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FOOTBALL IN THE ATHLETICS ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
Division II level. After helping the team to a 4-6 mark his
freshman year, Bill developed into a major force on oense
as a sophomore when he led the team in rushing with 634
yards on 131 carries with four touchdowns. Bill entered his
senior season in good health and capped o his four years
in a Charger uniform with a career high 832 yards on 171
carries with six TD’s. For his career, he ranks sixth on the
all-time New Haven rushing list gaining 1,840 yards on 392
carries, an average of 4.7 yards per carry.
Jesse Showerda '96 - Inducted 2007
Showerda took over the starting quarterback role for his
nal two seasons and led UNH to a 17-4-1 record during
that time - including a 10-1-1 mark in 1995. That season as
a junior under head coach Tony Sparano, Showerda guided
UNH back to the national stage as the Chargers advanced
to the NCAA Division II national quarternals and a No. 5
nal national ranking. One of the 1996 team captains, he
threw a school-record 280 straight passes without an in-
terception, and was the NCAA Division II passing eciency
leader with a 165.6 rating. He threw for 2,625 yards, 31
touchdowns and just three interceptions. That season, he
was also ECAC Player of the Year, an AFCA Division II All-
America selection, and a nalist for the Harlon Hill trophy.
A native of Meriden, Conn. and a graduate of Platt High
School, Showerda completed 59.9 percent of his passes for
5,703 yards, 57 touchdowns and just 17 interceptions in his
four seasons at UNH.
Cazzie Kosciolek '97 - Inducted 2008
Cazzie Kosciolek quarterbacked the UNH football team to
new heights in 1997, helping bring UNH into the national
spotlight by leading the Chargers to the NCAA champion-
ship game in his only season in the blue and gold. UNH
became the rst school from the State of Connecticut to
play in a college football title game and was at that time
the smallest school in terms of enrollment to play for the
national title. In 1997, Kosciolek nished third in the vot-
ing for the Harlon Hill Trophy after passing for 3,232 yards
and 32 touchdowns to lead the NCAA’s highest-scoring
oense (43.3 points per game). Cazzie amassed 905 yards
and nine touchdown passes in the playos, and UNH n-
ished that season 12-2 overall as the national runners-up.
Kosciolek was named to the Associated Press Small College
All-America Team and was also an All-New England and
All-ECAC selection. Despite playing just the one season,
Cazzie’s passing numbers put him in the career top 10 at
UNH in completions, yardage and touchdowns. When in-
cluding playo statistics in his totals, no one in UNH history
has passed for more yards in a season than Kosciolek, who
earned his undergraduate degree at Boston University be-
fore transferring to UNH to nish out his eligibility.
Rob Thompson '88 - Inducted 2009
An All-American oensive lineman in 1988, Thompson
helped guide New Haven to a 29-11 record during his four
seasons. In 1987 Thompson’s oensive line, including Hall
of Fame member Harry Boatswain, allowed only 16 sacks,
while UNH threw for nearly 2,000 yards. In 1987, Thompson
was named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference
team and a year later received All-New England Collegiate
Conference and All-American honors. Thompson went on
to play professional football for two years after graduating
from New Haven in 1989.
Michael Horton '88 - Inducted 2010
A three-year starter, Michael Horton is one of the most pro-
lic University of New Haven quarterbacks to ever wear a
Chargers’ uniform. Posting a 23-7 record as a starter and
three seasons with over 2,000 yards of total oense, the
Vauxhall, N.J. native helped lead the Chargers to three
consecutive seasons with seven or more wins. During his
four seasons, the quarterback completed 509-of-998 pass
attempts for 6,836 yards and 43 touchdowns. His 50.9 ca-
reer completion percentage also ranks as one of the best
in UNH history. His career set the stage for a very successful
line of UNH quarterbacks in the years to follow. At the time
of his graduation, Horton held every single UNH passing
record.
Greg Ortman '86 - Inducted 2010
The 1986 University of New Haven football captain, Greg
Ortman helped turn the Chargers from a 2-8 record his
freshman year to an 8-2 record as a senior. A running back
at Glen Ridge High School, Ortman eventually made the
transition to an outstanding receiver during his four years
at UNH. Ortman’s four-year totals include over 1,600 receiv-
ing yards, 129 receptions and 14 touchdowns. He’s one of
only eight Chargers to amass over 1,600 receiving yards
and at the time of his induction he ranked fth at UNH in
career receptions, eighth in career receiving touchdowns
and ninth in receiving yards. Ortman also helped kick start
a winning tradition at UNH. Including his senior season, the
Chargers recorded ve seasons with seven or more wins.
