2016 University of Bridgeport Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Set For Saturday, October 15

Bridgeport, Conn. – University of Bridgeport Director of Athletics Anthony Vitti has announced that one new individual and two teams will be inducted into the University of Bridgeport Athletic Hall of Fame, plus Artie Gigantino will receive the fourth Fran Bacon Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching and Donna Phillips will be honored with the Purple Knight Shield of Merit Award on Saturday, October 15, 2016 during the University's Homecoming Weekend festivities.

The members of the University of Bridgeport Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2016 are: Steve Markoski (Basketball, UB Class of 1982) and the 1971 and 1972 Football Teams that appeared in and won the Knute Rockne Bowls which crowned NCAA Small College Division East Regional Champion from 1969-1972 .

The 2016 University of Bridgeport Hall of Fame Class will be enshrined with the Fran Bacon Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching and the Purple Knight Shield of Merit will be awarded during a ceremony and dinner that will begin with a 6:00 p.m. reception in the Schelfhaudt Gallery located at UB's Arnold Bernhard Arts and Humanities Center.

An Old Bridge, New Jersey native, Steve Markoski was recruited to UB by the legendary coach Bruce Webster.  Upon his arrival, Marksoski quickly made his mark by being a potent scorer and defensive contributor on the 1978-79 team that went on to finish fourth in in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.  After this successful season, Steve went on to become not only one of UB's top front court shooters, but one of the best in the entire New England region.  After eclipsing the 1,000 point plateau in only three years, Markoski went on to score 1,501 points ranking him number eight all-time on the Purple Knights' men's basketball scoring list.

The 1971 UB Football Team, under the direction of head coach, the late Ed Farrell finished the season with an outstanding 10-1 mark.  The Purple Knights, led by tri-captains Dan Carroll, Art DiBenedetto and Gary Cudmore outscored their opponents 265 to 116 and amassed 3,815 total yards of offense.  That season, UB won the Eastern Football Conference Title with a 4-0 mark and then became the Eastern Small College Champions, by way of a 17-12 win versus previously undefeated Hampden-Sydney University team in the third annual Knute Rockne Bowl game.

The 1972 Football Team, also led by coach Farrell finished the season with a perfect 11-0 record, making it the best season in Bridgeport football history.  The UB gridders, led by tri-captains, Bob Peters, Artie Gigantino and Cliff Schwenke outscored their opponents by a whopping 365 to 172 and amassed 4,278 total yards of offense.  That season, the Purple Knights once again won the Eastern Football Conference Title and defeated Slippery Rock 27-22 in the Knute Rockne Bowl game at Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.   With their championship win, UB extended the longest winning streak in program history to 21 straight games, which at the time was also the longest winning streak at any level of college football. 

This year's recipient of the Fran Bacon Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching is Artie Gigantino, who served in various high profile roles after his standout football career at UB.  Artie served as an assistant coach for the University of Southern California Trojans and the University of California Golden Bears.  In these roles, he excelled in recruiting, consistently bringing in the nation's top talents and molding many of them into All-Americans that went on to play in the NFL.  Gigantino also had a five-year stint as Special Teams Coach for the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL and eventually went on to work in the front office of the Oakland Raiders for 11 years.  In that role, he was an advisor to the late owner, Al Davis and took on the role of Senior Administrator and dealt with the everyday operations of the team.  In addition to his coaching career, Artie also has been a broadcaster and analyst for both CBS Sports and Fox.

The 2016 Purple Knight Shield of Merit, goes to longtime UB faculty and Senior Lecturer of Human Services, Donna Phillips.  Having been a faculty member at UB for the past 26 years, Donna has been one of the Purple Knights' biggest and most reliable fans for all of the teams and student athletes.  Over her years, Phillips has developed relationships and has been a support system for countless student athletes and has played an integral role in their sense of UB as a community.  Although, not a serious sports fan, Donna takes a particular liking to the Purple and White and can be seen at various home contests, supporting the school and student athletes that have become her second family.

The UB Athletic Hall of Fame was formed in 1981, and this year marks the ninth year of a revitalization that began in 2006 after 15 years without a class being inducted. This year's four inductees bring the total number of members to 87 individuals and three teams. For ticket information for the October 15th University of Bridgeport Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Dinner, please contact the UB Athletic Department, (203) 576-4017.