Jerome McDougle was a South Florida star and a key member of Miami’s early-2000s defenses. Now he is a UM Sports Hall of Famer.
The former defensive lineman highlighted an eight-member 2025 induction class for the UM Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which was announced Tuesday.
In addition to McDougle, the other seven inductees are Vikki Alonzo (soccer), Mark Cooper (football), Kevin Howard (baseball), Cindy Kessler Miller (golf), Brian Ramos (diving), Darius Rice (basketball) and Krista Simkins (track & field). They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next spring.
“On behalf of the UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, it gives us great pleasure to announce the 2025 Class of inductees, which is comprised of UM athletes from seven different sports,” Hall of Fame President Mike Ward said in a press release. “We will celebrate this diverse class and showcase their outstanding accomplishments from their Miami careers at our induction banquet in the spring of 2025.”
McDougle, a Blanche Ely High alum and three-year Miami defensive lineman, won a national title with the Hurricanes. He was a two-time All-Big East selection and a 2002 All-American. After being picked in the first round of the 2003 draft, he spent four seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.
Alonzo was a standout goalkeeper for the Hurricanes and was a third-team freshman All-American in 2008. She spent four years at UM and holds program records for wins (36), shutouts (25), saves (358) and minutes in goal (7,256).
Cooper played for Howard Schnellenberger in his five-year UM career that lasted from 1978-1982. Cooper, an offensive lineman, earned second-team Independent South All-American honors and was picked for the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl after his senior season. He was a second-round NFL draft pick and a seven-year pro.
Howard was a star player for the UM baseball team, spending three years with the program and winning the 2001 College World Series with the team. He is fourth all-time with 260 career hits and his eighth all-time with a .368 batting average.
Kessler Miller was golf standout from 1975-78 and helped UM win back-to-back national titles in 1977 and 1978. She was an All-American in 1978 and will be inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame this year.
Ramos was a UM diver from 1990-95 and was a seven-time All-American. He finished second at the 1992 NCAA Championships in the 1-meter springboard and was named the 1995 Big East Diver of the Year.
Rice was a basketball standout from 1998-2001, earning All-Big East honors three times. He is Miami’s No. 4 all-time scorer with 1,865 points, averaging 16.1 points per game.
Simkins was a track star from 2006-2008. She won the 2008 NCAA indoor 400-meter race, running the race in 52.16 seconds. Simkins was named the 2008 ACC Indoor Track Performer of the Year after winning conference titles in the 200 and 400 meter. Simkins was a four-time All-American.
