TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State University Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame will welcome eight Sun Devil greats to its ranks Saturday, Oct. 8, at halftime of the ASU vs. UCLA football game.
Six student-athletes from five different varsity sports, along with two former Sun Devil coaches, comprise the 2016 induction class. Nick Brunelli (Men's Swimming), Levi Jones (Football), Zach Miller (Football), Casey Myers (Baseball), Thom Ortiz (Wrestling), and Phelan Wright (Softball) along with two former coaches, John Cooper (Football) and Marty Pincus (Men's Tennis), will be honored at the Hall of Fame football game on Oct. 8, when the Sun Devils take on the Bruins at Sun Devil Stadium. Both Cooper and Pincus (posthumously) will be enshrined into the Hall of Distinction for coaches and administrators.
The Hall of Fame Luncheon and Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 7, at the Phoenix Country Club from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The luncheon will include a formal induction ceremony into the SDA Hall of Fame by the ASU Athletic Heritage Committee. Tickets are $50 per person or $500 for a table of 10. Register here for the luncheon: https://engage.asu.edu/eventapi__simple_event?id=a0z0M0000006CEBQA2&site=a0J3000000DLgx9EAD
Hall of Distinction inductee and former Rose Bowl-winning Coach John Cooper will be present for a ceremony taking place during the homecoming game, Oct. 22 against Washington State, along with members of the 1986 Pac-10 conference championship team that went on to win the 1987 Rose Bowl, in addition to being honored (but not present) as part of the induction ceremonies taking place during halftime of the Oct. 8 matchup against UCLA.
The Hall of Fame was established in 1975 to honor the school's most distinguished student-athletes in all sports. The Hall of Distinction, recognizing outstanding contributions from coaches and administrators, was inaugurated in 1982. Athletes become eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame 10 years after their senior class has graduated.
Nick Brunelli – Men's Swimming / 2001-04
(Recreation (Tourism) (BS), August 2005)
By the end of his illustrious career at Arizona State, Nick Brunelli was considered one of the best freestylers in the history of Arizona State swimming. In his final season as a Sun Devil, Brunelli captured the 2004 Pac-10 Championship in the 200-meter freestyle. At the 2004 NCAA Championships, he went on to place 10th in the 100-meter freestyle and 11th in the 50-meter freestyle, earning his final two All-American honors of his 18 in total as a Sun Devil. His most in a single season came his junior year in 2003 when Brunelli earned six All-American honors, including two first-team honors in the 4x100- and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Brunelli had top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships that year in the 50, 100 and 200-meter freestyle. Brunelli also posted the school's second-fastest 50- and 100-meter freestyle times in Sun Devil history that season. During his sophomore year in 2002, Brunelli earned five All-American honors, including first team in the 200-meter free relay. He also helped set what was then the fastest 400 medley relay time in ASU history until 2013. Even as a freshman in 2001, Brunelli made his mark as a rookie Sun Devil, earning first-team All-American honors in the 400-meter relay and honorable mention honors in the 200-meter free relay. After his ASU career, he won a gold medal as a member of the 4x100 relay team at the 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 World Championships. At age 23, Brunelli was also a member of the 2005 World Championship team, making the finals of the 50 free. He also was a part of the record-setting 800 freestyle relay — which still stands to this day — and a previous American record holder in the 50-meter freestyle.
Levi Jones – Football / Offensive Line / 1998-2001
(Exercise Science/Physical Education (BS), May, 2002)
Levi Jones was one of the most dominant offensive lineman in Sun Devil football history. He went from a walk-on defensive lineman as a freshman at Arizona State to one of the most reliable offensive lineman in the nation. Made the move from left guard to left tackle for his final two seasons at ASU, blossoming in the role of protecting the quarterback's blindside. Jones won the Morris Trophy in 2001, given to the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12 as voted on by the players. He was named a Football News second-team All-American after a stellar senior campaign. After moving to left tackle following his sophomore season, Jones received first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2001 and second-team honors in 2000. Jones played sparingly on the defensive side of the ball as a freshman, registering 13 tackles and one sack while receiving Honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic honors. After his ASU career, Jones was drafted 10th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Jones became the highest drafted Sun Devil since Gerald Riggs in 1982 and tied for the sixth-highest draft pick in Sun Devil Football history with his former teammate Terrell Suggs. Jones went on to play seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, making 89 starts on the offensive line, mostly at left tackle. Jones also played one season for the Washington Redskins, starting eight games before retiring.
