Tulane Athletics Announces 2024’s Hall of Fame Class

NEW ORLEANS – The 2024 Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame class was announced today by Ben Weiner Director of Athletics Chair David Harris and Hall of Fame Committee Chair Lenny Vangilder.

The four former student-athletes and head coach who were selected include: baseball's Jack Cressend (1994-96) and Wayne Francingues (1967-69), women's basketball's Kolby Morgan (2014-18) and head coach Lisa Stockton (1994-2024) and football's Brad Palazzo (1995-98). Francingues also played football for the Olive and Blue.

The Billy Slatten Award, distributed annually to someone who has given extraordinary service, commitment and support to Tulane University and its student-athletes, will be presented to former Tulane administrator Vince Granito (1987-2017) for his longtime service to the Green Wave. This award was established in 2004 in honor of William A. "Billy" Slatten, a longtime supporter of Tulane Athletics, a member of the Tulane Board of Trustees and the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee.

"We are so thrilled to add some of our finest Tulanians to the Hall of Fame," Harris said. "We can't wait to have them back in Uptown in September so that their accomplishments can be formally celebrated by our student-athletes, staff and fans alike."

The Don and Lora Peters Career Achievement Award will also be given for the second consecutive year. This award honors a former Tulane student-athlete who earned his or her undergraduate degree while competing for the Green Wave. The recipient has combined his/her athletic experience with their Tulane education to achieve a career of distinction in an athletics-related field. Receiving the 2024 award will be Shelly Cayette-Weston, President of Business Operations for the Charlotte Hornets. Weston played for Stockton and the Green Wave from 2003-05.

Donald "Don" J. Peters ('81) and his wife, Lora, have been passionate supporters of Tulane Athletics for many years and have especially focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience. Their philanthropic legacy is a tribute to the values and perseverance of our student-athletes. In recognition of their steadfast support and dedication, and their commitment to helping prepare student-athletes for their futures post-graduation, this award is named in their honor.

The induction ceremony for the 2024 Hall of Fame Class has been set for Friday, September 27 inside the Jill H. and Avram A. Glazer Family Club.

Jack Cressend (Baseball, 1994-96)

One of the top strikeout pitchers in Tulane history who delivered one of the clutch single-game performances in school history.
Led Tulane in strikeouts in 1995 (83) and 1996 (123) and ranks eighth in Tulane history in strikeouts per nine innings (9.96) and tied for eighth in strikeouts (276).
Had career-high 15 strikeouts (tied for seventh-most in Tulane history) in 1996 vs. Missouri.
Selected to All-Tournament team in inaugural Conference USA Tournament in 1996 after pitching a complete game 2-0 shutout over South Florida in championship game.
Had 18-15 career record with 4.37 ERA in 65 appearances (34 starts) in a Tulane uniform.
Signed as undrafted free agent with Boston Red Sox after 1996 season and spent five seasons in the major leagues with Minnesota and Cleveland, posting a 4.20 ERA in 122 relief appearances.
After his playing career, briefly served as an assistant coach at Tulane before helping launch the Louisiana Knights travel program.

Wayne Francingues (Football/Baseball, 1967-69)

Lettered in 2 sports for both his sophomore and junior seasons at Tulane.
Led Tulane in passing with 938 yards and four touchdowns in 1968, including 100-yard rushing games against Virginia and Texas A&M
Led Tulane with seven touchdowns and 1,376 yards of total offense in 1968, which was the second highest ever at that time.
Led the 1969 baseball Tulane team to a No. 20 national ranking while splitting time with spring football.
Lifetime .280 hitter, played in 38 games with 18 starts, 40 hits, 21 runs scored, seven doubles, four home runs 21 RBI, .413 on base percentage.
Performed at a high level in high school and college baseball to be drafted out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles in the 3rd round and out of Tulane in 1969 by the Chicago White Sox (10th round)

Kolby Morgan (Women's Basketball, 2014-18)

Four-year starter who ended her career as second all-time leading scorer in Tulane history with 2,240 points.
Holds Tulane records for field goals made, field goals attempted, games started and minutes played, ranks second all-time in three-pointers made and attempted, third in free throws made and fourth in steals.
Only player in Tulane history to score 600 or more points in a season three times.
As a freshman, led Tulane with 17 points in Green Wave's last NCAA Tournament appearance against Mississippi State.
First player in Tulane women's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points before end of sophomore season.
First freshman in program history to become all-conference selection when she was named third-team All-American Athletic Conference in 2015.
Louisiana Sports Writers Association 2015 freshman of the year.
Went on to become program's first four-time all-conference selection (second team as sophomore, junior, senior).