John Raba '92 - Inducted 2010
A standout student-athlete on both the football and men’s
lacrosse teams, John Raba always competed at a high level.
He was a feared runner and returner on the football eld. In
1991, Raba enjoyed a career season on the gridiron. Raba
led the team with 850 all purpose yards during his senior
season as the team posted a record-tying 12 wins. He was a
captain in 1992 and once again haunted kicko teams with
over 600 yards on 24 returns. The Massapequa, N.Y. native
was named to the All-New England Second Team as a se-
nior after leading the Chargers to their rst appearance in
the NCAA Division II postseason. Raba boasted a four-year
football record of 30-13, while amassing over 1,300 return
yards, 1,000 rushing yards and 850 receiving yards.
Tony Willis '93 - Inducted 2011
The most decorated wide receiver in Charger football his-
tory, Tony Willis haunted opposing defenses from 1990-93.
Willis enjoyed record-setting seasons, while the Chargers
posted a 23-2 record and two NCAA Division II postseason
appearances during his nal two seasons. He was named
to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference Team and
the All-New England First Team three-straight seasons. As a
senior, he posted 71 catches for 1,074 yards and 11 touch-
downs. Willis is also the only student-athlete to record
back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 1992 and
1993. In total, Willis holds all three of UNH’s career receiving
records and ranks third in most points scored (228).
Roger Graham '94 - Inducted 2000
Graham captured the 1993 Harlon Hill Trophy. He was a
three-time All-American and a two-time Eastern College
Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Named the Sports
Illustrated College Player of the Week seven times during
his career. He was a three-team First-Team All-New England,
capturing the All-New England Rookie of the Year honor in
1991. Graham holds New Haven’s game, season and career
record for most points and oensive touchdowns. The NCAA
individual statistical champion in scoring (13.8 pts/game)
and rushing (171.1 yds/game).
Pierre Fils '90 - Inducted 2012
A four-year member of the Charger football team, Pierre
Fils helped lead the UNH receiving corps from 1987-90. An
All-American selection as a senior, he was one of the most
talented receivers and returners to ever wear a New Haven
uniform. Throughout his career, Fils amassed 127 catches
for 2,218 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. He currently
ranks fourth in career receiving yards, fth in receiving
touchdowns and sixth in receptions at New Haven. As a re-
turn specialist, the Monsey, N.Y. product added over 1,300
yards and a pair of touchdowns. Fils led the team his nal
three seasons in all-purpose yards and guided the Chargers
up the Division II national rankings. The team also boasted
a 30-10 overall record during his four seasons.
Ken Suhl '92 - Inducted 2012
Ken Suhl helped lead the New Haven football team from
1989-92 and anchored the program to its rst-ever NCAA
Division II postseason appearance. During his career, Suhl
quarterbacked the most potent passing attack in the na-
tion and became a legend to Charger football. Throughout
his career, Suhl passed for over 4,000 yards and led New
Haven on a NCAA Division II postseason run to the national
seminals. The Greeneld, Mass. product currently ranks all
over the UNH passing records, including eighth in career
passing yards with 4,355, fourth in career passing touch-
downs with 48 and eighth in career completions with 302.
Along with his individual accolades, Suhl anchored a team
which posted a four-year record of 30-13.
Mark Whipple - Inducted 2012
The winningest coach in New Haven football history, Mark
Whipple guided the Chargers from 1988 to 1993. In 1988
Whipple was named the fth head coach in Charger foot-
ball history, his rst career head coaching position. Five
years later, he took the Chargers to their rst NCAA post-
season and nished the season with program-best 12 wins.
In total, Whipple amassed a 48-17 record in six seasons at
the helm of the Chargers. He coached nine All-Americans
and nearly 75 All-New England honorees. Since leaving
UNH, Coach Whipple has continued to have great success
at the collegiate and professional ranks.
Pat Fitzpatrick '90 - Inducted 2013
One of the nest kickers to don a New Haven uniform,
Pat Fitzpatrick ranks sixth all-time at UNH with 169 career
points. He connected on 127 extra points and 14 eld goals
during his illustrious career from 1987-90. At the time of his
graduation, Fitzpatrick held New Haven’s all-time record
for points and was the rst kicker to cross the 150-point
plateau. Not only did Fitzpatrick enjoy individual success
during his four-year career, but the Chargers posted a re-
markable 30-10 overall record from 1987-90.
Mike Forte '94 - Inducted 2013
A standout football player, Mike Forte played both sides
of the ball during his career which spanned from 1990-94.
