The F Club and Gator Boosters, Inc. will be inducting nine new members into the Florida Athletics Hall of Fame. Eight former letterwinners and a former coach and professor will be inducted at Friday night's Hall of Fame Banquet. This year's inductees are Jill Craybas (Women's Tennis), Danielle Fotopoulos (Soccer), Willie Jackson, Jr. (Football), Jack Katz (Football), Patrick Kennedy (Men's Swimming), Bill Koss (Men's Basketball), P.A. Lee (assistant baseball coach and professor) Dennis Murphy (Football) and Chelsey Sakizzie (Softball).

A committee of F Club members selects members to the Hall of Fame. They are selected in three different categories; Gator Greats, Distinguished Letterwinners or Honorary Letterwinners. Gator Greats and Distinguished Letterwinners cannot be nominated until 10 years after completion of their eligibility. Honorary Letterwinners are considered after they have contributed 10 years of employment with the University of Florida, the University Athletic Association or Gator Boosters, Inc.

Gator Greats are letterwinners or athletes who have brought recognition and prominence to the University and themselves by athletic accomplishments as an undergraduate.  Criteria considered are All-American, All-SEC and exceptional leadership as witnessed by teammates and/or coaches. This year's inductees in the Gator Greats category are Jill Craybas, Danielle Fotopoulos, Willie Jackson, Jr., Patrick Kennedy, Dennis Murphy and Chelsey Sakizzie

Distinguished Letterwinners are letterwinners or athletes who have made major contributions to the University's athletic program through personal time, effort, and interest and through many years of continued service and/or have distinguished themselves as exceptional in their chosen field of endeavor. This year's Distinguished Letterwinners are Jack Katz and Bill Koss.

Honorary Letterwinners are individuals, coaches, athletic officials, staff members and other University officials who were not letterwinners or athletes at the University of Florida, yet have rendered outstanding service to the intercollegiate athletics program through personal time, effort, interest and through many years of continued service. This year's Honorary Letterwinner inductee is P.A. Lee.

Brief biographical sketches of each of the inductees follow.

Jill Craybas, Women's Tennis (1995-96)

1996 NCAA Singles Champion (Grand Slam event) … 1996 Riviera All-America Champion (Grand Slam event) … 1995 & 1996 All-American … 1995 & 1996 SEC Player of the Year … 1996 ITA South Region Player of the Year … 1995 & 1996 First-team All-SEC … Finished 1996 regular season ranked fourth nationally … Finished 1995 regular season ranked seventh nationally … Collegiate career record of 124-18 (87.3-winning percentage) … ITA National Player of the Month (April, 1996) … Recorded the victory that clinched two NCAA team championships (1993 & 1996) … Became first women in the history of the NCAA Tennis Championships to win the national championship with two different schools … 1996 Rhode Island Amateur Athlete of the Year … 1995 Gator Bait UF Female Athlete of the Year … Has recorded seven straight top 100 finishes, including a career-high ranking of 39th in April 2004.

Danielle Fotopoulos, Soccer (1996-98)

Co-captain of Florida's 1998 NCAA Championship team … 1998 Honda Award Winner as top collegiate soccer player of season … 1998 NSCAA National Player of the Year … 1998 ESPN.com/Soccer Times National Player of the Year … 1998 Soccer America Player of the Year … 1998 NCAA Final Four Offensive MVP … 1998 & 1996 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year … 1998, 1996 & 1995 All-American … 1996 SEC Tournament MVP … Owns NCAA Division I career goals (118) and points (284) records … Member of U.S.'s gold medal 1999 FIFA World Cup team … Retired in spring of 2007 from U.S. Women's National Team.

Willie Jackson, Jr., Football (1990-93)

Earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1991, 92 and 93 … Led the Southeastern Conference in receptions in 1991 and 92 … Third on the all-time receptions list with 162 in his career … Ninth in career receiving yards with 2,172 … Sixth in career touchdown receptions with 24 … Had eight 100-yard receiving games in his career, the third-best total in school history … Earned All-SEC honors in 1992 … Member of the 1991 and 1993 SEC Championship teams … Drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys … Helped the New Orleans saints to a first round playoff victory in 2001 … Runs a football program that mentors over 100 youth ages 5-14.

Jack Katz, Football (1962-63)

Founder and Chairman of Panama Jack Companies … Named to the All-Florida Collegiate team … Academic All-SEC and Academic All-America honoree … Florida Collegiate Lineman of the Year … One of the stars of Florida's great upset over Alabama in 1963 … President of Sigma Nu Fraternity and a 1998 (inaugural class) inductee into the Sigma Nu Fraternity National Hall of Fame … A Bull Gator.

Patrick Kennedy, Men's Swimming (1982-86)

A 14-time All-American who helped the Gator men's swim team to national titles in 1983 and 1984 … Named the 1984 SEC Swimmer of the Year … An eight-time SEC Champion … Upon graduation held school records in the 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard IM … Twice broke the American record in the 400 IM … Made the 1984 United States Olympic team and finished eighth in the world.

Bill Koss, Men's Basketball (1963-65)

The longest standing broadcaster for any school or professional franchise in the state of Florida … Has been involved with Florida basketball as a player, coach, broadcaster, friend and fan since 1963 … With his family, established the Lt. Fred Koss Award given to a four-year senior in honor of his brother … Wrote "Pond Birds - Gator Basketball: The Whole Story from the Inside" in 1996 … Appointed to the building committee which was responsible for building the Stephen C. O'Connell Center … Served as an assistant coach from 1966-72 … As a player in 1964, was recognized for his heroism when he saved teammates and guests from a hotel fire during the Gator Bowl Basketball Tournament.

P.A. (Permillas Arten) Lee

A founder of UF's school of Physical Education and Health (now Health and Human Performance) and served the college for 34 years … Served as freshman and then assistant varsity baseball coach from 1950 to 1972 … A member of the American Red Cross, he taught swimming, water safety, water rescue and CPR to the Gainesville Community for 37 years … The Lee-McCachren Raquetball Courts formerly in the north end of the stadium were named for him near the end of his tenure at UF.

Dennis Murphy, Football (1962-64)

Named a 1964 First-team All-American at tackle … Earned second-team All-SEC honors in 1963 and third team in 1964 … Played in both the 1964 North/South Shrine game and the 1964 Senior Bowl … Drafted in 1965 by the Houston Oilers in the sixth round and in the 10th round by the Chicago Bears … Played at Tackle f or the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams.

Chelsey Sakizzie, Softball (1997-98)

Florida Softball's first All-American, earning third-team honors in 1998 … 1998 SEC Player of the Year … Also earned All-SEC honors in 1997 … Led the team to the conference title in 1998 … Guided the team to an appearance in the SEC Tournament Championship game in the program's inaugural season … Earned All-Tournament team honors in 1998 … Still holds single season records for fewest walks per 7 innings and shutouts and career records for ERA, fewest walks per 7 innings … her records for season and career wins and strikeouts held until the 2007 season and her career shutouts record was broken only weeks ago …  Holds SEC Tournament records for complete games (5), appearances (6) and victories (4) ... Ranks in the top 10 in the SEC record books for season victories, ERA, appearances, complete games, strikeouts and innings pitched and career victories, ERA, complete games, shutouts, saves, strikeouts and innings pitched.

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