Hempstead, NY – Steve Zimmer, a veteran NFL official and starting quarterback for the Pride in 1972 and 1973, will be inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, it was announced Monday by the organization. Zimmer is a 1974 graduate of Hofstra and earned his law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in 1977.
The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be honored at a ceremony on May 18 at East Wind in Wading River, New York. With respect to the recent uptick in COVID-19, the Hall of Fame is not yet selling tickets to the event and will monitor the situation in the coming weeks.
Zimmer, who is also a practicing attorney on Long Island, is in his 23rd season as an NFL official, working primarily as a field judge. He has officiated in 354 games in his career including 19 playoff games and two Super Bowls (XL and LIII).
Zimmer completed 57% (146-254) of his passes for 1,540 and 14 touchdowns as a senior in 1973 for the 8-3 Pride. As a junior in 1972 an injury limited Zimmer's season to five games, during which he led the team in passing with 442 yards and two touchdowns.
The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 inductees include:
- Sam Apuzzo: West Babylon native, Tewaaraton Award winner and All-American at Boston College where she is an assistant coach
- Charlie Bunger, historic inductee: Surfing pioneer and legend from Babylon known for Bunger Surf Shop
- Linda Cohn: ESPN broadcaster and longtime host of SportsCenter from Newfield High School
- John Daly: 3x Olympic skeleton racing from Smithtown
- Olivia Galati: Prolific softball player at St. John the Baptist and Hofstra University, where her number is retired
- Chris Fallica: ESPN producer most known for his work on College GameDay from Westhampton Beach
- Keri Farley: U.S. National Handball standout, Cornell basketball record holder and Sachem Athletic Hall of Famer
- Myles Jones: All-American lacrosse player and champion at Duke and all-star in the Premier Lacrosse League out of Walt Whitman High School
- Paul Longo: Suffolk County's winningest high school football coach from William Floyd High School
- Kevin Harrington: John Glenn High School girls volleyball coach, one of the winningest high school girls volleyball coaches in New York State history
- Billy Koch: Former major league closer with 163 career saves; was named American League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2002 with the Oakland Athletics
- Ralph Macchio, special recognition inductee: Mount Sinai resident and culturally significant icon for his work in martial arts with Karate Kid and Cobra Kai
- Tina Moon: One of the winningest field hockey coaches in Suffolk County history at Sachem High School, and an All-American player at Centereach and UConn
- Joe Pellicane: Deer Park resident and Longtime college hoops coach with more than 540 victories; current women's coach at Molloy College
- AJ Preller: President of Baseball Operations and General Manager of San Diego Padres from Walt Whitman High School
- John and Allison Pfeffer: Longtime Bay Shore High School head coaches of multiple sports, including lacrosse and gymnastics
- Matt Senk: Longtime Stony Brook University head baseball coach with more than 870 victories and a trip to the College World Series
- Kia Wright: One of Long Island's highest scoring girls hoops players at Copiague High School and a member of St. John's University Hall of Fame for outstanding college career
- Darrel Young: Former NFL running back with the Redskins, current Director of Player Personnel with the Steelers out of Amityville High School
- Steve Zimmer: Smithtown resident, veteran NFL referee, including many high stakes games like the Super Bowl
