A group of seven athletes and coaches were inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. The ceremony took place at the new Grand Ballroom in the Bradenton Area Convention Center, marking the first event held in this venue. Pam Oliver from Fox Sports, who is also a member of the Hall of Fame, hosted a Q&A session during the event.
Keyna Cory, Chair of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame board, commented on the evening: “It was a fantastic evening full of celebration, inspiring stories and emotional tributes. The Convention Center ballroom was simply beautiful and provided a perfect canvas for the evening’s production that recognized this talented and accomplished class. Their contributions to their sports and their communities make them remarkable. We are honored to welcome them as the newest members of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.”
The inductees represent four different sports and include two Super Bowl winners, a World Series-winning manager, a Women’s College World Series-winning coach, a broadcaster, a high school baseball coach with 950 wins, and for the first time, an athlete from motocross.
The 2025 inductees are:
– Lonni Alameda: Head softball coach at Florida State University for 17 seasons. She led her team to five Women’s College World Series appearances in recent years and secured FSU’s first NCAA National Championship in 2018.
– Mike Alstott: Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback who played 12 seasons with six Pro Bowl selections and helped win Super Bowl XXXVII.
– Trey Burton: Venice High School graduate who played football at the University of Florida before joining several NFL teams including helping Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LII.
– Ricky Carmichael: Motocross athlete with 15 AMA championships and more than 150 career wins.
– Jim Leyland: Managed multiple Major League Baseball teams including leading the Florida Marlins to victory in the 1997 World Series; elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame in December 2023.
– Clyde Metcalf: Sarasota High School baseball coach for over four decades with more than 950 career wins; numerous state titles and national recognitions.
– Dave Wills: Spent 18 seasons as radio announcer for Tampa Bay Rays; known for his signature calls during broadcasts.
Nearly 400 people attended the ceremony. Each inductee was featured in a video presentation followed by an interview segment. The event also included special recognition for Phil Galvano, noted golf instructor, accepted by his son Bill Galvano. Phil Esposito and Henry Lee Paul were acknowledged for their roles in bringing NHL hockey to Florida through efforts with Tampa Bay Lightning.
For further information about this year’s induction or future events related to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, inquiries can be directed to Ginger Kane at ginger@flasportshof.org.
