Week of October 20, 2003
Eight former athletes, coaches and an administrator were honored Wednesday, Oct. 15, as the newest members of the Athletics Hall of Fame at California State University, Long Beach.
The Class of 2003 inductees included Bill Birch (water polo), Sabrina Hernandez (women's volleyball), Gary Little (community), William Mitchell (football), Ray Ratelle (men's volleyball coach), Dave Snow (baseball coach), Dale Toohey (rugby coach) and Stacy Van Essen (women's softball).
The Athletics Hall of Fame at CSULB was established in 1986, and with the addition of this 18th class, the total number of inductees now stands at 163.
The members of the 49er Hall of Fame's Class of 2003 are:
Bill Birch (men's water polo)--He competed three years (1963-65) on both the swimming and men's water polo teams at CSULB and was a two-time All-State and all-conference (1963, 1964) water polo player for the 49ers, leading the team to back-to-back state college championships. Birch was the team's MVP in 1964 and was selected first-team All-American in both 1963 and 1964. He also served as an assistant coach for the 49ers in 1965. In swimming, Birch won three individual NCAA swimming titles and was the 49ers' "Most Valuable Swimmer" in 1964 and 1965. He was an NCAA record holder in four events, a school record holder in seven events and was a conference and NCAA champion in four events. He was also the winner of 10 gold, three silver and five bronze NCAA medals from 1964-66. After leaving CSULB, Birch was a member of the U.S. National Water Polo team for four years, a gold medalist at the 1967 Pan American games, an alternate on the 1968 U.S. Olympic team, the 1965 USA Water Polo Player of the Year and an AAU All-American four times.
Sabrina Hernandez (women's volleyball)--She was a four-year letterwinner (1989-92) for the 49ers and a member of the 1989 NCAA championship team. She was a first-team All-American selection in 1992 and named second-team All-American in 1991. Hernandez was the 49ers' starting setter for three years and led the team to a 95-14 (.872) record during that time and made two appearances in the NCAA Final Four (1991, 1992). She ranks third on the 49er career assist chart with 4,796 and is tied for eighth in career aces with 115. She recorded 53 aces in 1990, the sixth-best single season mark in 49er history and averaged 13.48 assists per game in 1991, the fifth-best single season mark at CSULB. Hernandez' 1,735 assists in the 1990 season ranks second all-time for a single season and her 1,617 assists in 1991 ranks fourth all-time.
Gary Little (community)--Few have been as involved for so long in 49er athletics as Gary Little. Over the the past 43 years, Little has given back to the department in several ways, beginning with his days as a student in the 1960s. He served as the Associated Students president at CSULB (1963-64), Associated Students commissioner of athletics and the sports editor and managing editor of the Daily 49er. Little has been on the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee since its inception in 1986 and has been the master of ceremonies for the event since 1992. Active in the 49er Athletic Association, Little has been a continuous member since 1964 and has served as vice president and president of the 49er Club. He began his career at CSULB as an administrative assistant to the business manager in 1966, moved to housing manager and then in 1991 he was named director of housing and residential life. He retired in spring 2002.
William Mitchell (football)--He lettered two years (1979-80) at linebacker for the 49ers. He was selected first-team All-PCAA as a senior in 1980 and Associated Press honorable mention All-America as the 49ers finished 8-3 overall, winning the PCAA championship with a perfect 5-0 record. Mitchell's 146 total tackles in 1980 is the third-best single season total, and his 55 unassisted tackles that season ranks seventh-best in 49er history. After CSULB, he went on to play for the for the Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
Ray Ratelle (men's volleyball coach)--He was the head men's volleyball coach at Cal State Long Beach for 19 years (1982-2000), during which he compiled a career mark of 385-190 (.670) with three conference titles to his credit. Ratelle led the 49ers to the 1991 NCAA championship with a 31-4 mark, and he led the 49ers to second-place NCAA finishes in 1990 and 1999. His success earned him the 1990 NCAA Coach of the Year by Volleyball Magazine and the 1991 NCAA Coach of the Year by both Volleyball Magazine and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). During his tenure at CSULB, he coached U.S. Olympians Brent Hilliard, Brett Winslow and Tom Hoff, and former players David McKenzie, Chris Seiffert and Jim Polster are all training with the current U.S. National Team. While at the helm, 49er players earned a total of 55 All-America honors, including 23 first team certificates.
Dave Snow (baseball coach)--He was the head coach for the "Dirtbags" for 13 seasons, compiling an impressive 511-290-4 (.638) record while lead the 49ers to four College World Series appearances (1989, 1991, 1993, 1998), 11 NCAA Regional appearances and six Big West Conference crowns. He had a 218-90 (.708) record in the Big West Conference and was a five-time Big West Coach of the Year honoree. In 1989, he received the NCAA Coach of the Year award. Snow never had a losing season at CSULB and averaged 30 wins per season. He is the all-time school leader with 511 career wins. In his first year at the helm (1989), the team went 50-15 and earned a bid to the College World Series for the first time in school history. During his tenure, Snow coached three Big West Pitchers of the Year and three Big West Players of the Year, and he sent 102 Dirtbags into professional baseball, including current major leaguers Jason Giambi, Chris Gomez, Steve Trachsel, Rocky Biddle and Mike Gallo.
Dale Toohey (rugby coach)--He established the rugby team at CSULB in 1974 and has served as the head coach for 29 years. The CSULB club rugby team has never had a losing season under his guidance, winning 87 percent of its games. The team has always been ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation, 15 times was ranked in the top 10 and has four top 5 finishes. He led the 49ers to wins in 15 rugby tournaments and helped produce 12 All-Americans. Toohey has been able to take his rugby teams overseas to compete in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Mexico, South Africa and France. He has been elected to various rugby halls of fame including the International Rugby Hall of Fame and is an advisor to the U.S. National Rugby Team and the Australian National Team. Toohey is still on the CSULB faculty in the Physical Education Department.
Stacy Van Essen (softball)--She played on three College World Series teams (1991, 1992, 1993) and lettered four years (1991-94). She earned second-team All-West Region honors in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and was the only 49er to ever be selected first-team All-Big West four times. Van Essen is the 49er career leader in at-bats (871) and doubles (31) and is second in RBIs (105), hits (251) and triples (12). She is also tied for third in home runs (8). On the mound, she is the 49er career leader with 65 total wins and 408 strikeouts and ranks second in career innings (755.2), games (123) and complete games (80). Her 20 wins in 1993 is tied for sixth on the 49er single-season chart. She also threw two no-hitters.