Saluki Athletics inducts seven new members to Saluki Hall of Fame
10/19/2018 | 10:38:00 | General, Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Seven inductees entered the Saluki Hall of Fame during a ceremony at SIU Arena on Friday night. Jermaine Dearman (Men's Basketball), Mallory Duran-Sellers (Softball), P.J. Finigan (Baseball), George Loukas (Football), Jeneva McCall (Track & Field), Bryan Mullins (Men's Basketball) and Bruce Weber (Men's Basketball Head Coach) each took their place among the all-time great athletes and coaches at Southern Illinois University. The inductees will also be introduced at the end of the first quarter of tomorrow's Homecoming football game versus Indiana State that kicks off at 2 p.m.Â
Dearman played forward for the Salukis from 1999-2003 and helped lead the team to an 88-42 record during his career with two NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2003), including a Sweet 16. He was also a member of the 2000 NIT team. Dearman finished his career 10th in career scoring with 1,446 points, seventh in rebounding (802) and ninth in blocked shots (71). He was a Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2003, honorable mention in 2002 and was named to SIU's All-Century team in 2014.Â
"This is a great and wonderful feeling, especially since I am being inducted with Coach Weber," Dearman said. "With Coach Weber's help and our team's hard work, we were able to turn the empty seats to a filled up arena. People were sleeping overnight for tickets and the whole vibe and buzz in the city was special."
Dearman was at his best in big games, earning the nickname "Big-Game Jermaine," and was selected three times as the CBS Player of the Game in NCAA Tournament games versus Texas Tech, Georgia and Missouri. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, he currently works at Fall Creek Valley Middle School and also trains basketball players at Fred Jones' Shoot 360 in Indianapolis.
An outfielder for the Salukis from 2009-12, Duran-Sellers was a career .327 hitter, placing her eighth all-time in school history. She is the all-time leader at SIU in runs scored (162) and finished fifth in stolen bases (46). She won the MVC's Most Valuable Player award in 2012 and was named Second-Team All-Region that year, though her best statistical season came in 2011 when she hit .398 and set the conference record for runs scored with 61.Â
"I am very thankful for Kerri (Kerri Blaylock) and Jen (Jen Sewell)," Duran-Sellers said. "Kerri really believed in me when I stopped believing in myself. I didn't do well my freshman year and she was always behind me and supporting through all of it."
Duran-Sellers was an outstanding student, as well, earning CoSIDA Academic All-American honors in 2011 and 2012, plus the MVC's coveted Elite 18 Award in 2012. She was a three-time All-Conference and Academic All-MVC pick. Southern posted a 143-70 overall record during her career. Duran-Sellers is currently living in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she works in the Center for Fostering Success at Western Michigan University. Â
Finigan was both a standout shortstop and pitcher for the Salukis from 2002-05. As a senior, Finigan was named the MVC Player of the Year after he led the conference with a .386 batting average and posted a 9-3 record with a 3.24 ERA on the mound. He also had 48 RBIs, four triples and six home runs that year, and his four complete games that season were the second most by a Saluki since 1991. His name appears throughout the Saluki record book as both a hitter and pitcher.Â
"Just knowing the names that have gone through Saluki baseball and those who are already in the Hall of Fame makes this a special honor," Finigan said. "This is something I would have never guessed happening when I first got to SIU, so to be a Hall of Famer is a dream come true."
Following his senior season at SIU, Finigan was selected by the Tigers in the seventh round and he advanced to double-A before two Tommy John surgeries, forced him to retire. A Springfield, Illinois native, he has served the last eight years as SIU's pitching coach.
A fullback at SIU from 1970-72, Loukas was a rugged ball carrier who piled up 1,427 yards on the ground, ending his career as the school's third all-time leading rusher trailing only Hall of Famers Amos Bullocks and Carver Shannon. His 1,052 rushing yards in 1971 was the second-best total in school history and included a 224-yard rushing performance versus Wichita State. He also topped 100 yards against Indiana State, Arkansas State and Drake that season.Â
"I walked on which means I came here without a scholarship," Loukas said. "I came here because SIU was the cheapest school in the state to go to. I worked in the steel mills for two months to save money and then came down here."
The team did not compete in a conference during Loukas' career, but it posted a 12-7 record during his sophomore and junior seasons, including wins over Louisville, East Carolina and Arkansas State. Loukas currently resides in Chicago and is the owner of the Cubby Bear and other properties in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood.
McCall, a world-class thrower at SIU from 2009-2012, is one of the most decorated track & field athletes in school history. A three-time NCAA champion, she claimed the NCAA Indoor weight throw and NCAA Outdoor hammer throw titles in 2012, and also captured the NCAA Outdoor discus championship in 2010. Her three national titles are the most by an athlete at SIU and third-most in league history.
