JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced its 2014 Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll Class. Legendary head coach Don Kennedy and women's basketball standout Tonya Grant will represent Saint Peter's in conjunction with the 2014 MAAC Basketball Championships at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
Kennedy, who was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 19, is Saint Peter's all-time winningest men's basketball coach, with a record of 323-195 from 1950-1972. He guided the Peacocks to five NIT appearances, and coached eight 1,000-point scorers, during his tenure. The Peacocks posted winning records in 19 of his 22 seasons, including three 20-win seasons. In 1967-68, Saint Peter's registered a program record 24 wins. Kennedy was a proponent of a fast paced offensive game. Saint Peter's advanced to three consecutive NAIA Tournaments, before making their first NIT appearance in 1956-57. The Peacocks enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history in 1967-68 when it finished 24-4 and fourth in the NIT. During that NIT run, Kennedy guided the Peacocks to a 100-71 win over top-ranked Duke. In Kennedy's final two seasons at the helm, Saint Peter's posted a combined 34-18 record and a trip to the NIT.
Grant was a force for Saint Peter's from 1986-90. She concluded her career as the Peacocks all-time leading scorer, 2,020 points, and fourth leading rebounder, with 964 boards. Tonya was named to the MAAC's 25th Anniversary Team in 2006. She is currently the MAAC's fifth all-time leading scorer, tied for sixth in per game average at 18.0 points per game, fifth with a .542 field goal percentage, and 13th with 964 career rebounds. Grant was an All-MAAC selection all four years of her career, including a two-time first-team choice (1988-89, 1989-90), and was chosen as MAAC Player of the Year in 1990. She scored a Saint Peter's record 716 points as a senior, averaging 25.6 points per game, also a school record. During her career at Saint Peter's, she led the Peacocks to a 79-33 record. She was inducted into the Saint Peter's Hall of Fame in 1996.
Each member institution of the MAAC will have one male and one female of its basketball "family" as part of the 2014 induction class. A dinner event will be on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Court of Dreams to recognize the Honor Roll inductees, and the Honorees will be added to "The MAAC Experience" exhibit.
Each honoree will be profiled in the game program for the 2014 MAAC Basketball Championships, and will also be featured in a video display at The MAAC Experience. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the men's championship evening quarterfinal round (session 5).
