Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Reveals Six-Member Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015
8/5/2015 2:52:00 PM | General
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern today announced the six members of its Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015 comprising four former student-athletes, one coach and a longtime staff member.
Christy Finch (2005-08) and Lindsey Munday (2003-06) of women's lacrosse, David Roth (2004-07) of men's soccer, Alexis Prousis (2003-07) of women's tennis, former head football coach Gary Barnett (1992-98) and retired donor relations and special events coordinator Jean Yale (1992-2014) make up the complete Class that will be celebrated during Hall of Fame weekend Sept. 25-26 surrounding the Wildcats' home football game against Ball State at Ryan Field.
The induction ceremony and dinner will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the Hotel Orrington in Evanston. The induction is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by contacting Katie Brown in Northwestern's Athletic Development office at kathryn.brown@northwestern.edu or 847-491-7491.
The entire class then will be honored at the 7 p.m. football game against the Cardinals the next day.
CHRISTY FINCH (2005-08), Women's Lacrosse
A member of the first class in Northwestern history to capture four national championships, Finch was a two-time IWLCA All-America first-team selection and twice was named the National Defender of the Year.
Finch was the lone freshman to play in all 21 games during NU's first national title season of 2005 and had her breakout year as a junior in 2007 when she finished second in the NCAA with 59 caused turnovers and 53 ground balls. She was named the nation's Defender of the Year by both the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse Magazine.
As a senior in 2008, Finch earned a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist nomination as a defender in addition to being the Inside Lacrosse, womenslacrosse.com and WomensLax.com National Defender of the Year. She led the nation in caused turnovers with 70 and ranked second nationally in caused turnovers per game (3.18).
In addition to her national accolades, Finch won two All-American Lacrosse Conference first-team awards in 2007 and 2008. She finished her career ranked fourth in NCAA history with 183 caused turnovers.
LINDSEY MUNDAY (2003-06), Women's Lacrosse
A two time first team All-American, Munday helped the Wildcats win five NCAA national championships—two as a student-athlete (2005-06) and three as an assistant coach (2007-09). As a player, she concluded her career with 64 wins (64-12), which at the time represented a school record for victories by the class of 2006. She orchestrated an offense that led the nation with 15.8 goals per game in 2006 and helped the Wildcats set then-school records for goals (333), assists (165) and points (498).
Munday, who closed her career among NU's leaders for assists (128), points (268) and goals (140), was a two-time Tewaaraton Trophy semifinalist and a four time America Lacrosse Conference selection (fist team pick in 2005 and '06). She was NU's all time assists leader at the time of her graduation. Munday also received Northwestern's 2006 Big Ten Medal of Honor, given annually to a graduating make and female of outstanding academic and athletic talent.
Following her graduation in 2006, she joined Kelly Amonte Hiller's coaching staff and became the program's top assistant and recruiter. She then became the head coach at Mount St. Mary's University before accepting the head coaching position at USC, which will begin women's lacrosse competition in 2013.
DAVID ROTH (2004-07), Men's Soccer
David Roth led Northwestern to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth as a freshman in 2004, concluded his career as NU's first-ever All-America honoree as a senior in 2007 and earned All-Big Ten honors in all four of his collegiate seasons.
Roth tied the Big Ten and established the Northwestern single-season record for assists as a freshman with 14 and scored a pair of goals in NU's second-round NCAA Tournament game at Creighton. He was named to both Collegesoccernews.com and Top Drawer Soccer freshman All-America squads.
After earning All-Big Ten second-team honors as a sophomore, Roth went on to led NU with 21 points during his junior campaign during in which he became Northwestern's all-time assists lead with 25 in just three seasons of competition. He was one of 11 players nationwide named to the 2006 Soccer America Men's College MVP team.
As a senior, Roth won a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten accolade and was a second-team All-America pick by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He concluded his career with an NU best 32 career assists and ranked third in school history with 70 points at the time of his graduation.
ALEXIS PROUSIS (2003-07), Women's Tennis
Alexis Prousis earned the biggest honor in a career full of them in 2006 when she partnered with 2011 NU Hall of Fame inductee Cristelle Grier to win the NCAA doubles national championship. The team became just the second in NU and Big Ten Conference history to capture a national title.
Prousis won two All-America first-team selections and was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. She compiled a career record of 117-46 and was part of four-straight Big Ten Championship teams. In 2006, Prousis won the ITA Midwest Region doubles championship, then advanced to the final again the following year. She received a wildcard entry into the 2006 U.S. Open.
