000 Meter race in 1999, as well as the Distance Medley Relay in 2000. He is the current NAIA Men’s Cross Country 8K record holder with his time in 1996 and the NAIA Meet Record Holder for indoor track and field in the 3K (1998) and 5K (1999).
Stewart competed with the women’s track and field team from 1997-1999. She was a four-time NAIA All-America selection at Life U, capturing the honor in 1997 and 1998 in outdoor track and field and in 1998 and 1999 in indoor track and field. As a Running Eagle, she claimed six NAIA National Titles. On the indoor track, she won the 400 Meter race in 1998 and 1999, the 800 Meter race in 1998 and the 1600 Meter relay in 1998. On the outdoor track, she claimed the title in the 400 Meter race in 1997 and 1998. Stewart was also named the 1998 Women’s Indoor Track and Field NAIA Outstanding Performer and represented her home country of Costa Rica in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.
Lambert was involved with the Life U rugby program from 1983-1988. In his time as a Running Eagle, he was named as the captain of the team. After graduation, Lambert became a household name with USA Rugby as he earned 18 caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team and made appearances on the sevens squad. He represented his country in the 1987 Rugby World Cup and was named to the All-World Team in 1998. USA Rugby inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2018 for his contributions to the rugby community globally.
Life University Director of Athletics Jayme Pendergast had this to say about the inaugural class, “Life University has a rich athletic history, and it was critical to start honoring the best of the best. This first class of inductees will always be special, and I hope the celebration will be special for them and their families. Roger, Mike, Silah, Zoila and Gary all have an amazing résumé, and we are proud to honor the significant way in which they impacted Life University. My hope is that our current student-athletes see the accomplishments of those who have come before them and strive to be part of a future Hall of Fame class. I look forward to having each of them back on campus to share this special accomplishment.”
The group will partake in a dinner and banquet on November 1, 2019 at the Hampton Inn, Marietta. All interested guests are encouraged to contact Jayme Pendergast via email at Jayme.Pendergast@LIFE.edu for ticket purchases. Seating will be limited. The group will then have the chance to meet current student-athletes the next morning, as well as witness the unveiling of the Hall of Fame wall. The inductees are then invited to attend the women’s volleyball match against Shawnee State at Noon. Finally, the group will officially be recognized with a presentation during halftime of the men’s basketball game vs Clinton College, which starts at 4:00 p.m.
In a joint effort to increase alumni support and recognition, the department has launched a new initiative to help support Life University Athletics directly through the Running Eagles Club. Funds raised from the Running Eagles Club will go directly into increasing student-athlete scholarships. For more information, visit the link here: Running Eagles Club Information. To nominate individuals for the future Hall of Fame classes, please visit the link here: Life University Athletics Hall of Fame Nomination Form.
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