Five new members were welcomed to the Wolf Pack Athletics Hall of Fame this year.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held on Jan. 31, honored Mary “Dobee” Plaisance, Greg Castillo, Matt Cagigal A’07, Luke Zumo A’08 and James “Argo” Meza A’70.

When Plaisance, a former Loyola women’s basketball coach, found out she was being inducted into the Wolf Pack Hall of Fame she said she was overcome with emotion and disbelief.

“I started crying when I found out I was being inducted into the Hall of Fame  class of 2015. I never dreamed in a million years this would happen”, Plaisance said.

Plaisance was the first coach in the history of the Loyola women’s basketball program and is a key reason why the program is where it is today. However, she said it wasn’t easy getting where she is.

“When I first became the coach, it was a battle for 13 years,” Plaisance  said. “I battled not having assistant coaches and scholarships, but it made me a well-rounded coach.”

Plaisance said that her work ethic and determination to build a strong program at Loyola ultimately landed her a job as the head coach at the Division I school Nichols State University.

The  team’s current head coach, Kellie Kennedy, said that Plaisance’s presence is still felt throughout the Loyola women’s basketball program.

“Coach Plaisance is a great person and a great coach. She is very deserving to get into the Hall of Fame. She had great success here at Loyola,” Kennedy said.

Plaisance said she is excited about what is currently happening this season with the women’s basketball team.

“I am extremely excited about the success of the Loyola women’s program today. I give Coach Kennedy and her staff a lot of credit. She has sustained the success, and that speaks volumes to the job they are doing,” Plaisance said.

With the women’s basketball team’s recent success, the Hall of Fame may not be out of the question for Kennedy one day.

“I’m not thinking that far ahead yet, but it would be a great honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame — something I would also want for my players. I think it’s great being a part of a successful program,” Kennedy said.

One of Kennedy’s players, Meghan Whitaker, said that it would be an honor for her to one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“I  would love to be honored into the Loyola Hall of Fame one day. Unfortunately I have only been here for two years so I was not able to break any records to get me there,” Whitaker said.

However, Whitaker said that her team’s chances of possible winning a championship could help her chances.

“Hopefully we can win a national championship and my three pointers will continue to fall this season to maybe give me a possible shot,” Whitaker said.