MIAMI — FIU Athletics announced its five members of the 2025 Hall of Fame Class on Thursday, welcoming Munga Eketebi '88 (men's soccer), T.Y. Hilton '13 (football), Karl Kremser '87 (men's soccer), Tayna Lawrence '98 (women's track) and Cindy Russo '93 (women's basketball) into the second-ever induction class.
This year's induction ceremonies will take place Friday-Saturday, Sept. 12-13, on campus, with the public welcome to attend. The induction banquet will kick off the weekend festivities on the evening of Sept. 12 from the Graham Center Ballroom before concluding with the class being recognized at the FIU football team's game versus Florida Atlantic the night of Sept. 13.
Tables and individual seats are available to purchase for the induction banquet via
FIUTickets.com. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, Sept. 3. Tables seat eight (8) and are $800, while individual seats are $125 and include an open bar, a three-course meal with surf & turf entree (vegetarian option available) and passed appetizers.
"We are excited to celebrate the return of the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame with an extraordinary class," said FIU Athletics Director
Scott Carr. "These five individuals 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."
Munga Eketebi '88 – Men's Soccer (1983-86)
Eketebi, a three-time All-American forward from 1984-86, enjoyed an incredible career on the pitch as a Panther, winning the NCAA Division II National Championship with FIU in 1984. Eketebi racked up 50 career goals and had 124 career points, graduating as the school-record holder in both categories.
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eketebi scored six postseason goals, helping FIU to the National Championship Game in both 1984 and 1985 under legendary head coach and fellow 2025 Class member Karl Kremser. The forward was honored with three-straight All-South selections and All-State honors in all four of his collegiate seasons. He also led the Panthers in points and goals in his final three seasons and is still the program leader for hat tricks with four in his career.
Additionally, he served as a long-time assistant for the men's soccer program for 18 years before being promoted to the head coaching role from 2007-11. During his time on FIU's coaching staff, the Panthers went to five NCAA Tournaments, finishing as the Division I runner-up in 1996. The program had 16 players go on to play in MLS, four of whom were selected to the U.S. Men's National Team.
Eketebi: "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. The program was very successful before I got there and there are plenty of candidates who should have received this honor before me."
T.Y. Hilton '13 – Football (2008-11)
Hilton, a native of Miami Springs, electrified Panther Nation during his four seasons in Miami as a wide receiver and kick returner. Selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Hilton went on to star for the Indianapolis Colts, being named to four-straight Pro Bowls from 2014-17. The 5-10 wide receiver also led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016, racking up 1,448 yards.
Hilton made an instant impact at FIU, scoring a touchdown on his first collegiate touch as a kick returner and earning 2008 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors. He was named First Team All-Sun Belt all four of his seasons as a Panther and was the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2010 after a stellar junior campaign. He had a career-high 11 total touchdowns that season; five receiving, four rushing and two kick-return. Hilton totaled 1,963 yards in 2010 with 1,130 from scrimmage and 833 return yards.
For his FIU career, Hilton amassed 3,531 receiving yards and had 24 touchdowns, averaging 15.4 yards per catch and 70.6 yards per game. He also set several school records during his career, holding the marks for career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Additionally, he established program single-game and single-season marks for receptions and receiving yards.
Hilton: "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, and being the first football player inducted to the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame at a prestigious college gives the journey a forever meaning."
Karl Kremser '87 – Men's Soccer (Head Coach: 1980-2006)
Kremser built the FIU men's soccer program into a national powerhouse, leading the Panthers to unprecedented success over his 27 years as head coach. He won two NCAA Division II National Championships in 1982 and 1984, which remain the only national titles in school history.
In total, Kremser's teams went to five National Championship games overall, including securing a runner-up finish at the 1996 NCAA Division I National Championship. He is the winningest coach in program history with 324 career victories and posted a winning record in 24-of-27 seasons on the sidelines. Under Kremser, FIU made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and won five overall conference titles.
Kremser's reign produced many successful professional players with 43 going on to play in the professional ranks, including MLS legends Robin Fraser and Steve Ralston. Kremser was named Coach of the Year ten times during his tenure and helped the Panthers produce more than 70 all-conference players.
Prior to his coaching career, Kremser was a standout collegiate soccer player at Army before becoming a decorated placekicker for the football team at the University of Tennessee. He went on to be drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1969 NFL Draft. Kremser then got his start in coaching soccer in the Sunshine State, first at Palm Springs Junior High School and then at nearby Miami Killian High School. He also earned a postgraduate degree at FIU, completing his degree in 1987 during his coaching tenure.
