NEW ROCHELLE, NY (October 14, 2026) — The New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame will induct four individuals on October 22, recognizing decades of athletic achievement, coaching and community service in New Rochelle.
The 2026 inductees are Thomas Fegan, Bishop Fetson Leak, Joseph Mercurio Jr. and Dylan Newman. Their accomplishments span football, baseball, basketball, golf and youth athletics.
The Hall of Fame has released biographies of the four honorees detailing their athletic careers and contributions to the community.
Thomas Fegan — Three-Sport Athlete and Youth Coach
Thomas Fegan began his athletic career in New Rochelle Little League, where he reportedly batted .841 as a 12-year-old. He later played football, basketball and baseball at Holy Family, followed by Blessed Sacrament High School.
At Blessed Sacrament, Fegan played four years of football, including the school’s 1968 league championship season, four years of varsity basketball and two years of baseball. He received All-County recognition in baseball in 1969 after batting over .400.
Fegan attended Iona College on a partial baseball scholarship, playing right field and batting leadoff. He hit over .300 for Iona and was a member of the 1971 team that finished 24-5, including 18 consecutive victories, according to his Hall of Fame biography.
Following college, Fegan played competitive softball for more than 30 years, winning several trophies.
His coaching career included basketball and baseball at Blessed Sacrament, Holy Family, New Rochelle High School and in Little League.
He coached at Blessed Sacrament Grammar School from 1973 to 1978, winning two league titles. He later coached freshman basketball at New Rochelle High School, where his team went undefeated and won a league championship.
Returning to Holy Family from 1997 to 2003, Fegan coached teams that won league championships and three invitational tournaments.
He also coached Little League baseball from 1995 to 2006, winning three league championships, and served for five years as the District 21 New York administrator for the Williamsport Little League Eastern Region.
Fegan spent 25 years on the Little League board of directors and is among those honored with a plaque at Tocci Field.
Bishop Fetson Leak — Football Player, Veteran and Community Mentor
Bishop Fetson Leak played football and competed in track and field at New Rochelle High School. He was a member of the school’s undefeated 1964-65 varsity football team.
After graduating in 1965, Leak enlisted in the U.S. Army. During two years of active duty, he served in Korea as a personnel radar specialist.
He also represented his division on the Second Division football team and competed as a boxer. Following active duty, he continued serving in the Army Reserve.
Leak subsequently devoted decades to mentoring young people in New Rochelle, particularly through the high school football program.
He established an annual August summer football training camp at City Park, providing young athletes with opportunities to develop their skills.
He also played a significant role in rebuilding the Friends of New Rochelle High School Football organization.
According to his Hall of Fame biography, Leak has served as a coach, mentor, spiritual leader, volunteer and advocate for young people.
His work has emphasized academic achievement, character development, personal responsibility and helping students succeed beyond athletics.
Leak describes his induction as recognition not only of his own accomplishments but also of the coaches, educators, parents, volunteers and young people who have supported him throughout his life.
Joseph Mercurio Jr. — Football and Baseball Standout, Firefighter and Coach
Joseph Mercurio Jr. was born and raised in New Rochelle, beginning his athletic career in Little League and Pop Warner football.
At Holy Family School, Mercurio captained the 1973 baseball team to the New York Archdiocese championship and played both offense and defense on the school’s undefeated football championship team.
He received the Dr. Delmar V. Hughes Scholarship to attend Iona Prep, where he played varsity football and baseball from 1973 to 1977.
Mercurio earned All-Big Five football honors in 1975 and 1976 and All-Catholic High School Football League honors in 1975. As baseball captain, he received postseason honors in 1976 and 1977, leading the team in batting average and RBIs in both seasons.
He continued his athletic career at Iona College, earning four varsity letters in football and three in baseball.
Mercurio was a member of Iona’s undefeated 1977 football team and earned All-Met Conference honors in 1978, 1979 and 1980.
He led Iona in interceptions in 1978 and 1979 and, according to his Hall of Fame biography, still holds the school record for most interceptions in a single game with three.
In baseball, Mercurio led the Gaels in home runs and RBIs while batting .345 in 1980. He received All-ECAC and All-Met Conference honors and earned a tryout with the Kansas City Royals.