"I used to walk back and forth in the hallway staring at the Hall of Fame wall, thinking of how I could get up there," McCall said. "I didn't have a plan but just stuck to what coach was telling me to do. In the end, I am making the wall and standing up there with a bunch of great people. It is amazing."
 In total, McCall was a 13-time All-American and 15-time MVC champion. In addition to her three national titles, she was a three-time national runner-up in the shot put, hammer throw and weight throw. She capped off her remarkable career by finishing as a semifinalist for the 2012 Bowerman Award, which is the track & field equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. McCall continues to compete on the international stage and was the first American woman to medal in the hammer throw in worldwide competition with her win in the event at the 2013 World University Games.
Many consider Mullins to be the best point guard in school history. SIU's floor general set the school career record for assists with 509 and averaged more than four assists per game as a four-year starter. He guided the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 in 2007 and a No. 11 national ranking — the highest in school history. Mullins was a tenacious defender who twice won MVC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a member of the league's All-Defense team all four seasons.Â
"To be able to represent this university for four of the best years of my life is amazing," Mullins said. "I think a common theme with this induction class is winning. It says something that you can come here as a student-athlete or a coach and accomplish all your goals."
He set the school record for career steals per game (2.08) and set the single-season mark (94) as a true freshman. Mullins was also an outstanding student, joining Mike Glenn as the program's only two-time Academic All-Americans. A member of SIU's All-Century team, Mullins is currently the Associate Head Coach of the Loyola Ramblers and helped lead that program to the NCAA Final Four in 2018.Â
Weber was the architect of SIU's basketball resurgence during the 2000s. He inherited a program that had recorded three-straight losing seasons and quickly turned them into Valley champions. During his five seasons at SIU (1999-2003), Weber's teams compiled a 103-54 record, advanced to two NCAA Tournaments (2002, 2003), including a Sweet 16 appearance, plus an NIT appearance (2000). Southern won the MVC title in both 2002 and 2003 and Weber was named MVC Coach of the Year in 2003.Â
"I am very blessed and fortunate to have been a part of this program," Weber said. "We had one of the best mid-major runs in the history of college basketball, to be honest. The run that we had was special and I am proud to have been part of it."
The Salukis beat five BCS opponents during Weber's stay and climbed as high as No. 22 in the national rankings. The program he built was sustained by his successors, Matt Painter and Chris Lowery, who led Southern to four more NCAA Tournament appearances. After SIU, Weber coached nine seasons at Illinois and made six NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the Championship game in 2005. He is currently the head coach at Kansas State where the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight last season.
Dearman played forward for the Salukis from 1999-2003 and helped lead the team to an 88-42 record during his career with two NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2003), including a Sweet 16. He was also a member of the 2000 NIT team. Dearman finished his career 10th in career scoring with 1,446 points, seventh in rebounding (802) and ninth in blocked shots (71). He was a Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2003, honorable mention in 2002 and was named to SIU's All-Century team in 2014.Â
"This is a great and wonderful feeling, especially since I am being inducted with Coach Weber," Dearman said. "With Coach Weber's help and our team's hard work, we were able to turn the empty seats to a filled up arena. People were sleeping overnight for tickets and the whole vibe and buzz in the city was special."
Dearman was at his best in big games, earning the nickname "Big-Game Jermaine," and was selected three times as the CBS Player of the Game in NCAA Tournament games versus Texas Tech, Georgia and Missouri. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, he currently works at Fall Creek Valley Middle School and also trains basketball players at Fred Jones' Shoot 360 in Indianapolis.
An outfielder for the Salukis from 2009-12, Duran-Sellers was a career .327 hitter, placing her eighth all-time in school history. She is the all-time leader at SIU in runs scored (162) and finished fifth in stolen bases (46). She won the MVC's Most Valuable Player award in 2012 and was named Second-Team All-Region that year, though her best statistical season came in 2011 when she hit .398 and set the conference record for runs scored with 61.Â
"I am very thankful for Kerri (Kerri Blaylock) and Jen (Jen Sewell)," Duran-Sellers said. "Kerri really believed in me when I stopped believing in myself. I didn't do well my freshman year and she was always behind me and supporting through all of it."
