University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Athletics Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class
08/13/2026 | Baseball, Football, General, Women's Basketball, Women's Swimming & Diving
RICHMOND, Va. — Iconic moments, memorable performances and championship seasons highlight the extraordinary careers of five former Spider student-athletes who comprise the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026, announced today by Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt.
The Class of 2026 consists of Tim Bezbatchenko (Men's Soccer 2000-2003), Vito Chiaravalloti (Baseball 2000-2003), Eric McBride (Football 2007-2010), Brittani Shells (Women's Basketball 2007-2011) and Jessica Witt Leach (Women's Swimming & Diving 2004-2008).
The 49th Hall of Fame class will be inducted during a ceremony Friday night, October 23. The class will be introduced at the Homecoming football game Saturday, October 24 against Colgate. Kickoff is 2pm.
Ticket registration for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reception is available online here. Tickets for the football game can be obtained online here or by calling the Richmond Ticket Office at 1-877-SPIDER-1.
Tim Bezbatchenko – Men's Soccer 2000-2003
A foreshadowing of what was to come in his professional life, Tim Bezbatchenko displayed a unique combination of talent and leadership during an iron-man college soccer career at Richmond.
A midfielder and two-time captain who played and started nearly every match during a four-year, 80-game career in a Spider uniform, Tim was named Atlantic 10 Second Team in 2002, when the Spiders earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. In 2003, he led the Spiders to a regular season A10 title with a 7-0-4 mark, 10-5-5 overall, and was named First Team All-Conference.
His skills translated from the pitch to the classroom as Tim was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 and NCAA All-Academic selection. Following graduation, he played professionally for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds before embarking on a soccer career in a variety of leadership positions.
Tim possesses more than 17 years of experience in global soccer leadership roles, three MLS Cups, one MLS Supporters' Shield, two Concacaf Champions Cup Finals appearances and three Canadian Championships. Most recently he was President of Black Knight Football Club, a consortium of European clubs. In May 2026, he accepted a position as president of global soccer of the Haslam Sports Group and will oversee all sporting decisions for the Columbus Crew and a Columbus 2028 NWSL expansion team.
Tim and his wife Annie, also a Richmond grad, have both served on the Executive Board of Advisors of Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
Vito Chiaravalloti – Baseball 2000-2003
One herculean swing of the bat from Vito Chiaravalloti made him a Spider baseball legend, but his dominant play throughout a record-setting career made him a Hall of Famer.
Having gone where no Spider squad had gone before or since, Vito and his teammates found themselves in a must-win game two of the NCAA Super Regionals at heavily favored Nebraska in 2002. Playing as the home team and with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, Chiaravalloti silenced the sellout Cornhusker crowd with a walk-off grand slam. And while the Spiders fell a game short of reaching the College World Series, they were well on their way to the most successful era in program history.
Vito would go on to become Richmond's career leader in home runs (61), RBI (245), runs (220) and total bases (531). In 2002, the winningest season in UR history (53-13), he set the school record in RBI (86) while leading the Atlantic 10 in home runs (23), RBI and walks (50). Twice he was named All-American, All-Atlantic 10 First Team, All-Colonial Athletic Association Second Team and All State.
A two-time captain, he capped his college career in 2003 by earning Most Valuable Player honors of the A10 Tournament, completing the winningest two-year stretch in the history of Richmond Baseball (101-28).
Vito was drafted in the 15th round by the Toronto Blue Jays and played four seasons of professional baseball. He later became a Hall of Fame swim coach and Athletic Director at his high school alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey.
Eric McBride – Football 2007-2010
A local product from nearby L.C. Bird High School, Eric McBride became a national name as a standout All-American linebacker who helped lead Spider Football to its first-ever national championship.
A four-year All-Conference selection who started all 54 games of his career, Eric earned CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and second team All-Conference honors in 2007. In the national championship season of 2008, he was First Team All-Conference and sealed the Spiders' title game 24-7 win over Montana with a fourth quarter interception.
McBride was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection and earned multiple All-American honors in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He capped his career by being named CAA Football Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and was a finalist for the 2010 Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in the FCS. He was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Linebacker of the Year, while finishing runner-up for the Dudley Award, presented annually to the best Division One football player in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
McBride was part of a class which tied a program record for victories (41), won two CAA titles, made three NCAA Playoffs and won the 2008 National Championship. His senior class played 93 percent of its games ranked in the Top 25 and 70 percent in Top 10.
Brittani Shells – Women's Basketball – 2007-2011
At both ends of the basketball court Brittani Shells excelled, stealing the ball on defense and scoring on offense.
