Massachusetts Athletics Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Courtesy of UMass Athletics

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Athletics has announced the George “Trigger” Burke Hall of Fame Class of 2023, including Muchie Dagliere (Baseball 1995-1998), Mandy Hixon (Diving Coach 2002-2017 & 2019), Rebecca Myers (Women’s Soccer 1993-1996) and Sara Plourde (Softball 2009-12).

During the enshrinement ceremony, Massachusetts Athletics will also bestow three special recognition awards: the Martin Jacobson ’68 Distinguished Alumni Award, the John Francis Kennedy ’76G Maroon Leadership Award and the Elaine Sortino Alumna Award for Achievement. UMass alums Jim & Ellen Hunt (both class of ’77) will receive the 2023 Jacobson Award, Susan Pearson will receive the Kennedy Award and Gloria Nevarez ’93 will receive the Elaine Sortino Award.

ELAINE SORTINO ALUMNA AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT:
Gloria Nevarez ’93
The Elaine Sortino Award is presented annually to a UMass alumna who in their life after UMass has made significant contributions of leadership and has achieved excellence in their respective fields. The award is named for the University’s legendary softball coach Elaine Sortino, who led the Minutewomen to 23 Atlantic 10 titles, 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, and three trips to the Women’s College World Series over 34 years.

Over the past 25 years, Gloria Nevarez has had a dedicated career in college athletics starting with her first job as the first full-time Director of Compliance in school history at San Jose State University. From there, Nevarez worked at the University of California, Berkeley joining their athletic program staff as the Assistant Athletics Director of Compliance and Legal Affairs, while also serving as the interim Senior Woman Administrator. Following that, Nevarez began a term as the Associate Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator for the West Coast Conference for the next five years.

In August 2007, Nevarez was named Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Oklahoma. In March 2010, Nevarez was named Senior Associate Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator of the Pac-10 Conference, known since 2011 as the Pac-12 Conference. In April 2018, Gloria Nevarez was selected to serve as the fourth full-time Commissioner in the 66-year history of the West Coast Conference. Nevarez is one of nine female conference commissioners currently serving in Division I Athletics and is the first Latin American to ascend to the commissioner’s chair in Division I.

Most recently in November 2022, the Mountain West Conference Board of Directors selected Nevarez as their new commissioner; she officially assumed her duties on January 1, 2023. Nevarez attended the University of Massachusetts, where she was a scholarship student-athlete in basketball and graduated (cum laude) with a B.S. in Sports Management.

“Gloria Nevarez is a highly respected leader in college athletics who has separated herself as one of the most influential administrators in NCAA Division I athletics over the last 10 years,” added Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. “Her talents, first as a highly regarded campus athletics administrator, and then in various leadership roles at three Division I conferences, have allowed her to achieve excellence in our field. Gloria’s ascension in college athletics is a particular point of pride for our athletics department and the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management in the Isenberg School of Management.”