SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME: Steve Freeman Lead Florida Tech to a National Championship

By Space Coast Daily // April 27, 2022

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME SPOTLIGHT

ABOVE VIDEO: Steve Freeman was the first of many highly talented soccer “imports” during the legendary reign of Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame member and legendary Florida Tech coach Richard Stottler.

ABOVE: Steve Freeman lead the Panthers to the Division II national soccer championship in 1988, the school’s first national title in any sport. Freeman was a four-time All-SSC, All-State and All-South Region first-team selection, and a two-time All-American in 1988 and 1989. He led the Sunshine State Conference in scoring as a junior and senior with 53 points and 45 points respectively. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Steve Freeman was the first of many highly talented soccer “imports” during the legendary reign of Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame member and legendary Florida Tech coach Richard Stottler.

Freeman’s passing ability and his talent in striking and bending the soccer ball were world-class.

The native of Richmond, England led the Panthers to the Division II national soccer championship in 1988, the school’s first national title in any sport.

Freeman was a four-time All-SSC, All-State and All-South Region first-team selection, and a two-time All-American in 1988 and 1989. He led the Sunshine State Conference in scoring as a junior and senior with 53 points and 45 points respectively.

He scored 51 goals and added 59 assists during his college career and played professionally for Orlando and was named a league All-Star in 1997.

“Steve was a highly dedicated and determined leader with the soccer team at Florida Tech and was integral to the upstart Panthers meteoric rise to the top of NCAA soccer,” said former Panther coach Giles Malone.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE STEVE FREEMAN, second from left, was the first of many highly talented soccer “imports” during the legendary reign of Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame member and legendary Florida Tech coach Richard Stottler, pictured below right. Above, left to right, are Dylan Lewis, Freeman, Bino Campanini, Robin Chan, Figi Haig and Eddie Enders.(Florida Tech image)

Freeman was selected for the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame, and in 1995, Freeman was inducted into the Florida Tech Hall of Fame.

In 1992, Freeman turned professional with the Orlando Lions of the USISL. In 1994, Freeman left the Lions to sign with the Cocoa Expos, but in June, he left the Expos to return to the Lions. In 1995 and 1996, Freeman began and ended each season with the Expos as they played in the USISL Premier League.

In 1997, he played for the Orlando Sundogs in their single year of existence in the USISL A-League.

In 1998, he moved to the Orlando Nighthawks in the USISL D-3 Pro League. In 2000, Freeman returned to the Cocoa Expos. In 2003, he began the season with the Central Florida Kraze but played three games for the Expos as well.

Today, as a highly successful businessman, Freeman supports his alma mater in a variety of ways as a member of the Florida Tech Board of Trustees.

Visit SpaceCoastDaily.com to see the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTEES SELECTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2020 and 2021 classes in several categories, including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Nominees are chosen in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports. Special honorary recognition is also bestowed upon individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame includes an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2021 Class of the Hall of Fame. Dozens of nominees were considered in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021:

■ PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Amber Torrealba, Skimboarding; Randy Pobst, Auto racing

■ COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lynisha Nelson, Basketball; Bryan Cook, Baseball; Steve Freeman, Soccer

■ PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Julie Wollrath, Cross Country; Kaira Simmons, Track & Field; Cameron Harris, Jr., Football

■ AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Alli Penovich, Free Diving

■ COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lee Mace, Football; Jim Oler, Basketball

■ SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEE: Klaus Stafe

■ SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEE: Capt. Eric Ciocher

■ SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Charles Clemente

■ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Larry Garrison

■ SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Rusty Buchanan

■ CHALLENGER AWARD INDUCTEE: Jordan Episcopo

■ TEAM OF THE YEAR: Astronaut High School Bowling

■ LEGACY CHAMPIONS: Merritt Island Baseball, 1999-2000

■ SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Fred Gay

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2021 INDUCTEE PROFILES

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame includes an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2020 Class of the Hall of Fame. Dozens of nominees were considered in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jamel Dean, Football; Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Wrestling; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Football; Mark Lake, Skateboarding; Juwaan Taylor, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Derek Hamm, Football; Paulette King, Basketball; Dylan Lewis, Soccer; Melanie Murphy, Softball

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lexy Denaburg, Volleyball; Apryl Bigham Nickson, Swimming; Andi Sellers, Soccer

• AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Peter Blount, Track & Field; Karina Villegas, Sled Hockey; Caylor Williams, Wrestling

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Sean Ballard, Wrestling; Doug Butler, Cross Country and Track; Aubin Goporo, Basketball; Gerald Hodgin, Football; Bill Sinclair, Softball; Don Smith, Basketball

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Loren McClanahan

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Clint Hurdle

• SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEES: Ted Ruta

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Steve Vaughn

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Judge A.B. Majeed

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Congressman Bill Posey

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Satellite High Cross Country

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2020 INDUCTEE PROFILES

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Partner Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Executive Editor Zach Clark, the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, Sports Editor Juan Rodriguez, Social Media Director Matt O’Hern, Assistant Editor Jordan Rocco, Digital Producers Ron Lighthall, Gavin Keith and Michael Malone, Production Director Brian Dillon, Sports Broadcaster Daryl Durand and Amateur Athletic Union President Rusty Buchanan.

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Partner Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, Sports Editor Juan Rodriguez, Social Media Director Matt O’Hern, Assistant Editor Jordan Rocco, Digital Producers Ron Lighthall, Gavin Keith and Michael Malone, Production Director Brian Dillon, Sports Broadcaster Daryl Durand and Amateur Athletic Union President Rusty Buchanan.

The main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus hosts the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, as portraits of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.