Photo via Staten Island Advance

Staten Island, NY – Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame President Anthony Santo has announced that Wagner athletic director Walt Hameline is among the six individuals who were recently elected to the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame by the Selection Committee as the class of 2019.

Hameline joins Harvey Araton, Tony Canzoneri, Tony Rafaniello, Anthony Varvaro, and Herb White.

"It's a great honor to become a member of the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame," Hameline said. "Staten Island has been a big part of my life and I'm honored to have worked with many great people at Wagner College and in the Staten Island community throughout the years. I would also like to congratulate the five other individuals who will share this honor with me and look forward to a great ceremony."
 
The Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame is now in its 25th year of existence.

In making the announcement, President Santo stated, "After much research and a laborious process, six deserving sports icons from Staten Island will be inducted into the Hall at a ceremony to be held on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the CYO-MIV Center in Pleasant Plains.''

The six new inductees now gives the Hall a total of 159 members overall since the first class was announced in 1995.

Hameline continues to amass an astounding record of achievement and consistency as the Seahawks' athletic director, a position he has held since 1982, which makes him the longest-tenured Division I AD with 38 years of service to his credit.
 
During his marvelous 34-year coaching career as the Seahawks' head football coach, Hameline amassed an all-time record of 223-139-2 (.615) on Grymes Hill. At the conclusion of the 2014 regular season, those 223 victories ranked fifth among active head Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) head coaches.

Hameline guided the Seahawks to the 1987 NCAA Division III national championship, along with a Lambert Cup, 5 ECAC titles, two Northeast Conference championships, and the school's first and only FCS playoff victory.
 
The Seahawks' athletic director is currently spearheading a fundraising drive to support the Wagner College Stadium Expansion Project. Funding for the project was kicked off at his retirement and as a direct result of that evening, more than $200,000 was raised for the project that will cost $1.2 Million. This exciting expansion project features a host of new and exciting amenities, each of which will have a positive impact on the college experience of our more than 400 Seahawk student-athletes.
 
"This project is an important step for our student-athletes, and one that will benefit all of our student-athletes, not just those who call Wagner College Stadium their home facility," said Hameline. "The new layout will allow us to operate the athletic department more efficiently."
 
"On the heels of our successful campaign that made permanent lighting a reality at the stadium, these enhancements will serve to increase the flexibility of how we operate while enhancing the student-athlete experience at the same time," Hameline added. "The stadium expansion project will shed a visible and tangible light on our athletic programs. I believe also that the impact it will have on our recruiting will be significant."

For more on the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame Class, click here.