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The El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed eight new members today, the new inductees were introduced at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
UTEP women’s head coach Keitha Adams, Miner Fan Club president Larry Rodriguez were among the new members of the hall of fame.
Adams, the winningest coach in UTEP women’s basketball history was inducted after a 29-8 season and having back-to-back sellouts at the Don Haskins Center in the final two games of the Miners at the WNIT.
“It’s amazing, I’m extremely honored it’s something that I’m very thankful for, it means a lot,” Adams said. “This is a reflection of my players, my coaching staff, UTEP and our administration. I had tremendous support to build the program, It’s an honor.”
Rodriguez who has been in charge of the UTEP Miner Fan Club was also honored for bringing together the club and for all of his work and effort in organizing road trips and tailgates to cheer on the different UTEP athletic programs.
“This is a way I had to give back to the community and to some of our student athletes that are participating in team sports at UTEP,” Rodriguez said. “Sometimes people don’t appreciate what they have to go through, they have dual roles that they have to do and this gives us the opportunity to get people involved and let them know they are appreciated.”
Other inductees included former UTEP basketball player Gloria Estrada, who was part of the very first UTEP women’s basketball team, athletic administrator Bob Azar, Big 12 official Gene Semko a graduate of Burges High School, former golfer and UTEP alumni John Patrick Hayes, Larisa Ito Pitchkolan and former New Mexico Lobos basketball player and El Paso native Gabe Nava completed the 2014 class.
“I consider myself very lucky to be a pioneer of this program,” Estrada said. “Me and some of my former teammates got together to go and watch the games this years and it’s amazing how the sport has evolved.”
Edwin Delgado may be reached at [email protected].
