Photo Gallery
NEWARK, NJ—NJIT added three new members to its athletics Hall of Fame, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its 1960 men's soccer national champions, remembered late, great baseball coach John “Gene” Schmid, and honored a retiring physical education faculty member in annual Hall of Fame ceremonies held in the Campus Center Atrium on October 9.
The three new Hall of Fame inductees were: Tarik Rodgers (men's volleyball; class of 1996; ME); Jon Ross (men's soccer; class of 1956; ME); and, the late Gregory Soriano (men's fencing; class of 1975; CE).
Duane Felczak, who is retiring at the end of 2010 after serving on the physical education faculty since 1974, was honored as the latest recipient of the Robert Swanson Award, named in honor of the late professor and Director of Athletics (1947 to 1972). The Swanson Award is presented to the faculty or staff member who has shown continued support for the Highlander athletics program.
In addition to his teaching duties, Felczak wore numerous other hats, including the last 20 years as Assistant Director overseeing the physical education program. Fittingly, he is the last remaining employee hired by Bob Swanson, the man for whom the award is named.
The evening also included a celebration of the 1960 Newark College of Engineering soccer team that finished the season undefeated (12 wins, one tie in 13 contests) and was champion of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). More than a dozen members of that historic team attended this year's event.
Mal Simon, the coach of the team and legendary NCE/NJIT figure, spoke, as did Bill Garro, a co-captain of the team.
NJIT also remembered the late coach John “Gene” Schmid, who died in June this year. Schmid, head coach of NJIT baseball from 1973 to 1997, also served NJIT for more than 20 years as Director of Career Planning and Placement. In baseball, he led the Highlanders to 393 victories and 11 conference championships. NJIT reached postseason play seven times in his tenure and won the 1982 ECAC playoff championship. Coach Schmid's number, 6, was retired and his adult children and their children received gifts commemorating the night.
Here is a brief look at the three new Hall of Fame inductees:
Tarik Rodgers, a graduate of Newark's Science High School, was a starter for NJIT men's volleyball for all four of his seasons. As a senior in 1995, he was the national ASICS Small College Player of the Year. … He was named to the the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association all-tournament team in 1994 and 1995 and was Most Valuable Player of the EIVA Division III championship. … A scholar-athlete all four years and team captain as a junior and senior, Rodgers played on teams that posted 19 wins twice and 20 wins twice in his four years. … Individually, he was in the top 10 in the nation in blocks twice, 12th in kills one year and third in hitting percentage. … After graduating from NJIT in 1996 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Rodgers earned an MBA in finance and strategy for Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Jon Ross, who had served in the United States Army prior to attending NCE, was 25 years old as a senior in 1955. A native of the Philadelphia area, Ross was the second NCE player ever honored on the National Soccer Coaches of America Eastern District team. He began his post-college career in the Pittsburgh area and eventually retired in 1995 from Con Edison in New York.
The late Greg Soriano 1950-2007) was one of the top performers in an NCE/NJIT sport that ranks among the school's richest in terms of longstanding tradition. He was coached all four year by NCE/NJIT legend, the late Paul Hausser. … Soriano, a native of Newark, was one of the top NAIA fencers in the East. As a freshman, he was second in the East and in New Jersey; as a sophomore he was NAIA East and NJ champion in the saber; as a junior, he was fourth in New Jersey and second in the NAIA East; and, as a senior, he was second in the NAIA East and competed in the NAIA nationals with a berth on the 1972 United States Olympic team at stake.
