In a release on Thursday afternoon, Marist Athletics announced its first Hall of Fame class. The group of six individuals includes men’s basketball legend Rik Smits, women’s basketball standout Rachele Fitz, football player Terrence Fede, baseball player and head coach Chris Tracz, women’s basketball head coach Brian Giorgis and Trustee Jack Gartland.
The Hall of Fame features a rigorous selection process and represents the culmination of athletic director Tim Murray’s goal to formally recognize important individuals and teams throughout the history of Marist Athletics.
“I think we have an incredible group of inductees for our inaugural class,” Murray said in the release. “I can’t thank our nominating and selection committees enough for the terrific job that they did, both in their preparation and our detailed conversations. There were so many deserving nominees, and while unfortunately we can’t induct everyone at once, we are looking forward to the continued recognition of our outstanding representatives of Marist University in the years to come.”
The Hall of Fame is meant to represent individuals in four different categories: student-athletes, coaches, teams and contributors. Four of the inductees — Fede, Smits, Fitz and Tracz — played collegiately at Marist. Tracz also coached, as did Giorgis, while Gartland represents a contributor. He was the chairman of Marist’s first lay advisory board before joining the Board of Trustees in 1969 and becoming a Life Trustee in 1999.
Fede recorded the most sacks in Marist football history before being the first and only Red Fox to be selected in the NFL draft. Smits set 25 Marist records on the hardwood and went to the NCAA Tournament twice before being drafted second overall in the NBA Draft. Fitz is the only Marist women’s basketball player to have her number retired and is the program’s all-time leader in points and rebounds. Tracz, a left-handed pitcher, leads Marist baseball in a host of categories and won three MAAC championships as a player before spending 13 years as head coach. Giorgis won 11 MAAC championships as the women’s basketball head coach and eight MAAC Coach of the Year awards. Along with Fitz, Giorgis brought his team to the Sweet 16 in 2007.
The inaugural class will be inducted on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at the McCann Center as part of Marist’s homecoming weekend. A new class is expected to be announced and inducted annually.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Photo by Jonathan Kinane
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