ULS announces Class of 2024 Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Four members of the University Liggett School community who exemplify athletic excellence, character, and a lifelong commitment to sports will be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 3, at the Boll Campus Center.

These are the four outstanding alumni selected for induction into the ULS 2024 Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame:

Dwight Jones ’75 (posthumous): Between 1973 and 1975, Dwight Jones ’75 was one of the fastest high school athletes in Michigan. A four-year member of the varsity track team, he set state records in the 100- and 220-yard dashes. While at ULS, Jones won five Division 4/Class D individual state championships—three in the 100-yard dash and two in the 220-yard dash. During the 1973 state meet, he clocked a record-breaking time of 9.9 seconds in the 100-yard dash, becoming the first Class D runner to break the 10-second mark. Jones broke his own record two years later with a time of 9.85 seconds. His fastest time at ULS was 9.6 seconds, which helped him earn a spot on the Arizona State University track team. Jones was also an active member of the school community, serving as senior class vice president and participating on the Athletic Council and U Club. He was a two-year member of the varsity soccer team.

Shannon Byrne ‘93: Legendary ULS tennis coach Bob Wood, ‘59 GPUS*, faculty emeritus, called Shannon Byrne ’93 “one of the very best tennis players I ever coached in 31 years of our very successful tennis program.” Byrne played #1 singles for all four years of her ULS tennis career, one of only a handful of players to do so. She was team MVP each year, winning Class A individual state championships in 1989 and 1992, and helping lead the Knights to two state championships. Byrne was a nationally ranked player while at ULS, participating in many national tournaments and earning a top 25 ranking. After graduating from ULS, she played singles at Tulane University before transferring to Boston College, where she was team captain for the 1996-97 season and helped lead the team to its first NCAA tournament appearance in over a decade.

Byrne’s service to ULS and the surrounding community also stood out. She was on the Athletic Council for three years, was a Terrill Newnan Scholar, and received an Optimist Club award for community service. “While I was very successful during that time, more importantly, it was a very joyful time with a wonderful group of young women,” she explained. “The friendships I made there helped shape me.”

Byrne also credits Coach Wood and Coach Chuck Wright ‘66 GPUS with helping her become a fierce competitor who played with integrity. “Both of them were great at teaching us to be people of integrity and compete with respect for the team and our opponents,” Byrne said. “They have a tremendous love for both the sport and their athletes and created an inclusive team environment.”

Celeste Hubbard Breen ‘00: In 2000, the Detroit News called Celeste Hubbard-Breen ’00 one of the best field hockey players in the country. Hubbard-Breen began playing field hockey when she entered Middle School at ULS. Her older sister Natalie played on the Upper School team, and Hubbard-Breen learned the sport from Coach Romily Stackpoole, faculty emeritus. “Mrs. Stackpoole’s energy and passion for the sport and physical education created a spark that stayed with me through my entire field hockey career,” she explained.

When she reached the Upper School, Hubbard-Breen played most of her freshman year on the junior varsity team before joining the varsity squad for its state championship tournament run. She was a starter on the varsity team for the next three years and led the team in goals scored for three consecutive seasons (1997-1999). She was named first-team All-State in 1998 and 1999 and was selected as ULS’s co-captain and MVP during her senior year. Her achievements earned Hubbard-Breen a four-year, full-ride scholarship to Boston University, where she received various all-tournament, all-conference, and regional awards. She was also selected to participate in USA Field Hockey’s Future Olympic Program for four years. While at ULS, Hubbard-Breen also played three seasons of varsity soccer and one season of varsity lacrosse. She credits ULS’s joint focus on athletics and academics as a factor in her success.

“As an athlete at ULS, I learned to value being a 'student-athlete' first and foremost—a multi-faceted individual with skills and talents that were transferable on and off the field, balancing my educational pursuits in tandem with athletics. Even though it was by no means easy, being a competitor on the field taught me how to work hard in the classroom and in my professional life today.”

Dan Ferrin ‘00: Dan Ferrin ’00 has been committed to ULS soccer for most of his life, having first been introduced to the school at Coach David Backhurst’s summer camps. Ferrin became a four-year starter in goal for ULS and eventually helped coach ULS goalies for more than 20 years. He was one of Michigan’s best goaltenders during his high school career, co-holding the MHSAA state record for most shutouts in a career with 50, and was named to the Dream Team in 1999. With Ferrin in goal, the Knights won the Class C State Championship in 1996 and the Division 4 title in 1999. Outside of ULS, Ferrin was named to the Michigan Olympic Development Program (ODP) 1981 team and served as captain for five years. Ferrin credits Backhurst for not only bringing him to ULS but also for his ongoing success on the soccer field.

“My selection to the Hall of Fame would not be possible without Coach Backhurst,” Ferrin said. “He always got the best out of me and made a huge impact on me during my time at ULS.”

Ferrin was also involved in other ULS activities. He was chairman of the Upper School Honor Council for the 1999-2000 school year, an activity that he credits with teaching him the importance of empathy. After graduating from ULS, Ferrin was a four-year varsity player at Stony Brook University, never allowing more than two goals in a game. He continued his commitment to community service in college as well, co-authoring a gender equity review of Stony Brook’s athletic department and creating a report that continues to help guide the school’s Title IX policies.

The Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the rich athletic history of University Liggett School and its predecessor schools. The award recognizes alumni who have displayed solid character and citizenship while at University Liggett School or one of its predecessor schools, had an exceptional athletic record while in school, and have achieved distinguished post-graduate athletic competition or coaching.

The 2024 Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were reviewed and selected by the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, which comprises inductees, past and current coaches, athletic department staff, and the alumni relations team.

* GPUS is one of ULS’s predecessor schools. In 1969, GPUS and The Liggett School merged to become University Liggett School.

Click here to attend the 2024 Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony.