FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11 Inductees from Eight Institutions in this Year's Class.

MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Northeast-10 Conference officially unveiled its Hall of Fame Class of 2023 on Monday, as the league recognized a class of 11 inductees for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions during their time in the NE10.

The Class of 2023 consists of eight different NE10 institutions, which includes three former conference members, and six different sports. It consists of nine individuals and two teams, with three institutions represented by multiple inductees, and is the fifth-largest class ever inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame, trailing only the classes of 2006 (25), 2007 (17), 2021 (14) and 2022 (12). 

Started in 2006, the NE10 Hall of Fame honors those who have made significant contributions to the Conference, while preserving and promoting the history of the league since its inception in 1980. As of 2023, the Hall has 136 individuals and 25 teams that have been inducted.

"The NE10 Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is comprised of a remarkable collection of individuals and teams that achieved at the highest levels and proudly represented the conference during their storied tenures," said NE10 Commissioner Julie Ruppert. "This Class consists of eight student-athletes that combined, earned five national championships, along with two powerhouse programs and a profound figure in college, and later professional, basketball. We could not be more excited to celebrate these 11 inductees for their incredible accomplishments – which now include the NE10 Hall of Fame, an accolade that is reserved for the best of the best from amongst the tens of thousands that have donned uniforms in our impressive history. This class will always be remembered for their hard work, commitment and contributions to the NE10."

For a full list of inductees in this year's class, please see below.

Congratulations to all members of the NE10 Hall of Fame Class of 2023!

2017 Adelphi Women's Lacrosse

The 2017 Adelphi Women's Lacrosse Team brought home the program's eighth national championship when it defeated Florida Southern by a 6-4 margin on May 21 on the campus of Bloomsburg University. It was the third NCAA title for the Panthers in four seasons and the program's fifth since joining the NE10. Kate Beier led Adelphi that day with four goals on just six shots. It was the second national title for Adelphi under head coach Pat McCabe, which has since won another Division II Championship in 2019. It is remarkably the fifth Adelphi women's lacrosse team to be inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame. 

Erica Devito-Vitale, Adelphi (2009-12)

Erica Devito-Vitale played in one of the most remarkable stretches for the storied Adelphi women's lacrosse program. She played a big role in Adelphi's three-peat – three-consecutive NCAA national championships – in 2009, 2010 and 2011 – which included a pair of undefeated seasons. Adelphi compiled an overall record of 57-1 from 2009 to 2011 and outscored opponents by an average of 14.63 goals per game. Devito-Vitale was a three-time First Team All-American, a four-time First Team All-Region selection and remains tied for the school career record in points with 380. She was also a CoSIDA Academic All-American and a winner of the NE10 Sport Excellence Award.  Devito-Vitale is the third NE10 women's lacrosse athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the first from Adelphi.

Joe O'Brien, Assumption (1967-85)

Joe O'Brien's passion for basketball led him to two successful careers – one as a longtime men's basketball head coach at Assumption University (College at the time) and one as the President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. A titan of the sport, O'Brien served as head coach at Assumption for nearly 20 seasons, compiling an overall record of 322-175 – which included 12 NCAA Tournament appearances between 1967 and 1985. O'Brien helped Assumption win the NE10 Championship in 1983, which was two years before he started his work as Executive Director of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. He went on to become President and CEO in 1993. During his time in Worcester, O'Brien also served as the head coach of baseball and cross country, as well as assistant athletics director.

Bentley Women's Basketball, 1988-93

Among other historic runs for Bentley women's basketball, the five-year stretch from 1988 to 1993 was one for the record books. Under future Hall of Fame head coach Barbara Stevens, the Falcons posted five-consecutive 30-win seasons, including 87 victories in 90 NE10 games for an overall record of 156-16 – a winning percentage of .907. The run began with a 31-3 record during the 1988-1989 season and continued with marks of 31-4, 33-3, 31-2 and 30-4 the next four years. The Falcons made five straight appearances in the national semifinals, including a trip to the national title game in 1990. In 1993, Bentley even hosted the national semifinals at the Dana Center. That five-year span continues to be the most storied run in the history of NE10 basketball. It is the second induction into the NE10 Hall of Fame for the Bentley women's basketball program, following the 2013-2014 team which won the Division II National Championship.

