Story and image courtesy of Coppin State Athletic Communications
BALTIMORE – Coppin State University has proudly released the four individuals and one team who will comprise the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Brian Pisani (baseball), Doug Robertson (women's basketball head coach), Stephen Stewart (men's basketball), Rashida Suber (women's basketball) and the 1975-76 men's basketball team will make up the 2020 Class.
Arguably the best two-way player in Coppin State baseball history, Pisani was the 1996 MEAC Player of the Year and a First Team All-MEAC selection after leading the Eagles to a Northern Division championship. Pisani developed a reputation for being one of the top players in the conference the year prior, as he was named the MEAC Tournament MVP, leading Coppin to its first and only MEAC championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Pisani was a Second Team All-MEAC recipient that season, leading the league in wins (8) and strikeouts (83) while ranking second in home runs (8) and RBIs (40). His 14 complete games led all of NCAA Division I. Pisani still owns the MEAC record for innings pitched (354.0) and the school-record for pitching appearances (67), games started (45), wins (21), complete games (27), strikeouts (229) and home runs (20). He also sits in Coppin's top ten in RBI, doubles, walks and slugging percentage.
Robertson coached the Coppin State women's basketball team for five seasons from 1987-92 and was named the 1990-91 MEAC Coach of the Year and MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Coach. The 1990-91 Eagles were the first CSU women's basketball team to have a winning season and win the MEAC Tournament, but at the time the MEAC Championships were not invited to the NCAA Tournament. Robertson coached one Black College Sports All-American, six All-MEAC players, and four MEAC All-Rookie selections. Robertson later served as an assistant athletic director at Coppin.
A 2011 MEAC Hall of Fame Inductee, Stewart was named the MEAC Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (1993-94 & 1994-95) after being named the 1992-93 MEAC Rookie of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player. After leading the Eagles to the 1993 MEAC Championship, Stewart went on to go for a double-double 20 points and ten rebounds (both led all players) in the NCAA Tournament against Cincinnati. In his third and final season at Coppin, Stewart scored 19 points in the NIT against Saint Joseph's which was CSU's first-ever postseason victory. Stewart was a 1994-95 Black College Sports First Team All-American and went on to play professionally in Europe and Australia. In just three seasons, Stewart ranks eighth in CSU history in points (1,393), 9th in rebounds and 3rd in free throws made. Stewart's teams went 47-1 in MEAC play and 65-26 overall with a 30-1 record at home. Stewart is currently an assistant coach at Delaware State.
The all-time leading scorer in Coppin State women's basketball history, Suber was the 2006-07 MEAC Player of the Year, a three-time First Team All-Conference selection and a 2004-05 member of the conference's All-Rookie Team. Suber was named the 2005-06 MEAC Tournament Most valuable Player and led the eagles to three NCAA Tournaments (2004-05, 2005-06 & 2007-08) as well as a WNIT appearance during the 2006-07 season where they defeated Saint Joseph's in the First Round. In her four seasons, the Eagles went a combined 92-37 overall with a 64-6 mark during MEAC play with undefeated conference records in both her sophomore and junior seasons. Suber scored 1,865 points and ranks first in field goals, 3-pointer's and steals as well as seventh in assists. Following her collegiate career, Suber was invited to WNBA Camp and played professionally overseas.
Finishing with a 39-2 record, the 1975-76 men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship which is the school's only National Title. After winning the Potomac Intercollegiate Conference Championship, Coppin was awarded the ninth seed in the NAIA Tournament and won five games in six days, defeating Dowling (N.Y.), Wisconsin-Parkside, Texas Southern, Marymount and Henderson State (Ark.). CSU Hall of Famer Joe Pace was named the NAIA Tournament Most Valuable Player and scored 43 points in the Championship Game victory over Henderson State which ended in a 96-91 score. Coached by Hall of Famer John Bates, members of the 1975-76 team include Pace, Gary 'Tank' Barnes, Ralph Blount, Earl Bundy, Hall of Famer Tony Carter, Don Evans, Arnold Graham, Mickey Heard, Allen Johnson, Andrew Jones, Eric King, David Moaney, Charles Moore, Charles Pender, David Sheppard and Ed Taylor.
The 2020 Hall of Fame class was voted in by a committee of nine former Coppin State student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who represent a diverse background of CSU sports and eras. Members of the Hall of Fame class will be inducted during Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
Further details on location, time and pricing will be released at a later date.