On Friday night, Marist Athletics inducted six entries into its inaugural Hall of Fame class, the first reception of what will become an annual tradition inside McCann Arena.
The nominees enshrined included women’s basketball guard Rachele Fitz, football right end Terrence Fede, trustee Jack Gartland, women’s basketball head coach Brian Giorgis, baseball pitcher and coach Chris Tracz and basketball forward Rik Smits.
Marist gifted each recipient tailored wine-red jackets along with custom rings jeweled with white, red and yellow that featured each legend’s name.
Following around an hour of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and a montage chronicling the success of Marist Athletics across all its programs, Marist broadcaster Geoff Brault took the podium to open the ceremony.
“Marist finally joins a long list of Hall of Fames, honoring anything and everything,” Brault began before discussing the histories of both the Mustard Hall of Fame and Video Game Hall of Fame.
President Kevin Weinman took the microphone next. His speech focused more on Marist’s legacy as an institution rather than the six inductees in the crowd.
“At a time when college athletics is facing a crisis, Marist continues to do things the right way,” Weinman said.
Brault briefly returned to the stand to introduce the second preliminary speaker, Marist’s director of athletics Tim Murray. Murray honored the 11 members of Marist’s first Hall of Fame Selection Committee that worked to pick inductees, a committee that Fede is a member of.
Each inductee chose a person to introduce them before going up to speak. Long-time Marist Sports Information Director Michael Ferraro opened the enshrinement to introduce Fitz.
“Every freshman has their learning curve. Rachele’s was 26 minutes,” Ferraro said, diving into stories of Fitz’s legendary play for Giorgis and the women’s basketball program.
The former guard is Marist’s all-time leader in points (2,447) and rebounds (1,066). A three-time Conference Player of the Year, two-time Conference Tournament MVP, and the only player in women’s basketball history to have their number retired, Fitz is the greatest player to touch the hardwood for her program.
Fitz took the stage amid fervent applause; the 2026-27 Marist women’s basketball roster was in full attendance, along with a significant number of alumni from Giorgis’ time as head coach.
“Thank you for putting up with me for four years,” Fitz joked to Giorgis, who she’s affectionately called Coach Brian since day one. “The outpour of love and support [from Marist] is something I’ll always be appreciative for.”
Former Marist football defensive coordinator Scott Rumsey was next to introduce Fede. Rumsey cracked the crowd up with stories of Fede’s character over his accomplishments, particularly how close the two have become over the years.
“My daughter will remember, she went to a daddy-daughter dance with a No. 92 jersey!”
Fede remains the only Marist football player to be drafted into the NFL. He holds the program record for single-season (13) and season (30.5) sacks, won the PFL Defensive Player of the Year and the PFL championship.
Fede was quick to mention that he did not in fact vote himself in to his own Hall of Fame class, spreading more chuckles through the crowd. He reciprocated the same love Rumsey showed moments earlier, thanked the program for sticking by him and closed with a message to current and future Marist student-athletes.
“Stop waiting on that perfect time. There is no perfect time. Get your hands dirty and become obsessed,” Fede said.
Former Marist President Dennis J. Murray honored the legacy of Jack Gartland, the pioneer of nearly every building, athletic or otherwise, on campus. Gartland oversaw the construction of the McCann Center, Gartland Athletic Commons and McCann Baseball Field among countless other constructions and reservations during his 20-year tenure as Chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.
Gartland passed in 2003, and members of his family accepted the award and framed jacket on his behalf.
“Ever heard of the phrase ‘Next Man Up?’ Well, Tim [Murray] pulled that on me 20 minutes ago,” chuckled a member of his family. “On behalf of the Gartland family, we are truly honored.”
Marist women’s basketball coach Erin Doughty introduced her former coach and colleague, the illustrious coach of Marist women’s basketball for 21 seasons, Brian Giorgis.
“Third time I’m giving a speech on Brian Giorgis…I’m getting low on material,” Doughty said.
Giorgis’ tenure at Marist was remarkable. From 2002-23, Giorgis won 11 Conference Championships, including nine consecutive, with eight Coach of the Year nods. He was the first MAAC coach to lead a team to the Sweet 16, racking up five wins in the NCAA tournament in his career. He believes this is the fifth Hall of Fame he’s been inducted to.
“[Giorgis] raised the level…the Metro has now had three different top-25 basketball programs, but Giorgis will always be first,” said Doughty.
Giorgis spun the longest speech of the night, an emotional thank-you to the program from top to bottom, shedding tears at several points.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to cry, this is amazing,” he said.
He thanked his parents, his coaches, his players and other impactful people in and around Marist Athletics in an all-encompassing speech — including a heartwarming story about Doughty. When Giorgis won the 2021 Coach of the Year, he did not feel that he deserved the honor. So, he took matters into his own hands.
“I went to a jeweler and had them replace the plaque with her name,” he shared amidst sobs.
As the ceremony bled over it’s advertised end of 9 p.m., two inductees remained.
Former baseball coach John Szefc presented on behalf of Tracz, opening with a joke about Giorgis.
“It feels like every time I do one of these things I follow a guy like Giorgis,” Szefc said.
Tracz continued the trend of self-deprecation.
“My kids thought I was pretty cool tonight…but then Smits told them he played against Michael Jordan,” Tracz said, drawing the largest laugh of the evening.
Tracz is Marist baseball’s all-time leader in wins (38), strikeouts (298), starts (56), complete games (14), innings pitched (379.1) and starts (56). He’s a two-time Conference Pitcher of the Year and three-time Conference Champion. He returned to the program in 2010 as head coach, finishing first in wins (313) over a 13-year stretch.
“I got my athleticism from my dad, but I got my balls from my mom, Tracz said.”
Wrapping up the evening, former men’s basketball coach Dave Magarity introduced the Dunking Dutchman Rik Smits, thanking Smits for remaining loyal to the program despite numerous chances to transfer schools or go pro early.
Smits was Marist’s first NBA Draft selection in 1988, going second overall to the Indiana Pacers. In four years as a Red Fox, Smits was a two-time Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference thrice and Tournament MVP.
The 7-footer had to really hunch over to get his voice projecting through the microphone, and he delivered on his promise to keep his speech on the shorter side.
“Thank you to the selection committee. It’s been a long night. Thank you everybody,” Smits closed.
The selection committee will reconvene within the next few months to solidify next years’ class.
Edited by Max Rosen
Photo from Marist Athletics
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