Jacksonville University

Rick Shannon was a two-sport star that had notable careers for both the men's soccer team and the JU baseball team.

Shannon was a member of the JU’s men’s soccer team from 1969-1972. In his four seasons as a Dolphin, Shannon shattered the record books in career goals, assists and overall points. Many of those records still stand to this day.

Shannon's baseball career saw him play for the Dolphins from 1970-73. He batted a remarkable .372 in his career and hit eight homeruns to go along with 74 hits and 56 runs as a member of a JU baseball team that made its second ever NCAA Postseason appearance in 1972. His senior season in the spring of 1973 saw him lead the team in hits with 64 recorded. Shannon went on to be drafted in the fifth round of the MLB draft to the Montreal Expos. At the time, he was just the fifth JU player to be drafted to the big leagues.

Also a member of the historic 1969 men’s soccer team who finished unbeaten, Shannon had two seasons where he scored 22 goals, with his last season being in 1970. That number is the third most scored by a Dolphins player in team history. In that same 1970 season, Shannon finished with 50 points total, which is good for the fourth most in a single season in program history.

Across his soccer career, Shannon netted 66 goals, and recorded 154 total points, which both staggering numbers are program bests, and by a wide margin.

Shannon was a two-time Bill Coulhart Award (Dolphin MVP) winner in both the 1970 and 1972 seasons. He was the first of three players from the 1969 men’s soccer team to be inducted into the JU Hall of Fame and his career is still boasted as one of the best in JU soccer history.