Florida Atlantic University’s Athletic Hall of Fame was founded to honor, pay tribute and perpetuate the memory of those individuals who, either through participation, support or interest, have made outstanding contributions in intercollegiate athletics and who have helped bring recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to the University. This Hall of Fame also recognizes those who have continued to demonstrate, in their daily lives, the values learned in intercollegiate athletics or athletically gained national recognition.

For more information or to nominate an outstanding individual please call 561-297-3199.

FAU Inducts Seven into Inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame

Class of 2006 (Inaugural Class)

Keith Foley - Baseball Keith Foley joined the Florida Atlantic baseball team in only its third year of existence. The outfielder became the first baseball player to gain All-America recognition. He held the record for hits in a season with 95 until the 2005 season, and is third in career batting average, stolen bases and in slugging percentage. Foley's 95 hits led the nation in 1983. He belted 28 home runs to rank 10th all-time. In 1984, Foley was drafted by the New York Yankees.

Whitney Kraft - Tennis Whitney Kraft held the no. 1 position for both singles and doubles from 1981-1983. Kraft captured the Southeast Region and advanced to the NAIA National Championships where he was victorious in his first eight matches. He completed the season as the program's first and is still the only men's tennis All-American. Kraft resided in Broward County where he is Director of Tennis for the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation. Until he accepted a position with as the director of tennis for the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

Nikki Myers - Softball Nikki Myers completed a four-year softball career at FAU and is the most highly decorated player in the history of the program. Myers was a three-time Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year and was a four-time A-Sun Tournament MVP. She earned NCAA All-Regional Tournament Team honors twice. Nationally, Myers is a two-time All-American and was a top-10 finalist for the 2002 Softball National Player of the Year. She currently ranks fifth all-time in the NCAA history with 1,376 strikeouts. Myers earned FAU's Female Athlete of the Year in 1999. She has played professionally for the Akron Racers and for the Connecticut Brakettes.

Steve Traylor - Baseball Steve Traylor was the first baseball coach in the program's history and was instrumental in setting a tone of excellence for a program that has sent 71 players to professional baseball. From 1981-87, Traylor amassed a 268-107-2 record for an outstanding .714 win percentage. Traylor guided the Owls to a District 25 runner-up finish in just his second year. In his third season, FAU was crowned the NAIA District 25 Champions. In the program's first season at the Division II level, the team captured a berth in the 1985 NCAA South Regional. Following his outstanding stint at FAU he became the head coach at Duke University and has since retired as the head coach at Wofford.

Noemi Zaharia (Lung) - Swimming Noemi Zaharia came to Florida Atlantic in 1990 as an accomplished swimmer. She competed in both the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games, representing Romania. She took silver in the 400 individual medley and bronze in the 200 Individual medley in 1988. She swam in the 1987 World University Games, where she won five gold and two bronze medals and received the Most Valuable Athlete Award. She earned All-America honors in 1991 and 1992. She took eight Division II individual championships, was named the NCAA's 1992 Female Athlete of the Year and received the Honda Award for excellence in sports. Zaharia is currently serving as the head swimming coach at Florida International University.

Laurence Bensimon - Swimming Laurence Bensimon set a precedent early in the women's swim program's history with two national records in the 500 and the 1650 freestyle events. While she set the mark in 1987, her times have yet to be surpassed in the nearly 20 years that have followed. Bensimon was a four-time National Champion after she captured the 200 free, 500 free 1650 free and 200 fly in 1987. In the history of NCAA Division II, Bensimon is one of eight individuals who have captured four events in a single season.

Yolanda Griffith - Basketball Yolanda Griffith holds the FAU single season record for points scored, scoring average, field goal percentage, rebounds, and rebounding average. Griffith was named the NCAA Division II Kodak Player of the Year and was named All-America. Since leaving FAU, she has played professionally in Europe, with the American Basketball League and for the last eight seasons with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs. She is the WNBA's all-time leader in offensive rebounds and ranks second all-time in total rebounds. Griffith guided the Monarchs to the 2005 WNBA Championship, a first in franchise history. She also led the 2000 and 2004 USA Olympic Team to gold Medals.