During her senior season in 2010-11, she became just the second Richmond women's basketball player to eclipse 2,000 career points (2,042). Her 19.2 ppg led the Atlantic 10 and was 21st nationally. It is currently the fifth highest single-season scoring average in UR women's basketball history.
That same season, she matched her own single-season record for steals with 84, giving her a program-best 300 thefts in her career, still the top mark in school history. She owns Richmond's top two, and three of the top four single season steals records.
From the moment she stepped onto the Robins Center court, Brittani made an impact. She played 126 games, with 125 games started. For her career, she scored in double figures 107 times, with 35 20-point games and five 30-point games. Her 16.2 ppg career scoring average is currently 3rd in UR women's basketball history.
For her accomplishments, she became one of the most honored players in school history. Brittani was Atlantic 10 First Team and All-Defensive Team three times, earned All-Rookie Team honors her freshman season and was named to the 2009 A10 All-Tournament Team. A two-time captain, she led the Spiders to three postseason appearances in the WNIT.
Following a professional playing career overseas, Brittani returned home to become a player development coach, author and Young Adult Minister in Delaware.
Jessica Witt Leach – Swimming & Diving 2004-2008
From her first stroke to her last lap, Jessica Witt Leach became one of the most decorated Spider swimmers during the program's long-running Atlantic 10 dynasty. Her teams won four consecutive A10 titles, as part of a dominating stretch that saw Richmond capture an unprecedented 15 conference championships in 16 years.
She earned A10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer her freshman season, gained All-American status as a junior and capped her career by winning Most Outstanding Performer honors for the second time. She won 11 individual conference titles and became the first woman in A10 history to sweep the 500 Freestyle four consecutive times. She also captured three straight A10 titles in the 400 IM.
Jessica twice qualified for the NCAA Nationals. In 2006, she placed ninth in the 400 IM (4:16.15), earning All-American status. In 2007, her 16th place in the 400 IM (4:14.89) gave her All-American honors again.
Witt became just the second of three Spider swimmers in program history to score points in the national meet. She also qualified for the US Olympic Open Water Trials in 2008, becoming the only UR swimmer ever to participate in that event.
Witt's records have withstood the test of time as her name still appears in the Richmond Swimming record book in five Top Ten categories.
About the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame
Established in 1977, the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame honors the unparalleled and superior excellence of individuals and teams whose achievements, accomplishments and dedicated support have brought elite recognition and distinction to themselves, their communities and Spider Athletics.
Please click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Hall of Fame
Please click here to nominate a person or team for the Hall of Fame
The Class of 2026 consists of Tim Bezbatchenko (Men's Soccer 2000-2003), Vito Chiaravalloti (Baseball 2000-2003), Eric McBride (Football 2007-2010), Brittani Shells (Women's Basketball 2007-2011) and Jessica Witt Leach (Women's Swimming & Diving 2004-2008).
The 49th Hall of Fame class will be inducted during a ceremony Friday night, October 23. The class will be introduced at the Homecoming football game Saturday, October 24 against Colgate. Kickoff is 2pm.
Ticket registration for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reception is available online here. Tickets for the football game can be obtained online here or by calling the Richmond Ticket Office at 1-877-SPIDER-1.
Tim Bezbatchenko – Men's Soccer 2000-2003
A foreshadowing of what was to come in his professional life, Tim Bezbatchenko displayed a unique combination of talent and leadership during an iron-man college soccer career at Richmond.
A midfielder and two-time captain who played and started nearly every match during a four-year, 80-game career in a Spider uniform, Tim was named Atlantic 10 Second Team in 2002, when the Spiders earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. In 2003, he led the Spiders to a regular season A10 title with a 7-0-4 mark, 10-5-5 overall, and was named First Team All-Conference.
His skills translated from the pitch to the classroom as Tim was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 and NCAA All-Academic selection. Following graduation, he played professionally for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds before embarking on a soccer career in a variety of leadership positions.
Tim possesses more than 17 years of experience in global soccer leadership roles, three MLS Cups, one MLS Supporters' Shield, two Concacaf Champions Cup Finals appearances and three Canadian Championships. Most recently he was President of Black Knight Football Club, a consortium of European clubs. In May 2026, he accepted a position as president of global soccer of the Haslam Sports Group and will oversee all sporting decisions for the Columbus Crew and a Columbus 2028 NWSL expansion team.
Tim and his wife Annie, also a Richmond grad, have both served on the Executive Board of Advisors of Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
Vito Chiaravalloti – Baseball 2000-2003
One herculean swing of the bat from Vito Chiaravalloti made him a Spider baseball legend, but his dominant play throughout a record-setting career made him a Hall of Famer.