Duran-Sellers was an outstanding student, as well, earning CoSIDA Academic All-American honors in 2011 and 2012, plus the MVC's coveted Elite 18 Award in 2012. She was a three-time All-Conference and Academic All-MVC pick. Southern posted a 143-70 overall record during her career. Duran-Sellers is currently living in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she works in the Center for Fostering Success at Western Michigan University. Â
Finigan was both a standout shortstop and pitcher for the Salukis from 2002-05. As a senior, Finigan was named the MVC Player of the Year after he led the conference with a .386 batting average and posted a 9-3 record with a 3.24 ERA on the mound. He also had 48 RBIs, four triples and six home runs that year, and his four complete games that season were the second most by a Saluki since 1991. His name appears throughout the Saluki record book as both a hitter and pitcher.Â
"Just knowing the names that have gone through Saluki baseball and those who are already in the Hall of Fame makes this a special honor," Finigan said. "This is something I would have never guessed happening when I first got to SIU, so to be a Hall of Famer is a dream come true."
Following his senior season at SIU, Finigan was selected by the Tigers in the seventh round and he advanced to double-A before two Tommy John surgeries, forced him to retire. A Springfield, Illinois native, he has served the last eight years as SIU's pitching coach.
A fullback at SIU from 1970-72, Loukas was a rugged ball carrier who piled up 1,427 yards on the ground, ending his career as the school's third all-time leading rusher trailing only Hall of Famers Amos Bullocks and Carver Shannon. His 1,052 rushing yards in 1971 was the second-best total in school history and included a 224-yard rushing performance versus Wichita State. He also topped 100 yards against Indiana State, Arkansas State and Drake that season.Â
"I walked on which means I came here without a scholarship," Loukas said. "I came here because SIU was the cheapest school in the state to go to. I worked in the steel mills for two months to save money and then came down here."
The team did not compete in a conference during Loukas' career, but it posted a 12-7 record during his sophomore and junior seasons, including wins over Louisville, East Carolina and Arkansas State. Loukas currently resides in Chicago and is the owner of the Cubby Bear and other properties in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood.
McCall, a world-class thrower at SIU from 2009-2012, is one of the most decorated track & field athletes in school history. A three-time NCAA champion, she claimed the NCAA Indoor weight throw and NCAA Outdoor hammer throw titles in 2012, and also captured the NCAA Outdoor discus championship in 2010. Her three national titles are the most by an athlete at SIU and third-most in league history.
"I used to walk back and forth in the hallway staring at the Hall of Fame wall, thinking of how I could get up there," McCall said. "I didn't have a plan but just stuck to what coach was telling me to do. In the end, I am making the wall and standing up there with a bunch of great people. It is amazing."
 In total, McCall was a 13-time All-American and 15-time MVC champion. In addition to her three national titles, she was a three-time national runner-up in the shot put, hammer throw and weight throw. She capped off her remarkable career by finishing as a semifinalist for the 2012 Bowerman Award, which is the track & field equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. McCall continues to compete on the international stage and was the first American woman to medal in the hammer throw in worldwide competition with her win in the event at the 2013 World University Games.
Many consider Mullins to be the best point guard in school history. SIU's floor general set the school career record for assists with 509 and averaged more than four assists per game as a four-year starter. He guided the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 in 2007 and a No. 11 national ranking — the highest in school history. Mullins was a tenacious defender who twice won MVC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a member of the league's All-Defense team all four seasons.Â
"To be able to represent this university for four of the best years of my life is amazing," Mullins said. "I think a common theme with this induction class is winning. It says something that you can come here as a student-athlete or a coach and accomplish all your goals."
He set the school record for career steals per game (2.08) and set the single-season mark (94) as a true freshman. Mullins was also an outstanding student, joining Mike Glenn as the program's only two-time Academic All-Americans. A member of SIU's All-Century team, Mullins is currently the Associate Head Coach of the Loyola Ramblers and helped lead that program to the NCAA Final Four in 2018.Â
Weber was the architect of SIU's basketball resurgence during the 2000s. He inherited a program that had recorded three-straight losing seasons and quickly turned them into Valley champions. During his five seasons at SIU (1999-2003), Weber's teams compiled a 103-54 record, advanced to two NCAA Tournaments (2002, 2003), including a Sweet 16 appearance, plus an NIT appearance (2000). Southern won the MVC title in both 2002 and 2003 and Weber was named MVC Coach of the Year in 2003.Â
"I am very blessed and fortunate to have been a part of this program," Weber said. "We had one of the best mid-major runs in the history of college basketball, to be honest. The run that we had was special and I am proud to have been part of it."
The Salukis beat five BCS opponents during Weber's stay and climbed as high as No. 22 in the national rankings. The program he built was sustained by his successors, Matt Painter and Chris Lowery, who led Southern to four more NCAA Tournament appearances. After SIU, Weber coached nine seasons at Illinois and made six NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the Championship game in 2005. He is currently the head coach at Kansas State where the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight last season.
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