Three to be inducted into DC Hall of Fame

Three Defiance College alumni will be inducted into the Alumni Varsity D Hall of Fame during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 6. They include: Pam Borton, Golden Valley, Minn.; Michael England, Gilbert, Arizona; and Robin Harris, Hilliard, Ohio.

An induction ceremony will be held at halftime of the DC-Rose-Hulman football game in Justin F. Coressel Stadium. They will also be recognized at a breakfast that morning in the Serrick Campus Center and will attend the unveiling of their names in the Hall of Fame Walkway at 11 a.m.

Now the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Minnesota, Pam Borton’s illustrious basketball career began on the gymnasium hardwood of Defiance College where she earned four varsity letters from 1983 to 1987. A three-time all-conference and all-district selection, she was named team captain her junior and senior years and was a third-team All-American selection both years. She was named conference and district player of the year as a senior. Borton scored more than 1,000 points during her collegiate career and was voted Defiance College’s Female Athlete of the Year as a senior. She also participated in women’s track and field for two seasons where she threw the shot-put, discus, and javelin, earning varsity letters both years. She graduated in 1987 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. She went on to earn a master’s degree in sport management from Bowling Green State University in 1988. 

Borton began her basketball coaching career as assistant at the University of Vermont. She was named head coach in 1993, leading the team to a North Atlantic Conference title that year, followed by an NCAA tournament appearance in 1994. She joined the Boston College coaching staff as an assistant in 1997 where she was promoted to associate head coach. She helped the Eagles to three NCAA tournament berths – in 1999, 2000 and 2002. Borton was named head coach of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2002. She is the only coach in Big Ten history to win 25 or more games in each of her first three seasons. She led the team to the 2004 Final Four, the first Final Four in school history. She directed the Golden Gophers to a 26-8 record in 2004-05, the most wins in the NCAA era and the program’s third consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 berth. Borton was named 2004 National Coach of the Year by the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and she was a finalist for 2003 and 2005 Naismith Coach of the Year honors. Borton resides in Golden Valley, Minn.

Borton will be unable to participate in Saturday’s festivities due to a prior commitment, but she will be on campus Thursday and Friday to accept her award and meet DC students.

During Michael England’s four years at Defiance College, from 1970 to 1974, he earned four varsity letters each in football and track. As a linebacker and center for the football team, he received all-conference, all-district, and all-Ohio honors, as well as being named an honorable mention All-American Athlete. He led the team in tackles his senior year. He was also captain of the football team. During his career on the track team, England received all-conference honors in the long jump, triple jump, and sprints. He was named Most Valuable Player and was the team’s captain. While at Defiance, he was active with the Volunteer Boys and Girls Club.

After graduating from Defiance in 1974 with a degree in business administration, England continued his athletic career at the Washington Redskins training camp and played one season with the semi-professional Madison (Wis.) Mustangs. He then hung up his football cleats but continued to enjoy weight training and conditioning. At the age of 36, he began competing in drug-tested all-natural bodybuilding shows. He won Mr. Northern California, Mr. California, and finished fifth in the nation in the open category against competitors of all ages. His business career in banking took him to Cincinnati, Seattle, and San Francisco. For the past 20 years he has been in commercial credit management for various corporations in the San Francisco and Phoenix metro areas. England and his wife, Kris, currently make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their sons, Austin, 5, and Jordan 3.

Rob Harris epitomized the student-athlete during his years at Defiance College, excelling in the classroom and on the football field. A three-year letter winner, he was a member of three conference championship teams. As a running back, return specialist, and member of the kickoff return team, Harris led the team in rushing and scoring, as well as leading the conference in rushing and kickoff return yards. He was three times named all-conference, twice all-district, and honorable mention All-American. In 1979 he was named co-captain. An academic honors list student, he was part of the cooperative student participation program. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1980, majoring in marketing with a minor in industrial management. He went on to earn an associate degree in computer science from Southern Ohio College in 1982.

Harris is currently assistant vice-president at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank in Columbus. In the community, he is active in Junior Achievement, serving as an advisor for Cincinnati Gas and Electric. He serves as a board member for the Better Housing League and Community Land Cooperative. He coaches little league football and baseball in the Dublin, Ohio, Athletic League. Harris and his wife, Joy, and their three children, Christopher, Jared, and Arianna, reside in Hilliard, Ohio.