NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Niagara University alumni Frank Layden ('55) and Mark Gabriele ('84) will be inducted into the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Layden played at Niagara from 1951-55 and coached the Purple Eagles for eight seasons, including leading Niagara to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1970. Layden had 119 wins in his time at Niagara.

After leaving Niagara in 1976, Layden moved on to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks. He was hired as the general manager of the New Orleans Jazz in 1979 and, after the team moved to Utah, he was named the head coach. From 1981-89, Layden's team made the playoffs in five straight seasons (1983-88) and he was named the 1984 NBA Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. He wrapped up his coaching career in 1989, but stayed on as the general manager of the Jazz through 1998.

Layden was inducted into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981 and his jersey was retired in 2012.

Gabriele holds the Niagara record for career batting average, batting .414 in his four years with the Purple Eagles. He had an impressive collegiate career, playing in 92 games and recording 81 RBI, 98 runs scored, 130 hits, 28 doubles, 14 triples, 15 homeruns and 57 stolen bases.

Gabriele was drafted three times during his college career, including being chosen by the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball's supplemental draft in January 1985. He went on to play for Macaroni Company teams in Muny AAA baseball.

Gabriele was inducted into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 and into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in Sept. 2017.

The Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at the Como Restaurant and begins at 6:00 p.m. For information about attending the event, contact Dan Bazanni at 716-284-1448 or 716-531-2341.