ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany Department of Athletics has announced the induction of six individuals and two teams to the UAlbany Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The inductees represent a total of five of the Great Danes' varsity programs from the Division I era.
 
UAlbany Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson – Women's Basketball Head Coach (2010-16)
Ashley DeNeal Castellana '06 – Volleyball
Liam Gleason '07 – Men's Lacrosse Player & Assistant Coach (2012-18)
Peter Hooley '16 – Men's Basketball
Marc Pallozzi '07 – Track and Field, Football
Shereesha Richards '16 – Women's Basketball
2007 Men's Lacrosse Team
2015-16 Women's Basketball Team
 
"The UAlbany Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 represents the very best of competitive excellence - honoring outstanding individual achievement, championship teamwork, and a legacy that continues to bring pride to UAlbany Athletics," said Director of Athletics Mark Benson.

Katie Abrahamson-Henderson served as the women's basketball head coach at UAlbany for six seasons from 2010 to 2016, orchestrating an unprecedented era of dominance for the program. Inheriting a team with five consecutive losing seasons, "Coach Abe" immediately flipped the script, guiding the Great Danes to a 16-14 record in her first year before launching a historic five-year run. During her tenure, she amassed a staggering 146-47 overall record, including a dominant 83-13 mark in conference play that featured a then-Division I record 38 consecutive America East regular-season victories. Under her leadership, UAlbany captured five consecutive America East Tournament Championships, four regular-season titles, and five NCAA Tournament appearances, culminating in a thrilling 61-59 first-round upset over fifth-seeded Florida in 2016. A three-time America East Coach of the Year, Abrahamson-Henderson mentored four Players of the Year, four Defensive Players of the Year, nine First-Team All-Conference selections, a Rookie of the Year, and a Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
Ashley DeNeal Castellana graduated as one of the most versatile and decorated players in UAlbany volleyball history, competing for the Great Danes from 2003 to 2006. Splitting time between libero and outside hitter, she anchored the program during its rise to regional dominance, leading UAlbany to three consecutive America East regular-season titles and the program's first-ever Division I conference championships in 2004 and 2006. The 2003 America East Rookie of the Year and 2005 Defensive Specialist of the Year, DeNeal Castellana was a two-time First Team All-Conference and All-Academic Team selection. Her postseason excellence was highlighted in 2006, when she was named the America East Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and she concluded her career by receiving the ECAC Merit Medal as UAlbany's top female student-athlete. Upon graduation, she was the program's all-time leader in digs with 1,915, a mark that still ranks third in the Great Dane record book today, while also racking up 811 kills and 189 service aces (second in program history).
 
Liam Gleason left an indelible mark on the UAlbany men's lacrosse program as both a championship player and an elite coach, competing for the Great Danes from 2006 to 2007 and returning to the coaching staff from 2012 to 2018. As a standout defenseman, the 2007 graduate helped lead the Purple and Gold to the program's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance before being selected 33rd overall in the MLL Supplemental Draft. Returning to the sidelines, Gleason orchestrated a defensive unit that served as the backbone of the program's golden era. Over seven seasons, he helped guide UAlbany to a staggering 89-35 overall record, six America East regular-season titles, five tournament crowns, and six consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. His tenure was punctuated by four quarterfinal appearances and the school's historic first-ever trip to Championship Weekend in 2018, a season in which UAlbany tied a program record with 16 wins and held the No. 1 national ranking for six straight weeks. A master developer of talent, Gleason mentored over 20 All-Conference defensive players and multiple All-Americans, including legendary goalkeepers Blaze Riorden and JD Colarusso.
 
Peter Hooley cemented his legacy as one of the most clutch and inspiring figures in UAlbany basketball history, competing for the Great Danes from 2011 to 2016. A two-year team captain, Hooley led UAlbany to three consecutive America East Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances from 2013 to 2015. He is best remembered for hitting the iconic, game-winning three-pointer against Stony Brook to capture the 2015 conference championship - a moment that earned him his second consecutive America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player award and was selected as a SportsCenter Top Play. A two-time Second Team All-Conference selection, Hooley appeared in over 125 career games, amassing 1,519 career points, 426 rebounds, 336 assists, and 181 three-pointers. Equally exceptional off the court, the Australia native was a two-time America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a three-time All-Academic Team selection, a two-time Academic All-District selection, and was selected to deliver the UAlbany undergraduate commencement student address in 2015. Additionally, he was the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the University, acknowledging outstanding achievements across academics, leadership, campus involvement, and civic service.
 
