Izzo, Jeter, Fedorov Inducted To Michigan Sports Hall of Fame

Tom Izzo, Derek Jeter, and Sergai Federov were among the sports stars inducted into the 2015 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Also inducted were University of Michigan All-American and Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, NHL All-Star and Westland native Mike Modano, Livonia’s four-time Olympian, and gold-medal winning swimmer Sheila Taormina and Aleta Sill, from Dearborn, the nation’s first female professional bowler to reach $1 million in winnings. Detroit Lions All-Pro defensive tackle Doug English was also named in a special selection by the Hall’s Legends Council.

Full press release follows:

TOM IZZO, DEREK JETER, SERGEI FEDOROV HEADLINE MICHIGAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2015 INDUCTION CLASS

(East Lansing, MI – Nov. 4)  Against a green and white East Lansing setting, Michigan State University Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo became one of the eight names announced for the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame’s 2015 induction class in a special news conference held today on the MSU campus.

Hall of Fame Chairman Scott Lesher and Executive Director Jim Stark introduced Hall member and former Spartan basketball star Mateen Cleaves who announced the 2015 class. The rest of the class includes recently retired New York Yankees great and Kalamazoo-raised Derek Jeter, Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov, University of Michigan All-American and Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, NHL All-Star and Westland native Mike Modano, Livonia’s four-time Olympian, and gold-medal winning swimmer Sheila Taormina and Aleta Sill, from Dearborn, the nation’s first female professional bowler to reach $1 million in winnings. Detroit Lions All-Pro defensive tackle Doug English was also named in a special selection by the Hall’s Legends Council.

Izzo and fellow inductee Aleta Sill appeared today at the announcement held inside MSU’s Spartan Stadium, and the MSU coach was characteristically humbled by the induction, voted upon by an electorate of Michigan sports executives, journalists, Hall of Fame members and the general public.

“I’m truly honored to be a part of a terrific 2015 class,” said Izzo. “Not only have my fellow inductees performed at extraordinary levels and been trailblazers in their own sports, they’ve achieved great success with humility, and doing things the right way.”

“I hope my former players as well as the administration at Michigan State University and within the athletic department take pride in this honor. There is no way I reach this point of my career without their hard work, dedication and support.”

Aleta Sill was equally thrilled to join Izzo at the announcement podium as the induction of both her and Taormina mark the first time in the Hall’s 59-year history two female athletes will be inducted in the same year.

The official inductions will take place at a gala event the evening of Thursday, February 12 at Sound Board, part of the Motor City Casino complex in downtown Detroit. The event will be broadcast live for the second straight year on Detroit Sports 105.1 in Detroit, and across the state on the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Radio Network.

Tickets for the gala event are on sale now on the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame’s website at http://www.MichiganSportsHOF.org, and go on sale Saturday, November 15 at the Sound Board box office.

Today’s announcement of the 2015 Class of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is being broadcast live by the Spartan Sports Network at 1:00pm EST on spartansportsnetwork.com, the SSN Mobile App and SSN on tunein.

Currently celebrating the 60th anniversary of its establishment in 1954, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501-c-3 organization that is committed to impacting and inspiring people by celebrating and honoring the traditions, legacies and history of sports throughout the state of Michigan.