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Post by HC13 on Sept 22, 2022 15:47:01 GMT -5
Holy Cross to retire 5 women’s basketball jerseys
WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross Director of Athletics Kit Hughes is honored to announce the retirement of five Holy Cross women’s basketball jerseys at the College. This recognition coincides with the 50th anniversaries of Title IX and coeducation at Holy Cross, and will celebrate the tradition of excellence within the women’s basketball program. The incredible accomplishments of these women will elevate them to the heights of fellow Crusader basketball greats already displayed within the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.
Kathleen Courtney M.D. ’97, Janet Hourihan Brooks ’86, Sherry Levin ’84, Lauren Maney George ’96 and Amy O’Brien Davagian ’99 will all have their numbers hung in the rafters of the Hart Center Arena forever, in honor of their significant impact on and off the court as a part of the storied women’s basketball program.
The five alumnae will be formally honored, and their jerseys officially displayed, during the Crusaders’ Patriot League contest against Army West Point on January 28, 2023.
“The accomplishments of these Crusaders are truly remarkable and I am thrilled for the opportunity to honor their legacy and impact on Holy Cross women’s basketball,” said Hughes. “This special recognition is well-earned based on their significant accomplishments on the court and continued service to others throughout the community and at the College. The opportunity to honor their legacy at the same time we recognize the 50th anniversaries of Title IX and coeducation makes this all the more special. I look forward to celebrating with our entire Holy Cross community as we add these new names to the pantheon of Crusader basketball greats.”
“This is such an exciting time for our program,” said Holy Cross head coach Maureen Magarity. “These five women laid the foundation for the success and tradition that Holy Cross women’s basketball has been built on. The impact that they made individually and collectively on and off the court aligns perfectly with the 50th anniversary of Title IX. We can’t wait to hang their jerseys in the rafters to cement their lasting legacy in Hart.”
#4 Lauren Maney George ’96
Maney, a 1996 United Press honorable mention All-American, ranks fifth all-time at Holy Cross in points scored (1,721), scoring average (14.3) and field goals made (704). A three-time Patriot League champion (1993, 1995, 1996), she was named the Patriot League Player of the Year twice (1995, 1996) and the Patriot League Tournament MVP once (1995). In the classroom, Maney earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors in 1994 and 1995 while being named the 1996 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team for the 1990s and Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team, Maney was the Crusader of the Year in 1996 and was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2002.
“I am deeply honored to have my jersey retired in the Hart Center,” she said. “I have such fond memories and will forever cherish my playing days competing alongside my teammates and coaches. I am both proud and humbled to hold such a prestigious place in Holy Cross women’s basketball history.”
#22 Amy O’Brien Davagian ’99
O’Brien, a three-time conference champion and a 1998 Associated Press honorable mention All-American, ranks second on Holy Cross’ all-time scoring list (2,075). The 1999 New England Player of the Year and a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year (1998, 1999), she also stands third in program history in scoring average (17.4), third in field goals made (782), third in free throws made (465), fourth in rebounds (963) and fifth in field goal percentage (.531). O’Brien also holds the program record for most points scored in a game with 38 at Connecticut on November 14, 1997. In the classroom, she was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (1998, 1999) as well as a two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year (1998, 1999). The 1998 Patriot League Tournament MVP, O’Brien was selected to the Patriot League All-Decade Team for the 1990s and Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team. She was named the Crusader of the Year in 1999 and inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2005.
“During my four years at Holy Cross, I was extremely fortunate to play for Bill Gibbons and Kelly Greenberg, whose dedication, nurturing and profound knowledge of the game allowed me and my teammates to flourish,” she said. “Basketball is a team sport and nothing is ever accomplished alone. With that said, I am so grateful to my teammates for the experiences that we shared together both on and off the court, and for their continued friendship and support. I am so proud to be a part of the Holy Cross women’s basketball family. Congratulations to the other women’s basketball players having their numbers retired. I am humbled to be in their company and truly blown away by this honor. I would like to thank Kit Hughes and Holy Cross for such a thoughtful gesture.”
#24 Sherry Levin ’84
Levin, the program’s all-time leader in points (2,253), scoring average (21.8) and field goals made (842), started and played in 103 games for the Crusaders. A four-time first team Jewish All-American, she led Holy Cross to an EAIAW championship in 1983 and the MAAC regular season title in 1984. Academically, she was a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and the 1984 MAAC scholar-athlete of the year. In 1984, Levin was awarded the Holy Cross Varsity Club’s John A. Meegan Athletic Achievement award. Levin was honored before the Holy Cross’ game against UMass on November 19, 2021, when the players’ lounge adjacent to the women’s locker room was dedicated to her. Levin was the first women’s basketball player to be inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1989, and on April 23, 2023, Levin will be enshrined into the Jewish Sports Heritage Association (JSHA) Hall of Fame.
