Last Sunday at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, Pepperdine inducted three All-Americans, one iconic coach and a national championship team into their Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductees join 92 individuals and 13 teams that have already been enshrined since the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1980.
Coach Jim Harrick (men’s basketball), Maureen Formico-Caloiaro (women’s basketball), Troy Tanner (men’s volleyball), Mike Fetters (baseball) and the 2006 NCAA champion men’s tennis team received the highest honor in Pepperdine athletics. Families, friends and members of the Pepperdine athletic department celebrated their special recognition and induction into an esteemed group of Waves.
“One of the biggest and most anticipated events on our calendar each year is the Hall of Fame ceremony,” Pepperdine Director of Athletics Steve Potts said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to look back and honor the most successful student athletes, coaches and teams that make up our department’s proud history. We add another tremendous group of inductees this year, each of whom left an immeasurable mark on their respective programs.”
Jim Harrick was Pepperdine’s men’s basketball head coach for nine seasons (1979-1988). His teams went 167-97 (.633) and made six postseason appearances, including trips to the NCAA tournament in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986. The Waves also played in the 1980 and 1988 National Invitational Tournaments.
Under his guidance, Pepperdine won or shared five WCC regular-season titles. He was named WCC Coach of the Year on four separate occasions. After his successful time at Pepperdine, Harrick moved on to UCLA where he coached the Bruins for eight years and led them to their eleventh national championship in 1995. He is currently the second-winningest coach at UCLA behind the legendary John Wooden.
Harrick was initially surprised by the announcement of his induction into the Hall of Fame.
“I received a phone call from Athletic Director Steve Potts and I was kind of stunned at first,” Harrick recollected. “I thought Dane Suttle and Dwayne Polee should be the next group of basketball players to be recognized. But to hear my name was very humbling. It is a very nice honor.”
Harrick is the third-winningest coach at Pepperdine. His teams had success while playing many of the best teams in the country. But it was the friendships he forged with his teams that he will never forget.
“Pepperdine is a very special and unique place to me,” Harrick said. “I had a lot of memorable experiences there. We had some magical years. But it’s the special bond that I have to this day with many of my former players that means the most to me.”
Maureen Formico-Caloiaro graduated from Pepperdine in 1986, but left an indelible mark on the women’s basketball program. She is the Waves all-time leader in scoring (2,190), field goals made (873) and free throws made (444).
A two-time All-American, Formico-Caloiaro holds Pepperdine single-season records for points (713), scoring (24.6), field goals (301) and free throws made (154); and single-game records for field goals made (19) and free throws made (17), and rebounds (33).
“It’s a big honor. I was overwhelmed when I received the news,” Formico-Caloiaro said. “You don’t really think about it. You think about others, but when it’s about you, your heart just drops. This is the stamp of approval. Everything I worked hard for is now getting acknowledged. I’m happy and very excited.”
Troy Tanner was a member of the 1985 and 1986 national championship men’s volleyball teams. A recipient of a gold medal in men’s volleyball at the 1988 Olympics, Tanner was a three-time All-American at Pepperdine, earning first-team honors as a senior and junior and second-team as a freshman.
“To think of all the great athletes, certainly in volleyball, to be selected is a great honor,” Tanner said. “It was possibly the greatest four years of my life. I’m more proud now than when I was there as a student. It was a great experience and I am truly grateful for this honor.”
The final inductee was Mike Fetters who played baseball for the Waves from 1984 through 1986. He was an All-American in 1986 and the WCC Pitcher of the Year after setting many Pepperdine records including single-season records for strikeouts (158), innings pitched (147.2) and complete games (12) that still stand today. Fetters played 16 years in Major League Baseball.
The 2006 NCAA champion men’s tennis team was the first title in Pepperdine tennis history and the ninth overall for the school. Led by current head coach Adam Steinberg, the Waves went 36-2 on the season and set a record for wins by a national championship team.
“It’s a dream come true to be inducted and have all my players and coaches come back for this incredible honor,” Steinberg said. “I think about the night we won on a daily basis, and to relive the 2006 season again was something I was looking forward to. I thank Pepperdine for this great opportunity.”