Francis Marion University athletic officials recently announced that former women's volleyball and basketball standout Mary Jackson and distance runner Michael Colaiacovo are the newest inductees into the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will take place during Homecoming activities on Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Smith University Center gymnasium at approximately 3:15 p.m. between the women's and men's games of the FMU and Flagler College basketball doubleheader.
Colaiacovo will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Feb. 5 (2 p.m.) baseball game between Francis Marion and King University (Tenn.) on Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium.
PHOTO GALLERY OF COLAIACOVO AND JACKSON
Jackson lettered four years each in both volleyball and basketball between 1988 and 1992, earning All-Conference accolades twice on the volleyball court and three times on the hardwood. She earned a B.A. degree in visual arts in 1992.
Colaiacovo earned NAIA All-District Six honors all four years as a cross country runner, including twice winning the district individual title. He garnered All-District honors three years as a member of the Patriot track and field team. He received a B.A. degree in history, also in 1992.
Jackson, a native of Columbia, S.C., and a graduate of Lower Richland High School, led the Patriot women's basketball team to a four-year mark of 78-40, while registering career averages of 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game over 114 contests. She tallied career totals of 1,511 points, 796 rebounds, 239 steals, and 220 assists.
She was named All-Conference for three of her four seasons and twice was selected to the NAIA District Six All-District team. She earned honorable mention NAIA All-America recognition in 1990 after averaging 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and shooting 48 percent from the field with a team-high 70 steals.
On the volleyball court, she helped Francis Marion to an 83-64 mark, including a trip to the 1990 NAIA National Tournament in Laie, Hawaii. Her career totals included 1,485 digs, 963 kills, 334 blocks, and 167 service aces.
As a junior and senior, she garnered District Six All-District and Palmetto State All-Conference honors. As a senior, she was named the District Six and Palmetto State Conference Player of the Year, while also picking up NAIA South All-Region Team recognition and being named to the Peach Belt Conference All-Conference squad. She was twice named to the District Six All-Tournament Team and was named her team's most valuable player in 1990 and 1991.
Following graduation, Jackson worked for Schneider Electric (formerly Square D) for 21 years before suffering a debilitating injury in 2012. She currently resides in Hopkins, S.C.
Colaiacovo, a native of Manalapan, N.J., ran four seasons each in cross country and track and field for the Patriots. He currently resides in Midlothian, Va., with his wife and three kids. He has worked in federal law enforcement for eight years and is a criminal investigator for the United State Postal Service. A former marathon runner, he still puts in 55-to-60 miles a week and competes in the Master's Division, running 5,000-, 8,000-, and 10,000-meter races.
On the cross country course, he earned All-District honors in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1991, including capturing the District Six individual title in 1989 and 1991. At the time, he became only the fifth cross country runner in the history of District Six to four-peat. He missed the 1990 season with an injury.
As a sophomore, Colaiacovo helped the Patriots to the 1988 District Six team championship. He advanced to compete in the NAIA National Cross Country Championships in 1988, 1989, and 1991 with his highest finish being a 116th-place showing (out of 342 runners) at the 1989 meet. He set his personal-best 8,000-meter time of 26:13 at the 1989 FMC Invitational Meet.
He twice earned All-State recognition and during his career registered 14 Top-10 showings.
On the track, he finished his career 14th on the Patriot all-time points list with 210.25. He helped Francis Marion captured the District Six team title in 1989 and 1990 with the Patriots placing second in his other two years.
He competed in the 880-yard run, the mile run, 1,500-meters, 5,000-meters, and the three-mile run during his career. He was named to the All-District Team in 1989, 1990, and 1991, winning the 5,000-meters twice and the three-mile run once. As a freshman, he finished second in three events (880-yard run, mile run, three-mile run) at the District Six championship meet.
His personal-best times as a Patriot were 15:49.38 for 5,000-meters and 15:30.02 for three miles.
Jackson and Colaiacovo join 43 current members in the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame. Past inductees include Chiffonia "Precious" Adderson (women's basketball), Cindy Alford (women's softball), Jeannette Alston (women's basketball, volleyball), Kristi Anderson (women's softball), Mark Bedenbaugh (cross country, track and field), Gary Bennett (golf), Kirk Bevington (men's soccer), Daryl Blume (men's basketball), Jennifer Brabson (women's basketball), Maria Costas (women's basketball, tennis, volleyball), Tom C. Davidson (coach and administrator), Daphne Donnelly (women's basketball, softball), Carlton Farr (men's basketball), LaRue Fields (women's basketball, volleyball), Alvaro Figuerola (men's soccer), Allen Floyd (men's basketball), Jennifer Grande Parker (volleyball, women's basketball), Gerald Griffin (baseball coach and athletic director), Jeremy Halpin (baseball), Sylvia Rhyne Hatchell (women's basketball coach), Lewis Hill (men's basketball coach), Mary Hirst (women's tennis), Wayne Huggins (baseball), Erin Jones (baseball), Scotty Keefe (baseball), Anthony "Chico" Lombardo (baseball), Sam Lundkvist (men's tennis), Pearl Moore (women's basketball), Robert Moore (men's basketball), Krissy Burt Owens (women's volleyball), Mitch Powell (track and field, cross country), Tommy Randall (golf), Josef Schroeder (men's soccer), Kim Slawson Hawkins (women's basketball player and coach), David Stafford (track and field, cross country), Garth Thomson (men's tennis player and coach), Randy White (track and field, cross country), Dr. Thomas M. Whiteley (track and field/cross country coach), Lee Whitwell (women's tennis), Bob Wilson (men's basketball player and coach), Mike Wilson (baseball), Rendy Yates (women's softball player and coach), and Tracey Tillman Young (women's basketball).
