SMU announced on Friday that former All-American diver Michele Hain Pappas, former women’s basketball player and head coach Rhonda Rompola, and former NFL wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will be inducted into the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame.
The three person class will be inducted at the annual Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, Sept. 15.
Sanders just recently wrapped up a 12-year NFL career. He was a third round selection for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. He spent most of his career with the Denver Broncos. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Broncos and also won a Super Bowl there in 2016.
Sanders, a former four-sport athlete at Bellville High School, excelled for the Mustangs. He led SMU in receiving every season and was a four-time All-Conference USA selection. He finished his career with SMU records for receptions (285), receiving TDs (34), receiving yards (3,791) and 100-yard games (16). He was the leader for most receiving yards in a single season, as well, until Rashee Rice broke the record this past season.
Sanders, 36, currently works as a NFL Network analyst.
Rompola spent only one season at SMU as a player, but made the most of it. She averaged 21.3 points per game in 1981 after transferring from Old Dominion.
One season wasn’t enough, however. Rompola started as an assistant coach at SMU after graduating and was promoted to head coach in 1991. She coached the Mustangs until she retired in 2016, finishing with a 438-318 record. She led SMU to the NCAA Tournament seven times, including three tournament wins. SMU was the only college she ever coached.
Like Rompola, Hain Pappas also fulfilled two roles at SMU. Hain Pappas was a seven-time All-American diver from 1978-81. She won the 3-meter title at the U.S. Diving Championships and the Swedish Cup World Championships in 1979. She also earned All-American status in the 1-meter.
Hain Pappas coached the club Mustangs in the Sun for 33 years. She also served as a volunteer assistant with SMU from 2002-05.
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