Drexel University Athletics
Drexel Athletics to Induct Malik Rose and Bill Herrion Into Hall of Fame
12/2/2025 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Drexel Athletics, Dragon Club
PHILADELPHIA – Malik Rose and Bill Herrion will be inducted into the Janet E. and Barry C. Burkholder Athletics Hall of Fame this winter as part of the Class of 2026. The event will take place during homecoming weekend on Saturday, January 24th.
Rose and Herrion led the Dragons to three straight conference championships and three NCAA appearances from 1994-1996. In their final season together, the Dragons rattled off 27 wins, including 15 in a row, and won the North Atlantic Conference championship to punch Drexel's third straight ticket to the NCAA Tournament. In the first round of the tournament, the Dragons secured a 75-63 upset against fifth-seeded Memphis, giving Drexel its first and only NCAA Tournament victory.
Rose had one of the most prolific careers of any Drexel player in school history. The Philadelphia native finished his career with 2,024 points, the third-highest total in school history, and is the school's all-time leader with 1,504 rebounds. He was a dominating force in the North Atlantic Conference, winning back-to-back conference player of the year honors in 1995 and 1996. A three-time first team selection, Rose was also named the North Atlantic Tournament Most Valuable Player in each of the three seasons Drexel cut down the nets. In his final season, Rose averaged 20.2 points and 13.2 rebounds. He was named a UPI Third Team All-American as well as an Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection after the 1996 season. His jersey number was retired and hangs in the rafters at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
"To be inducted into the Drexel University Hall of Fame with Coach Herrion and all of my teammates and coaches is incredibly humbling and truly special to me," said Rose. "Everything we achieved, we achieved together. And this honor reflects that. Thank you, Drexel University."
Rose, who completed his four years averaging 16.9 points and 12.6 rebounds, was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft with the 44th pick. He went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA, including eight with San Antonio, where he won two NBA Championships.
Herrion, who served as the Dragons' head coach from 1991 through 1999, led the Dragons to four postseason berths, including three of the five NCAA Tournaments in school history. In his eight seasons leading the program, Herrion recorded a 167-71 record. His .702 winning percentage is the highest of any coach in program history.
"I cannot begin to express how honored and appreciative I am to be a part of the Drexel Athletics Hall of Fame along with Malik Rose," said Herrion. "At this point in my life you realize that it's the players that you had the privilege of coaching that make these achievements possible, and I am fully aware of this. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to every player I had the honor to coach in my eight years at Drexel. My career in college basketball would not have lasted 40 plus years if not for these men. So, I want to share this with all of the players, coaching staff, administrators, support staff, managers, and fans that were part of a great eight year ride."
Teams under Herrion's watch at Drexel advanced to the conference championship game a remarkable seven times in eight years and won three conference tournament titles. The Dragons also won four regular-season championships during his tenure. With Herrion on the sideline, Drexel won 20 or more games on six occasions, and he was named the North Atlantic/America East Conference Coach of the Year four times. The1995-96 Drexel men's basketball team, which set the school record with 27 wins, was presented with the prestigious John Wanamaker Award by the Philadelphia Sports Congress and was inducted into the Drexel Hall of Fame in 2011.
The 1993-94, 1994-95 and the 19995-96 teams are all invited back to Drexel's campus and will be a part of a special recognition during Drexel's men's basketball game against Northeastern on January 24 at 2 p.m.
