BRISTOL, R.I. – Former Roger Williams University men's basketball standout J. Michael Lynch '01 will be inducted into the RWU Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its 10th class on Friday, Oct. 16, during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
"Being inducted into the Roger Williams Athletics Hall of Fame is an incredible honor, but it's also a reflection of my outstanding teammates, coaches, and the high caliber of basketball we played during my four years in Bristol. I'm so grateful to the RWU Athletic Department and everyone who supported us to help make those years so special," said Lynch.
A two-time All-Commonwealth Coast Conference selection, Lynch combined scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking to establish himself as one of the program's most accomplished post players. He totaled 1,446 points and 787 rebounds in his career and set the school record with 248 blocked shots.
Lynch helped the Hawks capture the 1998-99 Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament championship, including a 73-67 victory at Colby-Sawyer in the championship game. He went on to earn All-CCC Second Team recognition during the 1999-2000 season before securing First Team honors as a senior in 2000-01.
During his final season, Lynch scored 591 points and averaged 23.6 points per game. His offensive production earned him ECAC New England All-Star Honorable Mention recognition and a selection to the 2001 ECAC Division III New England Senior All-Star Game.
Lynch's impact extended to the defensive end, where he led the CCC in rebounding in two of his four seasons. In addition to his career blocked shots record, he matched the program's single-game mark with nine rejections.
His career totals also included 547 made field goals and 287 made free throws, complementing a body of work that placed him among Roger Williams' leaders in several statistical categories.
Lynch was also recognized for his work in the classroom, earning RWU's 2000-01 ECAC/Robbins Scholar-Athlete Award.
Lynch joins Mark Mastin '92 of men's volleyball, Jenny (Dill) Okubo '07 of women's swimming and diving, Matt Duggan '09 of sailing and the 2014 women's soccer team in the 2026 induction class. The Hall of Fame celebration will take place at the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m.
