SAN FRANCISCO – Coragene Savio, D.D.S, a long-time supporter of USF Athletics who has also served the dental needs of various Dons teams over the years, has been named "Don of the Year" as announced by Director of Athletics Scott Sidwell.

The Don of the Year award is presented to an individual or family who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to USF Athletics and its student-athletes. Dr. Savio will be presented with her award at the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner on Feb. 3.

Dr. Savio attended both Mills College and USF as an undergraduate before graduating from the University of the Pacific's School of Dentistry in 1970. She and her husband, Barry Kinney, D.D.S., have been practicing dentistry in the San Francisco area since the early 1970's. A third-generation dentist and second-generation Don, 15 members of Dr. Savio's family also pursued a career in dentistry, including her grandfather, both parents and both siblings. Her father, Edward, and sister, Tad, also obtained undergraduate degrees from USF.

An ardent supporter of all USF programs and a long-time men's basketball season ticket holder since the 1996-97 season, Dr. Savio has taken care of the dental needs for many of the Dons student-athletes, coaches and staff over the years.

Each season when the Dons take the Pacific Coast swing through Portland, Drs. Savio and Kinney, in conjunction with Dr. Jim Van Arsdel, host the squad to dinner in the Rose City.

"Dr. Savio is a very deserving recipient of our Don of the Year Award," said USF Director of Athletics Scott Sidwell. "She rarely misses a home basketball game and manages to juggle her busy dental schedule in order to attend many road games, as well. The annual dinner she hosts with Barry in Portland is just one example of her love for USF and our student-athletes."

USF's Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2017, which will comprise the 43rd group of inductees, includes Tami Adkins '93 (women's basketball), James Hardy '78 (men's basketball), Patrick McGuigan '06 (baseball), Eduardo Rangel '66 (men's soccer) and Dr. Sandee Hill, who will be inducted in the special service category.

Formal induction ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3 at the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner in the McLaren Center on the USF campus. The festivities will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the dinner program at 7:30 p.m. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the USF-Loyola Marymount basketball game on Feb. 4.

Individual reservations for the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame Dinner are priced at $125 while a table of 10 may be purchased for $1000. Please visit USFDons.com/2017HOF to make your reservations. For questions, please contact Julie Congi via email at congi@usfca.edu or by calling 415.422.6893.