Photos: Kathy Leister
By: Josh Abrams
PHILADELPHIA – It was quite the eventful day on the campus of La Salle University this past Saturday, as its men’s basketball squad hosted the Patriots of George Mason following a special ceremony inducting four former Explorer athletes into the University's Hall of Athletes.
Jill Davis (‘10, Women’s Lacrosse), Renee Washington (‘14, Women’s Soccer), Joe Ryan (‘69, Cross Country & Track) and Fran Dunphy (‘70, Men’s Basketball) were all honored beforehand in a ceremony where all four inductees expressed their genuinely humble and grateful thoughts on being remembered forever in Blue & Gold athletic history.
(LtoR) 2022 La Salle Hall of Athletes Inductees Joe Ryan, Jill Davis, Renee Washington & Fran Dunphy - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
Injuries, unfortunately, are a heartbreaking and inevitable part of sports. When Jill Davis’ sophomore regular season ended before it even started, that gut-wrenching reality came to fruition.
“Devastated doesn’t even do it justice,” said the Folsom, PA native. “It was on the last play of practice on the last day before our first regular season game. All of the hard work, preparation, and training I put in with my teammates for six months was just gone in an instant.”
But despite losing her entire second campaign, Davis would go on to finish her career as the program’s all-time leader in points, goals and assists. One might argue she was even more of a force in the classroom as she rightfully boasted a 4.0 GPA and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education. They are feats she claims would not exist without her reassuring, and rather large, support system.
“I don’t think I would have come back the way that I did if it wasn’t for my family, teammates, coaches and everyone else La Salle blessed me with,” said Davis.
Jill Davis ‘10, La Salle Women’s Lacrosse - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
She specifically wanted to thank her older sister, Kristen, who inspired her to choose La Salle over other top Division 1 women’s lacrosse schools because of the tight and “close-knit” community. Ending her thanks, she gave a shout out to her grandmother, who no matter the circumstance, would write her little encouraging notes that always ended with “You. Will. Win.”
After Davis came Joe Ryan, perhaps the most accomplished runner in La Salle’s storied track & cross country history. Ryan says he has been to many Hall of Athletes inductions in the past as a fan and spectator. For the local product of East Germantown and Cardinal Dougherty High School, however, Saturday’s festivities had a bit different of a feel to it.
“To be on the receiving end of this is extremely surreal and humbling,” said Ryan. “I thought about this for so long, but it’s really about the people I get to share and enjoy this experience with. They are the ones who deserve this just as much as I.”
Joe Ryan ‘69, La Salle Cross Country & Track - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
The All-American and three-time All-Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) selectee would embark on an illustrious coaching career post-La Salle at Philly Textile (now known as Jefferson University), where he passed the torch and produced 20 All-Americans from the track and cross country team. He also spent north of 40 years as a catholic school teacher and high school coach.
La Salle’s women’s soccer program was in a funk when they brought in Renee Washington as part of their 2010 recruiting class. They weren’t necessarily bottom-feeders of the A-10, but they needed to take that next step from above average. Unexpectedly for Washington, she would turn out to be the resolution to that problem.
“I spent so many years trying to make a name for myself in soccer,” the New Jersey product expressed. “From countless hours playing for the Ewing Express when I was a kid to Pennington Prep in high school, and all of the extra work my dad and I put in together. Nobody took a chance on me. Except for Paul Royal, and for that I am more than forever grateful.”
As a result of the now-19-year head coach taking that chance, Washington left 20th and Olney as arguably the most successful and decorated women’s soccer player to wear the Blue and Gold.
Renee Washington '14, La Salle Women’s Soccer - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
In her four years as a starter from 2010-2013, La Salle’s combined record showed 58 wins, 21 losses and nine ties. The program went from being A-10 Title-less to having two by the time Washington hung up the cleats.
She finished her Explorer career second all-time in goals with 40 and third in points with 101. She has four A-10 All-Conference honors as well as three All-Americans. Most importantly, she raised the standard for a program who many possibly thought could never make the jump.
“By the time I was an upperclasswoman we (the team) decided that winning the A-10 (both regular and postseason) was the bare minimum,” said Washington. “I had no idea such achievements would even be possible when I stepped foot on La Salle.”
Even though Washington does not play nearly as much anymore, she still has found a way to keep her ties to sports knotted. She currently works as an analyst and sideline reporter for various companies such as ESPN and FOX Sports, and even has her own live weekly digital show on Fox Sports Radio.
The world ‘humble’ does not do nearly enough justice when describing the personality of the legendary coach Fran Dunphy. Case in point is his reaction to being inducted into the Explorer Hall of Athletes:
“You always say to yourself, ‘Am I really deserving of this?’” said Dunphy. “I had a real nice career at La Salle, but it wasn’t anything extraordinary. I scored a number of points in my senior year and those kinds of things but I think there are many who are more deserving.
“Overall I’m appreciative, very appreciative of La Salle wanting to do this. I’m grateful, humbled and honored to be asked to do this. But again; ‘am I deserving’... that’s for somebody else to decide.”
It catches you off guard a little bit. Sure, he may not make it to Springfield, Massachusetts in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. But the impact he has had and will always continue to have on Philadelphia, specifically the basketball side, will forever be remembered and cherished.
He isn’t called “Mr. Big 5” for any reason. Dunphy played at La Salle and coached there on two separate occasions (one with the legendary Speedy Morris, who was also in attendance yesterday) before stepping in as the head coach of UPenn’s basketball team. His acclaimed coaching career began at the Palestra, where he led the Quakers to nine NCAA tournament appearances.
Fran Dunphy ‘70, La Salle Men’s Basketball - PDS Photo by Kathy Leister
Philadelphia Hall of Fame Basketball COach, Fran Dunphy, expressed his appreciation on being a member of the La Salle Hall of Athlete's Class of 2022 - Video by Joshua Abrams:
He brought his success over to the Liacouras Center to the Temple University's men's basketball program in 2006. Before retiring from coaching in 2019, Dunphy added eight more March Madness bids as well as three A10 tournament titles.
The last thing Fran Dunphy wants is to be the center of attention. But when you have success in your profession while simultaneously being an even better human being, it’s the latter that makes it difficult to stay out of the limelight. Dunphy may still have questions about his own deservingness of any sort of praise. The rest of us know the answer.
In the Tom Gola Arena, Ashley Howard’s team helped cap off the honors for the day by fending off a tough Patriot squad by a score of 83-78.
Jack Clark (Cheltenham) and Jhamir Brickus (Coatesville) led all scorers with 18 points apiece, while Josh Nickelberry and Clifton Moore (Hatboro-Horsham) also reached double figures in scoring with 17 and 15 points, respectively. Moore was also stellar on the defensive end with five blocks, his fourth such game this season.
D’Shawn Schwartz paced his Patriots teammates with 17 on the contest. George Mason shot a scorching 60 percent (15-25) from beyond the arc but only hit on seven out of 12 attempts from the charity stripe (less than 60 percent).
La Salle vs. George Mason - Game Highlights by Joshua Abrams & Kathy Leister
La Salle currently sits at 7-13 overall on the season and 2-9 in Atlantic 10 play after falling (75-57) to a red-hot St. Louis team on Tuesday night that has won their last six games and nine out of their last eleven. The Explorers will play their next game on the road at Richmond on Saturday at 6 p.m.
