For more information, call or email
Kevin Cook
(914) 231-4564
Since 1968 the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame has honored more than 200 outstanding professional and amateur sportsmen and sportswomen, living or deceased, who have gained prominence in their fields and who have made substantial contributions to sports in Westchester County.
Nominations for consideration by the Hall of Fame Committee are solicited from the public.
Nominees are reviewed, and the committee selects those who best meet or exceed the criteria of the Hall of Fame. A prospective candidate must be at least 25 years old and should be a person of integrity and good character who has gained prominence in either professional or amateur sports as a player, coach, manager, official, owner, sports media.
Individuals selected are inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame during the fall of each year. Each is presented with a Hall of Fame trophy and their name is inscribed on a plaque in the first-floor gallery at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
A wealth of outstanding people in Westchester are eligible for the Sports Hall of Fame. If you know someone you feel is qualified, please use the nomination form on the reverse side.
Nominations for the Hall of Fame committee are solicited from the public. The nominees are reviewed, and the committee selects those who best meet or exceed the Hall of Fame’s criteria.
The Sports Hall of Fame is sponsored by Westchester County Parks. For tickets to the awards dinner and more information about the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame, please contact Kevin Cook at 914-231-4564 or kdc2@westchestercountyny.gov
Congratulations to our 2025 inductees!
Samantha Coffey
Olympic Women’s Soccer Gold Medalist Samantha Coffey fell in love with playing soccer at age five, as a member of the Hedgehogs in the American Youth Soccer Association in her hometown of Sleepy Hollow. A journey that began in Devries Park along the Hudson River has since come to include matches all over the world for the U.S. Women’s National Team, in some of the most iconic venues in the sport, among them Wembley Stadium in London. Born and raised in the hamlet of Pocantico Hills in Sleepy Hollow, Sam attended the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, where she was awarded the Community Cup in recognition of her character and academic excellence.
Earning a soccer scholarship to Boston College, she stayed for two years before transferring to Penn State, winning virtually every athletic and academic honor as a two-year captain on one of the premier women’s soccer programs in the country.
After graduating with high honors, Sam was drafted by the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League, quickly becoming one of the top midfielders in the league and eventually earning an invitation to a USWNT camp. Even as she has become a core member of the No. 1 women’s team in the world, Sam has never stopped being the same humble, kind-hearted person she has always been.
At Masters, she was the leader of Midnight Run, an organization that delivered food and clothing to homeless shelters in New York City. In her new home state of Oregon, she is a dedicated supporter of Helping Hands, a statewide initiative that gives homeless people access to shelter, medical care, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services. The ultimate role model for young female athletes, Sam reached the pinnacle (so far) of her soccer career in August 2024 at the Paris Olympics, helping the U.S. capture the gold medal. Upon returning home, she was honored at a ceremony by the Village of Sleepy Hollow and the Town of Mount Pleasant, as local officials designated August 22 and 23 as Sam Coffey Day.
Charles D. Murphy
Born in New York City in 1912, Murphy played lacrosse for Princeton from 1932 to 1934, but his love for the game extended well beyond his play on the field. Considered to be a lacrosse pioneer, in 1966, he helped establish and fund the Yorktown (NY) High School lacrosse program, the first public school program in the Hudson Valley. He never coached a game,
but served as a lifetime advisor and patriarch
for Yorktown.
And more significant than the tens of thousands of dollars he provided to the Yorktown program through the years, he is fondly remembered by generations of players for always opening the doors of his home. From the time they were children, many of them came over to practice their game on his apple farm, watch tapes of memorable games, and tap into his expansive wisdom about the sport or life in general. He would also treat his visitors to snacks and chewing gum. Charlie’s house was more than just where he lived. It was home to all of Yorktown Lacrosse for generations. His spirit, generosity and mentorship were the foundation for one of the nation’s most successful lacrosse programs.
Murphy was a charter member of the Hudson Valley Chapter Lacrosse Hall of Fame, inducted in 1994, and he is enshrined in the Hudson Valley Lax Hall of Fame. In 1994, Murphy won the Krieger Award for his unheralded contribution to the sport of lacrosse. In 1989, the Charles D. Murphy Game was established between Yorktown and Lakeland, and it’s held annually in his honor. The list of players who went through the Yorktown program and continued to play through college reads like a “Who’s Who” in lacrosse. Murphy passed away in 2005. He was 93.
Jimmy Santa
While attending Rye High School, Jim was an All-Westchester County running back and linebacker in 1969 and 1970, and the third-leading scorer in 1970. Jim was recruited to the University of Maryland by WSHOF Coach Ralph Fridgen. Jim stood out on the Maryland football team when he was a freshman candidate for the linebacker position. His effort and toughness led him to end the spring of 1972 as a starting linebacker. As a sophomore, he was the team’s No. 2 in tackles until being injured in the eighth game of that season. Jim continued to play well for the Terrapins, and in 1974, he was named captain and started as a linebacker in the Liberty Bowl against Tennessee.
Jim was a player whom all coaches dreamed of coaching. He was tough physically and mentally, and he always made a supreme effort. He was a leader and team player, as well as smart, reliable, consistent and honest. He made the ACC honor roll in 1974. At the end of his college career, Jim signed a contract with the New York Giants as a free agent. He later returned to Maryland as a graduate assistant. He then became a security bodyguard for Muhammad Ali, which eventually led to his interest in being a boxing referee.
Jim presided over more than 350 fights, officiating numerous championship bouts in different weight classes. He refereed former Heavyweight Champs Larry Holmes, Buster Douglas and Riddick Bowe.
He refereed Middleweight Champs Pernell Whitaker and Arturo Gatti. His biggest fight was Roy Jones Jr. vs. Lou DeValle for the WBA/WBO Light Heavyweight Unification bout to a worldwide audience on HBO in Madison Square Garden. Being that Jim’s mother was Jewish, Senator Joe Lieberman nominated him for the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In 2024, Jim was honored for his boxing career at the University of Maryland’s “Legends of Boxing,” which is displayed at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.
Daymon S. Yizar
As a decorated champion in the history of Rye Neck, Daymon Yizar’s career has been successful and fulfilling. The only underclassmen to be named All County in 1976, he earned All County, NY Daily News Westchester All Star and 3rd Team All New York State. He led Rye Neck to their first State Championship after winning the Section 1 Class C Championship. Capping his career off, he scored 34 points and 31 rebounds in the State Finals. His accolades to end his season included Con Edison Scholar Athlete award winner, first Team All State, HS All-American and the New York State Small School Co-Player of the Year. Daymon was the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, with over 1,000 each. Both records stand to this day. This led him to be the first Rye Neck Basketball player to have his jersey retired, and he’s a member of the Rye Neck High School Sports Hall of Fame. He then earned a scholarship to Wagner College. Despite the first two years being limited by injuries, Yizar led the team in rebounds and was third in scoring as a freshman. Two of his memorable games include a 22-point, 12-rebound effort against nationally ranked DePaul at Madison Square Garden and a 12-point, 20-rebound game against Virginia. A Wagner College Athletic Hall of Fame member, he went on to graduate in 1982 with a BS in Education. His contributions to Westchester County aren’t just felt through his basketball fame. For 18 years, he was an IAABO official on basketball courts, and for more than 30 years, he occupied the center court seats at the County Center while sponsoring the Class B Gold Ball for many of those years. Daymon continued to support Westchester as a police detective, high school administrator and fire commissioner. Generations of Westchester basketball players know and love “Big Daddy.” Daymon is the Mayor of Westchester County Hoops. .