VILLANOVA, Pa. – The newest group of inductees to the Villanova University Varsity Club Hall of Fame was unveiled on Wednesday afternoon with the announcement of the 2023 class. This group includes six former student-athletes spanning six different teams along with the annual Jake Nevin Award recipient.
These honorees will be celebrated at the 47th annual Hall of Fame Dinner in the Finneran Pavilion on Friday, Jan. 19. Details for purchasing tickets to attend the dinner and ceremony will be released to the public in the coming weeks.
The members of the 2023 Hall of Fame class are Ryan Hayden (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country), Brian Hulea (Football), Kristine Jost (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country), Allan Ray (Men's Basketball), Sue Ruff (Field Hockey) and Jon Urbana (Men's Lacrosse). This year's Jake Nevin Award winner is Rev. Robert P. Hagan, OSA.
Below are career highlights for each of the Varsity Club Hall of Fame inductees in 2023.
Ryan Hayden (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country, Class of 2005)
A two-time NCAA champion in the distance medley relay and a seven-time All-American, Ryan Hayden makes his way to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame. A sub-four minute miler, Hayden earned 10 BIG EAST titles along with 17 All-Conference honors. A four-time All-Region selection in cross country, the 2005 graduate earned Outstanding Track Performer at the BIG EAST indoor championships in 2003 as well as a Penn Relays championship in the 2001 distance medley relay.
Brian Hulea (Football, Class of 2006)
Brian Hulea was a three-time All-Conference first teamer as a linebacker for the Wildcats, culminating his career with a First Team All-America season in 2005. Hulea's 431 tackles rank third all-time in school history. The Wildcats went 28-20 during Hulea's career on the Main Line, including the 2002 team which won 11 games and advanced to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. Twice honored as an All-East first teamer, Hulea recorded 32.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in his career.
Kristine Jost (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country, Class of 1999)
Kristine Jost's time at Villanova featured an NCAA championship in the 1997 indoor 3000 meters in addition to six All-America nods and a cross country district victory. A seven-time All-BIG EAST selection, Jost was a BIG EAST track champion four times with a pair of distance medley relay wins, a 4x800 meter relay victory and an outdoor win in the 1997 3000 meters. The distance runner also won a Penn Relays wheel in the 4x1500 meter relay during the 1997 season in addition to the 1996 ECAC cross country championship.
Allan Ray (Men's Basketball, Class of 2006)
A 2005-06 Naismith Award finalist and All-American, Allan Ray sits third in Villanova history for three-pointers made in his career (312). The guard earned an All-BIG EAST first team, second team and third team nod throughout his career in addition to a pair of USBWA District 1 honors. The seventh leading scorer in Villanova history with 2,025 points, Ray's Wildcat teams went 85-46 throughout his career with a Sweet 16 and Elite 8 appearance. The three-time Philadelphia Big 5 team honoree helped lead the 2005-06 squad to a tie for the regular season BIG EAST title and Villanova's first ever #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Sue Ruff (Field Hockey, Class of 1987)
The Villanova single-season record holder with a .934 save percentage and a 0.70 GAA, Sue Ruff earned US Field Hockey Association All-American honors in two seasons as the starting goalie for the 'Cats. Ruff's name is scattered across the VU field hockey record books, coming second in career saves and save percentage, fifth in games played, minutes and goals against average, as well as six single-season top-10 honors. A Team USA alternate goalkeeper for the 1986 Olympic Festival, Ruff holds a school record at 27 career games with 10-plus saves and remains one of two goalies in school history to record 30 saves in a single game.
Jon Urbana (Men's Lacrosse, Class of 2005)
The 2004 CAA Defensive Player of the Year joins the Varsity Club Hall of Fame, as Jon Urbana receives the honor after a Wildcat career where he led the defense to surrender just 7.6 goals per game. A two-time USILA All-American honorable mention, Urbana's VU teams went 35-24 during his career with his presence being crucial on the 2004 team that won a school-record 12 games and moved to the conference title game. Racking up 155 ground balls with a goal and assist throughout four years as a Wildcat, Urbana started 50 of the 55 career games he played in to tie for 15th all-time in games started. He played for the Denver Outlaws of the MLL following his collegiate experience, where he helped the defense allow just 18.5 shots on goal per game during his four years.
Rev. Robert P. Hagan, OSA (Jake Nevin Award Winner)
The longtime chaplain for the Villanova football and men's basketball programs, Rev. Robert P. Hagan, OSA serves as the Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. In this role, he oversees 125 friars living in 19 Augustinian communities on the U.S east coast and in Japan. The friars work in collaboration with the laity to build Christian communities in education, parishes, and minister to the underserved in the inner city. Hagan previously served as a long-time staff member with Villanova Athletics as a Senior Associate Athletic Director, where he was responsible for all aspects of student-athlete welfare in addition to oversight of sports medicine and strength & conditioning. A 1987 graduate of Villanova who went on to earn a J.D. from Widener University School of Law, Fr. Rob spent seven years as an attorney with Gillin and Associates before being ordained to the priesthood in September 2003 and joining Villanova as an Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance later that year.
