The University of Michigan Hall of Honor was established in 1978 to recognize those who have made significant contributions as athletes, coaches and administrators to the tradition of Wolverine athletics and have enhanced the image and reputation of the University of Michigan.

Those inducted into the Hall of Honor have earned All-America recognition in a team or individual sport or as individuals have established an NCAA, American or World record; won an NCAA title, or made significant contributions to the University of Michigan Athletic Department as a coach or administrator.

2008 Honorees

Desmond Howard

1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard’s acrobatic catches made him one of the most electrifying Michigan players ever. In 1991, he became the first receiver in Big Ten history to lead the conference in scoring (90) while setting or tying five NCAA and 12 single-season Michigan records. Voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates, the All-American set standards for most touchdowns (23) and points (138) scored in a season, and consecutive games with a scoring catch (19). Howard won the Heisman by the second largest margin of victory in the trophy’s history, and his 640 first-place votes (85 percent) were the most ever. He was also recognized as Player of the Year by receiving the Walter Camp Trophy and the Maxwell Awards. Howard was a first round pick of the NFL’s Washington Redskins. Later with Green Bay, he was MVP of Super Bowl XXXI.

Jenny Allard

Like her Michigan coach Carol Hutchins, former Michigan All-American P/3B Jenny Allard followed her playing career by becoming an accomplished coach, at Harvard. As a freshwoman, the Irvine, California native led the Wolverines in RBI (26) while hitting .331, second best on the team. Allard led the team in batting average in 1988 and ’89, and was All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year in 1989. Within two years of her graduation, Allard became a full-time coaching assistant at Iowa. Since 1995, Allard has been the head softball coach at Harvard, where she owns a 313-249 overall record, including a 127-49 Ivy League mark and five conference titles. She earned a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Education in 1999 and a master's in psychology from the Harvard Extension School in 2003.

Ann Colloton receives UM's Female Athlete of the Decade Award (1980s).

Ann Colloton

In high school, Colloton won seven Iowa state championships. During her Michigan career, she led the Wolverines to an NCAA championship in 1989, four Big Ten titles, and to victory in 35 out of 36 dual meets. Colloton was an eight-time All-American and five-time Big Ten individual champion, and was named U of M’s female athlete of the year in 1989 and 1990 and female athlete of the decade for the 1980’s. She was Michigan’s first-ever NCAA individual champion in 1989, in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.96). Currently, Colloton resides in Atlanta, where she helps facilitate a homeless assistance program.

Michael Leach

In 1982, Leach became the first Michigan individual to win the NCAA singles title since Barry MacKay in 1957. For Coach Brian Eisner at Michigan, Leach won the Big Ten three singles title as well as the number two doubles bracket. In his sophomore year at Michigan’s #1 single, the Weston, Massachusetts native was 24-4, winning the Big Ten at both #1 singles and doubles. In his junior year, Leach lost only two individual matches and advanced to the singles’ round of 16 at the NCAA tournament, and was named All-American. In his senior year, Leach defeated Brad Gilbert of Pepperdine in the NCAA finals in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. Leach’s professional tennis career was highlighted by victories over Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander and an appearance in Wimbledon’s round of 16. His highest world singles and doubles rankings were 29 and 15, respectively, and he won four pro tournaments as a doubles player. Today, Leach is Director of Tennis at the prestigious Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, near Jacksonville, FL.

Bill Hewitt*

During his four years as a Wolverine, the Bay City native was a hard-headed, fleet-footed defensive standout, and earned All-Conference honors at defensive end in his final season at Michigan. The Chicago Bears drafted Hewitt, who was named by four pro coaches to be the most valuable player in professional football in the 1933 season. In the 1932 NFL title game, Hewitt caught a pass from Bronko Nagurski and lateraled to Bill Karr, who scored the winning touchdown. Hewitt finished his professional career with the Philadelphia Eagles after five years with the Bears. From his days at Michigan through his eight seasons playing professional football, Hewitt was known for his quick start off the line of scrimmage---he was nicknamed “the Offside Kid”--- and was readily identified for not wearing a helmet (which became required in 1939). In 1947, Hewitt died in a car accident near his home in Drexel, PA at age 37.

Ruth Pickett Thompson

Under coach Joyce Lindeman, Ruth Pickett placed among the top three individuals at each of four Intercollegiate Synchronized Swimming Championships; was named All - American all four years of her Michigan career, in 1978 (as a member of Michigan’s national runner-up team), ’79 '80 and '81; was honored with the AIAW’s (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) 1979 and 1980 Broderick Awards as the nation’s top collegiate athlete in her sport; and was the University of Michigan’s 1981 Marie Hartwig Award winner as female athlete of the year. In 1998, the Richmond, Virginia native received the University of Michigan Athletic Department’s Gerald R. Ford Award, presented to a former student-athlete who epitomizes excellence in scholarship, sport and society.

Past Honorees