Duquesne athletics revealed its 2026 Merle E. Gilliand Hall of Fame class, and three individuals, three teams and a contributing builder of Dukes athletics will be honored.
Former swimmers Emma Brinton (2017-21) and Abigail Stauffer (2015-19) and former baseball player Donald Ziegler (1954-58) join builders Joe and Kathy Guyaux for induction Jan. 30 before being publicly recognized during the men’s basketball game against Rhode Island on Feb. 1.
In addition, Brinton and Stauffer will join the 2017-18 and 2018-19 Duquesne women’s swim teams that will be enshrined along with the 2003 Duquesne football team.
Emma Brinton
The Landenberg native set four school records at the time of graduation, currently owns school records in the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.90) and the 400 IM (4:13.68) and claimed a total of 14 medals at the Atlantic 10 championships. That also is a program record.
She won four gold medals in both the 200 and 400 IM, becoming the only swimmer in Duquesne history to finish first at least three times in an event. She also ranks fourth all-time in the 200 backstroke, sixth in the 100 backstroke and seventh in the 200 freestyle.
Abigail Stauffer
A program standard-bearer in the breaststroke, Stauffer finished her career as a five-time record holder as well as a consistent scorer at the Atlantic 10 championships.
Her school records at the time of her graduation included the 100 breaststroke (1:01.98) and the 200 breaststroke (2:13.57). The time in the 200 breast currently ranks second.
The Chambersburg native also set program records in the 100 IM (57.11) and as a member of both the 200 and 400 medley relays.
Stauffer finished third in school history in the 200 IM and fourth in the 400 IM. She earned Atlantic 10 gold as part of the 200 medley relay in 2018 along with silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the breaststroke events.
Donald Ziegler
The Pittsburgh native remained a lifelong supporter of Duquesne athletics after his undergraduate career had concluded.
In 1978, he was among the first group inducted into Duquesne’s Century Club of Distinguished Alumni, reflecting his longstanding commitment to the university and its student-athletes.
Also in 1978, Judge Ziegler was nominated by former President Jimmy Carter to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and served as Chief Judge from 1994-01.
He also served as a mentor and professor to law students and new lawyers.
Ziegler will be inducted posthumously, with his wife, Claudia, and son, Scott, accepting the award on his behalf.
Joe and Kathy Guyaux
The Guyauxs were instrumental in the renovation of the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse and are responsible for the Joe and Kathy Guyaux Player Development Center as well as the Guyaux men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms.
Their contributions, Duquesne athletics said, have strengthened team culture, improved recruitment and elevated the overall student-athlete experience at Duquesne. Their leadership and generosity, it added, have left a lasting legacy on the athletic department.
Football – 2003
With a 12-10 win over Northeast Conference (NEC) champion Monmouth in the ECAC Classic, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion Duquesne rose to the top of all three national mid-major polls, earning recognition as the consensus 2003 NCAA I-AA Mid-Major National Champion.
The Dukes captured a fifth consecutive MAAC title, led by quarterback Niel Loebig, the league’s Offensive Player of the Year; defensive lineman Philip Polony, the Co-Defensive Player of the Year; and Coach of the Year Greg Gattuso.
It marked the fifth consecutive season a Duquesne player earned MAAC Offensive Player of the Year. In total, a league-high 23 Dukes were named to either the All-MAAC first or second teams.
Duquesne finished 5-0 in conference play, outscoring opponents 210-70, and also went 6-0 at home, a mark that remains tied for the most home wins in a season at Rooney Field.
Swimming and diving – 2017-18
The Dukes made history by capturing the program’s first-ever Atlantic 10 championship with 567 points, then a school record.
The team posted a 9-1 overall record and continued its strong swimming with 11 total medals — four gold, two silver, and five bronze — while setting nine new program records at the championship meet on the way to the conference title.
In addition, head coach David Sheets earned his second Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honor, while Brinton, as a freshman, was named Most Outstanding Rookie Performer.
Swimming and diving – 2018-19
Duquesne successfully defended its first-ever Atlantic 10 championship and surpassed its program record for points at the meet with 580.5.
The Dukes earned 10 medals — five gold, two silver and three bronze — while scoring points in diving for the first time since 1997-98.
Sheets secured his second straight and third career Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honor, while Audrey Steen was named Most Outstanding Rookie Performer, marking the second consecutive year a Duquesne freshman earned the award.
The Dukes also shattered five school records and set two new Atlantic 10 championship standards.