Nicholls Athletics announces 2024 Hall of Fame Honorees

The Nicholls State University Department of Athletics revealed its five-member 2024 Hall of Fame Class – Cassidy Barrios (women’s basketball, 2015-19), Broderick Cole (football, 2004-07), Patrick Dolan (football, 2007-10), Amanda Gianelloni (softball, 2016-19), and Megan Landry (softball, 2016-19).

The athletic department also announced the newest members of the Hall of Distinction – Mike Davis, and Henry and Kim Lafont.

The Hall of Fame class will be inducted on November 2 before the Colonel football contest against Stephen F. Austin. The ceremony will take place in the Danos Theater in Talbot Hall at 10 a.m. The group will also be recognized during the football game.

Barrios was a four-year starter for the Colonel women’s basketball team where she became the first player in program history to earn Southland Conference Player of the Year. A three-time all-league selection, Barrios was also the only Colonel to receive two first-team selections. Along with being named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Year in her final two seasons, she also took home SLC Student-Athlete of the Year in two consecutive years.

Barrios set program records in career points (1,993) and blocks (132) while finishing second in rebounds and steals, and third in assists. In her breakout junior campaign, she averaged 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds as she led Nicholls to its first SLC Tournament championship, adding Southland Tournament MVP along the way. As a senior, Barrios poured in a school record 660 points (20.6 ppg) and guided the Colonels to their first 20-win season in school history.

Cole played four seasons for the Colonel football team as a running back and made an immediate impact, earning Southland Freshman of the Year in 2004. He then went on to garner All-Southland First Team in 2005 and ’07. In the ’05 campaign, he set the single-season record with 13 rushing touchdowns, helping Nicholls to its first SLC title.

Cole left Nicholls as the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 33 and was fourth in career rushing yards with 2,111. His four rushing TDs in a single game tied a school record that still stands today.

Dolan served as the Colonels’ punter from 2007-10 and was a three-time All-Southland First Team selection. He was also a three-time All-Louisiana honoree, earning first-team twice. Dolan received recognition for work in the classroom as well as he was a three-time Southland All-Academic recipient and was named SLC Football Student-Athlete of the Year in 2010.

Dolan left Nicholls as the career leader in punting average (43.1 yards/punt).  He ranked in the Top 10 in the FCS in punting his final three seasons, boasting a career-best 43.2 average in his senior year.

Gianelloni put together a decorated career at shortstop for the softball team from 2016-19, earning All-Southland four times which included two first-team nods. She had a phenomenal rookie season where she hit .391 with 40 RBIs en route to being named SLC Freshman of Year. Her other accolades included being a three-time SLC All-Academic First Team honoree and a two-time All-Louisiana selection.

Gianelloni helped lead Nicholls to the SLC regular season championship and a 40-win season in 2018. She left Thibodaux as the program’s record holder for career RBIs with 125. She also ranked third in hits, sixth in triples. seventh in home runs, and her .336 career batting average ranks ninth all-time.

Landry also played on the softball team during the same period, racking up three All-Southland selections and was named SLC Pitcher of the Year in the Colonels’ championship season in 2018. She made NFCA All-Region Third Team twice and was a two-time All-Louisiana honoree. In addition to being SLC All-Academic First Team three times, Landry was named Southland Conference Softball Student-Athlete of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team in her junior year.

Helped by a pair of 20-win seasons, Landry left Nicholls as the all-time leader in wins with  80. She also tied for first in saves while ranking third in strikeouts and seventh in ERA. In three of her seasons, she posted a sub 2.00 ERA highlighted by a 1.80 in her rookie year. For her career, Landry was a nine-time SLC Pitcher of the Week.

A former Colonel baseball player, Davis has volunteered as the public address announcer for football for 28 years, missing just four games during his tenure. He has also served as the PA announcer for baseball for the last five years.

The Lafonts have been the definition of generosity. They have made unaccountable contributions to Nicholls Athletics including a $500,000 donation for the baseball fieldhouse which is currently in the design process. While they have helped out athletics, they have also made a $500,000 donation to the College of Liberal Arts.