Five former student-athletes and coaches will be inducted into Florida International University’s (FIU) Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend, marking only the second time in the university’s history that such honors have been bestowed. The group includes alumni who have achieved notable success in professional sports and collegiate coaching.
Athletics Director Scott Carr described the honorees as “extraordinary” and said they “exemplify the highest standards of athletic achievement and Panther pride. Each has left a lasting legacy on their respective program and on FIU Athletics as a whole. It will be a pleasure welcoming them back to campus, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic weekend honoring them.”
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday evening at the Graham Center, followed by recognition during halftime at Saturday’s football game against Florida Atlantic University.
This year’s inductees are Munga Eketebi ’88, T.Y. Hilton ’13, Karl Kremser ’87, Tayna Lawrence ’98, and Cindy Russo ’93.
Tayna Lawrence ’98, an Olympic medalist in track and field who represented Jamaica in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, expressed her appreciation for the honor: “I never thought in a million years that I would be inducted into the FIU Hall of Fame. It’s a great honor.” Lawrence earned three Olympic medals—one gold and two silver—and reflected on her time at FIU: “FIU was home,” she says. “I was raised in Miami, so it really was home. But not only that, my coaches and teammates made FIU even better. We were a little family. We supported each other. I have great memories of FIU. FIU is really where I developed the work ethic that allowed me to become an athlete on the world stage.”
Lawrence noted her excitement about attending her first football game on campus: “I have not been to a football game on campus,” she said. “I’m looking forward to that, especially with the rival school, FAU. That should be fun.” She also described competing in the Olympics: “It’s like taking a test,” Lawrence says. “You’re putting in the work, studying, doing all the preparation. You’re not even thinking about [what it will mean to win] until you get a result and then you say, ‘Wow, I got 100%.’ That’s the surreal moment… Those moments will stay with me forever.”
Karl Kremser ’87 served as head coach of men’s soccer for 27 years at FIU and led his teams to two NCAA Division II National Championships—the only national titles in school history—and five total appearances in national championship games. He produced dozens of professional players during his tenure.
“I take a great deal of pride in those guys,” Kremser says. “They deserve the credit for the successes of the soccer program… My philosophy has always been that if you want to be the best, you have to play the best… Once we were in a flow in our game…the players showed that they had these skills.” He added: “My biggest thing wasn’t winning… To me, the most important thing was to play a beautiful game.” Kremser emphasized playing with style—known as jogo bonito—over purely technical skills.
Munga Eketebi ’88 played as an All-American forward from 1984-86 for men’s soccer and won an NCAA Division II National Championship with FIU in 1984 under Coach Kremser. He graduated holding school records for goals scored (50) and points (124), led his team through multiple successful seasons both as player and later as coach.
Eketebi stated: “I am honored, grateful and blessed to be the first soccer player inducted in the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame. I would not have made it without my teammates, who became lifelong friends…”
T.Y. Hilton ’13 played wide receiver at FIU before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts where he earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2014-17 and led NFL receivers with 1,448 yards in 2016.
Hilton commented: “This moment means everything. Football is the game I loved… My teammates through my years here (at FIU) are bonds that will be forever kept…”
Cindy Russo ’93 coached women’s basketball at FIU for over three decades starting when both she and FIU were just beginning their journeys together; she retired with more than 700 career wins including nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
Russo said: “I am deeply honored and incredibly excited to be inducted into the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame… When I began my journey as a very young head coach, FIU was also a young and growing university — we truly grew up together! I want to extend my sincere gratitude to … all my assistant coaches … especially … Inge Nissen … dedication … hard work over years…”
The event highlights significant contributions by alumni athletes across multiple sports disciplines who shaped Panther athletics history.