“I am extremely honored that Holy Cross is retiring my jersey,” she said. “It's quite humbling to
be mentioned in the same breath as the legends I always looked up to as a student-athlete. I
am especially thrilled to have my number alongside that of my dear coach, Togo Palazzi. I know he would be proud. My career was filled with so many incredible memories on the court that this is a culmination of a dream come true. A heartfelt thank you to the athletic department for establishing this new initiative recognizing the tradition of excellence and achievements of women’s basketball at Holy Cross. I am filled with such gratitude and share this honor with my teammates, coaches, and all who have supported us along the way. I am especially excited to have the women's basketball players honored while Title IX celebrates its 50th year of existence. Setting the foundation for future players to look up and see our jerseys and feel like anything is possible is meaningful."
#33 Kathleen Courtney M.D. ’97
Courtney still ranks as Holy Cross’ all-time leader in blocked shots (309), while standing third in rebounds (1,011), third in field goal percentage (.561) and 10th in points scored (1,539). A three-time All-Patriot League nominee, she was named the conference’s Player of the Year in 1997 and Rookie of the Year in 1994. Courtney led the Crusaders to a pair of Patriot League titles (1995, 1996) while recording two of only three triple-doubles in program history. She also earned Academic All-America accolades and was the Patriot League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a senior. A member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team for the 1990s and Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team, Courtney was the Crusader of the Year in 1997 and was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2004.
“I am completely and utterly humbled by this honor,” she said. “I am not sure how I got so lucky to be a part of this Holy Cross basketball family, but I am so glad that Coach Gibbons took a chance on me back in 1993. The lessons that I have learned and the memories that I made at Holy Cross are invaluable to me as I have become a mom, pursued my career as a pediatrician and started coaching my own children. Coach always told us that we wouldn't remember the number of wins and losses, and while I look back upon our achievements fondly, I am more proud of the incredible friendships I have made and continue to have 25 years later. We may not have been the fastest, the biggest or the strongest, but we won many games because of our incredible chemistry and dedication to team above all. I will never take these intangibles for granted and I am so thankful for my coaches who taught us this, day in and day out. I am never more proud than when I tell someone I played basketball at Holy Cross.”
#45 Janet Hourihan Brooks ’86
Hourihan competed on Crusader teams which compiled an overall record of 81-27, including an EAIAW championship, a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and a 1985 bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hourihan still ranks second all-time at Holy Cross in rebounds (1,178) and fourth in points scored (1,909), and was the first player in program history to record over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. A three-time first team All-MAAC selection, Hourihan was named both the New England Player of the Year and the MAAC Player of the Year in 1985. She was also the Most Valuable Player of the 1985 MAAC Tournament, while leading Holy Cross to the title to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth. She was a two-time recipient of the Holy Cross Varsity Club’s John A. Meegan Athletic Achievement award in 1985 and 1986. Hourihan was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1991.
Hourihan Brooks passed away on Sept. 19 after a brave battle with cancer.
“I’m completely honored,” she said on a phone call with Kit Hughes on Sept. 13. “I never thought this day would come, so that’s very exciting. Thank you so much for recognizing the women’s program.”
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Post by rgs318 on Sept 22, 2022 15:58:10 GMT -5
Well done, Holy Cross (and Kit).
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Post by hchoops on Sept 22, 2022 16:00:11 GMT -5
Excellent idea
Two of the women cited Bill Gibbons. I hope AD Hughes and President Rougeau invite him to attend.
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Post by HC13 on Sept 22, 2022 16:03:05 GMT -5
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 22, 2022 16:34:38 GMT -5
Excellent! Interestingly (for me, anyway), that at the HCAA Board meeting during Homecoming, one of the agenda items was a breakout session when we were asked to brainstorm what the organization/college could/should do to celebrate the 50th anniversary of co-education. In my group, Darrell Byers '83 said that he has known and been a long-time neighbor of Sherry Levin and that the Athletic Department, not having any women jerseys hoisted on the Hart rafters, should consider Sherry. The idea was very well received but based on Kit's communication, it sure sounds like this was already a done deal before the HCAA came up with it.
