President Danielle Ripich among inductees to UNE Athletics Hall of Fame Class for 2016

On May 5, 2016, University of New England associate vice president and director of Athletics Jack McDonald announced the UNE Varsity Club Hall of Fame class for 2016.

The class is comprised of UNE President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D.; Karol L’Heureux, former director of athletics and current women’s volleyball coach; the 1964-65 St. Francis College men’s soccer team; and former student-athletes Ron McCarthy, Christine Grillon and Sean Melnick.

Since becoming president of UNE in 2006, Dr. Ripich has added four sports (men’s and women’s ice hockey, women’s rugby, football) while increasing its participation numbers exponentially. She dedicated the Big Blue Turf in 2010 and the state-of-the-art 106,000 square foot Harold Alfond Forum followed two years later. During Ripich’s presidency, the Nor’easters have won 14 conference championships while making 11 appearances at the NCAA National Championship and posting six victories.

A member of the Athletics Department staff since 1979, Karol L’Heureux has served in numerous roles. She directed athletics from 1982-2006 and has served as head coach of volleyball, basketball and softball. Set to enter her 37^th season as the head volleyball coach, L’Heureux has posted 678 victories, ranking her sixth among active NCAA III head coaches. She is also a member of the University of Maine Presque Isle Hall of Fame and Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honor.

The 1964-1965 St. Francis men’s soccer team posted a 10-1-2 record on its way to the Colonial Intercollegiate Soccer League Northern Division championship. That title was the first won by a St. Francis team. Three members of the Red Knights earned all-conference accolades that season.

Ron McCarthy played for the UNE men’s basketball team from 1990-1995 and ranks seventh all-time in points scored (1,562) and fifth in rebounds (791). He was an all-conference and all-state selection. McCarthy will be inducted posthumously after passing away in 2014.

Christine Grillon was one of the most accomplished women’s basketball players who played for Westbrook College. A 1996 graduate, she totaled 1,337 points to rank her eighth all-time on the UNE’s women’s basketball program’s scoring list. She also ranks third in steals (251), seventh in scoring average (16.1) and ninth in assists (323).

Sean Melnick, who was a four-year starter from 1998-2002, will be the first men’s lacrosse player enshrined in the Hall of Fame. He ranks second all-time for UNE in goals (124) and third in points (145). Melnick’s goals-per-game average of 2.7 tops the Nor’easters’ career list.

The 2016 Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place Friday, Oct. 14 at the Harold Alfond Forum.