VESTAL, N.Y. – Fifteen years ago, Rory Quiller became Binghamton's first – and to date only – NCAA Division I individual champion. He won the pole vault at the 2008 indoor track & field championships, which were held at the University of Arkansas.

On Tuesday evening, he returned to the Binghamton University campus to be honored at halftime of the men's basketball game against Niagara. At that ceremony, he was presented with a championship ring in honor of his historic accomplishment. Joining him at the ceremony were longtime head track & field coach Mike Thompson, Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall and Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger.

Quiller came straight to the game from his home in Annapolis, Md., where he has been the pole vault coach at the U.S. Naval Academy since 2012. It has been quite a few years since he had been back on campus but when he arrived, he had no trouble remembering what made his years at Binghamton so special.

"I was honored to be asked back and so glad that work schedules lined up to make this trip happen," he said. "Binghamton has changed a lot since the mid 2000's and they say you can't go home again, but it is - and always has been - the people at the university that will always make it feel like home."

With so many new facilities on campus since he graduated, Quiller took time to check them out before the game. But it was the people he spent time with that made his trip back so memorable.

"The highlight of the trip was getting to visit with the current and former administrators, the coaches - Mike Thompson, (Jesse) Fuca and (Annette) Acuff - and former teammate Kris Yelverton and his family," he said. "It was a special treat to get to spend a little time with the Thompson family, who is representative of all the Bearcat families that contribute to the success of the department and university in so many untold ways."

During his storied career at Binghamton, Quiller was a five-time NCAA qualifier and three-time All-American in the pole vault. In addition to his landmark victory in 2008, he was second at the 2007 indoor meet and tied for fourth in the outdoor championships. In both 2008 and 2012, Quiller competed at the U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials. He was inducted into the Binghamton Athletic Department Hall of Fame in 2013 – in his first year of eligibility.

Quiller was commissioned as a Human Resource Officer in the United States Navy in 2012 and served in that position until the end of 2016. He currently works as an Instructor of Physical Disciplines at the Academy and was the recipient of the 2023 Superintendent's Distinguished Athletic Leadership Award for teaching and coaching. He lives in Annapolis with his wife Mandy and their daughters, Kira and Lacey.

At halftime during the men's basketball game against Niagara on Tuesday, Quiller was given a warm reception from the crowd and afterwards, did a radio interview with Roger Neel of WNBF Radio. After spending more time with the Thompsons and Yelvertons, he made his way back to Annapolis.

"I want to thank everyone setting this event up, as well as Director Marshall and President Stenger and their staff for the warm reception," he said afterwards. "Good luck to the Bearcats in 2024."