Four former Ragin' Cajuns will be inducted into the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming 2006.
Inductees to the Ragin' Cajuns Letterman's Club include Jake Delhomme, football; Kevin Figaro, basketball; Nia Kiggundu, volleyball; and Beverley Langley, track and field.
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to give recognition to those athletes who have made a significant contribution to the university. They must demonstrate exceptional ability and sportsmanship on the playing fields, commendable scholarship in the classroom and high quality leadership on campus. In addition, they have to establish a personal reputation for character and citizenship in the community in which they reside.
“We are so pleased to be able to induct such a deserving class of Hall of Fame members. Each one in their own way uniquely represents the university with class and integrity,” said Tommy Badon, RCLC president. “We want to thank them for all they have done to promote UL Lafayette, both as athletes and in their accomplishments since graduation.”
The RCLC Chapter is comprised of men and women who lettered in athletics while they were students at SLI/USL/UL Lafayette. The RCLC is a constituent chapter of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association and it retains close ties to the Athletic Department.
Jake Delhomme, one of this year's inductees, lead the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston in 2004. He is a 2001 graduate of UL Lafayette. Delhomme started 43 consecutive games at quarterback for the Ragin' Cajuns. During his four-year career with the Cajuns, he secured positions atop all of the Cajuns passing charts and is listed in the NCAA record books.
Delhomme led the Cajuns to three consecutive winning seasons and a pair of Big West Conference championships in 1993 and 1994. He is also responsible for quarterbacking the Cajuns to the biggest win in school history over nationally-ranked Texas A&M.
Out of college, Delhomme signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints, then with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2003. In three seasons with the Panthers, he has Beverly Langleycompleted 838 passes for 10,526 yards and 72 touchdowns. In 2004, he had career-bests for completions (310), passing yards (3,886) and touchdowns (29). Last season, Delhomme was named to the Pro Bowl.
Described as the player who led by example throughout his college basketball career at USL and his professional career, Kevin Figaro is also being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Figaro coaches at the Amateur Athletic Union and with local schools.
During his senior year in 1980-1981, Figaro moved from being a defensive specialist averaging only 10.4 points per game, to 23.8 points per game and also paced the team in rebounding with six per game making him the 14th leading scorer in the nation that season.
He was named to the Southland Conference All-Conference teams in 1980, honorable mention and in 1981 first team. After his college basketball career, Figaro was drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Hawks. He played in the Ohio Mixers CBA from 1982-1983 and was Most Valuable Player in 1982. He was first team All CBA in 1982 and 1983.
Kevin Figaro played in a Europe tour: France 1984-1988 and Challans All France 1984-1987. He was MVP of France in 1985, Antibes in 1988 and then Switzerland in 1988 and 1989 where he was chosen All Swiss in 1988 and 1989. He is presently employed as Director of the Boys Group Home in Lafayette.
Nia Kiggundu is the most decorated volleyball player and is the only player in the programs' history to earn All-Sun Belt status in each year of a four-year career, 1993-1996. Kiggundu holds the UL Lafayette record for kills with 2,227. Her record is 903 kills more than the closest competitor and ranks in the Top 25 NCAA career list.
She earned Sunbelt Conference Freshman of the Year and Louisiana Freshman of the Year in 1993 and was a four-time “Sunbelt Player of the Week” during her career. Kiggundu was named to the First Team All Louisiana in 1994, 1995 and 1996 and was also named Louisiana Athletic Director Player of the Year both in 1995 and 1996. She graduated in 1998 with a degree in General Studies - Natural Science. Currently, she works as a Professional Sales Representative for Takeda Pharmaceuticals/Neuroscience Specialist.
From 1996 through 2000, Beverley Langley garnered nine individual Sun Belt titles as well as four relay titles. In 1996, Langley qualified for the NCAA Indoor National Championships in the 200 meters. She helped the women's team capture the 1997 Sun Belt Outdoor Championship, and currently holds three school records. She was named both the Indoor and Outdoor Sun Belt Conference 30th Anniversary Teams.
Langley graduated in 1998 with a degree in General Studies and currently is a Sales Specialist with Habberstad Nissan.