Connecticut
Women's Basketball
 Hall Of Fame

Jan Pacific - Referee:
Jan Pacific's interest in sports developed during her childhood while playing in her backyard and in pick-up games at the park with her twin sister and brother.   Both of Jan's parents, Joan and Tom Clarkson, were captains for their Bethel High School teams and encouraged involvement in sports.   Sports for girls were just being introduced when Jan attended Bethel High School in the early 1960's.  She played basketball throughout her high school years.  Her basketball prowess was legendary.  She remains the leading scorer at Bethel High with an average of 22 points per game – a record that has stood since 1965!  One of Jan's fondest memories includes going undefeated during her senior year basketball season.  Jan was honored as the "Most Athletic Girl" in her class. After high school, Jan attended the Oklahoma University of Science and Arts where she obtained her BS degree in health, physical education and recreation in 1969.  She played basketball, field hockey, and softball teams in Oklahoma for four years.  Jan was a member of the Field Hockey All-Star Team from 1968-1969. It was here that Jan began officiating intramurals.

After graduation, Jan returned to Connecticut and her old high school.  She taught with her former teacher and mentor, Linda Dirga.  Linda, who was also a field hockey and basketball official, encouraged Jan to get her rating at the University of Bridgeport.  That was the beginning of an officiating career that continues today!  Jan recalls officiating field hockey and basketball with both Linda Dirga and Carol Robertson – two CT Women's Basketball Hall of Famers. Jan has been involved in the Connecticut Women's Basketball Association and has been on the women's board since 1969.  Jan officiates for the AABO Board (since 2000), and served on the Hudson Valley Board of Officials in New York from 1987-2002.  She has officiated in many regular season games and state tournament games in both Ct and NY, at both the high school and collegiate levels from 1969 through present. In 2003, Jan was honored by the Danbury Old Timers' Athletic Association for her contributions and commitment to athletics.  She was also recognized by the Town of Bethel with the 2004 Serving Children & Community Award.  Jan hopes to continue mentoring new officials and also aspires to officiate in an NCAA Final!  In addition to basketball, she officiates field hockey and lacrosse. Jan resides in Lebanon, CT with Peter, her husband of 38 years.  They have two sons, Peter and Tom, and two grandchildren, Logan and Liam. 

Candy Perez - Honorary:
Sports opportunities for girls were limited when Candy Perez was growing up in Torrington, CT. She played softball in the Park and Rec Pigtail League and in intramural "six on six" basketball games.  Eventually, girls' teams in softball, volleyball, and basketball were added to Torrington athletic program and Candy was a three-sport athlete by her senior year. Candy pursued a degree in physical education at Southern Connecticut State College, which, at that time, was the premiere state college for women's sports. She managed the nationally-ranked women's basketball team where she got to observe such future coaching greats as Pat Summit, Jody Conradt and Vivian Stringer when their teams competed against the SCSC Owls.   Candy also began officiating basketball and volleyball during her years at Southern. It was at Southern that professors encouraged "giving back" to your sports and providing opportunities for women. After graduating from Southern in 1979, Candy accepted a teaching and coaching position at Canton High School.  Her girls' basketball teams qualified for the state tournament in six of eight years and, in 1982, the team advanced to the Class S finals. While at Canton, Candy started a girl's summer program that included area schools to support growth in women's basketball.  

Candy became athletic director and boys' basketball coach at Wamogo Regional High School in Litchfield, CT in 1989.   She was the first female varsity boys' basketball coach in Connecticut. Her Wamogo boys' basketball teams qualified for the Class S four of six years and reached the Class S semi-finals in her final year.   She was selected as the Class S All-Star Coach in 1995.  While at Wamogo, Candy also coached middle school girls in basketball and softball.   As a new athletic director in the Berkshire League in 1989, she lobbied to have girls' high school basketball games played at night so that more parents and community members could attend and girls' basketball could be afforded the same opportunities as their counterparts.  Perez became the first full-time athletic director of Regional School District # 7 [Winsted] in 1999 where they were also a member of the Berkshire League. She expanded the interscholastic athletic programs and helped create yet another hall of fame while at the same time supporting and promoting girls in athletics in her school as well as the Berkshire League.  In 1991, Candy started the Northwest Basketball Camp where she taught game fundamentals to girls while providing leadership opportunities for women to coach and referee the game.   In addition, Candy became the director of the Elks Girls Recreational Basketball League in Torrington in 1990. She still serves in that capacity and has worked with more than 800 girls and parents and coaches in the program over the past sixteen years.