In 2006, the Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA National Championships while earning a berth in the NCAA third round in all four of Prousis' seasons.
GARY BARNETT (1992-98), Football
Northwestern's head football coach who memorably took the Purple to Pasadena in 1995 not only led the Wildcats to their first major Bowl Game appearances since 1949, he also won a pair of Big Ten Championships in 1995 and 1996—the school's first since 1936.
Barnett arrived in 1992 and spent much of his first three seasons building the foundation for one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history. His 1995 team went undefeated in Big Ten play and 10-2 overall, sending the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl while earning national coach of the year honors from eight different organizations.
His program repeated the Big Ten Championship feat in 1996 with a 7-1 mark, earning a trip to the New Year's Day Florida Citrus Bowl. Barnett was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
JEAN YALE (1992-2014), Honorary
For 22 years, Jean Yale served as Northwestern's donor relations and special events coordinator, becoming the face for the Wildcats Department of Athletics and Recreation at the more than 40 NU-sponsored functions she organized each season prior to her retirement in 2014. The relationships she built with student-athletes, their families and Northwestern's donors made her part of the very fabric of the Department.
A 1957 Northwestern graduate with a degree in education, Yale taught school in Wilmette and continued to cheer on the Wildcats as her oldest son, John, played center for Northwestern's football team in the 1980s. In 1992, with her four children grown and seeking part-time employment, it was John who suggested that Yale explore an opportunity to work for her alma mater. That suggestion spawned a Hall of Fame career that has touched thousands of Wildcats.
Yale has been a fixture in the Ryan Field Stadium Club for parts of three decades, has been present at every bowl game Northwestern has played during her tenure and often wears a special pendant commemorating NU's 2013 Gator Bowl victory—a gift from Pat Fitzgerald and the football program—around her neck.
Yale has been honored before and after her retirement with the Northwestern N Club's Honorary N, the NGN Service Award (twice) and was the football team's honorary captain for a game in 2014.
ABOUT THE NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME: The Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1984 to honor former athletes, coaches and administrators who have helped establish a proud tradition in intercollegiate competition at Northwestern. Individuals are eligible for Hall of Fame recognition beginning five years after their final competition at NU. For more information and to view the complete membership, visit the NUsports.com Hall of Fame website.
Christy Finch (2005-08) and Lindsey Munday (2003-06) of women's lacrosse, David Roth (2004-07) of men's soccer, Alexis Prousis (2003-07) of women's tennis, former head football coach Gary Barnett (1992-98) and retired donor relations and special events coordinator Jean Yale (1992-2014) make up the complete Class that will be celebrated during Hall of Fame weekend Sept. 25-26 surrounding the Wildcats' home football game against Ball State at Ryan Field.
The induction ceremony and dinner will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the Hotel Orrington in Evanston. The induction is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by contacting Katie Brown in Northwestern's Athletic Development office at kathryn.brown@northwestern.edu or 847-491-7491.
The entire class then will be honored at the 7 p.m. football game against the Cardinals the next day.
CHRISTY FINCH (2005-08), Women's Lacrosse
A member of the first class in Northwestern history to capture four national championships, Finch was a two-time IWLCA All-America first-team selection and twice was named the National Defender of the Year.
Finch was the lone freshman to play in all 21 games during NU's first national title season of 2005 and had her breakout year as a junior in 2007 when she finished second in the NCAA with 59 caused turnovers and 53 ground balls. She was named the nation's Defender of the Year by both the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse Magazine.
As a senior in 2008, Finch earned a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist nomination as a defender in addition to being the Inside Lacrosse, womenslacrosse.com and WomensLax.com National Defender of the Year. She led the nation in caused turnovers with 70 and ranked second nationally in caused turnovers per game (3.18).
In addition to her national accolades, Finch won two All-American Lacrosse Conference first-team awards in 2007 and 2008. She finished her career ranked fourth in NCAA history with 183 caused turnovers.
LINDSEY MUNDAY (2003-06), Women's Lacrosse
A two time first team All-American, Munday helped the Wildcats win five NCAA national championships—two as a student-athlete (2005-06) and three as an assistant coach (2007-09). As a player, she concluded her career with 64 wins (64-12), which at the time represented a school record for victories by the class of 2006. She orchestrated an offense that led the nation with 15.8 goals per game in 2006 and helped the Wildcats set then-school records for goals (333), assists (165) and points (498).