Kremser: "Though I am grateful and honored to be selected for induction into the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame, it is my personal belief that the great individuals and teams that enabled my success should have been honored before me."
Tayna Lawrence '98 – Women's Track (1994-98)
Lawrence is FIU's most-decorated Olympian in school history and enjoyed an illustrious collegiate and professional career as a world-renowned sprinter. While at FIU, the Jamaican and North Miami Beach native re-wrote the record books, graduating as the school-record holder in 10 different events.
Following her time as a Panther, Lawrence burst onto the international scene as one of the top sprinters in the world, representing Jamaica in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. At the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics, she took the silver medal in the 100m and was a part of the silver-medal winning 4x100m meter relay team. In 2004, Lawrence's Jamaican 4x100 meter relay team claimed gold in Athens, making history as FIU's first-ever Olympic gold medalist.
Lawrence also claimed three medals on the world track circuit at the World Continental Cups, garnering a silver in the 4x100m meter relay in 1998 and a gold in the 100m in 2002. As part of Team America's, she also anchored the 2002 gold-medal-winning 4x100m relay team.
More than 25 years later, Lawrence still holds the FIU indoor records in the 60m, 200m and as part of the 4x400 relay team. She also has the outdoor records in the 100m and was a member of the record-holding 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams.
Lawrence: "Being inducted into the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame is an honor that reflects not only my journey, but the incredible mentors, teammates and supporters who believed in me every step of the way. FIU helped shaped the athlete – and the woman – I became, and I carry this recognition with deep gratitude and pride. This moment belongs to everyone who lifted me up and reminded me that no dream is ever too big."
Cindy Russo '93 – Women's Basketball (Head Coach: 1977-78, 1980-2015)
Russo established the FIU women's basketball program as one of the nation's best during her 36 years at the helm. The Panthers racked up a program-record 667 wins under Russo and had 18 seasons of 20-plus victories. In total, Russo accumulated 707 career wins, putting her in the top 50 all-time for coaching wins in the history of NCAA women's basketball.
With a groundbreaking emphasis on recruiting international players, she led the Panthers to nine overall NCAA Tournament appearances and 15 conference titles. An eight-time Coach of the Year, Russo's teams made a total of 16 postseason appearances and racked up an incredible 22 consecutive winning seasons.
Most notably, FIU's historic 1997-98 campaign featured a 29-2 overall record as the Panthers secured both the regular-season and postseason titles. FIU then defeated Marquette, 59-45, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Russo coached the Panthers to three NCAA Tournament victories, defeating Old Dominion in 1995 and Creighton in 2002. The Panthers earned their highest-ever NCAA Tournament seed in 2002 under Russo, seeded fifth in their region.
She coached five student-athletes who went on to play in the WNBA and had seven players who earned Associated Press All-American honors. She was inducted into the ASUN Conference Hall of Fame in 2016. Prior to coaching, Russo played basketball at Old Dominion from 1972-75. During her FIU coaching career, Russo earned a postgraduate degree from FIU in 1993.
Russo: "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 the FIU administrators for their unwavering support of the women's basketball program throughout my 36-year tenure. A special thank you to all my assistant coaches, and especially to Associate Head Coach Inge Nissen, for your dedication, loyalty and hard work over the years. I look forward to celebrating this special moment at the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on Sept. 12 on campus."
This second FIU Athletics Hall of Fame class was voted in by a committee of five members who account for more than 125 years of FIU Athletics experience. None of the committee members are current FIU employees, and they range from former student-athletes to past faculty/staff members to distinguished alumni.
Each of the members of the 2025 Class were nominated – a requirement for all FIU Athletics Hall of Fame members – and accepted their induction. Nominations can be submitted by
clicking here or the link at the top of this release. For a complete list of criteria, please review the
FIU Athletics Hall of Fame Constitution by clicking here.
The Hall of Fame nomination form will remain available for submissions year-round on
FIUSports.com, but the deadline for consideration to be voted into that year's class will be Feb. 15.
Originally created in 2005, the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed its inaugural class in November of 2006, but since then has had no new members. Beginning with the 2025 Class, a new group will be voted in regularly to recognize those who have been instrumental in forging the history of FIU Athletics.
Class of 2006
Pat Bradley – Women's Golf
- World Golf Hall of Famer, 6x LPGA Major Champion
Mike Lowell – Baseball
- 4x MLB All-Star, 2x World Series Champion
Andrea Nagy – Women's Basketball
- 2x All-American, 2x NCAA Season Assist Leader
Dwight Stewart – Men's Basketball
- FIU's Only 2,000-Point Scorer
Judy Blucker – Coach/Administrator
- Established Women's Athletics at FIU