Zach Miller – Football / Tight End / 2004-06
(Marketing, BS)
Zach Miller, from Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, finished his career at ASU as arguably one of the greatest tight ends to ever wear the maroon and gold. Became ASU's 16th consensus All-American after the 2006 season. Totaled 144 catches for 1,512 yards (10.5 avg.) and 14 touchdowns during his three years in Tempe. Ended his career ranked sixth in school history in total receptions and stands as ASU's all-time leader in receptions by a tight end and touchdown catches by a tight end. Finished second to former Sun Devil All-American Todd Heap in career receiving yards by a tight end. Caught at least one pass in 33 of 35 career games played. One of three finalists for the 2006 Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end. Named First-Team All-Pac-10 and First-Team Pac-10 All-Academic in 2006. Selected as a first-team Freshman All-American in 2004. Only the second Sun Devil ever to be named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (2004), the other being Terrell Suggs. Turned in 56 catches and 552 yards during his freshman campaign, shattering ASU's freshman receiving records. Drafted 38th overall in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. Spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. Super Bowl XLVIII Champion with the Seattle Seahawks. Selected to the Pro Bowl in 2010. Finished his NFL career with 328 receptions for 3,804 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Casey Myers – Baseball / Catcher / 1998-2001
(Economics (BS) May, 2001 / Mathematics)(BS) December, 2004)
Casey Myers left Arizona State as one of the greatest catchers in the history of the Pac-10. At ASU, Myers was a three-time All-American, including two-time, first-team honoree in 2000 and 2001. He won back-to-back Pac-12 Player of the Year honors in 2000 & 2001, becoming only the third player in Pac-10 history to earn the award in consecutive seasons. One of the most decorated players in school history, Myers became only the third Sun Devil in history to pass 300 hits in a career. Left ASU ranked among the top 10 in every major offensive statistical category, including the second-most RBI at 275, third-most hits with 313 and fourth-most total bases with 494. Finished his career seventh in ASU history with a career .384 batting average, while his 64 doubles rank fourth in the ASU record books. Named the 2000 Collegiate Baseball National Defensive Player of the Year. Myers was twice named Academic All-American of the Year in 2000 and 2001 and a three-time Academic All-American. Two-time First-Team All-Pac-10 (2000 & 2001). First-Team Freshman All-American after breaking on to the scene with a historic freshman campaign. Selected to play on Team USA in 2000. Drafted in the ninth round by the Oakland Athletics with the 282nd overall pick. Spent eight seasons in the Minor Leagues before deciding to enter the coaching profession. Currently a coach in the San Diego Padres system.
Thom Ortiz – Wrestling / 1987-90
(Finance (BS) May, 1990)
Thom Ortiz is one of the most impactful figures in the history of the Sun Devil Wrestling program. As an athlete he was a three-time all-American, twice at 142-pounds (1988 &1990) and once at 150-pounds (1989). In 1988, as a member of the national title team, Ortiz won his second of three Pac-10 titles and earned All-America honors when he finished fourth at the NCAA Championships. During his senior year in 1990, Ortiz had his best finish at the NCAA Championships when he finished as the national runner-up at 142-pounds. Helped ASU finish as the national runner-up in each of his last two years. Two-time Pac-10 champion at 142-pounds as well as a conference champion at 150-pounds. Finished his career with a 118-34-2 record. Immediately after his collegiate career came to an end, Ortiz joined fellow Sun Devil Hall of Famer Bobby Douglas' staff as a graduate assistant. Ortiz went on to become an assistant coach at Iowa State where he recruited and mentored perhaps one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Cael Sanderson. Under Ortiz's tutelage, Sanderson dominated the collegiate wrestling scene en route to a perfect 159-0 collegiate record and four individual NCAA titles. Ortiz, from Tucson, returned to his alma mater to take the reins of the Sun Devil wrestling program in April of 2001. During his tenure at Arizona State, Ortiz (2002-2009) coached 14 All-Americans with 21 total honors. Some of the all-time greats that Ortiz mentored at ASU include 2012 Sun Devil Hall of Fame inductee Steve Blackford, UFC standouts Cain Velasquez and Ryan Bader, Hodge Award winner Eric Larkin, and the freshman season of 2011 NCAA Champion Anthony Robles. Ortiz was the recipient of the 2003, 2005, and 2006 Pac-10 Coach of the Year awards, and finished his coaching career at ASU with a dual match record of 79-60-1.
