2016 UCSB Athletics Hall of Fame Induction
Story courtesy UCSB Media Relations Department.
The UC Santa Barbara Intercollegiate Athletics Department inducted five new members into its Hall of Fame on April 30, 2016 in a ceremony at Santa Barbara’s historic Lobero Theater. The event was part of the annual All Gaucho Reunion Weekend.
The 2016 class of inductees included baseball’s Michael Young, women’s swimmer Marcie Fuller, the 1974 Gaucho men’s volleyball team and the 2006 National Champion UCSB men’s soccer team. Men’s volleyball player Jared Huffman was honored as a Distinguished Gaucho.
Young, an All-Big West outfielder and then shortstop at UCSB, went on to a standout Major League Baseball career with the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers. During his 14 seasons in the big leagues, Young played in seven All-Star Games, one of which he was named MVP, won a batting title, a Gold Glove and two MLB Man of the Year awards.
Fuller was a three-time NCAA All-American who helped the Gauchos to four consecutive Big West Conference women’s swimming titles. She remains among the best freestylers in school history.
The 1974 Gaucho men’s volleyball team finished second at the NCAA Championships and won the United States Volleyball Association national championships in the collegiate and open divisions. The team had several All-Americans and U.S. National Team members.
The 2006 UCSB men’s soccer team stormed to the program’s first NCAA College Cup championship, winning five consecutive postseason games, including road victories at No. 1 SMU and Old Dominion, and finally a 2-1 decision over UCLA in the National Championship game.
Distinguished Gaucho Award-winner Jared Huffman was a three-time All-American setter for the nationally-ranked men’s volleyball team, earning the honor in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Huffman is now a United States Congressman from Marin County and a leader in issues involving the environment.