In 2000, Candy Perez was inducted into the Torrington High School Athletic Hall of Fame and, in 2006, she was named Connecticut Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.   In 2007, she received the Merit Award from the CIAC Girls' Basketball Committee. Candy is currently the Principal of Northwestern Regional Middle School in Winsted. 

Steve Nemergut - High School Coach :
Steve Nemergut was a shy, quiet skinny boy, who loved basketball. However, because of health problems, he was not able to play the game. Steve's father, nicknamed "The Rabbit," played basketball and baseball for the Bridgeport Springwoods.  Years later, Steve attended Notre Dame Catholic High School (Bridgeport) where he observed legendary coach, Alvin Clinkscales, performing his coaching magic.  Those observations increased Steve's passion for the game.  However, the greatest encouragement to get involved in coaching came from a friend and mentor, Bob "Big Red" Wallace.  Wallace was a parish coach of basketball and baseball, who allowed Steve to be his assistant coach.  The rest is history.  Steve graduated from Fairfield University in 1967 and began teaching science at Saint Andrew's in Bridgeport where he was also head coach of  the boys' basketball and baseball teams. Steve ultimately realized that teaching and coaching were "one and the same." In 1977, Nemergut began coaching girls' basketball, at Notre Dame Catholic High School (now in Fairfield). His team won the regular season and first MBIAC playoff tournament and Steve was named the first MBIAC Coach of the year. He credits three outstanding players – Mary Ellen McManus, Sheila Foley, and Mary Pat Gaughan – for much of that team's success.

In 1978, Nemergut began teaching biology and geometry at Notre Dame – his alma mater. In 1984, Steve married Mary Ann Braun, who became his assistant coach.  In 1988, he was selected as the Connecticut Post Coach of the Year as his team again won the league championship and advanced to the CIAC State Finals. Steve is very proud of the many outstanding players he coached. Two of them – Ellen Grosso and Patrina Blow -- were honored as All-Staters. Alison Martinsky continued her education at Fairfield University and played professionally in Europe. Thirteen of Steve's players received college scholarships. During Nemergut's thirteen years of coaching (1977 – 1989), his Notre Dame teams compiled an overall record of 227-44 and nine league championships. The Lancers qualified for the state tournament each year Steve coached and advanced to the State Tournament finals in 1987, 1988, and 1989. Steve retired from coaching basketball in 1989. He became his wife's assistant coach for the newly formed ND Girls' Cross Country team. He continues to chair the Science Department and teach biology at Notre Dame.

Sandra Serra LeFebvre - High School Player:
Sandy Serra's earliest memories of basketball include tagging along with her father, who coached and officiated boys' basketball in the town recreational leagues.  He taught her self-discipline and how to focus on the fundamentals.  At an early age, she learned to enjoy the challenge of improving her skills as well as the competition. Sandy attended three different high schools.  She was a freshman starter on the varsity team at East Longmeadow [MA] High.  Her next two seasons were spent at Somers [CT] High School.  She played for Suffield High School as a senior. At Somers, Sandy was named to the All-North Central CT Conference First Team as a sophomore.  During her junior year, she captained the Somers team that won the class S Championship after capturing the NCCC League and Playoff titles.  She was named to the Class S All-State First Team, All NCCC First Team and selected as the 1977 Somers High School Basketball MVP. Sandy's senior year was spent at Suffield [CT] High School.  She completed her interscholastic career with 1103 points, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds per game.  She captained the team that captured the League and Playoff titles and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class M State championship.  Sandy earned Class M First Team All- State honors, was named to the All-North NCCC First Team, and was the Suffield Basketball MVP.  She was selected to receive the 1978 Ganley Award as the Outstanding Suffield Athlete.