Phelan Wright – Softball / Third Base / 2001-04
(Sociology(BA) December, 2004)
Phelan Wright left ASU as one of the most decorated hitters in school history. Playing a solid third base, Wright finished her Sun Devil career with the seventh most home runs in school history (40), ninth in RBIs (162) and her 44 doubles puts her seventh in school history. She received first-team All-American Honors as a sophomore after hitting at a .405 clip with a team-leading 40 RBIs and 75 hits. Wright was named one of 10 finalists for National Player of the Year honors. She also received first-team All-Pacific Region and All-Pac-10 honors for her outstanding 2002 campaign. Wright was named a second-team All-America both as a junior (2003) and senior (2004). Left Arizona State ranking fourth in school history with a .381 career batting average and sixth with 260 career hits. She burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2001, hitting .399 on the year on her way to second-team All-Pac-10 honors. She became the first Sun Devil to hit a home run in three consecutive at-bats in a game against SW Texas State in 2003. Wright was drafted by the Colorado Altitude in the inaugural NPF Elite and Senior Draft with the fourth overall pick in the first round. She played professionally for the NPF's Arizona Heat in 2005.
Hall of Distinction
Marty Pincus – Men's Tennis / 1973-79
Marty Pincus established the Sun Devil men's tennis program as a national power during his coaching tenure in the 1970s. He left ASU as the winningest men's tennis coach in school history with a record of 164-31 in just seven seasons. Coach Pincus' teams earned four successive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship, including fifth-place in 1976. Pincus coached three Western Athletic Conference champions during his career. He coached two All-Americans during his stint as leader of the Sun Devil men's tennis program, Mark Joffey and Alan Waldman. Pincus was instrumental to the development of tennis in the valley, including the establishment of the Fiesta Bowl Invitational in 1972, in which he served as tournament director for 10 years. Pincus was responsible for the coordination of the Greater Southwestern Open and in four years raised $150,000 for ASU cancer research.
John Cooper – Football / 1985-1987
John Cooper left his mark at ASU, becoming the only coach to win a Rose Bowl game. Cooper was named head coach of the Arizona State football program on March 7, 1985. During his three seasons at the helm of Sun Devil Football, Cooper took ASU to unprecedented heights, compiling a 25-9-2 (.722) record. In just his second season, Cooper led the Sun Devils to a 10-1-1 record, a share of the Pac-10 championship, and ASU's first Rose Bowl appearance where Arizona State defeated national power Michigan 22-15 which remains the school's only Rose Bowl victory. Sporting News named him its Coach of the Year following the 1986 season. One of just four coaches in program history to earn Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors (1986). Coach Cooper compiled a 13-6-2 record in the Pac-10, including a 2-0 mark against perennial conference power USC. Cooper was 2-1 in bowl games as coach of the Sun Devils, winning the 1987 Rose Bowl and the 1987 Freedom Bowl. During his time at ASU, Cooper coached two consensus All-Americans, safety David Fulcher (1985) and guard Randall McDaniel (1987). A total of 23 Sun Devils received some type of All-American honors while Cooper was at the helm. Future NFL draft picks Eric Allen, Aaron Cox, Danny Villa, and Dan Saleaumua all played at ASU under Cooper. Cooper is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Ohio State Athletics' Hall of Fame, and Tulsa Athletics' Hall of Fame.