He amassed 144 total tackles and over 200 yards of total
oense. After graduating in the spring of 1994, Forte re-
turned for his nal year of eligibility as a graduate student
in the fall. In his second year starting at linebacker, he en-
joyed a very successful season. Forte’s numbers included
90 tackles, one fumble recovery and an interception in his
nal year. The Manseld, Mass. native put together one of
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FOOTBALL IN THE ATHLETICS ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
the most outstanding individual performances in a game
at Abilene Christian on September 24, 1994. He made a
single-game record 27 tackles against the Wildcats, a mark
that still stands 20 years later. Just as impressive as his in-
dividual statistics are the accomplishments of the team
during Forte’s tenure. He was a member of two teams that
qualied for the NCAA playos and posted a career record
of 40-15.
Shane McNeeley '97 - Inducted 2014
The rst-ever two-year captain for New Haven football,
Shane McNeeley suited up at linebacker on four of the
most successful teams in program history. McNeeley, who
recorded 13 sacks, four interceptions and ve forced fum-
bles in addition to over 300 tackles for the Blue and Gold,
anchored the Chargers’ defense and served as team cap-
tain on the squad’s run to the 1997 National Championship
Game. He was a two-time All-New England honoree and
a 1997 First Team All-Northeast Region selection. In four
seasons on the gridiron at New Haven, McNeeley helped
guide the Chargers to a record of 36-9-1 that stands as one
of the best four-year spans in program history.
Walt Oko '88 - Inducted 2014
A four-year starter in the secondary for New Haven football,
Walt Oko accumulated 209 tackles and nine interceptions
from 1985-88. He also found the end zone via interception
return, fumble recovery and a pair of punt return touch-
downs in his career en route to All-New England honors as
both a junior and senior. The Chargers posted a four-year
record of 31-12-1 with Oko helming the defensive back-
eld and under the guidance of New Haven Hall of Fame
coaches Chris Palmer and Mark Whipple. Oko capped his
career with a second consecutive First Team All-New Eng-
land nod in 1988 as the Chargers nished with a record of
7-3. He made 61 tackles in his senior season and hauled in
an interception – the ninth of his career. Oko also found the
endzone for the fourth time as a member of the Blue and
Gold, returning a punt 56 yards to paydirt against in-state
foe Central Connecticut State.
Elvert Elden '00 - Inducted 2015
One of the best receivers in Charger football history, Elvert
Eden ranks near the top of every receiving record at the
University of New Haven after concluding his four-year ca-
reer in 2000. Eden made an immediate impact his rookie
season, nishing second on the team with 29 catches for
498 yards and four touchdowns. He nished top on the
team in 1999 with 62 receptions for 1,006 yards, the fourth
UNH player to post 1,000 receiving yards in a single season,
and added seven touchdowns. Eden capped o his career
with an outstanding senior season, leading the team with
42 catches and a career-high eight touchdowns for 540
yards. His eight touchdowns ranks seventh all-time in a sin-
gle season. He ranks second all-time with 163 receptions,
fth all-time with 22 touchdowns and third all-time with
2,455 receiving yards.
Jay McLucas '90 - Inducted 2015
One of the most prolic passers in New Haven football his-
tory, Jay McLucas donned the Blue and Gold from 1987-90.
As an All-New England selection his junior year, he complet-
ed 161-of-297 passes for 2,025 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The total included four dierent games with more than 200
passing yards and a season-high 278 yards against CCSU.
As a senior, McLucas enjoyed one of the nest seasons by
any New Haven signal caller tallying a remarkable 3,114
yards and 23 touchdowns on 209-of-402 passing. As a re-
sult, the Chargers led all of Division II in passing oense
with over 335 yards per game. Following that year, he be-
came the rst quarterback to earn All-America honors and
the New England Player of the Year. He was also named to
the All-ECAC Team and All-New England Team for the sec-
ond time of his career. With 5,192 passing yards, 378 com-
pletions and 37 touchdowns in his career, McLucas ranked
second all-time at UNH in each category at the time of his
graduation.
Steve Cedor '88 - Inducted 2016
One of the best tacklers in school history, Steve Cedor was
a two-time team captain that helped lead the New Haven
football team to a 27-17 four-year record and an appear-
ance in the 1997 National Championship game. Cedor
broke out as a sophomore, nishing with a career-high 111
tackles, one of only seven players in school history to re-
cord 100 or more in a single season. Included that year was
a school record 19 solo tackles against Western Kentucky,
a record that still stands today. Following that season, Ce-
dor received All-New England and All-ECAC accolades. He
followed that with 92 tackles as a junior, again leading the
team and earning back-to-back All-New England honors.
