SF State Athletics announces Hall of Fame class of 2022
San Francisco State University Athletics is pleased to announce the induction of six individual Gator standouts and one team into the San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Fame. The members of the class of 2022 are Naveed Bagheri (Wrestling), Garry Bradford (Basketball), Joe Garrity (Football), Emily Manwaring (Women’s Basketball Coach), Michael J. Simpson (Baseball Coach/Director of Athletics), Iris Tolenada (Volleyball) and the 2005 softball team.
“We are excited to re-ignite this tradition of honoring our prominent Athletic Alumni and inducting them to our Gator Athletic Hall of Fame,” stated SF State Athletic Director Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins. “This amazing class of inductees have waited through the pandemic to be announced and we are grateful for their patience and trust in our vision of celebrating them in-person. I am thrilled to be a part of their history through celebrating their accolades as student-athletes and their successes beyond graduation. A huge congratulations to our 2022 Gator Hall of Famers!”
This distinguished group will be formally inducted on Sunday, September 18, with a ceremony on campus at the Student Events Center.
Naveed Bagheri
2008 – 2013
Bagheri was a three time All-American for the Gators, wrestling at 133 pounds in his first two seasons before moving up to 141 pounds for his final two seasons. He was named the SF State Freshman of the Year in 2009 and SF State Athlete of the Year in 2013. He sits in the record books for two-point and three-point near falls. Named the 2009 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Freshman of the Year, Bagheri won RMAC titles in his weight class in 2009, 2010 and 2013, and placed second in 2011. Bagheri qualified for the NCAA Championships all four seasons he competed, placing fifth in 2009 and 2011. The culmination of his career came his senior season when he took home the NCAA Division II championship at 141 pounds.
Iris Tolenada
2009 – 2013
One of the top setters in program history, Tolenada holds the school record for sets played, assists, assists per set, is second all-time in digs and third in service aces. She also holds the single season record in assists. Tolenada was the first Gator to earn CCAA Freshman of the Year honors in 2009 and the first Gator to earn California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Player of the Year in 2012. She earned All-CCAA First Team honors in 2010 and 2012 and Second Team honors in 2009 and 2011. Tolenada helped lead the Gators to NCAA tournament appearances in 2009 and 2012. In addition to her conference honors, Tolenada was named to the Daktronics All-West Region First Team in 2012 and was named the SF State Female Athlete of the Year for the 2012-13 academic year. Post-graduation, Tolenada played professionally overseas before returning to SF State to serve as an assistant coach for the 2017 and 2018 season. She is again playing professionally in the Philippines, where her current team, the F2 Cargo Movers, were the 2021 PNVF League Champions.
Michael J. Simpson
1985 – 2013
Simpson served as the head coach of the Baseball program from 1986 to 1997 and had prior head coaching stints at Westmont College and UC Santa Barbara. He guided San Francisco State to a 326-289-4 record including three Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) titles and two berths in the NCAA Division II National Championships. Simpson's 326 victories are the most by any Gator coach in any sport at SF State. A three-time recipient of the NCAC Coach of the Year award during his time at the helm of the Gators, Simpson also coached 88 All-Conference selections and six All-Americans during his tenure, and several of his players signed professional baseball contracts. In 1997, Simpson stepped down as coach to accept the role as the director of Athletics, a position he held until retiring in 2013. As director of Athletics, Simpson played a major role in renovations to Cox Stadium, the softball complex and the training center. Under his leadership, the department developed a plan that saved the department from extinction in the early 2000s and successfully passed a referendum that ensured Athletics' future. During his time as athletics director, the department produced 10 Veterans of Comedy Wars shows featuring world-famous comedians that generated tremendous regional acclaim and revenue for the campus. He also helped establish the annual student-athlete academic luncheon honoring scholar-athletes and their professors, as well as the first athletic endowments in the history of the University.
Joe Garrity
1977 – 1981
Garrity, who is also a member of the Gridiron Club Football Hall of Fame, was a four-year starter for the Gators under legendary coach Vic Rowen. During his sophomore campaign, the outside linebacker earned All-Far West Conference (FWC) Honorable Mention. He earned Second-Team FWC honors in 1980 after posting 89 tackles and nine sacks his senior season. He finished his career with 325 tackles. After graduating with his B.A. in 1981, Garrity was a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys and earned a try-out with the club. He went on to the San Francisco Police Department for 33 years. Garrity was a well-known captain in the Tenderloin before taking the role of commander in 2013 and later retiring in 2015.
Garry Bradford
1970 – 1972
In just two seasons with the Gators, Bradford made his mark with the Gators. He earned Far Western Conference First Team honors in both 1970 – 1971 and 1971 – 1972 and was named an All-American during the 1971 – 1972 campaign. Bradford and the Gators were the 1970 – 1971 FWC champions and played in the NCAA West Regional. The following season, Bradford helped the Gators become co-FWC champions. He still ranks 12th in rebounds per game in a single season and 18thin points per game, averaging 17.4 per game during the 1970 –1971 season.
Emily Manwaring
1977 – 1984
In her five seasons at the helm of the women’s Basketball team, Manwaring compiled a 97-57 (.630) record. Her 97 wins are third most in program history and her winning percentage of .630 ranks second. Manwaring’s 21 wins during the 1981 – 1982 season are the most wins in a single season. During her first two seasons, Manwaring led the team to Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Division III National Quarter Final Appearances. She led the 1980 – 1981 and 1981 – 1982 teams to Golden State Conference Championships and followed that up in 1982– 1983 and 1983 – 1984 with Northern California Athletic Conference Championships. A four-time conference coach of the year in her final four seasons at SF State, Manwaring was named the 1984 Far West Region Coach of the Year and a 1984 Fast Break All-American Coach. Manwaring’s teams made the NCAA Division II West Regional the final three seasons with her at the helm. Athletes that she coached who have been inducted into the SF State Athletics Hall of Fame include Trina Easley, Angel Floyd, Patty Harmon and Kim Rickman.
2005 Softball team
The winningest team in program history, the 2005 Softball team won the NCAA Western Regional for the first time in program history and finished fifth at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Compiling a 43-21 record, the 2005 team set team records for most shutouts (20), fewest runs allowed (121), fewest doubles allowed (42) and lowest ERA (1.36) in a season. Head Coach Kristi Lansford, Assistant Coach Maricela Soto, and Assistant Coach Michelle Villegas became the first coaching staff to earn NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year Honors. Sonja Garnett was named a NFCA First team All-American while Vanessa Rodrigue was named a Third Team All-American. Both players are members of the SF State Athletics Hall of Fame.
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