Mercurio joined the New Rochelle Fire Department in 1986, was promoted to lieutenant in 2003 and retired in 2012.
During his firefighting career, he received multiple lifesaving awards, a commendation for bravery and a Class II citation. He also responded with his company to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Mercurio continued his involvement in baseball as a player, manager and coach. He managed the Brewster Braves Over-30 baseball team from 1991 to 2000, earning Manager of the Year honors three consecutive times.
In 2001, he co-founded the World Yacht Clippers travel baseball program, which helped more than 175 players advance to college baseball.
He also served as an assistant baseball coach at Brewster High School for nine years and as president of the Brewster Little League.
Dylan Newman — New Rochelle’s First Professional Golfer Inducted
Dylan Newman will become the first professional golfer inducted into the New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame.
Newman played golf for New Rochelle High School for six years beginning in 2003 and was part of three New York state high school championship teams.
In 2009, he was named New Rochelle High School’s Senior Athlete of the Year after finishing among the top five competitors at the state championship.
Newman graduated in 2009 and attended Iona College, where he played Division I golf for four years.
He was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, finished as high as second in the conference championship and recorded three collegiate victories.
Following college, Newman continued his competitive golf career, winning two PGA Assistant Championships in 2020 and 2021, two PGA Winter Championships in 2022 and 2024, and Metropolitan PGA Section Championships in 2023 and 2024.
He also won a Metropolitan Open title.
Newman competed in the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In addition to competing, Newman teaches golf and works as the lead assistant golf professional at The Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, New York.
He previously worked at Westchester Country Club and Brae Burn Country Club.
Iona Prep Football Team Listed Among Dinner Honorees
The organization sponsors the annual Don Zaccagnino Sports Award, recognizing outstanding athletic performances by individuals or teams.
The Iona Prep varsity football team will be recognized for its 2025 season, when it finished 11-1 and won both the Catholic league and New York state championships.
Hall of Fame Selection Committee and Nomination Process
The New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame selection committee consists of Nat Harris, Mario Scarano, Frank Bernabie, Michael Fosina and Dean Reben.
Nominations for induction are received informally throughout the year, frequently through word of mouth. Rather than following a formal application process with a fixed nomination period, prospective candidates are brought to the committee’s attention on a rolling basis.
The organization also accepts nominations for its annual Don Zaccagnino Sports Award, which recognizes outstanding athletic performances by individuals or teams. Its website lists May 15 as the annual nomination deadline for that award.
October 22 Induction Dinner at Greentree Country Club
The New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held Thursday, October 22, 2026, beginning at 6 p.m. at Greentree Country Club.
Tickets are $135 per person and remain available. Walk-up guests will be accommodated at the door despite the October 10 RSVP deadline listed on the organization’s website.
Tickets can be purchased online at nrshof.com/dinner-tickets. Attendees may also pay by cash or credit card at the event.
For additional information, contact the New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame at nrsportshalloffame@gmail.com.
Hall of Fame Honors Athletic Achievement and Community Service
The New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1988 as part of the city’s tricentennial celebration.
The organization recognizes athletes, coaches, trainers, officials and others who have made significant contributions to New Rochelle’s sports history or brought recognition to the city through athletic achievements elsewhere.
Plaques honoring inductees are displayed on the Hall of Fame Wall at the ground-level entrance to New Rochelle City Hall.
The organization also maintains a scholarship fund recognizing graduating students from the city’s five high schools who demonstrate excellence in academics, athletics and community involvement.
Scholarship funding comes from proceeds of the annual induction dinner and raffle, along with donations from individuals and businesses.
Nominations for Future Awards
The Hall of Fame accepts nominations for its annual Don Zaccagnino Sports Award, presented to a team or individual for an outstanding athletic performance.
Nominations must describe the performance being recognized and may include supporting documentation, such as newspaper articles. Submissions are limited to two pages, excluding supporting materials.
The organization’s website lists May 15 as the annual nomination deadline, although updated information about future nomination periods has not yet been confirmed.
Nominations may be mailed to:
New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame
P.O. Box 86
New Rochelle, NY 10804
For additional information about nominations, scholarships and the induction ceremony, residents may call (914) 943-9119 or visit nrshof.com.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.