On April 2, 2026, FSCJ Athletics hosted its inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at South Campus, celebrating former coaches and student-athletes who made significant impacts in their sports and on the College. 

FSCJ Athletics Director Jerry Thor welcomed an audience of family, friends, teammates and College leadership to honor the eight outstanding student-athlete alumni and two legendary coaches. 

"Throughout our six decades, a mainstay for our best and brightest students has been from our athletic program," said College President John Avendano, Ph.D. "Whether you are a Star, a Blue Wave, or a Manta Ray, our central focus on excellence, on the field, court or in the classroom, has been central to our mission. Tonight, we focus on those athletes, teams, and coaches on whose shoulders we have built what you see today. They have exemplified what it means to be the best."

View photos from the event here.

Inductees included:

1982-1983 Women’s Cross Country Team: Susan Ingram, Adrian Lilburn, Jeanie Messinese, Lyn McDonald, Becky Motley, Janie Regis and Jenny Ward

Cross Country Head Coach Jody Hale shared:
On November 13, 1982, in Utica, New York, this remarkable team brought home the National Junior College Cross Country Championship.

Susan Ingram and Adrian Lilburn earned All-American honors. Jenny Ward served as team captain.

The legacy of this team extended far beyond their national championship. Several members went on to compete at NCAA Division I programs, with Janie Regis continuing at Florida State University, Lyn McDonald at Auburn and Susan Ingram at Georgia Tech.

Their success put our program on the national map and set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire FSCJ's athletes today.

Cross Country (1997-99)/Track & Field (1967-2001) Coach Larry Monts 

Cross Country Head Coach Jody Hale shared:
Coach Monts dedicated more than three decades to building championship programs at this institution, serving as Cross Country Coach from 1967 to 1999 and Track & Field Coach from 1967 to 2001.

Coach Monts' record speaks for itself: 30 Junior College State Championships, two Cross Country National Championships, and 14 Cross Country Top 10 national finishes. He was twice named NJCAA National Coach of the Year and eleven times named NJCAA Southeastern Region Coach of the Year.

Perhaps his greatest legacy lies in the lives he touched. During his 34 years, Coach Monts coached 129 JUCO All-Americans and 29 individual National Champions. He sent over 400 student-athletes on to four-year universities, changing countless lives through athletics and education.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Coach Monts was inducted into the Florida College System Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2020, the FCSAA Council of Athletic Affairs honored his legacy by naming the Cross-Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year award after him.

Baseball Player Jeff Gidcumb, 1986-87

Baseball Head Coach Brad Frick shared:
In 1986, Jeffrey was part of the Conference Championship team. The 1987 season truly showcased his exceptional talent. That year, his team captured the Conference Championship, State Championship, and Southeast District Championship before placing third at the NJCAA World Series. Jeffrey's outstanding performance earned him both Conference and Regional MVP honors.

His success launched a remarkable career. He went on to the University of Florida, where his 16 wins in 1988 remain first all-time for a single season and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles —a testament to the foundation he built during his time with us.

Baseball Coach Howard Roey, 1970-2001

Baseball Head Coach Brad Frick shared:
Coach Roey significant impact on the athletic program spanned more than three decades. He began his time with the College  in 1967 as Golf Team Coach and Assistant Basketball Coach. In 1970, he took the helm of the baseball program, where he would remain for 32 seasons until 2001.

His accomplishments are extraordinary: a career record of 1017 wins, 529 losses, and 2 ties, two NJCAA National Tournament appearances in 1987 and 2000, and three State Championships.

In 1995, he was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame, followed by induction into the FCSAA Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2002, the baseball field at North Campus was named Howard Roey Field—a permanent tribute to a coach who gave so much to our students and our institution.

Coach Roey didn't just build winning teams; he built character, discipline, and a tradition of excellence that continues to define FSCJ's baseball program today.