Inside Athletics | 7/26/2026 10:00:00 AM

Their college days may be over, but the memories they brought us will never be forgotten. On Friday, Saint Francis University Athletics inducted 12 new members into the Hall of Fame. More than 300 people attended the luncheon inside the Maurice Stokes Center.

There were plenty of laughs, tears and a reminder of what makes "The College Among the Pines" such a special place.

Saint Francis alumnus and Hall of Famer Bob Moore once again served as emcee for the Hall of Fame ceremony. Moore has been instrumental in preserving the history of basketball's golden era at Saint Francis. He kicked off the festivities by honoring another player from that era.

Bill Coyle shared the backcourt with the legendary Norm Van Lier. As a senior captain, he led the 1966-67 Frankies to a 20-6 record. He then spent a few seasons as an assistant coach when Kevin Porter ran the floor.

"To have played with one NBA All-Star (Van Lier) and coached another (Porter) is something I will always cherish," Coyle said.

After a breakout season under head coach John Clark, Coyle finished his Saint Francis career with 1,097 points.

The cross-country and track and field program celebrated three of its former stars.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kevin Doyle and teammate Matt Hartman broke school records despite not having a track to train on. Before the ceremony, the two joined old teammates in a 30-mile bicycle ride through the Loretto hills they remembered.

"Somewhere along the way, we enjoyed suffering together," Hartman said, laughing.

It was a group of teammates that refused to settle. With mismatched uniforms and few resources, Doyle still takes pride in how his ragtag bunch beat the likes of Michigan and Penn State.

The races haven't ended for Anna Hoffman. The 2010 graduate is still competing in ultramarathon trail runs. She doesn't remember her times, but the lessons and relationships she made have not faded.

"I learned to do the hard work when no one is looking. Put in the time and effort without seeing results immediately. The opportunity to run in college shaped me as a human being," Hoffman said.

When former swim coach Pat Gallagher first visited Loretto in 2003, he called it a practice interview, telling friends this was until his real job came along. Gallagher built a dynasty, winning four straight NEC championships from 2010-13.

He said he is often asked how they won championships without a diving team.

"Early in my career, I focused on winning, but somewhere along the way, that changed. It became more about a transformational experience where athletes felt valued and supported every day," Gallagher said.

Elise Lofgren was one of the first international players Gallagher convinced to come to Loretto. She made the trip from Sweden to reunite with her coach and old teammates. She won three titles and set records that still stand today.

"Saint Francis helped me grow beyond the pool. The people here genuinely cared about the student-athletes," Lofgren said. "They made time for us. They challenged us to excel in the classroom and as athletes."

Lofgren graduated in 2014, and that class was well represented.

Tesa McKibben led women's soccer to four NEC championship games, winning two of them (2010 and 2013). She, too, reflected on how faculty, staff and coaches allowed her to follow her dream. McKibben got emotional as she thanked former head coach Brenda Van Stralen.

"Brenda took a chance on me. She set a standard I didn't realize would carry over into the rest of my life. She sacrificed everything so we could focus on playing. She still shows up for me today," McKibben said.

After her acceptance speech, McKibben's nieces and nephews surprised her by donning her No. 5 jersey and greeting her with flowers and hugs.

McKibben and women's basketball star Alli Williams shared the Wallace Award for the best female student-athlete in 2014. Williams is one of only four women's basketball players to surpass 2,000 points in a career. She was also a part of the 2011 NEC championship team.

Williams told the crowd she is forever grateful.

"When I showed up here, I battled self-confidence. To have this place and the people that supported me was so life-changing," Williams said.

You can argue that Kyle Harbridge helped turn around the Saint Francis football program. His runs were so electrifying, they looked like something straight out of a video game.

Harbridge left campus in 2014 as the program's all-time rushing leader and thanked his parents for the sacrifices they made.

"My mom recorded my games with a camcorder far up in the bleachers, but I could always hear her cheers," Harbridge said. "My dad edited all my highlight videos and sent them to every college he could think of."

Jordan Varee created quite the highlight reel of his own for men's volleyball. From 2007 to 2010, his teams brought a lot of energy and excitement to DeGol Arena. Varee credited head coach Mike Rumbaugh for allowing him to play freely.

"Rummy gave me the opportunity to play Division I. I loved playing for Rummy, and so did everyone else," Varee said. "He wanted you to be a good teammate and an even better student-athlete and leave Saint Francis as a better person."

Varee left as the program's all-time leader in kills, attacks and aces. He continues to play professionally in the Volleyball League of America (VLA), the only professional men's league in the United States.

Saint Francis men's basketball inducted two of its all-time greats on Friday.

"If you have goals, don't ever give up on them," is what Joe Schoen told the crowd.

Schoen was a dominant post player and one of the top rebounders in the nation. He ranked in the top 10 two different times during his career.

Drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1981, Schoen didn't play in the NBA but had a successful career overseas.

As the years went by, he wasn't sure he'd make the school's Hall of Fame. The long-awaited announcement was even more special when he learned it was his daughter who wrote a letter to nominate him.

Darshan Luckey thanked his father for first putting a basketball in his hands.

"I worked up to live up to Pops. He was my first measuring stick," Luckey said.

Luckey was unstoppable during his time in a Red Flash uniform, scoring 1,699 points in just three seasons.

Former coaches and teammates say Luckey was the ultimate competitor who refused to lose. He credited his work ethic to his mother, whom he watched go to work every morning at 4 a.m., taking care of the family, going to church and working to make her community a better place.

Two teams were also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Saint Francis women's basketball has a remarkable 12 NEC championships, but only one team went undefeated in league play.

The 2003-04 team finished with a 25-6 overall record and went toe-to-toe with Purdue in the NCAA Tournament.

Joined by some of her teammates, Karen Hewitt said it was a privilege to wear the uniform.

"Those accomplishments are remarkable, but what made it Hall of Fame-worthy was who we were to one another. Everyone understood their role and every role mattered. It wasn't just a roster; it was a vibe, a sisterhood."

The afternoon ended with a tribute to another family. In 1969, a group of students came together to start a football team.

Quarterback Joe Drop shared the story of how some of his classmates showed up with their cleats behind old Torvian Hall. There was no equipment. The goalpost was two pine trees.

"It became a mission. That mission was we could not fail those students who had a dream of wanting a football team at this college," Drop said.

The club team won just one game that first season. In 1971, it finished with a 7-1 record. Drop and his old teammates take pride in seeing how their efforts led to the success the program has enjoyed.

The football team left its program better than they found it, as did all the inductees honored during Alumni Weekend.

For some of the inductees, Alumni Weekend marked the first time they had returned to campus in decades. But no matter how much time has passed, Saint Francis has always held a special place in their hearts.

They left their mark on Saint Francis — and, more importantly, they left this place better than they found it.