Santa Clara Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Closing In

Red & White Hall of Fame Celebration Registration

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara University and the Bronco Bench Foundation will honor some of the greatest basketball players in school history on Saturday, May 13, with the Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The 2017 class, which features former men's basketball player and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and two of his Santa Clara teams, the 1992-93 and 1995-96 squads, will be honored during the fifth annual Red & White Hall of Fame Celebration presented by Heritage Bank of Commerce.

Nash was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in both 1995 and 1996, and spearheaded some of the best teams in school history

During Nash's career, the Broncos posted a 73-42 record, won WCC regular-season titles in 1995 and 1996, and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. Nash, who earned honorable mention All-America honors as a senior in 1995-96, helped Santa Clara claim its first national ranking since 1972-73 when the Broncos reached No. 25 in both Associated Press and Coaches polls on Dec. 4, 1995.

The 1992-93 men's basketball team (19-12, 9-5 WCC), led by first-year head coach Dick Davey, was selected eighth in the WCC preseason poll, but ended up third in the final standings and won the conference tournament. The Broncos closed that season with a flourish to earn the school's ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament, including first since 1987.

Santa Clara then proceeded to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history.  The 15th-seeded Broncos knocked off No. 2 seed and fifth-ranked Arizona, 64-61, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It marked only the second time a No. 15 seed had defeated a No. 2 in the NCAAs.

In 1995-96, Santa Clara finished 20-9 overall (10-4) and shared the WCC regular-season title with Gonzaga. Behind the guard play of Nash (17.0 points per game) and Marlon Garnett (12.8), Davey's squad made its third trip in a four-year span, including second straight, to the NCAAs. After being knocked out of the 1996 WCC Tournament, Santa Clara earned an at-large berth as a No. 10 seed, again in the West Regional. In opening-round action in Tempe, Arizona, Santa Clara upset seventh-seeded Maryland, 91-79.

The Red & White Hall of Fame Celebration will take place at Leavey Center with the program beginning at 6 p.m. In addition to the presentation of the Hall of Fame inductees, the program features Senior Awards for current student-athletes and recognition of endowment benefactors.

Bronco great Kurt Rambis, who won four NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers after earning 1980 West Coast Conference Player of the Year, will present Nash for induction during the program, which begins at 6 p.m.

A total of 24 of the 26 players and managers from the 1992-93 and 1995-96 teams are expected to be on hand for the event.

To register or to review event sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://mysantaclara.scu.edu/events/BBF/RedWhite. The deadline for registration is midnight on Sunday, May 7.