Broward Education Foundation Announces 2025 Sports Hall of Fame Class Celebrating Athletic Excellence and Community Impact

The Broward Education Foundation has selected six distinguished individuals and one historic women's volleyball team for induction into the 2025 Broward County Sports Hall of Fame, marking the program's 22nd year of celebrating local athletic excellence. The induction ceremony will take place on October 16 at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, featuring former WSVN sports anchor and 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Steve Shapiro as presenter. The evening will include a cocktail reception and silent auction benefiting the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame, followed by dinner and induction presentations.

James A. Knapp, president and CEO of Broward Education Foundation, emphasized the significance of this year's class. There are so many tremendous athletes and coaches who hail from Broward County, Knapp said. The 2025 class is exceptional, not only for their athletic talents, but for their dedication and commitment to excellence. They are an inspiration to our students and the community. The foundation continues its unique role as the only education foundation in the country with a dedicated athletic arm, serving students and teachers in Broward County Public Schools while advocating for talented student athletes throughout the county.

Among the individual inductees is Isaac Bruce, a Dillard High School graduate and Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver who played 16 NFL seasons, primarily with the St. Louis Rams. Bruce sealed the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV victory with a memorable 73-yard touchdown catch. Off the field, he founded the Isaac Bruce Foundation, promoting youth health, wellness, and education through programs accessible at https://isaacbruce.org. Professional rodeo athlete Isaac Diaz brings a different kind of athletic excellence to the Hall of Fame. The Davie native has earned over $1.5 million in career earnings as a saddle bronc rider with seven Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifications.

Dr. Daniel Kanell represents the medical side of sports excellence. After overcoming a major injury to become a track and field star and Scholar Athlete at the University of Pittsburgh, he earned his medical degree and built a legacy in sports medicine. Dr. Kanell served as team physician for the Miami Dolphins, Miami Marlins, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Miami Fusion, while also helping launch the Broward County School Board Sports Medicine Program. Kathryn Jane 'Kathy' Sallade, a Fort Lauderdale High School alumna, broke barriers as a celebrated Deaflympian. She became the fastest deaf backstroker in the world, winning five gold medals and setting five world records across the 1969 and 1973 Deaflympics.

Scot Shields carved out a remarkable 10-year career as one of Major League Baseball's most reliable setup pitchers. The Fort Lauderdale High School graduate became a key contributor to the Anaheim Angels' 2002 World Series Championship and was named Set-Up Man of the Decade for the 2000s by Sports Illustrated. Steve Strand has been a fixture at St. Thomas Aquinas High School for more than four decades, leaving an indelible mark as a player, coach, mentor and leader. As head coach of the boys' basketball program from 1996 to 2019, Strand led STA to nine district championships, four Final Four appearances and its first boys' basketball state title in 2001.

The Cardinal Gibbons High School 1975-1979 State 4A Championship Women's Volleyball Teams represent one of Florida's most dominant dynasties. Under legendary head coach Louise A. Crocco, the Lady Chiefs captured five consecutive FHSAA 4A state championships, establishing a foundation of excellence during a time of rapid growth in women's athletics following the passage of Title IX. Shawn Cerra, Director of Athletics for Broward Education Foundation, expressed the organization's pride in recognizing these exceptional individuals. It's our privilege to recognize these exceptional individuals who've created a lasting legacy within Broward County's athletic community, Cerra said.