Marc Pallozzi stands as one of the most dominant and historic field competitors in UAlbany track and field history, competing for the Great Danes from 2004 to 2007. A team captain for the 2006–07 campaign, Pallozzi became the first student-athlete in program history to garner All-American recognition multiple times in a field event, earning the accolade in the javelin throw in back-to-back seasons. He broke the mold for Great Dane field athletes in 2006 by placing 10th at the NCAA Outdoor Championship and went on to cement his national status as a senior by finishing eighth in the country at the 2007 NCAA Championship meet. On the conference level, Pallozzi thoroughly dominated the America East, capturing individual javelin championships as both a sophomore and a senior, alongside a runner-up finish as a junior. His school record of 70.07m (229-10) - set at the 2007 Empire State Games - remains untouched at the top of the UAlbany record books to this day. A versatile athlete, Pallozzi also competed in the heptathlon and relays during the indoor season and lettered as a punter and placekicker for the Great Danes' football team during the 2005 season.
 
Shereesha Richards stands as the most dominant and decorated basketball player in UAlbany history, putting together a legendary career for the Great Danes from 2012 to 2016. A two-time Associated Press All-American, Richards became just the second player in conference history to be named the America East Player of the Year three consecutive times (2014-16). She led the Purple and Gold to four-straight America East regular-season titles, four conference tournament championships, and four NCAA Tournament appearances, punctuated by a thrilling first-round upset over Florida in 2016. Richards was a three-time conference tournament Most Outstanding Player, a two-time All-Defensive Team selection and the 2015 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the Naismith Trophy Midseason 30 Team. She rewrote the UAlbany record books, graduating as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,440 career points, while also amassing 1,053 rebounds and 271 steals.
 
The 2007 men's lacrosse team put together one of the most memorable seasons in program history, establishing UAlbany on the national stage. Under the guidance of head coach Scott Marr, the Great Danes compiled a school-record 15-3 overall mark, capturing the America East regular-season and tournament championships. Ranked as high as No. 2 in the country, the squad secured victories over seven ranked opponents - including a thrilling season-opening win at No. 6 Johns Hopkins. UAlbany hosted its first-ever NCAA Tournament game at John Fallon Field, routing No. 12 Loyola, 19-10, to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in program history. The legendary roster featured Tewaaraton Trophy finalist Frank Resetarits (HOF '23), who earned USILA First Team All-America honors, alongside fellow All-Americans Jordan Levine, Merrick Thomson (HOF '24), and Brett Queener.
 
The 2015-16 women's basketball team stands as one of the most successful squads in program history, defined by a historic postseason run. Led by head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, the Great Danes tied a program record with a 28-5 overall mark and captured a share of the America East regular-season title with a 15-1 conference record. The squad made history by capturing its fifth consecutive America East Tournament championship, becoming the first basketball program—men's or women's—in conference history to achieve the five-peat. Earning a 12-seed in the NCAA Tournament, UAlbany secured the program's first-ever Division I Tournament victory with a thrilling 61-59 upset over five-seed Florida in the First Round. Two-time All-American Shereesha Richards and All-Conference selection Imani Tate led a team anchored by a senior class that concluded their careers as the winningest in program history.
 
Established in 1986, the Class of 2026 is the 38^th to be inducted into the UAlbany Athletics Hall of Fame, which has now enshrined a total of 169 members. Click here for a full history.
 
The induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will take place on Friday, Oct. 2, in UAlbany's Broadview Center on campus. Cocktail hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner with the induction program at 7:45 p.m. Open to the public, registration for the ceremony is $50 for adults and $25 for children. Registration for the evening is available HERE.
 
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