2024 Athletics Hall of Famers

Laura DeBruler Santos
Volleyball, 2007–10

Among the University’s most celebrated volleyball players, DeBruler Santos tallied 577 kills her freshman year, the third-highest single-season number in the program’s history. Unanimously chosen for All-Big Ten in 2008 and Preseason All-Big Ten in 2010, DeBruler Santos earned Second-Team All-America recognition in 2008 and First-Team All-America honors in 2009. Despite a season-ending ACL injury her senior year, she still finished her college career with the second-highest number of kills (1,833) in Fighting Illini history, as well as the second-highest number of career attacks (4,806). DeBruler Santos was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, earned eight Big Ten Player of the Week honors and was a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. After graduation, she played for the NUC Volleyball Club in Neuchatel, Switzerland, and competed in the National A League. DeBruler Santos is now assistant director of recruitment and student success at Ohio University.

Herman “Pete” Velasco
Fencing, 1954–56

Widely considered the best foil fencer in U of I history, Velasco boasted a three-year dual-meet record of 184-16 (.920). A three-time Big Ten champion, he finished third in the 1954 NCAA Championship, then won the NCAA foil title in 1955. He finished second in the 1956 NCAA Championships and teamed with Art Schankin (sabre) and Larry Kauffman (épée) to lead Illinois to its first NCAA Fencing title that year. Velasco was the team’s MVP in 1955 and 1956, and served as captain of the 1956 championship squad. He also was a member of the 1956 and 1960 U.S. Olympic teams, the first U of I fencer to be so honored, and was named to the 1957 U.S. World Fencing Championship team. A 1956 ROTC graduate at Illinois, Velasco joined the U.S. Army, where he served for 30 years, retiring in 1987 as a full colonel.

Gary Winckler
Coach, Women’s Track & Field, 1985–2008

In his 23 years at the U of I, Winckler coached Illinois to 11 Big Ten women’s track and field team titles. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year 11 times and NCAA Coach of the Year three times. Winckler’s athletes won 266 Big Ten individual titles and garnered a total of 188 All-America honors among 51 students. Long regarded as one of the nation’s top hurdles coaches, Winckler brought 13 medal-winning athletes to the Olympic Games in sprints, hurdles or relays. He also served as head coach of the women’s team in the 1997 U.S. World Championships in Athletics in Athens, Greece, as well as the 1989 International Amateur Athletic Federation World Athletics Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Winckler retired from coaching at Illinois following the 2008 season and was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.

Robert Holcombe
Football, 1994–97

U of I’s all-time leading rusher, Holcombe enjoyed a seven-year NFL career that reached its pinnacle when he helped the St. Louis Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 as the starting fullback. Holcombe still holds the Illini Big Ten career rushing record of 4,105 yards on a school-record 943 carries. He also set a school record for rushing at least 100 yards 16 times and set the Illini record for rushing attempts in a single game with 49 carries against East Carolina on Sept. 23, 1995. A three-time recipient of the U of I Offensive Player of the Year Award, Holcombe ranked ninth on the all-time Big Ten rushing list and third in career attempts when he graduated. He was drafted in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Rams, where he played for four seasons, before playing with the Tennessee Titans from 2002 to 2004.

Nick Weatherspoon
Men’s Basketball, 1971–73

Named to the Illini Men’s Basketball All-Century Team in 2005, Weatherspoon was the Fighting Illini’s all-time leading scorer, with 1,481 points. He still holds the school record for career scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game, and finished his college career with the highest rebounding average in Illinois history at 11.3 boards per game. “Spoon” was the team MVP in 1972, earning Honorable-Mention All-American and All-Big Ten recognition. He was named MVP again in 1973, averaging 25 points per game to garner First-Team All-America honors. Weatherspoon was a first-round NBA Draft pick by the Washington Bullets in 1973 and made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1974. He spent seven seasons in the NBA with the Bullets, Seattle SuperSonics, Chicago Bulls and San Diego Clippers. Weatherspoon died in 2008 at age 58, and his jersey hangs in the State Farm Center, commemorating him as one of the most decorated basketball players in University history.

Frank Williams
Men’s Basketball, 2000–02

As a point guard, Williams helped lead the Fighting Illini to Big Ten Championships in 2001 and 2002, earning team MVP honors both years, as well as First-Team All-Big Ten recognition. In 2001, he also was named Big Ten Player of the Year, honored as a First-Team All-American and won the Big Ten Silver Basketball Trophy. A member of the 2005 Illini All-Century Team, Williams ranks 20th among the program’s all-time scorers, with 1,440 points, and 10th in school history in assists, with 432. He also holds the Illini record for most free throw attempts in a game, with 24. Williams declared for the 2002 NBA Draft after his junior season. He was selected in the first round as the 25th overall pick by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the New York Knicks on the night of the draft. He played two seasons for the Knicks and one season with the Chicago Bulls.

Darrick Brownlow
Football, 1987–90

A three-time First-Team All-Big Ten pick as a linebacker for the Fighting Illini, Brownlow was only the fifth player in the program’s history to receive All-Big Ten recognition in three consecutive seasons. He led the Big Ten in tackles as a sophomore and finished his college career with 483 tackles, the third-most in Illini football history. Brownlow served as team captain for the 1990 Fighting Illini, the same year in which he was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year, earned Second-Team All-America honors and was a finalist for the Butkus Award. He later was named Defensive MVP of the 1991 Hula Bowl, before being chosen in the fifth round of that year’s NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Brownlow spent seven seasons in the NFL, also playing for the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears.

Jannelle Flaws
Soccer, 2012–15

As a forward for women’s soccer, Flaws graduated as the University’s all-time career leader in goals (54), shots on goal (169), points (122) and shots (349). She also holds the Illini hat-trick record, which includes posting three goals in just nine minutes, the second-fastest hat trick in school history. She led the Big Ten in 2013 as a redshirt junior with 48 points and was tied for first in the NCAA with 23 goals. That year, she was named the U of I Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year and The Daily Illini Athlete of the Year. Flaws also was recognized as the Big Ten Forward of the Year in two consecutive seasons (2013 and 2014) and was named Second-Team All-Big Ten her senior year, while earning Academic All-Big Ten honors three years in a row. Following her collegiate career, Flaws was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in 2016 and played professionally in Germany for five years.