Kudos to Darrell and to Kit (probably Vince) and the folks in the Athletic Department.
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Post by Tom on Sept 22, 2022 17:18:49 GMT -5
Excellent idea Two of the women cited Bill Gibbons. I hope AD Hughes and President Rougeau invite him to attend. Based on my interactions with Coach Gibbons, he will be there, invited or not, to support his former players Sad to say, no guarantee he will be invited. I have no clue about the current status of his lawsuit against the school. If that is still on going, it could make things awkward to invite him |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 22, 2022 18:25:14 GMT -5
Excellent idea Two of the women cited Bill Gibbons. I hope AD Hughes and President Rougeau invite him to attend. Based on my interactions with Coach Gibbons, he will be there, invited or not, to support his former players Sad to say, no guarantee he will be invited. I have no clue about the current status of his lawsuit against the school. If that is still on going, it could make things awkward to invite him Someone could check the docket, but last I knew, the lawsuit was ongoing. --------------------------------------------------------- In the recent report on sexual misconduct, there are several references to the inappropriate behavior of a male athletic coach (or coaches) of a women's team(s) in the first and second decade of this century and who is/are not further identified. Presumably, the coach or coaches are no longer with the college. |
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 22, 2022 18:33:16 GMT -5
Based on my interactions with Coach Gibbons, he will be there, invited or not, to support his former players Sad to say, no guarantee he will be invited. I have no clue about the current status of his lawsuit against the school. If that is still on going, it could make things awkward to invite him Someone could check the docket, but last I knew, the lawsuit was ongoing. --------------------------------------------------------- In the recent report on sexual misconduct, there are several references to the inappropriate behavior of a male athletic coach (or coaches) of a women's team(s) in the first and second decade of this century and who is/are not further identified. Presumably, the coach or coaches are no longer with the college. I thought BG took pains to clarify there were no sexual complaints. |
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 22, 2022 18:36:27 GMT -5
Excellent idea Two of the women cited Bill Gibbons. I hope AD Hughes and President Rougeau invite him to attend. Based on my interactions with Coach Gibbons, he will be there, invited or not, to support his former players Sad to say, no guarantee he will be invited. I have no clue about the current status of his lawsuit against the school. If that is still on going, it could make things awkward to invite him Has BG switched to Kevin Ollie's attorney yet or is he sticking with the guy who lost his sinecure as Registrar of Probate to a young Republican woman who hadn't finished law school? Am I remembering his attorney correctly? |
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Post by HC13 on Sept 22, 2022 19:19:55 GMT -5
Based on my interactions with Coach Gibbons, he will be there, invited or not, to support his former players Sad to say, no guarantee he will be invited. I have no clue about the current status of his lawsuit against the school. If that is still on going, it could make things awkward to invite him Has BG switched to Kevin Ollie's attorney yet or is he sticking with the guy who lost his sinecure as Registrar of Probate to a young Republican woman who hadn't finished law school? Am I remembering his attorney correctly? Vigliotti retired after serving for 42 years & Toomey the current Register is a democrat and was a practicing attorney for 15 years prior to her election and BG's attorney is/was Stephen G. Abraham, |
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Post by breezy on Sept 22, 2022 19:45:59 GMT -5
I certainly believe all five of the honorees are very deserving. I suspect Lauren Manis was not included because she is too recent. I'm a little bummed that Maggie Fontana is not included but I'm not going to question those who made the decision.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 22, 2022 20:01:53 GMT -5
Someone could check the docket, but last I knew, the lawsuit was ongoing. --------------------------------------------------------- In the recent report on sexual misconduct, there are several references to the inappropriate behavior of a male athletic coach (or coaches) of a women's team(s) in the first and second decade of this century and who is/are not further identified. Presumably, the coach or coaches are no longer with the college. I thought BG took pains to clarify there were no sexual complaints. From the report, |
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Post by HC13 on Sept 22, 2022 20:08:10 GMT -5
None of those antidotes seem to sync up particularly well with BG
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Post by oldschoolhoops on Sept 22, 2022 20:52:52 GMT -5
Admin should invite BG. Both sides should put their big boy/girl pants on and support the women being honored. It's about the athletes and their families, not BG or admins. Seems like a no-brainer to have him there. It would be a small move to not invite him and would be same if he turned it down.