Brad Palazzo (Football, 1995-98)

Led the nation in field goals per game in 1997 and was named third-team All-America.
First team All-Conference USA in 1997.
Holds Tulane record for points by a kicker in a single game (22), and season (109, 1997).
Tied for the record for most field goals in a game (5) and outright holder of most field goals in a season (23, 1997)
Holds Tulane record for most field goals attempted in a year (28, 1997).
Tulane record holder for most PATs made and attempted in a game (10) and season (68, 1998).
Missed just two PATs in his career for a 98.6 percentage.
Made 68 consecutive PATs in 1998 during a span of 86 consecutive PATs, both school records.
Third all-time at Tulane for career points scored and most points kicking and is third all-time at Tulane for career field goals made (48).
Second all-time at Tulane in field goal percentage at .727 (48-66).
His 109 points in 1997 is the fourth-most points for all players at all positions for a single season in team history.
Led Tulane in scoring from 1996-98.
Career-long 52-yard field goal vs. ECU on October 18, 1997 remains the 10th-longest field goal in team history.
Played in 1999 Senior Bowl.

Lisa Stockton (Women's Basketball Head Coach, 1994-2024)

Announced her retirement in March of 2024 following 30 years as the Green Wave's head coach.
The all-time winningest women's basketball coach in the state of Louisiana.
Conference USA Hall of Famer.
Her 591 career Division I victories ranked her 14th among all active Division I coaches during her final season and her 654 overall wins put her 27th on the NCAA's all-time active wins list.
Her victories represent 78 percent of the program's overall win total since its first season (1975-76).
Coached eight players and one team who have also been inducted into the Tulane Hall of Fame as well as five NBA players.
Named one of the 25 most influential women in Louisiana sports history by the Advocate in 2022.
In 2020, Silver Waves Media tabbed her as one of the 100 Most Impactful People nationally across the sport of women's basketball.
Member of the NCAA Women's Basketball Issues Committee, the Academic Subcommittee, the Regional Ranking Committee with two stints on the Kodak All-American Committee.
Dubbed one of CitiBusiness's 2007 Women of the Year.
Twice chaired the C-USA Women's Basketball Coaches and served four terms as the WBCA Conference Captain.
2017 inductee to the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame.
Named her league's Coach of the Year three times and Louisiana's Coach of the Year twice.
Entering her final season, she was one of only two active coaches to take one of U.S. News & World Report's Top 40 academic institutions to at least 11 NCAA Tournaments.
Of the 23 players who became members of Tulane's 1,000-point club during her tenure, 13 hailed from the state of Louisiana.
Also had nine players inducted to the school's athletic Hall of Fame with five coming via homegrown talent.
Led Tulane to 21 postseason appearances, while averaging nearly 20 wins a season.
Helped the Olive and Blue secure five conference tournament championships and four regular season conference titles.
Mentored six All-Americans and five WNBA draft picks.
In her 30 years, Tulane saw 28 different student-athletes earn all-conference honors 53 times and 13 received All-Freshman recognition.
Led the program to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Vince Granito, Athletic Administration (1987-2017)

Served in a multitude of roles over three decades at Tulane, beginning in ticket operations before spending 19 years as associate athletic director.
At various times, his oversight included external affairs, internal affairs, facilities and event management.
Earned President's Staff Excellence Award in 2013 for best representing high achievement in contributions to the university.
Was co-director of the New Orleans Host Committee for the 2012 Men's Final Four and 2013 Women's Final Four.
Served as game manager for the 2004 Women's Final Four and event manager for 1993 NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships.
Currently serves as director of ticket sales and service at University of New Orleans, where he also was associate athletic director and interim athletic director.
Before coming to Tulane, worked at the University of Houston and the United States Naval Academy.

Shelly Cayette-Weston, Women's Basketball

Native of St. James who played 44 games at Tulane from 2003-05 and graduated in 2006.
After playing professionally in Europe, worked locally for Harrah's Casino and New Orleans Hornets in marketing, corporate and business development and as director of community investment.
Worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2012 in a variety of roles.
Named senior vice president and chief commercial officer in January 2022, the first African-American woman ever to hold that position for an NBA team.
Previously served with Cavs as senior VP and VP/global partnerships and VP of partnership marketing and strategy.
Named to Sports Business Journal's 40 Unver 40 in 2021.
Named President of Business Operations for the Charlotte Hornets in May 2024.

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Tulane Athletics Announces 2024’s Hall of Fame Class

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