WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary Athletics announced its 10-member Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Thursday, recognizing former student-athletes and administrators from seven programs. Induction ceremonies are scheduled for late winter or early spring of 2027 in Williamsburg.
Among the women, Mallory Schaffer earned two All-America honors and was twice named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year in women’s soccer before being selected in the NWSL Draft. Angie Evans Romano and Tiffany Stone each contributed to a sustained run of success in women’s basketball, with Stone finishing among the program’s leaders in both scoring and rebounding. Emily Anderson Melnick earned three All-America honors in cross country and track and field while setting multiple school records in distance events.
On the men’s side, Marcus Thornton finished his career as the program’s all-time leading scorer in men’s basketball and the school’s first Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. Nat Baako earned three all-CAA selections in men’s soccer and helped lead the Tribe to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010. Michael Katz was one of the most productive hitters in program history, with his record-setting 2014 season leading to MLB Draft selection. Tim Pemberton, now William & Mary’s director of golf and head coach of the men’s program, had one of the most successful playing careers in school history.
Administrators Steve Cole and Bobby Dwyer each spent more than three decades at William & Mary — Cole in athletic training and internal operations, and Dwyer in external operations and fundraising that supported facilities, scholarships and program development.
