CHICAGO – The UIC Athletic department announced today that four former Flames and one former coach will be formally inducted into the department's Hall of Fame on Jan. 26, 2019. The group includes representatives from four different sports as well as the winningest men's basketball coach in UIC history.

The 2019 Hall of Fame Banquet and Reception will be held on January 26, 2019 at the UIC Forum. Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. CT, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. with the induction ceremony to follow. The cost to attend is $75 per person or $500 for a table of eight. Please contact UIC Coordinator of Corporate Partnerships & Special Events Kayla Hammond with questions at 312-996-5874 or via e-mail at khaslett@uic.edu.

Meet the UIC Hall of Fame class of 2019:

Jimmy Collins, Men's Basketball Coach (1996-2010)
Jimmy Collins boasts several firsts and records for UIC Men's Basketball, having served at the helm from 1996-2010. Collins has a total of 218 wins, the most of any coach in UIC history. Collins helped the Flames to three NCAA appearances, including the program's first in 1997-98, in addition to one NIT appearance during his tenure. Collins coached the 2003-04 team, which set the school record for wins at 24. Collins recruited and coached many All-Horizon League stars including Cedrick Banks, Scott VanderMeer and Mark Miller.
 
Collins will be the 24^th inductee from the program and will join his 1997-1998 team that was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
 
Rick Judson, Hockey (1988-1992)
The top-scoring freshman on the 1988-89 team with 34 points (14G, 20A), Rick Judson was a 10th round selection of the Detroit Red Wings in the 1989 NHL draft. The 1990-91 team MVP was the top-scoring left wing in the 1991-92 season with 36 points (17G, 19A). Judson is first all-time in power play goals (26), second in games played (154), and is fourth all-time both in career goals recorded (74) and all-time assists (87). Judson scored seven game-winning goals for UIC, putting him fourth in the all-time records. Judson played for ten different professional teams following his career at UIC, the most recent being the Toledo Storm from 2003-06.
 
Judson will be the tenth former Flame player and eleventh from the program to be inducted. He joins former coach Val Belmonte (1982-1990) as well as former teammate Sheldon Gorski (1985-1989).
 
Tom Mordue, Wrestling (1966-1970)
Four year wrestling letterman and captain of UICC team, Tom Mordue will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with a pair of NCAA Nationals qualifications under his belt. Along with 18 wins in his senior season, Mordue was named an Outstanding College Athlete in America in 1970. The standout was a five-time Quad Tournament Champion as well as a four-time State/Regional top three. Mordue coached three individual high school State Champions as well as multiple state place winners, and coached at University of Arizona where he mentored two All-Americans. In 2005, he received the US Congress Recognition for career contributions in Education and Athletics.

Mordue is the seventh former Flames wrestler to be inducted and the eighth from the program. Mordue joins former teammates Robert L. Threatte (1965-1968), Joe Spirut, and Coach George Jurinek (1962-1967) in the Hall.
 
Mariya Kovaleva, Women's Tennis (2008-2012)               
Before coming to UIC in 2008, Mariya Kovaleva was Kazakhstan's number one player in the Federation cup in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Kovaleva is an unprecedented four-time Horizon League Player of the Year, taking the League's top award in each of her four years at UIC. During her time at UIC, she was undefeated all four years in Horizon League individual play with 37 career conference wins, all at the No. 1 singles position. Kovaleva is first all-time at UIC with 94 doubles wins and is tied for most doubles wins in a single season with 27. She became the winningest player in UIC history in singles (92) and doubles (94) during the 2011-2012 season.

Kovaleva is the fourth former UIC Women's Tennis player to be inducted and the fifth from the program.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Michael Witter, Men's Soccer (1966-1968)
Prior to UIC, Michael Witter played competitively for several clubs before joining the Flames in 1966. The Jamaica native was the team's top scorer from 1966-68, collecting two All-America honors during his time at UIC. In the 1968 season, Witter scored 14 goals and added eight assists that culminated with an NCAA Tournament berth for the Flames. Witter attended the 40^th reunion of the 1968 team in 2008.
 
Witter is the seventh former UIC soccer player to earn induction into the Hall of Fame.

1968 Men's Soccer Team
The 1968 Men's Soccer Team secured the first NCAA Tournament bid in program history by qualifying for the College Division Mideast Regional. The squad posted wins in 10 of its 13 matches. In 2018, the group celebrated its 50^th anniversary of the achievement.