Hall of Fame
Former Gator slugger Fran Riordan '97 boasts an impressive resume that not only includes multiple accolades as a student-athlete but also as an award-winning manager at the professional level.
Originally from Clarence, New York, Riordan blossomed into one of the best hitters in program history in his three seasons as a starting first baseman. He graduated as Allegheny's all-time leader in hits (184) and home runs (32), and over the last three decades, no one has come close to his single-season record of 83 hits. Riordan hit at a blistering .441 clip with 10 home runs in 1997, leading the Gators to an NCAC championship and a record-setting 40 wins while earning all-region accolades for a second consecutive spring.
After leaving Tool City, Riordan played professionally on the independent circuit for seven years before becoming a full-time manager. He's the all-time winningest manager in Frontier League history, a member of the league's inaugural Hall of Fame Class, and the honorary namesake of the Frontier League's annual citizenship award.
Since 2015, Riordan has coached affiliated minor league baseball, mentoring some of the top organizational prospects for the Athletics. In 2025, he won his third Pacific League Manager of the Year award after guiding Triple-A Las Vegas to its first league championship since 1988. The 2026 season marked his 25th as a manager in the pros.
