SCOTTSDALE – The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission will officially induct its 2023 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Class on Saturday, April 13, with five of the seven inductees having ties to the University of Arizona coaches, athletes or alumni.
The five Wildcats are Olympic distance runner Abdi Abdirahman, former MLB and NBA executive Rich Dozer, former baseball player Terry Francona, former men's basketball player Richard Jefferson and former baseball coach Jerry Kindall.
Abdihakim 'Abdi' Abdirahman, nicknamed the Black Cactus, is a prominent long-distance runner and a four-time USATF Champion at 10,000 meters. Born in Somalia, he became a U.S. citizen in 2000, after moving to the U.S. in 1990. Residing in Tucson, Arizona, Abdirahman has been a significant figure in athletics, becoming a five-time Olympic team member at age 43, and participating in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics in the 10,000m, as well as the 2012 Olympics marathon. He set a USATF Masters marathon record for the 40-44 age group in 2019 and 2020.
Rich Dozer graduated from the University of Arizona in 1979 before going on to serve as the COO of the Phoenix Suns and President of the former Talking Stick Arena from 1989-1995 as well as President of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1995-2006. He has also held various positions with real estate and development firms and works with the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau while also serving as the Chairman of the board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Terry 'Tito' Francona, manager of the Cleveland Indians, has a distinguished career in baseball. He played in the majors from 1981 to 1990, then managed minor league teams and the Philadelphia Phillies. Under his management, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and 2007. His career began at the University of Arizona, contributing to the Wildcats' 1980 College World Series win.
Richard Jefferson played basketball at the University of Arizona from 1998 to 2001, averaging 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He was key in the team's 2001 national championship run and was inducted into the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor in 2012. He won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and is now a sports analyst at ESPN.
Jerry Kindall was a celebrated college baseball coach at the University of Arizona for 24 years, leading the Wildcats to three National Championships and three Pac-10 titles. He was the first to win a college baseball title as both a player and a coach. He made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, and five College World Series appearances, winning three NCAA titles in 1976, 1980, and 1986. He was recognized as College Baseball Coach of the Year in each championship season and had roles as a broadcaster, consultant, and spring training chaplain.
This event is set to take place at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort with tickets available at
www.AZsportsENT.com.
Below is a list of former University of Arizona Wildcats that are part of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.
Click here for the entire AZsportsHOF list.
- J.F. "Pop" McKale | University of Arizona Coach and Athletic Director
- Hank Leiber | Phoenix Union/UofA Major-League Outfielder
- Fred Enke Sr. | University of Arizona Basketball Coach
- Miles W. Casteel | University of Arizona Football Coach
- Frank Sancet | University of Arizona Baseball Coach
- Warren Livingston | Mesa H.S., UofA, Dallas Cowboys Football Player
- Thomas "Shanty" Hogan | UofA football, Baseball Star, Long-Time Coach
- Fred Enke Jr. | UofA, Washington Redskins Football Star
- Bill Miller | Olympic Javelin Thrower (UA Grad)
- Shanty Hogan | UofA football, Baseball Star, Long-Time Coach
- Ed Doherty | Football Coach at ASU, UofA, St. Mary's H.S.
- Bob Baffert | University of Arizona, Renowned Horse Trainer
- Sean Elliott | University of Arizona, NBA All Star
- Lute Olson | University of Arizona, Head Basketball Coach
- UofA 1997 Men's Basketball National Championship team
- Karl Eller | UofA Football, Phoenix Suns & Fiesta Bowl Founder
- Mike Candrea | College Softball
- Amy Van Dyken-Rouen | Olympic Champion Swimmer
- Dick Tomey | University of Arizona Football Coach
- Abdi Abdirahman | UofA & Olympic runner
- Rich Dozer | Former president of Arizona Diamondbacks, COO of Phoenix Suns
- Terry Francona | University of Arizona baseball
- Richard Jefferson | University of Arizona basketball
- Jerry Kindall | University of Arizona baseball coach
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