Sandy played her college basketball at UConn and Southern CT State College.  She coached the junior varsity teams at Minnechaug Regional High School [MA] and at Suffield High School.  She also officiated high school basketball games for two years. Sandy is currently a Senior Director for UnitedHealth Group.

Jessica C. Gelman - High School Player :
Jessica Gelman is an over-achiever! Her basketball career began when she tried out for her sixth grade basketball team and fell in love with the sport. Years later, during a three year career at Staples High School (Westport, CT), she compiled an "All-American" resume.  Jessica attended Staples High School for only three years.  However, she graduated with school records in total points (1,637), steals (385), and 3-point goals made (102). She holds the single season record for three pointers (53), most points in a game (45), and during her sophomore season [1990-91], she led the team in points scored, rebounds, assists, and steals.  Gelman scored 1,910 points (1,637 at Staples) during her high school career.  Jessica captained her Staples team for two years. She was a three-time All-State, All-Conference player and a two-time FCIAC Tournament MVP. In 1993, she was honored as the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and as a Converse All-American. She was also a two-time Street and Smith All-American.

Gelman continued her basketball career at Harvard where she played point guard from 1993-1997. She played for the Crimson during back to back Ivy League title seasons and Harvard's first two NCAA tournament appearances. She co-captained the first team to go undefeated in the Ivy League.  Jessica is the only Harvard player to score more than 1,000 career points (1,045) and hand out more than 475 assists (485). She averaged 9.9 points per game and made 198 steals. She graduated as the all-time assist leader and ranked second in steals. She still ranks in the Top Ten in school history for points, assists, steals, and field goals made in a career.  Gelman was named to the All-Ivy First Team in 1997, was Academic All-Ivy, and was selected Harvard Female Athlete of the Year. After graduation, she played professionally in the Euro League for Ramat Hasharon in Israel.  Jessica has always loved every aspect of the game – the strategy, the teamwork, the practice, the skills needed, the memories on and off the court.  She believes that her passion for the game led her on an amazing journey of personal growth and education.  She learned the nuances of leadership, the importance of understanding strengths and weaknesses in herself and her teammates, how to win and how to lose, and how to set goals and achieve them, and how to overcome adversity.  She found lifelong friends with a similar passion, made history and traveled the world because she fell in love with a sport and dedicated herself to becoming the best player and leader she could be. Gelman currently works for the Krafts Sports Group (New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium and New England Revolution) as the Director of New Business Development and Operational Initiatives.

Kara Wolters - College Player :
Kara Wolters grew up in a basketball family. Her father, William Wolters, is in the Boston College Hall of Fame and played professional basketball for the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA. Her brother, Ray, played collegiate ball and her sister, Kristen, was a standout player at the University of Rhode Island. Kara "stood" 6'3" in eighth grade.  She continued to grow during her very successful career at Holliston [MA] High School where she still holds the scoring, rebounding and blocked shots record.  From 1993-97, Kara played center for the University of Connecticut.  During those years, her UConn team compiled a 132-8 record (94.3%), appeared in four NCAA Tournaments, won the 1995 NCAA championship with a perfect 35-0 record, advanced to the 1996 Final Four, the 1997 and 1994 Final Eights, and won four Big East Conference Championships and four Big East Tournament titles. Kara's individual honors are truly impressive.  She was  named by Associated Press 1997 All-America First Team and Player of the Year; Runner-up for the 1997 Boost/Naismith National Player of the Year; Awarded the 1996 Victor Award as the nation's top female collegiate player.  Named 1997 All-America by Basketball America, United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and Kodak.  Named 1996 All-America first team by the USBWA, United Press International and the Associated Press.  Named 1997 and 1995 District I All-America by Kodak, and 1996 All-America honorable mention by Kodak.  Named to 1995 NCAA Tournament All-Final Four Team, averaging 20.5 ppg. in the Final Four.  Named to 1997 and 1996 All-NCAA Midwest Regional and 1995 and 1994 All-NCAA East Regional Teams.  Named 1997 Big East Conference Player of the Year, 1997 and 1996 All-Big East first team, 1995 All-Big East second team and 1994 Big East All-Rookie Team.  Named 1996 and 1995 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player and Big East All-Tournament all four years.

