Charleston, W.Va. – The University of Charleston Athletic Department is inducting four honorees into the 2024 Hall of Fame Class, the highest recognition for those who have contributed to the history of Golden Eagle athletics.
The 2024 Hall of Fame Class includes men's soccer player Dion Peters, women's volleyball player Rebecca LaBrake, women's soccer player Kim (D'Angelo) Smee, and former Head Football Coach Tony DeMeo.
The Hall of Fame Celebration will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 20th, 2024, in the Erma Byrd Gallery located on the third floor of Riggleman Hall on the beautiful campus of the University of Charleston.
Dion Peters '12 – Men's Soccer
Dion Peters, a men's soccer player, joined the Charleston squad in 2008 under former Head Coach Chad Duernberger. The Trincity, Trinidad native wore maroon and gold for all four years of his collegiate career and earned numerous accolades.
In his first year as a Golden Eagle, Peters scored seven goals and provided six assists. Dion led the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in points per game and assists per game while also being tied for first in assists. Peters was later named to the All-WVIAC team as a freshman.
As a sophomore, Dion was recognized as a formidable opponent within the WVIAC, scoring eighteen goals, providing five assists, and securing five game-winning goals in the season. With his prowess on the field, Peters helped lead the Golden Eagles to another WVIAC regular season and WVIAC tournament championship title after the team posted an overall record of 19-4 and a pristine conference record of 10-0. The sophomore was awarded WVIAC Player of the Year, All-American, All-Region, and All-WVIAC team honors for his outstanding performances.
During his junior year, Peters earned All-Region and All-WIVAC honors after carving twelve goals, five assists, and three game-winners on the season. In his final year in a Golden Eagles uniform, Peters continued to shine on the pitch by scoring eleven goals, seven assists, and six game-winners. As Peters wrapped up his time as a student-athlete, he once again received All-American, All-Region, and All-WVIAC honors while being named the WVIAC Player of the Year for the second time in his career.
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Rebecca LaBrake '08 - Women's Volleyball
In 2004, Rebecca LaBrake started her collegiate women's volleyball career with Charleston under former UC Women's Volleyball Head Coach and current Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Bren Stevens. During her tenure as a Golden Eagle, she collected six individual awards and helped lead the team to three WVIAC championship titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
LaBrake's prowess on the court as the team's starting outside hitter was on full display from the beginning. Becca was named to the WVIAC All-Freshman team alongside her teammate Katy Skelley and was crowned a WVIAC champion after her team went 31-7 overall and 16-2 in conference play. As a sophomore, LaBrake had 449 kills in 1,112 attacks and locked in a hitting percentage of .243. In addition to her ability to provide a potent offense for her team, Becca was a stellar passer on serve receive, which allowed the team to run a quick attack early from the beginning of each point. The Golden Eagles tied for first place in the conference and made another NCAA Tournament appearance in the Great Lakes Region. LaBrake picked up her first All-WVIAC team honors and was named the tournament MVP for her remarkable performance on the court.
Her junior and senior years were just as fruitful, as Becca received All-WVIAC honors again in 2006 and 2007. Moreover, during LaBrake's senior season, she was named part of the All-WVIAC Tournament team. Across her four years at UC, LaBrake played in 106 matches, tallying 1,139 kills, 111 aces, 60 assists, 67 solo blocks, and 173 block assists with a hitting percentage of .229. The Golden Eagles accumulated 63 wins and only seven losses in conference play during LaBrake's time on the squad, leading to a team winning percentage of .900.
Tony DeMeo '05-'10 - Head Football Coach
Tony DeMeo retired as the Head Coach of the University of Charleston after a highly touted six-year tenure. After joining UC in 2005, DeMeo promptly turned the program around on and off the field and built an incredible culture that still lives on today. The 8-3 season marked the most remarkable turnaround in conference history, and DeMeo was named Division II WVIAC Coach of the Year for his efforts. Under DeMeo's watch, the football program significantly improved classroom performance and led several community service projects.
In 2009, DeMeo led the Golden Eagles to a 9-2 record and a 19th-place ranking in the American Football Coaches Association poll. His 2009 team set numerous records and finished first in the nation in pass efficiency, fourth in rushing, seventh in scoring, and seventh in red zone offense. Defensively, the Golden Eagles led the conference in rush defense, scoring defense, and total defense.
During DeMeo's six seasons leading the UC football program, the team achieved more victories than any other period in school history. The Golden Eagles set new offensive records during DeMeo's time as coach. Tony is well-known as a speaker and author, particularly for his Triple Gun Offense, and he continues to be a guest lecturer at football camps across the United States. Above all, Coach DeMeo is recognized as an effective teacher of the game of football and enjoys giving back to his colleagues. In 1997, Coach DeMeo was inducted into the Iona College Hall of Fame, and in 2017, he was honored with induction into the Mercyhurst University Hall of Fame.
| 2005 |
8-3 overall, 6-2 WVIAC, 3rd place |
Defeats Austin Peay 27-19, DI FCS |
| 2006 |
5-6 overall, 4-3 WVIAC T-3rd place |
Corey Isner 25th in all-career offense NCAA II |
| 2007 |
8-3 overall, 6-2 WVIAC T-2nd place |
Defeats #12 NCAAII Elizabeth City |
| 2008 |
7-4 overall, 5-3 WVIAC T-4th place |
Defeats #19 NCAA Seton Hill |
| 2009 |
9-2 overall, 6-2 WVIAC T-2nd place |
Ranked #10 in NCAA II National Poll |
| 2010 |
6-5 overall, 4-4 WVIAC T-5th place |
Career Record 43-23 in NCAA II |
Kimberly (D'Angelo) Smee '14 - Women's Soccer
Kimberly D'Angelo made an immediate impact from the moment she arrived on campus by way of Lindenhurst, New York. D'Angelo captained the Golden Eagles for three seasons while playing all four years for now retired and current Senior Associate Athletic Director Todd Diuguid. D'Angelo was named the 2010 WVIAC Freshman-of-the-Year, received first team All-WVIAC accolades and NSCAA All-Atlantic Region honors. D'Angelo led the WVIAC in total points per match and recorded eight assists during her freshman champaign as the team finished 11-6-1 overall. D'Angelo would become the first women's soccer to receive Freshman-of-the-Year honors and now the first women's soccer inductee to the University of Charleston Hall-of-Fame.
In 2011 and 2012, D'Angelo transitioned from the offensive side of the ball to anchor the UC defense. The WVIAC and NSCAA would once again recognize D'Angelo as a premier player in the league. In 2013, D'Angelo returned to the attacking midfielder position and registered four goals and five assists along with first team All-MEC honors and All-Atlantic Region accolades once again. During D'Angelo's career the team would advance to two conference championship games, be awarded the inaugural All-Sportsmanship Award by the Mountain East Conference and the team received the NSCAA Team Academic Award all four years. Inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma 2012-2014, D'Angelo excelled on and off the pitch.
Following graduation in 2014, D'Angelo joined the Golden Eagles coaching staff and received her MBA. D'Angelo was called upon to use her final year of eligibility to play on the inaugural women's lacrosse team in 2016. This all-around athlete proved to be an outstanding teacher of both sports. On the sidelines of soccer, the 2016 team became the best team the program had seen to date making a few NCAA tournament appearances with the team advancing to the MEC Semi-Finals in 2014 and the MEC Championship in 2016.
Currently, D'Angelo resides in Charleston, West Virginia, where she is the Executive Director of the West Virginia Futbol Club. D'Angelo continues coaching the youth in the Kanawha Valley that compete on the state, regional and national levels. D'Angelo married to UC head men's soccer coach, Daniel Smee.
