​The Akron Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame is showcasing its football strength with the Class of 2026, featuring seven football-connected inductees out of ten. The roster includes former NFL players Jay Brophy from Buchtel and Mike Fox from North, along with College Football Hall of Famer Ara Parseghian from South. The full class was announced by the APS Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, July 9.
Among the inductees:
– Jay Brophy, Buchtel (football): Brophy was a linebacker at the University of Miami, where he helped the Hurricanes win a national title in 1983. He went on to a four-season NFL career, spending three years with the Miami Dolphins and one with the New York Jets. The Dolphins selected him in the second round of the 1984 draft (53rd overall), and he started for Miami in Super Bowl XIX on January 20, 1985, a game the Dolphins lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
– Ara Parseghian, South (football): The late Parseghian starred as a halfback for the Great Lakes Naval Station in 1945, then at Miami University in 1946–47, and with the Cleveland Browns in 1948–49—a period during which Cleveland won the AAFC titles in both seasons. He later became a legendary college coach, posting a combined record of 170-58-6 over 24 seasons at Miami University (1951–55), Northwestern (1956–63), and Notre Dame (1964–74). Parseghian was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
– Fred Gissendaner Sr., Buchtel (football, track and field): Gissendaner was a standout athlete in Akron, earning city and City Series scoring titles as a senior halfback in 1961 and claiming City Series titles in pole vault across all three of his high school track seasons. He played football and pole vaulted at Kent State University and later suited up for the Akron Vulcans of the Continental Football League.
– Bud Bond, Garfield (football): The late Robert “Bud” Bond played center and linebacker, earning varsity letters in all four of his high school seasons (1952–55) at Ohio State. Bond contributed to the Buckeyes’ 1954 national title and the Big Ten championships in 1954 and 1955. While at Garfield, he achieved recognition as the Beacon Journal football player of the year in 1951.
– Duane Bland, Buchtel (football): Bland was a standout linebacker for Buchtel in the 1970s and later played defensive back at Morehead State University. Following his playing days, he became a local high school football coach, contributing to the sport at the community level.
– Mike Fox, North (football): Fox spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive lineman from 1990 to 1998, with five seasons with the New York Giants and four with the Carolina Panthers. Drafted in the second round (No. 51 overall) as a rookie, Fox made his mark in the league and later continued his involvement in football at the high school level.
The Akron Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame continues to highlight the rich football tradition within Akron’s schools, recognizing players who excelled on the field and contributed to the sport both locally and nationally. The Class of 2026 stands as a testament to the city’s enduring impact on football across generations.