Amy (Varsell) Bradrick, Bentley (2009-14)

Amy (Varsell) Bradrick was the most decorated track athlete in the history of Bentley University. A seven-time Division II All-American, Bradrick was a two-time Division II East Region Athlete of the Year in 2012 and was a 13-time All-East Region selection. She was named the 2012 NE10 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Varsell was no stranger to gold, as she was a six-time NE10 champion and she finished her career with 12 school records – seven of which still stand today. Bradrick was a three-time selection as an NE10 Sport Excellence Award winner and eight-time selection to the NE10 Academic All-Conference teams. Bradrick is the seventh NE10 women's track & field athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the first from Bentley.

Kevin Barletta, Bryant (1999-2003)

Kevin Barletta was a two-time NE10 Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year during his time at Bryant from 2000 to 2003. A four-time selection to the All-Conference First Team, Barletta led Bryant to a 30-9 overall record and qualified for four-straight appearances in the NE10 Men's Lacrosse Championship. He was a three-time All-American, while becoming the school record holder with 124 career assists and ranking second in career goals with 162. Barletta is Bryant's all-time leader as a Division I or Division II institution in career points with 286. Barletta is the sixth NE10 men's lacrosse athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the first from Bryant.

Elizabeth Davies, Bryant (1992-96)

Elizabeth Davies was a critical piece to the success of Bryant's women's basketball program in the mid-1990s. She is still Bryant University's all-time leading scorer with 2,059 career points, averaging 18.7 points per game in her career from 1992 to 1996. Davis also ranks second in career rebounds with 1,070. A three-time selection to the All-Conference First Team, she was named the NE10 Freshman of the Year in 1993. During her career, she helped to lead Bryant to two NCAA Tournament appearances and an ECAC Championship. Davies ranks in the top 10 among all NE10 players in points, rebounds and field goal percentage. Davies is the 20th NE10 women's basketball athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the first from Bryant.

Brittany Brigandi, Le Moyne (2010-12)

Brittany Brigandi was a leader on the Le Moyne women's lacrosse teams that advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals in both 2011 and 2012. Brigandi was named the 2012 Division II Midfielder of the Year and NE10 Player of the Year, while earning First Team All-American status in both seasons. She scored 182 goals and tallied 35 assists for a total of 217 points at Le Moyne, which currently ranks seventh all-time in program history. At the completion of her career with the Dolphins, Brigandi held the program's record for goals – due in large part to a program-record 87 goals scored in 2011, which led all of Division II. Brigandi is the fourth NE10 women's lacrosse athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the first from Le Moyne.

Wanda Maynard-Morris, Pace (1998-2002)

Wanda Maynard-Morris led the Pace University women's basketball team to one of its most successful runs in program history. The Setters had an overall record of 77-40 during Maynard-Morris' career, which included three trips to the NCAA Tournament. In the 2000-2001 season, Pace advanced to the Elite Eight and finished the season ranked eighth nationally. She was a First Team All-America selection, a three-time All-Region selection and was both the NE10 Player and Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. Maynard-Morris averaged 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in her career. Maynard-Morris is the 21st NE10 women's basketball athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the first from Pace.

Destiney Coward, Southern Connecticut (2014-18)

Destiney Coward, a track & field athlete at Southern Connecticut from 2014 to 2018, left a permanent mark on the program as a senior when she won the NCAA Division II National Championship in the weight throw with a toss of 20.79 meters. Three of her five throws cleared 20 meters at the NCAA Championship, which took place in Pittsburg, Kansas. Coward was the only Division II athlete to clear 20 meters in the weight throw in 2018. It was the fifth NCAA title in the history of the Southern Connecticut women's track & field program. Coward is the eighth NE10 women's track & field athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the second from Southern Connecticut.

Corey Thomas, Stonehill (2009-13)

Corey Thomas, a track & field athlete at Stonehill College, leaped his way into NE10 history at the 2011 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thomas won the national championship in the high jump by clearing 7-feet, 0.5 inches to secure the first NCAA title in program history. Thomas cleared each of his first four heights in the high jump on the first try, clinching a tiebreaker in the final round to take home gold. He was named East Region Field Athlete of the Year and earned All-American status in that same season. Thomas is the fifth NE10 men's track & field athlete inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame and the second from Stonehill.

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.