Having gone where no Spider squad had gone before or since, Vito and his teammates found themselves in a must-win game two of the NCAA Super Regionals at heavily favored Nebraska in 2002. Playing as the home team and with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, Chiaravalloti silenced the sellout Cornhusker crowd with a walk-off grand slam. And while the Spiders fell a game short of reaching the College World Series, they were well on their way to the most successful era in program history.
Vito would go on to become Richmond's career leader in home runs (61), RBI (245), runs (220) and total bases (531). In 2002, the winningest season in UR history (53-13), he set the school record in RBI (86) while leading the Atlantic 10 in home runs (23), RBI and walks (50). Twice he was named All-American, All-Atlantic 10 First Team, All-Colonial Athletic Association Second Team and All State.
A two-time captain, he capped his college career in 2003 by earning Most Valuable Player honors of the A10 Tournament, completing the winningest two-year stretch in the history of Richmond Baseball (101-28).
Vito was drafted in the 15th round by the Toronto Blue Jays and played four seasons of professional baseball. He later became a Hall of Fame swim coach and Athletic Director at his high school alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey.
Eric McBride – Football 2007-2010
A local product from nearby L.C. Bird High School, Eric McBride became a national name as a standout All-American linebacker who helped lead Spider Football to its first-ever national championship.
A four-year All-Conference selection who started all 54 games of his career, Eric earned CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and second team All-Conference honors in 2007. In the national championship season of 2008, he was First Team All-Conference and sealed the Spiders' title game 24-7 win over Montana with a fourth quarter interception.
McBride was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection and earned multiple All-American honors in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He capped his career by being named CAA Football Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and was a finalist for the 2010 Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in the FCS. He was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Linebacker of the Year, while finishing runner-up for the Dudley Award, presented annually to the best Division One football player in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
McBride was part of a class which tied a program record for victories (41), won two CAA titles, made three NCAA Playoffs and won the 2008 National Championship. His senior class played 93 percent of its games ranked in the Top 25 and 70 percent in Top 10.
Brittani Shells – Women's Basketball – 2007-2011
At both ends of the basketball court Brittani Shells excelled, stealing the ball on defense and scoring on offense.
During her senior season in 2010-11, she became just the second Richmond women's basketball player to eclipse 2,000 career points (2,042). Her 19.2 ppg led the Atlantic 10 and was 21st nationally. It is currently the fifth highest single-season scoring average in UR women's basketball history.
That same season, she matched her own single-season record for steals with 84, giving her a program-best 300 thefts in her career, still the top mark in school history. She owns Richmond's top two, and three of the top four single season steals records.
From the moment she stepped onto the Robins Center court, Brittani made an impact. She played 126 games, with 125 games started. For her career, she scored in double figures 107 times, with 35 20-point games and five 30-point games. Her 16.2 ppg career scoring average is currently 3rd in UR women's basketball history.
For her accomplishments, she became one of the most honored players in school history. Brittani was Atlantic 10 First Team and All-Defensive Team three times, earned All-Rookie Team honors her freshman season and was named to the 2009 A10 All-Tournament Team. A two-time captain, she led the Spiders to three postseason appearances in the WNIT.
Following a professional playing career overseas, Brittani returned home to become a player development coach, author and Young Adult Minister in Delaware.
Jessica Witt Leach – Swimming & Diving 2004-2008
From her first stroke to her last lap, Jessica Witt Leach became one of the most decorated Spider swimmers during the program's long-running Atlantic 10 dynasty. Her teams won four consecutive A10 titles, as part of a dominating stretch that saw Richmond capture an unprecedented 15 conference championships in 16 years.
She earned A10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer her freshman season, gained All-American status as a junior and capped her career by winning Most Outstanding Performer honors for the second time. She won 11 individual conference titles and became the first woman in A10 history to sweep the 500 Freestyle four consecutive times. She also captured three straight A10 titles in the 400 IM.
Jessica twice qualified for the NCAA Nationals. In 2006, she placed ninth in the 400 IM (4:16.15), earning All-American status. In 2007, her 16th place in the 400 IM (4:14.89) gave her All-American honors again.
Witt became just the second of three Spider swimmers in program history to score points in the national meet. She also qualified for the US Olympic Open Water Trials in 2008, becoming the only UR swimmer ever to participate in that event.
Witt's records have withstood the test of time as her name still appears in the Richmond Swimming record book in five Top Ten categories.
About the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame
Established in 1977, the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame honors the unparalleled and superior excellence of individuals and teams whose achievements, accomplishments and dedicated support have brought elite recognition and distinction to themselves, their communities and Spider Athletics.
Please click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Hall of Fame
Please click here to nominate a person or team for the Hall of Fame
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