SMU announces 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU and SMU Athletics, in conjunction with the SMU Lettermen’s Association, have announced the newest class of the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame. The inductees are Michele Hain Pappas, Rhonda Rompola and Emmanuel Sanders. The inductees will be recognized at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15 in Armstrong Fieldhouse.
Michele Hain Pappas – Women’s Swimming & Diving 1978-81
Michele Hain Pappas was a seven-time All-American diver from 1978-81. In 1979, she won the 3-meter at the U.S. Diving Championships and the Swedish Cup World Championships, and then competed at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials. Her seven All-America honors included the 3-meter all four years and three 1-meter awards. After her SMU career, she coached the club Mustangs in the Sun for 33 years and also served as a volunteer assistant with SMU from 2002-05.
Rhonda Rompola – Women’s Basketball 1981-2016
Rhonda Rompola was a student-athlete, assistant coach and five-time conference champion head coach for SMU women’s basketball from 1981-2016. In her lone season as a student-athlete in 1981-82, Rompola averaged 21.3 points and 8.8 rebounds. After serving as an assistant coach from 1982-91, she went on to lead the Mustangs for 25 seasons, winning three regular-season conference titles (1999-00, 2008-09, 2012-13) and two league tournaments (1998-99, 2007-08). Rompola led SMU to 13 postseasons as head coach, including seven NCAA Tournaments. The postseason accomplishments include the first NCAA win in program history (1995) and a run to the WNIT final (1993). She was a four-time league coach of the year and finished her career with more wins (439) than any other basketball head coach at SMU.
Emmanuel Sanders – Football 2006-09
Emmanuel Sanders was a four-time All-Conference USA wide receiver from 2006-09. He led the Mustangs in receiving yards each season, recording a then-record 1,339 yards in 2009 when he was an honorable mention All-American. He helped the Mustangs to the 2009 C-USA Western Division Co-Championship and a 45-10 victory over Nevada in the 2009 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Sanders finished his career with SMU records for receptions (285), receiving TDs (34), receiving yards (3,791) and 100-yard games (16). He played in the 2009 East-West Shrine game and then was a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowl selection played in three Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos.
For additional information on purchasing tickets to the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, click here, call 214-768-4314 or email Jeff Lockhart at [email protected].
Editor’s Note: SMU press release.
