Full Inductee Biographies

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee has chosen six individuals for induction into Rensselaer's Athletics Hall of Fame. The Class of 2012 is made up of Flynn Cochran '04 (football/baseball), Dan Cole '04 (football), Eric Healey '98 (hockey), Melissa Hershey '05 (diving), Joe King (coach/administrator) and Kaitlyn Saunders '05 (basketball).
 
“I am extremely excited about our Hall of Fame class,” said Jim Knowlton, RPI's Director of Athletics. “Each inductee represents our institute and their particular program with distinction, both on and off the field, and we are all anxiously looking forward to the induction day in October.”
 
One of the most decorated two-sport athletes in the history of the Institute; Cochran earned numerous league, regional or national accolades in both football and baseball. A two-time captain in football, primarily as a wide receiver, he caught 202 passes for 2,492 yards and 21 touchdowns in 41 games. He set the school records for career receptions and receiving yards, along with single season marks for receptions (109), yards (1274) and touchdown catches (15), all in 2003 when he was a National All-America after helping the Engineers to a school record 11 wins (11-2) and the NCAA Semifinals.
 
In his career, Cochran (Kent, WA/Kent-Meridian High School) also carried the ball 131 times for 551 yards with nine touchdowns as either a running back or quarterback. He played defensive back as a freshman. He was a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame National Scholar-Athlete and a two-time National Academic All-America First Team selection.
 
In 141 baseball games, Cochran posted a career batting average of .349 while helping the team advance to the NCAA Tournament each season, including the program's second appearance in the NCAA World Series (2002). Among his 173 hits were 33 doubles, six triples and 13 home runs. He also scored 132 times and knocked in 94. He was a multiple All-League and All-Region honoree. 
 
In three seasons as the starting quarterback, Cole set nearly every school passing and total offense record en route to leading the team to unequaled success and earning multiple individual honors, including National All-America by numerous outlets. The team's Offensive Most Valuable Player in each season, Cole (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn High School) threw for 8,902 yards and 87 touchdowns with only 21 interceptions in 32 games. He also rushed for 823 yards and 13 touchdowns.
 
Cole's most outstanding season came during his senior year, 2003, when he threw for 3,679 yards and 40 touchdowns and ran for 276 yards and two scores in 13 games. He was the Offensive Player of the Year by both the Liberty League and ECAC as he helped RPI earn its highest national ranking along with the prestigious Lambert Trophy.
Healey played in 143 career games as a forward on the hockey team, compiling 168 points on 82 goals and 86 assists. Twenty-four of his goals came on the power play, while 13 were game-winners. He is ninth in program history in career goals, 13th in points and 20th in assists.
 
Healey (Hull, MA/New England Classics) led the league in scoring in 1997-98 (21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points), led the team in scoring twice and was an ECAC All-Rookie Team choice, a three-time All-ECAC selection, a two-time National All-America honoree and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 1997-98. He helped RPI to one NCAA Tournament appearance and four ECAC Tournaments.
 
Hershey (Needham, MA/Ursuline Academy) was a four-time National All-America diver during her career, as she competed at NCAAs three times. At the league and state levels, she finished seventh or better off both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards every season, including numerous victories. A two-time captain, she was the school record holder in three events upon graduation and still holds two marks to this day, in addition to the Robison Pool records off both boards
 
Among her most outstanding seasons came in 2003-04 when she was Diver of the Year at the league meet, winning the 3-meter title and finishing second on the 1-meter. She then placed second off both boards at States before going on to place eighth off the 3-meter to earn National All-America and 14th off the 1-meter board for Honorable Mention recognition.
 
During his 22-year tenure as head football coach, King compiled a 152-59-2 record for a .718 winning percentage, making him the most successful coach in terms of both wins and winning percentage in the long history of Rensselaer football. The Ballston Spa, N.Y., native led his teams to two perfect regular seasons, five league championships, four NCAA Playoff appearances, highlighted by a trip to the National Semifinals in 2003, and nine ECAC Championship Games, eight of which were victories.
 
King led the Engineers to 19 winning seasons, including eight-or-more wins 12 times. His teams had five seasons of just one loss and nine with only two defeats. The League's Coach of the Year five times, coached more than 30 pre-season All-Americas, 20 post-season All-Americas (including Rensselaer's first American Football Coaches Association First Team All-America in 1996) and countless All-Region and All-Conference honorees. All nine of the program's First Team National Academic All-Americas suited up for King, who also served as the head track & field coach as well as an assistant athletic director in his time at Rensselaer.
 
Saunders (Windsor, CT/Northwest Catholic High School) was a three-time All-League selection, including First Team honors in her final two years. A two-time National All-America Honorable Mention, she averaged 15.2 points in 99 career games. She set several school records, including some of which she still holds. Saunders is the career leader in steals (356) and free throws made (446), while ranking second in points (1506).
 
Additionally, the former captain holds the single-season marks for steals (112) and free throws made (145) and is third (471) and fourth (465), respectively, in single-season points.
 
Cochran, Cole, Healey, Hershey, King and Saunders will be inducted at Rensselaer's Annual Hall of Fame Banquet, which will be held during Reunion & Homecoming Weekend on October 5-7. Anyone interested in attending the ceremonies, including former teammates, should contact Leslie DeLano by phone at (518) 276-6182 or via e-mail at khachl@rpi.edu.