Cedor would cap o his career earning a pair of All-America
accolades from the Don Hanson Football Gazette and the
American Football Coaches Association. In addition to All-
America honors as a senior, Cedor was also named the New
England Player of the Year following his senior season. At
the time of his graduation, Cedor was fth all-time with 315
career tackles, a number which remains among the top-10
today. He is also third in career forced fumbles with seven
and eighth in single season tackles with 111 in 1998.
Dwayne Brown '02 - Inducted 2017
A 2001 All-American defensive lineman, Dwayne Brown re-
mains the all-time leader in career sacks over his four-year
career. A force on the defensive line from his freshman sea-
son, Brown led the Chargers to 20 victories over the span of
his time at New Haven. Brown played in every game during
his rookie campaign, closing out the season with 22 tackles
and six sacks while forcing a fumble. He followed that up
with a career-best 57 tackles as a sophomore and matched
his six sacks from 1998. He also forced four fumbles as a
sophomore, recovering one. As a junior, Brown nished
with 42 tackles, eight sacks and a pair of interceptions.
Following his sophomore and junior seasons, he collected
All-ECAC honors as well as All-New England accolades as a
junior. During his senior campaign, Brown got to the quar-
terback 10.5 times, a number that still stands as the fth-
best in single-season program history. His 10.5 sacks were
also tied for the seventh most in the nation. Brown ended
his career not only as the all-time sacks leader (30.5), but
also the all-time leader in tackles for loss with 44.5 and sec-
ond in forced fumbles with nine. All total, Brown collected
153 tackles, nine forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recover-
ies and picked o three passes during his tenure.
David Peterson '88 - Inducted 2017
A former defensive end, Peterson is a member of the Uni-
versity’s Board of Governors and an owner and operator of
a number of successful businesses over the past two de-
cades. On the gridiron, Peterson’s career began as an out-
side linebacker in 1983 before redshirting his sophomore
season due to injury. He would return with a vengeance to
anchor the defensive line from 1985 to 1987. All total, Pe-
terson collected 152 tackles including a career-high 77 as a
senior. Among his 77 tackles were 10 sacks, a number that
remains sixth highest in the single season record books. His
leadership helped the Chargers to back-to-back eight win
seasons, the most wins in a single season since joining the
ranks of NCAA Division II. Overall, the Chargers combined
for 24 wins during Peterson’s tenure.
Michael Murphy '87 - Inducted 2019
A linebacker with the Chargers, Michael Murphy collected
297 total tackles which remains among the top-10 in pro-
gram history, while helping lead New Haven to 27 wins,
including back-to-back 8-2 seasons under Athletics Hall
of Fame Head Coach Chris Palmer. Murphy spent his rst
season with the Blue and Gold on the oensive side of the
ball, leading the team with 310 rushing yards on 81 car-
ries with a pair of touchdowns. He opened up his collegiate
career with a 100-yard rushing game on 16 carries against
UMass Lowell. In addition, Murphy completed six catches
for 61 yards and returned a pair of kickos for 22 yards.
After transitioning to the linebacker position during the
spring of his freshman season, Murphy collected 80 total
tackles, including 50 solo, in his rst season on defense. He
also added a forced fumble. A menace to opponent’s oen-
sive plans, Murphy became known as a player who would
make the big plays and step up when needed. In his junior
season, Murphy collected 99 total tackles, second most
on the team, which included 51 solo. Also among his tally
was four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and
two fumble recoveries as the Chargers defense was ranked
12th in total defense and 21st in scoring defense in all of
NCAA Division II. His senior campaign proved one for the
record books as he closed out the season second on the
team with 118 tackles, a number that remains sixth most in
a single season. One of two captains that season, Murphy
capped o his career earning New England Football Writ-
er’s All-New England accolades as one of three members
of the defense to earn that distinction in 1987. In addition
to his 118 single season tackles ranking sixth all-time, Mur-
phy’s name can be found in three career record top-10’s;
total tackles (7th, 297), assisted tackles (4th, 139) and solo
tackles (7th, 158).
Tom Bell (Head Coach 1976-82) - Inducted 2022
After leading the New Haven football team to its rst ever
winning season, Tom Bell becomes the fourth Charger foot-
ball head coach to earn a spot in the New Haven Athletics
Hall of Fame. As the longest tenured head coach until this
season, Bell racked up 32 wins at the helm of the program,
including leading New Haven to its only undefeated sea-
son and eight-win campaign in 1979. Just three years later,
he would lead the Chargers in their transition to Division II
which came in 1982. Overall, he nished four seasons with
a .500 or better record. Individually, Bell coached the Char-
gers rst ever All-American and rst ever player taken in
the NFL Amateur Draft, Miles McPherson who went on to
play four seasons with the San Diego Chargers.).