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 22, 2022 21:41:49 GMT -5
Has BG switched to Kevin Ollie's attorney yet or is he sticking with the guy who lost his sinecure as Registrar of Probate to a young Republican woman who hadn't finished law school? Am I remembering his attorney correctly? Vigliotti retired after serving for 42 years & Toomey the current Register is a democrat and was a practicing attorney for 15 years prior to her election and BG's attorney is/was Stephen G. Abraham, It was Abraham I was thinking of. He was a Democrat elected as Registrar of Probate, a county position that like Vigliotti's 42 year tenure as Registrar of Deeds, rarely turns over before retirement of the incumbent and rarely changes from Democrat to Republican in Worcester County. So when Abraham lost to a young Republican law student, I was surprised. He is probably a fine lawyer. Kevin Ollie's attorney had a better chance to win against UConn because his client, unlike BG, wasn't paid through the end of his contract. But he did win and win big. |
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 22, 2022 21:43:32 GMT -5
I certainly believe all five of the honorees are very deserving. I suspect Lauren Manis was not included because she is too recent. I'm a little bummed that Maggie Fontana is not included but I'm not going to question those who made the decision. Without her bum knee I think Maggie could have re-written the record book. |
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Post by HC13 on Sept 23, 2022 5:22:16 GMT -5
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 23, 2022 7:02:13 GMT -5
None of those antidotes seem to sync up particularly well with BG The 2000s alumna said "She also believed the coach was insulated in his position, given that he and his supervisors were longstanding members of the Holy Cross community." If one takes 2005 as the decade midpoint, there are only two male coaches of women's sports who fit that description. The coaches of lacrosse and field hockey were women. The coaches of softball and soccer (both men) were appointed after 2005, and I can't find a coaching roster for 2005 for those sports.. Women's rowing had only an assistant coach, and he was a male. The male head coach of women's volleyball was there from 2000 to 2007, and was replaced by a woman. The AD (supervisor) held that position that entire decade, and a current senior associate director (supervisor) had joined the staff in 1988, and was there that entire decade. |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 23, 2022 7:05:54 GMT -5
Very classy. Hourihan-Brooks was apparently the first to be called. |
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Post by rgs318 on Sept 23, 2022 7:22:18 GMT -5
That video was beautifully done (even though overdue) and I am thrilled that they were able to tell Hourihan-Brooks directly about her honor. Interesting that her first thought was to ask..."who else." Always a person for others.
One more reason to be proud to be a Crusader.
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Post by HC13 on Sept 23, 2022 8:27:58 GMT -5
None of those antidotes seem to sync up particularly well with BG The 2000s alumna said "She also believed the coach was insulated in his position, given that he and his supervisors were longstanding members of the Holy Cross community." If one takes 2005 as the decade midpoint, there are only two male coaches of women's sports who fit that description. The coaches of lacrosse and field hockey were women. The coaches of softball and soccer (both men) were appointed after 2005, and I can't find a coaching roster for 2005 for those sports.. Women's rowing had only an assistant coach, and he was a male. The male head coach of women's volleyball was there from 2000 to 2007, and was replaced by a woman. The AD (supervisor) held that position that entire decade, and a current senior associate director (supervisor) had joined the staff in 1988, and was there that entire decade. However, ice hockey, swimming, & diving and perhaps track & field might also fit that description. |
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 23, 2022 8:30:36 GMT -5
Rather than play Columbo, maybe we can just appreciate what these 5 ladies did for the Holy Cross basketball program?
