ANGOLA, IND.-- Trine University has announced the inductees of the 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Class.
Long-time men's golf coach Bill SanGiacomo and women's swimmer Beatriz Donat (Ramalho) are this year's inductees. The duo will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at the University's Touchstone dinner Friday evening, and will be introduced on-field at Saturday's football game against Alma.
Bill SanGiacomo
Trine University Athletic Hall of Fame recipient Bill SanGiacomo has been a fixture at the school since taking over as head men’s golf coach in 1971. During that time, he has also served as the director of the golf management program and director of the golf academy.
SanGiacomo’s coaching resume includes over 300 tournament and match wins. His teams have achieved success at the national level, with 14 NAIA National Championship appearances. SanGiacomo led three teams to top-10 finishes nationally, and coached three All-Americans.
Under SanGiacomo’s guidance, 15 players were recognized for their performance on the links and in the classroom as Academic All-Americans. SanGiacomo earned national recognition as the President of the NAIA Coaches Association (1990-91) and served as Tournament Director for the NAIA National Championships three times. He also has received distinction on the world stage as he coached the U.S. in the World University Games in France in 1992.
SanGiacomo’s teams have historically been contenders in every conference the school has been a part of. In the 1970s, SanGiacomo led his teams to eight-consecutive MCC titles. His team’s status as a conference contender continued when the school joined the WHAC, where SanGiacomo was able to help his teams capture five more titles.
Since joining the MIAA, his teams have never finished lower than fourth. The Thunder have qualified for the league’s National Qualifier every year since joining the conference. SanGiacomo has earned 13 conference coach of the year honors. He has also won five NAIA District Coach of the Year honors.
SanGiacomo continues to serve Trine University as the head coach of the men’s golf team. He has accumulated over 44 years of service with the school.
Donat helped found the swim club at TSU in 1998, and became one of the team’s leaders immediately. Donat was named team captain twice during her career, and became a key member of relay teams over the next several years. Donat would go on to compete in five relay events at the NAIA National Championships during her career. She competed in freestyle and medley relays of various distances at the national level.
Individually, Donat earned national prestige in earning All-American honors in the 100 Backstroke. She peaked with a second-place finish in the event, and finished in the top-five in the nation three times. She holds school-records in numerous events.
Outside of the pool, Donat was instrumental in founding Theta Phi Alpha’s Big Man On Campus program, which remains the sorority’s largest yearly philanthropic endeavor and one of the largest student-led philanthropic endeavors on campus.
Donat is currently a Senior Project Manager for the healthcare firm Press Ganey Associates, Inc. in South Bend, Ind.
Trine University’s 21 intercollegiate men’s and women’s sports continue to build upon our past and the success in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Although the emphasis is on team accomplishments, individual performances have risen to a level that must be recognized.
The Trine Hall of Fame honors the best of the best Thunder athletes, coaches, and administrators.