After graduating from UConn, Kara played for the ABL New England Blizzard.  In 1999, she was selected in the third round of the WNBA draft by the Houston Comets and was drafted by the Indiana Fever in 2000.  She was traded in 2001 to the Sacramento Monarchs where she played until the end of her WNBA career.  In her four-year WNBA career, Wolters averaged 50 % in field goal shooting, 75 % in free throw shooting, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 6.5 points per game. Internationally, Kara was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic women's basketball team during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.  She ranks second among all-time USA World Championship competitors for the most blocked shots (11) and is one of only six women to receive a Gold Medal in the Olympics, an NCAA championship, and a WNBA Championship. Wolters currently works as a color analyst for WTIC, the UCONN radio network which covers all of the University of Connecticut women's basketball games.  She and Sean Drinan were married in 2004 and have two daughters, Sydney Elizabeth and Delaney Katherine.

Joseph Frager - College  Coach:
Joe Frager began his coaching career as an assistant baseball coach at Shelton [CT] High School.  He eventually landed the girls' basketball coaching position at Seymour High School where he taught history.  Frager's love for the game, drive to get better, intensity, and ability to develop talent enabled him to turn around a program that had won only three games the year before his arrival in 1987. From 1987-1998, Joe developed a dynasty at Seymour.  During his eleven years at the helm, Seymour compiled a 208-58 record.  The Wildcats were Class M State Champions in 1993; Class L Champions in 1997; and were ranked the #1 team in New England and Connecticut as they won the 1998 Class M Championship and 52 straight games.

Eventually Frager realized that his passion for coaching and basketball was affecting his teaching.  He applied for the vacant women's basketball position at Southern CT State University and was named Head Coach in 1998. Joe brought his trademark intensity and love for the game to SCSU.  He created a family atmosphere within his teams. ..saying that his players are an extension of his family.  His teams have benefited from that philosophy.  Joe's drive, intensity, passion, and team/family concept produced a National Championship at Southern CT.  Frager compiled an overall record of 189-83 during his nine years at SCSU.  His teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007.  They won the Northeast-10 Conference Championship from 2005-07.  Frager's little-known SCSU Owls completed the 2007 season with a 34-2 record and by winning the NCAA Division II National Championship in Kearny, Nebraska.

His SCSU players spoke glowingly about the pregame and halftime speeches Joe made.   Sometimes he was calm, sometimes he was pointed, and sometimes he was loud, but he always had their attention.  An opposing coach paid Joe a huge compliment when she said, "He's a good man…that what I like most about Joe….He teaches his kids how to play hard, he coaches them hard, and they play the game right."  He believes that in order to be successful, all five players on the court must be working as one and that basketball is the ultimate team game. Frager's long-time assistant, Laura Scinto, believes that much of Joe's success stems from that fact that he is always prepared for a game.  "He'll watch tape of the next opponent for 5-6 hours after a game.  He's always looking ahead at possible scenarios ….planning counter moves to whatever an opponent might do."

On an individual note, Frager was named New England Collegiate Conference Co-Coach of the Year in 1999.  He was selected as the WBCA Region I Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2006 and received Northeast-10 Coach of the Year accolades for three straight years, 2007-2005.  In 2007, Joe was honored as the Molten National Coach of the Year. Frager left Southern in the Spring of 2007 to take the helm of the Fairfield University Lady Stags.  He will most certainly bring his keys to success to that program. Joe and his wife, Shirley, live in Southbury with their two young sons, Brendan and Kevin.