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Post by HC13 on Sept 27, 2022 12:42:09 GMT -5
HC women's basketball stars to have jersey retiredwww.telegram.com/story/sports/college/2022/09/27/janet-hourihan-brooks-among-5-have-holy-cross-jerseys-retired/10437026002/Kathleen Courtney, Sherry Levin, Lauren Maney George and Amy O’Brien Davagian also to receive honor Jan. 28 at Hart CenterJennifer Toland
Telegram & GazetteJanet Hourihan Brooks was a wonderful woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and coach, and one of the greatest players in Holy Cross basketball history. For the last six years, she fought cancer with ferocity, courage and positivity. She never let the horrid disease define or deter her. “You don’t curl up in a ball when you have cancer; that’s not how it works,” she said in an Hourihan Brooks’ vivacity inspired everyone who had the privilege to know her. Following her valiant battle, she passed away Sept. 19. Six days before Hourihan Brooks’ death, Holy Cross director of athletics Kit Hughes called to tell her that the college is retiring her uniform jersey and those of four other HC basketball legends, Kathleen Courtney, Sherry Levin, Lauren Maney George and Amy O’Brien Davagian. The recognition is part of the 50th anniversaries of Title IX and coeducation at Holy Cross, and a celebration of excellence within the women’s basketball program. Holy Cross will honor the five alumnae and display their jerseys in a ceremony during HC’s game against Army at the Hart Center on Jan. 28, 2023. During Hughes’ phone chat with Hourihan Brooks, she, to no one’s surprise, immediately turned the conversation to the other members of the illustrious group and all they have done for the HC women’s program. “It was so consistent with everything I had heard about Janet,” Hughes, HC’s director of athletics since December 2021, said, “that she just shines her light on other people, and that’s exactly what she did.” Hourihan Brooks, a 1986 Holy Cross graduate, held the Crusaders’ all-time rebounding record for 34 years until Lauren Manis broke it in 2020. In the classiest of gestures, Hourihan Brooks was at the Hart Center the night Manis bested her mark and congratulated her in person after the game. Hourihan Brooks was a three-time All-MAAC selection and the 1984-85 MAAC Player of the Year, and she led HC to the 1985 NCAA Tournament. She entered the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1991. “Over the course of our conversation,” Hughes said, “I could tell the lift she got from the news. I knew she had been struggling for a long time. She told me she would be there in January. ‘I’ll be there,’ she said, and she believed it in the moment. I’m so grateful we had a chance to talk so she could hear it from us that this was happening.” Hourihan Brooks spent 20 years at Wyman Gordon as a divisional manager of workers’ compensation. She coached girls’ basketball at Needham High, her alma mater, and Oxford High, and was an integral part of the youth sports community in Dudley, where she and her husband Bill raised their sons, Dan and Ryan. Hughes said discussions about retiring the women’s jerseys began this spring. HC retired the jerseys of men’s legends George Kaftan, Bob Cousy, Togo Palazzi and Tom Heinsohn in 2008, and those of Ronnie Perry and Jack “The Shot” Foley in 2011. HC selected a very deserving women’s starting five.“The accomplishments of these Crusaders are truly remarkable, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to honor their legacy and impact on Holy Cross women’s basketball,” Hughes said. Courtney, a 1997 Holy Cross graduate, is the program’s all-time leader in blocked shots and she recorded two of the three triple-doubles in program history. She was a three-time All-Patriot League selection and the 1996-97 PL Player of the Year. She led HC to a pair of league championships and NCAA appearances and entered the HC Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2004. Levin, the first women’s basketball player to be inducted to the HC Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1989, five years after her graduation, is the program’s all-time leader in points (2,253), scoring average (21.8 ppg) and field goals made (842). She led the Crusaders to an EAIAW championship in 1983 and the MAAC regular-season title in 1984. As a senior in 1996, Maney George was a United Press honorable mention All-American. She ranks fifth all-time at Holy Cross in scoring, and she led the Crusaders to three Patriot League championship and NCAA appearances. She was a two-time PL Player of the Year. She was inducted to the HC Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2002. O’Brien Davagian, who starred at Holy Name High in Worcester, was a 1998 Associated Press honorable mention All-American. As a senior, she was the 1999 New England Player of the Year, and she was a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year. She led HC to three league titles and NCAA berths, and she ranks second on the program’s all-time scoring list. She was inducted to the HC Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2005. “Their accomplishments are just incredible,” Hughes said. “They’ve done so much on the court and have been tremendous representatives of the college and just wonderful members of the extended Holy Cross community for a long period of time.” Hughes said the plan is to hang the women’s and men’s banners from the Hart Center rafters on opposite sides of the court.
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Post by hchoops on Sept 27, 2022 12:48:08 GMT -5
A wonderful article.
Thanks for posting
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 27, 2022 14:18:03 GMT -5
Rather than play Columbo, maybe we can just appreciate what these 5 ladies did for the Holy Cross basketball program? If you take a look at the whole career of the presumed subject of this investigation, it was remarkable. When HC WBB moved up to D-1, the T&G had a choice. They could treat the team as a minor sport like other M&W HC sports other than FB and MBB, or they could give it equal coverage as MBB. Having a local coach who was very comfortable picking up the phone and calling the newsroom to promote the team before the Editor had a chance to prioritize that day's assignments didn't hurt. Having Togo as coach in the formative years didn't hurt either. The ultimate decision to provide equal coverage helped Holy Cross because WBB was the team winning league championships and going to the NCAA for a good chunk of years and providing the opportunity to portray HC athletics as successful. And HC had a coach always willing to promote the team and School in the community. |
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