USA Ultimate

The Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce the slate of candidates selected for consideration for the 2018 Hall of Fame class. This year, 10 open and 10 women's candidates will be considered for up to 10 spots in the Ultimate Hall of Fame. There are also two contributor candidates under consideration this year. Candidate-submitted player/contributor histories are included below.

Open:

• John Bar Axon

• Andy Crews

• Alex DeFrondeville

• Bob DeMan

• Jon Gewirtz

• Greg Husak

• Bob Lobel

• Brian "Biscuit" Morris

• Allan "Al-Bob" Nichols

• Aaron Switzer

Player Histories

Open

John Bar Axon

Jon Gewirtz

National Championship Tournaments:

Greg Husak

National Championship Tournaments:

Bob Lobel

National Championship Tournaments:

Brian "Biscuit" Morris

National Championship Tournaments:

Allan "Al-Bob" Nichols

National Championship Tournaments:

World Championship Tournaments:

Aaron Switzer

National Championship Tournaments:

Women

Allie Boyd

National Championship Tournaments:

Leslie "Lester" Charles

National Championship Tournaments:

VY Chow

National Championship Tournaments:

Dominique Fontenette

National Championship Tournaments:

Angela Lin

National Championship Tournaments:

World Championship Tournaments: 

Tina McDowell

National Championship Tournaments:

Lori Parham Ewald

National Championship Tournaments:

Kathy Porter

National Championship Tournaments:

Vida Towne

National Championship Tournaments:

 
Anne Wescott

National Championship Tournaments:

Contributors

Michael Baccarini

Coach of Paideia '94-Present; founder of Padeia Summer Camp '97-Present; Team USA U-19 Coach '98, '00, '04, '06; Coaching Corps Committee '03; co-author "Essential Ultimate: Teaching, Coaching, Playing"

Michael has coached and inspired several generations of young ultimate athletes since becoming Head of Ultimate Programs at Paideia School in Atlanta in 1994, with dozens of players he coached going on to leading roles on national championship teams, as well as, being awarded Callahan/Pufahl/Farricker awards in recognition for their spirited play.  Countless others picked up a love for the game in whatever ways they played, and a number have gone on to give back to the sport by serving in coaching or administrative roles. In addition to being the Head Coach for the Padeia Middle School (coed) and High School (varsity boys), he founded Paideia Ultimate Summer Camp for 9-14 year old children in 1997, averaging 75-80 youth per session. In expanding his impact, Michael volunteered as National Youth Director of the UPA from 1999-2001 and was on the Youth Advisory Council from 2002-2005, which met to develop long-range plans for youth development, including formation and design of a coach training and certification program (now known as CDP), as well as, the creation of a new full time Director of Youth Development and its scope of duties. He was the U-19 U.S. National Open Team Coach (with Tiina Booth in 1998, 2000, 2004, and Head Coach in 2006), winning three gold medals and one bronze. He was also co-author of "Essential Ultimate: Coaching, Teaching, Playing" published in 2008.

Will Deaver

Co-authored the Callahan rules in 1997 which ushered in many updated rules; Coach – University of Georgia Women’s Ultimate '98-'00); USAU Managing Director of Competition ’01-Present

 Over a career that has spanned nearly two decades and is still going strong, Will has impacted nearly every aspect of the sport of Ultimate in the US and across the globe.  As Managing Director of Competition of the Ultimate Players Association/USA Ultimate since 2001, Will has overseen all championship events in the US, increasing the level of professionalism and building out his event management staff and supporting local tournament directors. He oversaw the restructuring of the Club Division in 2012 with the introduction of the Triple Crown Tour, and of the College Division in 2010 with a rankings-based strength bid system, redrawing of regions, and creation of Division I and III conferences. He also expanded the Masters Division program, expanded the Youth Club Championship to become the premier championship for juniors in the US, and introduced a USA Beach National Championship. He had revolutionized the rules by co-authoring the Callahan Rules in 1997, which were eventually fully adopted with the 11^th Edition of the Official Rules of Ultimate. Will has strived to enable the sport to be highly competitive and spectator-friendly, while remaining true to its roots in self-officiating and SOTG; he implemented team SOTG ratings and individual spirit awards for all UPA/USA Ultimate championship events, revised the USAU Observer Program and served on the WFDF task force that developed and established Game Advisors. He has also been the Deputy Chair of the WFDF Ultimate Committee since 2013, ensuring global coordination of ultimate rules and practice. He led the transition of U.S. National Teams from national champion representatives to a tryout and player selection process which has, since 2009, firmly established the U.S. teams’ competitive excellence with regular gold-medal performances and high finishes in spirit ratings. As a player in Georgia and Colorado, Will’s teams posted three College Nationals appearances, nine Club Nationals appearances, and he was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. National Team at the 2005 World Games.

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