DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire Department of Athletics' seven-member 2024 Hall of Fame class was announced Mondayby Director of Athletics Allison Rich. The induction ceremony will be held Sunday, Oct. 20 as part of Homecoming weekend.
The Class of 2024 is comprised of four student-athletes, two head coaches and a UNH professor emeritus:
- Kacey Bellamy '09, women's ice hockey
- Meg Bozek '14, field hockey
- Gail Goodspeed, gymnastics head coach
- R.J. Harris '14, football
- Elle Purrier St. Pierre '18, women's cross country and track & field
- Dick Umile '72, men's ice hockey head coach
- Dr. Steve Hardy, Joan Leitzel Contribution to UNH Athletics Award
"We congratulate this remarkable Hall of Fame class that made an indelible mark on UNH Athletics in their own special way," Rich said. "We look forward to welcoming these Wildcats for Life back to campus and celebrating their excellence this Homecoming weekend."
Tickets for the 2024 Hall of Fame induction ceremony and brunch reception (10 a.m.) at UNH's Granite State Room (located in the Memorial Union Building) will go on sale soon at UNHWildcats.com/HOF2024.
The UNH Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024, as well as former inductees, will also be honored during halftime of the UNH vs. Rhode Island football game on Saturday, Oct. 19 (1 p.m. kickoff).
Bellamy is a three-time Olympian who amassed 27 goals and 80 assists for 107 points in 143 games during her four seasons as a Wildcat (2006-09). She ranks third on UNH's leaderboard among defensem*n in both assists and points – the school benchmark for points is 108. She was honored as UNH's Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year in 2009.
Bellamy ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in defenseman scoring three consecutive years and was an RBK All-America First Team honoree as a senior captain in '09. Her other accolades included Hockey East First Team All-Star (2009), Second Team All-Star (2007, 2008), Hockey East Tournament MVP (2009) and Hockey East All-Tournament Team (2006, 2007 and 2009).
The native of Westfield, Mass., led the UNH women's hockey team to four consecutive Hockey East regular season and tournament titles, as well as four straight appearances in the NCAA tournament with two trips to the Frozen Four.
Bozek was a two-time All-American – First Team in 2013 and Third Team in 2012 – and two-time America East Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013) in her four-year career that spanned the 2010-13 seasons on the field hockey team.
She was also a three-time NFHCA All-Academic Squad member (2011, 2012 and 2013), two-time NFHCA Northeast Region First Team honoree (2012, 2013), and Northeast Region Second Team selection (2011).
Bozek was named to the America East All-Conference First Team (2012, 2013) and Second Team (2011). Her other conference accolades included Championship Most Outstanding Player (2013), All-Championship Team (2012, 2013) and All-Academic Team (2011, 2012).
UNH won the America East regular-season title all four years and was the league tournament champion in '11 and '13.
The native of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., recorded 29 goals and eight assists for 66 points, as well as 13 defensive saves, in 85 career games as a Wildcat.
Goodspeed, who started as the women's gymnastics head coach at UNH in the 1979 fall semester, retired at the conclusion of the 2019 season with a career record of 648-327-2 (.665) and seven league championships – four ECAC and three EAGL.
In her tenure, the Wildcats reached postseason competition 38 times and appeared in the NCAA Regional Championships 36 times. Goodspeed capped her legendary career by leading UNH to the 2019 EAGLChampionship title in front of its home crowd and being named the league's co-Coach of the Year.
In addition to the 1994 team qualifying to the NCAA National Championship meet, individual gymnasts represented UNH at the national championship 11 different times in the Goodspeed era.
The native of Kohler, Wis. is a six-time recipient of the NCAA Northeast Region Head Coach of the Year (1991, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2008, and 2015) and is a two-time EAGL Coach of the Year (2008 and 2019).
Harris etched his name in the UNH football record book as one of the top receivers in program history. In his four years as a Wildcat spanning the 2011-14 seasons, he caught more passes than any 'Cat in history with 310 receptions. Harris ranks second with 4,328 career receiving yards.
His other career statistics include 5,019 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns.
The wide receiver garnered AFCA FCS All-America Team recognition as a senior in 2014, when he broke UNH's single-season record for receptions with 100 and tied the program single-season benchmark with a nation-leading 1,551 receiving yards.
Harris holds three of UNH's Top 10 single-season marks for receptions at No. 1, No. 6 and No. 8, and two of the Top 10 in receiving yards at No. 1 and No. 8.
The native of Odenton, Md., was a three-time selection to both the All-New England Team and CAA All-Conference First Team.
Purrier St. Pierre is arguably the most accomplished student-athlete in school history. She is an 11-time All-American – including an NCAA national champion – and 17-time America East champion. She was voted UNH's Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year in 2018.
Purrier St. Pierre is a two-time America East Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2016-17 and 2017-18) and six-time America East Scholar Athlete.
Purrier St. Pierre won the national championship in the mile at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships and she placed 14th in the 3,000-meters to earn All-America Second Team.
In cross country, Purrier St. Pierre won three consecutive America East individual titles (2014, 2016, and 2017) and helped UNH win five consecutive conference team titles spanning 2013-17. She was the NCAA Regional individual champion as a junior and senior and earned All-America recognition both years.
The native of Montgomery, Vt., holds a total of 10 UNH track & field records – six individual and four relays.
Umile was previously enshrined into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 for his accomplishments as a student-athlete on the men's hockey team. He is being honored again 30 years later for his achievements as that program's head coach.
In 28 years, Umile guided the Wildcats to 596 victories, two national championship games, four Frozen Fours, 18 NCAA tournament appearances, eight Hockey East regular-season championships, and two Hockey East tournament titles. The Wildcats won 20 or more games in a season 20 times during his tenure.
Umile was named Coach of the Year a total of 11 times, including the Spencer Penrose Award winner as National Coach of the Year in 1999. He was tabbed the top coach in New England four times and Hockey East Coach of the Year six times.
The 596 wins are more than any head coach in UNH men's hockey history, and that total ranked third among active coaches – ninth all-time – when he announced his retirement in 2018. Umile became the eighth Division I men's hockey coach to record 500 wins at one school.
The Joan Leitzel Contribution to UNH Athletics Award is given to a person whose contributions to UNH Athletics have enhanced the lives of student-athletes.
Dr. Steve Hardy was a popular UNH professor of kinesiology, advisor, and affiliate professor of history for more than a quarter of a century before retiring in 2014. He also served as the UNH NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative for more than 10 years (1998-2011) and advocated profoundly for Wildcat Athletics for decades.
Hardy is receiving the Joan Leitzel Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to student-athlete success and academic excellence for every varsity athletics program. He was devoted to making UNH a special place.
His impact on UNH student-athletes extended far beyond the classroom. More than a professor, Hardy was – and still is – a mentor, role model, guiding light, friend, and empathetic listener who is always supportive. He shaped many Wildcats' lives by encouraging them to pursue their passions and goals and strive for excellence in all aspects of life.
Hardy, who played hockey as a youth in Waltham, Mass. and later for Bowdoin College, has written two books and countless articles.
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