SU Athletics Hall of Fame Adds Three Inductees in 2005

SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University inducted three former athletes into the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame during the annual banquet held Friday, Sept. 30, in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center. A current NFL coach, along with a college men’s lacrosse coach are among those being inducted this year, bringing the Hall’s total number in inductees to 86.

Here’s a look at this year’s inductees:

Richard Berkman (Class of ’92)
Richard Berkman, a 35-year old resident of Potsdam, NY and a graduate of Watertown High School, was a three-year letterman on the Salisbury University men’s lacrosse team (1989-91), earning first team all-American honors in 1991. He helped SU to a three-year record of 35-10 (.778), leading the squad to the Quarterfinals in 1989 and the Semifinals in 1990. He was a captain on the squad in 1991, leading the Sea Gulls to a berth in the NCAA Division III national championship game. He held records at SU for most goals scored in a season (61) and most points scored in a season (102-tied), with both marks set in 1991. He was selected to participate in the North-South All-Star game in ’91. He is still ranked eighth in career goals at SU (125), sixth in points (211) and ninth in assists (86). Berkman was an assistant coach for the SU men’s lacrosse team, helping to lead the Gulls to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the school’s first men’s lacrosse national title in 1994.

He is currently the head men’s lacrosse coach at SUNY Potsdam and is in heading into his 12^th season. He is also the head men’s golf coach at the university.

Berkman has fond memories of Salisbury University and still has strong family ties to SU. He played for current Sea Gull lacrosse coach and uncle Jim Berkman.

 “I owe Coach (Jim) Berkman a great deal as he was the person who positively affected by career and life as much as anyone, along with my parents,” Richard said. “He taught me everything I know about coaching and being a leader. He is the one who brought me to Salisbury and if that had not happened who knows where I would be today. I do know that I would not be where I am now. So for that, and him, I am very grateful and fortunate to have a family member who had such a great impact on my life.”

Richard Berkman said his most memorable game of his career was in the 1991 season against arch-rival Washington College on homecoming weekend.

“We had not beaten them in years and we were a big favorite going into the game. We beat them 20-4 and I scored nine goals and had two assists in front of the biggest crowd we ever had to that point at Salisbury.”

He also noted making it to the national finals that year was something he’ll never forget.

Berkman and his wife, Jessica, are expecting their first child in October. Richard’s parents, Bill and Carol Berkman, reside in Watertown, NY.

Eric Ungleich (Class of ’93)
Eric Ungleich, a 38-year old resident of North Syracuse, NY and a graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School, was a two-time all-American in men’s lacrosse, claiming third-team honors in 1990 and second-team accolades in 1991. He was a two-year letterman for Salisbury and was voted as the team’s Most Valuable Player for both seasons. He held the team record for assists in a season (52) at the end of the 1991 season. He still ranks and seventh in assists (93) and 18th in career points (173) in the SU record books. He was also chosen to participate in the North-South All-Star game after the 1991 season. He helped the Sea Gulls to a two-year record of 26-5 (.839), leading SU to the national semifinal in 1990 and to the national championship game in 1991.

He currently works in the automatic gear industry in Syracuse.

Ungleich stated that his most memorable game occurred as the 1991 national championship game played in Salisbury when the then-unbeaten Sea Gulls dropped a 12-10 decision to Hobard, 12-11, in front of the biggest crowd at Sea Gull Stadium ever to see a men’s lacrosse game (3,417).

Two of  his closest associations at the college include Richard Berkman and SU lacrosse coach Jim Berkman.

“I loved the tight-knit lacrosse family feel at Salisbury,” Ungleich said. “I had a lot of great friends from Salisbury and the person I talk to the most is Rick (Richard) Berkman. We shared a lot of great memories. (Coach) Jim Berkman was a great coach. He wasn’t a ‘my way or the highway’ type of coach. He allowed input from some of us, which allowed us to do the things we did best for the team. I’m humbled by being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was something I never thought much about; that’s not why I played. Now that my playing days are long over, it’s nice that people remember me. It’s even nicer that they think I’m worth of such a great honor.”

Ungleich and his wife, Nicole, have two children, Kyler, age 10, and Logan, age 4. Eric’s parents, Patricia and Chuck Ungleich, reside in North Syracuse.

Dan Quinn (Class of ’94)
Dan Quinn, a 35-year old resident of South Florida, and a graduate of Morristown High School, was a two-sport athlete at Salisbury University, lettering in football in 1990, 1991 and 1993, while competing in track from 1990-93. He was a captain in football in the 1992-93 seasons and was a captain on the track squad in 1994. He earned All-Mason Dixon honors during the ’94 season. He held the school record in the hammer throw (168-8).

Quinn has had a bright coaching career, with stops at William and Mary, Virginia Military Institute and Hofstra, before moving on the National Football League. He got his first professional coaching position under Steve Mariucci and the San Francisco 49ers from 2001-04 as a defensive assistant and is in his first year as defensive line coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Quinn, who suffered a neck injury during his senior football season at Morristown High School, said he felt going to college at Salisbury University would not only allow him to compete in football and track, but also give him the opportunity to do what he enjoys best – coaching.

“I went to Salisbury because I knew I’d have a good chance to play and also participate in track and field,” Quinn stated. “I wanted to be a teacher and a coach and when I came down to visit and I liked the way it felt there. It’s a great place. I really liked the people and the school.”

Quinn said his first two seasons as a Sea Gull football player were difficult because of injury problems. But the experience taught him a great deal.

“My first two years at Salisbury were hard,” he admitted. “In my first season I re-injured my neck early in the season and then I injured my knee in (training) camp the following year and missed 4-5 games. But I learned that going through the tough times made me mentally tough and I received some great support along the way.”

Quinn’s most memorable football games were his final game against Guilford in 1993, a 41-3 win, and a 14-10 come-from-behind win over the same Guilford team a year earlier. He noted that his 1994 track season was his most memorable in that sport because of the squad’s overall success.

He stated that coaching in the NFL has been the biggest learning experience than he’s ever received.

"Coaching in the NFL has probably been the biggest professional development you could have,” Quinn said. “I truly realized I didn’t know anything, but it was a chance to learn. The environment was great and (head coach) Steve Mariucci and (GM) Bill Walsh were big influences on me (at San Francisco). It’s also a great advantage working for a defensive mastermind like (head coach) Nick Saban in Miami.”

Quinn is married to the former Stacey Keeney. She is a 1991 graduate of SU. Dan’s parents, Jim and Sue Quinn, currently reside in Morristown, NJ.

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