Munday, who closed her career among NU's leaders for assists (128), points (268) and goals (140), was a two-time Tewaaraton Trophy semifinalist and a four time America Lacrosse Conference selection (fist team pick in 2005 and '06). She was NU's all time assists leader at the time of her graduation. Munday also received Northwestern's 2006 Big Ten Medal of Honor, given annually to a graduating make and female of outstanding academic and athletic talent.
Following her graduation in 2006, she joined Kelly Amonte Hiller's coaching staff and became the program's top assistant and recruiter. She then became the head coach at Mount St. Mary's University before accepting the head coaching position at USC, which will begin women's lacrosse competition in 2013.
DAVID ROTH (2004-07), Men's Soccer
David Roth led Northwestern to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth as a freshman in 2004, concluded his career as NU's first-ever All-America honoree as a senior in 2007 and earned All-Big Ten honors in all four of his collegiate seasons.
Roth tied the Big Ten and established the Northwestern single-season record for assists as a freshman with 14 and scored a pair of goals in NU's second-round NCAA Tournament game at Creighton. He was named to both Collegesoccernews.com and Top Drawer Soccer freshman All-America squads.
After earning All-Big Ten second-team honors as a sophomore, Roth went on to led NU with 21 points during his junior campaign during in which he became Northwestern's all-time assists lead with 25 in just three seasons of competition. He was one of 11 players nationwide named to the 2006 Soccer America Men's College MVP team.
As a senior, Roth won a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten accolade and was a second-team All-America pick by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He concluded his career with an NU best 32 career assists and ranked third in school history with 70 points at the time of his graduation.
ALEXIS PROUSIS (2003-07), Women's Tennis
Alexis Prousis earned the biggest honor in a career full of them in 2006 when she partnered with 2011 NU Hall of Fame inductee Cristelle Grier to win the NCAA doubles national championship. The team became just the second in NU and Big Ten Conference history to capture a national title.
Prousis won two All-America first-team selections and was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. She compiled a career record of 117-46 and was part of four-straight Big Ten Championship teams. In 2006, Prousis won the ITA Midwest Region doubles championship, then advanced to the final again the following year. She received a wildcard entry into the 2006 U.S. Open.
In 2006, the Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA National Championships while earning a berth in the NCAA third round in all four of Prousis' seasons.
GARY BARNETT (1992-98), Football
Northwestern's head football coach who memorably took the Purple to Pasadena in 1995 not only led the Wildcats to their first major Bowl Game appearances since 1949, he also won a pair of Big Ten Championships in 1995 and 1996—the school's first since 1936.
Barnett arrived in 1992 and spent much of his first three seasons building the foundation for one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history. His 1995 team went undefeated in Big Ten play and 10-2 overall, sending the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl while earning national coach of the year honors from eight different organizations.
His program repeated the Big Ten Championship feat in 1996 with a 7-1 mark, earning a trip to the New Year's Day Florida Citrus Bowl. Barnett was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
JEAN YALE (1992-2014), Honorary
For 22 years, Jean Yale served as Northwestern's donor relations and special events coordinator, becoming the face for the Wildcats Department of Athletics and Recreation at the more than 40 NU-sponsored functions she organized each season prior to her retirement in 2014. The relationships she built with student-athletes, their families and Northwestern's donors made her part of the very fabric of the Department.
A 1957 Northwestern graduate with a degree in education, Yale taught school in Wilmette and continued to cheer on the Wildcats as her oldest son, John, played center for Northwestern's football team in the 1980s. In 1992, with her four children grown and seeking part-time employment, it was John who suggested that Yale explore an opportunity to work for her alma mater. That suggestion spawned a Hall of Fame career that has touched thousands of Wildcats.
Yale has been a fixture in the Ryan Field Stadium Club for parts of three decades, has been present at every bowl game Northwestern has played during her tenure and often wears a special pendant commemorating NU's 2013 Gator Bowl victory—a gift from Pat Fitzgerald and the football program—around her neck.
Yale has been honored before and after her retirement with the Northwestern N Club's Honorary N, the NGN Service Award (twice) and was the football team's honorary captain for a game in 2014.
ABOUT THE NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME: The Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1984 to honor former athletes, coaches and administrators who have helped establish a proud tradition in intercollegiate competition at Northwestern. Individuals are eligible for Hall of Fame recognition beginning five years after their final competition at NU. For more information and to view the complete membership, visit the NUsports.com Hall of Fame website.
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