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Four inducted into UNT Athletic Hall of Fame
Inducted into the UNT Athletic Hall of Fame this Homecoming were outstanding North Texas athletes Chris Davis ('03), basketball; Brad Kassell, football; Ken Kelley ('55), track and field; and Marilyn Marin ('04), soccer. Also recognized at the ceremony were the 1988 men's basketball team, which advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, and George Dunham ('88), the voice of the Mean Green radio network for 20 years. The four new inductees join 200 current members of the UNT Athletic Hall of Fame, including such luminaries as Joe Greene ('69), a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Bill Schmidt ('70), who won a bronze medal in the javelin at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
"You couldn't choose better ambassadors for North Texas athletics than the four people being inducted in this Hall of Fame class," Athletic Director Rick Villarreal said. "Not only is this a tremendous recognition of their abilities as athletes, it is a credit to their character as people."
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Chris Davis' father, Erven, accepting on his behalf |
One of the most dynamic players in North Texas basketball history, Davis finished his career as the second all-time leading scorer in school history with 2,254 points. He was a three-time all-conference selection and the 1999-00 Big West Freshman of the Year after scoring 21.7 points a game. He was the nation's 14th leading scorer that year and the second leading freshman scorer in the country.
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Brad Kassell's mother, Teresa, accepting on his behalf |
Kassell anchored a North Texas defense that is widely credited with starting the Mean Green's run of four straight Sun Belt Conference titles and New Orleans Bowl bids. He is the third all-time leading tackler in North Texas history with 365. He was a three-time all-conference selection and the 2001 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Since leaving UNT in 2001, Kassell has gone on to enjoy a successful career in the NFL and is currently with the New York Jets.
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Ken Kelley |
Kelley was a four-year letter winner from 1952 to 1955. In 1954 and 1955, he was the high-point meet performer at the Border Olympics, West Texas Relays, ACC Meet, TCU Meet, South Western Relays and AAU Meet. At the 1955 West Texas Relays, he tied the meet record in the high hurdles and set a new meet record in the broad jump. At the 1955 Texas Relays, he won first place in the high jump, establishing a new school record at 6 feet, 6 inches. Kelly set a new school record in the high hurdles in 1955.
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Marilyn Marin |
Marin ended her career with every offensive record in school history while leaving her mark on the NCAA. Marin had 214 career points, tied for 10th in NCAA history; 88 goals, eighth in NCAA history; 2.70 points per game, tied for seventh in NCAA history; and 1.11 goals per game, tied for eighth in NCAA history. In 2002, she turned in the best season in North Texas soccer history. She led the nation in points (67), goals (26), and points per game (3.53). She was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003 and was named Freshman of the Year in 2000. She is the first player in league history to be named first-team all-conference four straight years and capture back-to-back Player of the Year honors. |
