CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois University Department of Athletics announced its 2023 Saluki Hall of Fame class today. The distinguished class will be formally inducted in a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 20, and then make public appearances during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 21.
The 2023 class features Bryan Boemer (Football), John Marks (Track & FIeld), Dyana Pierre (Women’s Basketball), Taylor Pippen (Volleyball), Dewey Robinson (Baseball) and the 1983 Football team, which won the I-AA National Championship.
Boemer (2008-11) won the Rimington Award for the nation’s best FCS center in 2011. He was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press and Sporting News following his senior season. He was also a two-time First-Team All-Conference selection and was one of seven offensive linemen named to SIU’s All-Century team. The Salukis made two FCS playoff appearances during Boemer’s career.
Marks (1976-79) was a world-class thrower and two-time All-American in the indoor shot put, taking fifth place in 1978 and national runner-up in 1979. Those performances ranked him fifth all-time at SIU in standardized points scored at the indoor national meet with 12. Marks was also a two-time MVC champion in the outdoor shot put.
Pierre (2012-16) remains SIU’s all-time leader in blocked shots (162) and rebounds (1,218) and also ranks ninth in program history in points (1,425). She became only the sixth player in league history to tally 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, and was the third player in conference history to lead the league in rebounding all four seasons. Pierre was a three-time First-Team All-Conference pick.
Pippen (2012-15) is the only three-time First-Team All-Conference selection in school history. After her senior year, she was named All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, becoming just the second All-American in school history after Sonya Locke. Pippen led the conference in hitting in 2014 and set the school record for career block assists. She led the 2015 team to a 23-10 record and the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
More than 45 years after he played, Robinson (1974-77) is still the only pitcher in school history with 20-career wins and 10-career saves. He posted a sparkling 20-6 career record and helped lead the Salukis to a third-place finish at the College World Series in both 1974 and 1977. Robinson played three seasons in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox before embarking on a lengthy coaching career. He is currently a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization serving as a special advisor of pitching development, coaching and player development.
The 1983 football team finished 13-1 and won the I-AA National Championship, outscoring opponents during its playoff run, 89-21, including a 43-7 win over Western Carolina in the title game. The 2023 season marks the 40th anniversary of the 1983 team’s National Championship. Only one other team has previously been inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame – the 1967 NIT Championship squad.