Port St. Lucie, FL – A stellar mix of athletes and coaches were inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. The seven-member class represents four different sports and includes two Super Bowl winners, a World Series winning manager, Women’s College World Series winning coach, a beloved broadcaster, a 950-game winning HS baseball coach, and our first-ever Motocross athlete. The seven were inducted in a ceremony held in the new Grand Ballroom at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. Fox Sports’ and Florida Hall of Fame member Pam Oliver hosted the Q&A portion of the event.
“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,” said Keyna Cory, Chair of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame board. “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.”
Picture from L to R: Ginger Kane, Tim Ramsberger, Lonni Alameda, Mike Alstott, Clyde Metcalf, Dave Wills Family (daughter Michelle Wills, her fiancé Maurice Faedo, and Dave’s wife Liz Wills, Jim Leyland, Trey Burton and Ricky Carmichael
The Florida Sports Hall of 2025 Class (in alphabetical order):
Lonni Alameda – Softball Coach
Alana Maree “Lonni” Alameda has spent 17 seasons at the head coach of the Florida State University softball program, guiding the Seminoles back into one of the nation’s best teams. The Seminoles have returned to the final site of women’s collegiate softball five times in the last nine complete seasons (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023), including winning the program’s first NCAA National Championship in 2018. They finished as WCWS runner-up in 2021 and 2023 and also found themselves in the finals in 2014 and 2016. They have had eight consecutive trips to the NCAA Super Regionals (2013-19, 2021). FSU has played in the NCAA postseason every year under Alameda and is one of only seven schools to participate in the NCAA Tournament in every season since 2000. Since Alameda has made Tallahassee her home, she has led the Seminoles to 15 ACC Championship game appearances in 17 years, with titles in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Mike Alstott – Football
Mike Alstott played for 12 years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including the Super Bowl winning 2002 season. At fullback, he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, the most appearances for an offensive player in the team’s history. He was named to the NFL All-Pro team four times. He rushed for more than 5,000 yards during his career, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Given the nickname A-Train, he made a career of gaining the tough yards. His bruising style and knack for finding the end zone helped him become the Buccaneers all-time leader in total touchdowns (71) and rushing touchdowns (58). He ranks second all-time on the club’s rushing list with 5,088 yards. His career 305 receptions place him third in team history. He also is third on the Bucs’ career scoring list with 432 points – the first non-kicker in team history to surpass 400 points.
Trey Burton – Football
Born in Venice, FL, Trey Burton attended Venice High School where he was a standout dual-threat quarterback for the Venice Indians. He received a scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Urban Meyer’s and Will Muschamp’s Florida Gators football teams from 2010 to 2013. Originally recruited as a quarterback in Meyer’s spread offense, he played several positions for the Gators, including wide receiver, tight end, fullback and quarterback. As a freshman, he broke Tim Tebow’s team record for touchdowns in a game with six during a 48-14 victory over Kentucky. In 50 career games with Florida, he had 720 rushing yards, 976 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns.
He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2014 and won Super Bowl LII with the team in his final season – helping to execute the Philly Special. Burton also played for the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts.
Ricky Carmichael – Motocross
A 15-time AMA motocross champion, Ricky Carmichael is considered the GOAT in the sport of motocross. In 1996, he concluded a record-setting run in the amateur ranks by capturing his ninth AMA Amateur National Championship at the prestigious Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch. He accumulated a total of 67 amateur motocross national championships.
He got his first taste of professional motocross in 1996 when he earned the AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year award. His 15 Championships are a record as are his 150 career wins. He had two perfect seasons and is the only rider to go undefeated in the 125 SX series. He’s also been named AMA Rider of the year a record five times.
Jim Leyland – Baseball Manager
Jim Leyland led the Florida Marlins to the 1997 World Series championship over the Cleveland Indians, and previously won three straight division titles (1990, 1991, and 1992) with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is one of only eleven managers to lead three different teams to the postseason. With the Tigers’ victory in the 2006 American League Championship Series, Leyland became the seventh manager in history to win pennants in both the National and American Leagues. Leyland is a three-time Manager of the Year Award winner, twice in the National League (1990 and 1992), and once in the American League (2006). He managed the United States national team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, leading the team to its first gold medal finish. On December 3, 2023, Leyland was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Clyde Metcalf – Baseball Coach
Born in Sarasota, Metcalf returned to his high school alma mater in 1981 to serve as the head baseball coach. In the 41 seasons that followed, the Florida State University graduate coached teams to a compiled 950 wins. He led the Sailors to 23 District Championships, 14 appearances in the State Final Four of which the Sailors won six times (1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2007). His teams were also named National Champions in 1989 and 1993 by USA Today.
An astounding 210 of his players went on to play collegiate baseball and 72 have gone on to play professionally. Sixteen former players reached the major leagues. Clyde is a three-time recipient of the National Coach of the Year award. He was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2022, he was, appropriately, inducted into the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame.
Dave Wills – Announcing
Wills spent 18 seasons in the Rays’ radio booth, partnering with Andy Freed to form a broadcast team that was wildly popular with the team’s fans. Wills created a few signature, instantly recognizable calls when on play-by-play duty, including his roaring refrain immediately following every victory — “Rays win! Rays win! Rays win!” — and his exaggerated “Heeeeee struck him out!” after every K by a Rays pitcher.
Wills was particularly known for his “big personality” and his ability to connect with fans off the air. His sudden death on March 5, 2023, was a blow to his entire fan base. On April 14, 2024, Wills was inducted into the Tampa Bay Rays Hall of Fame, the fourth individual to be inducted, after Don Zimmer, Wade Boggs, and Carl Crawford.
Nearly 400 people gathered for the event which was the first ever in the new Grand Ballroom. Each inductee had a video spotlighting their careers followed by a Q&A hosted by Pam Oliver. Special recognition was also given to Local Legend Phil Galvano – golf instructor to the stars – which was accepted by his son and former Florida Senate President Bill Galvano. Phil Esposito and Henry Lee Paul were also honored for their successful efforts to bring ice hockey to Florida with the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning.
For more information, please contact Ginger Kane at ginger@flasportshof.org