2021 Troy University Sports Hall of Fame

Dear Trojans:

It is my honor to welcome you to the induction ceremony of the ninth and tenth classes of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. The events of 2020 prevented us from inducting last year’s class, so thanks to the work of Chairman Earl Johnson and the members of the Board of Advisors, we are adding nine outstanding Trojans to our Hall of Fame ranks.

The Sports Hall of Fame is a source of great pride for Troy University, as it gives us the opportunity to honor the “best of the best.” On behalf of the entire Troy University family, I am pleased to extend a special welcome to our inductees and their families and friends.

The class of 2020 consists of Barney Burnett, golf; Nancy Dansby Swanson, tennis and women’s basketball; Rachel Hassan Gravel, volleyball; Max Howell, football; Mark King, football; and Jude Rinaldi, baseball.

The class of 2021 consists of Leon Davis, basketball; Collin McCrary, golf; and Andy Whitener, track and field. All are deserving of induction, and they honor us by allowing us to honor them.

Sincerely,

Jack Hawkins, Ph.D. Chancellor

Dear Trojan Family:

Welcome to the 2021 Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This is our ninth year of this amazing event! We are excited to honor nine outstanding inductees tonight who have had an extremely positive impact on Troy Athletics over the years.

This is a special event for all involved as we celebrate the rich tradition and history of Troy Athletics. We hope our inductees, their families, and our guests enjoy a beautiful evening inside Trojan Arena.

I would like to thank the Hall of Fame Selection Committee for their time and dedication to this endeavor. I would also like to thank our athletic staff who put on the greatest Hall of Fame banquet in college athletics. Tonight would not be possible without everyone’s efforts and the commitment of many other Trojans.

Congratulations to all of our inductees and their families on this special recognition. We appreciate all you have done, and continue to do, for Troy University!

One TROY!

Brent Jones Director of Athletics

2020 & 2021 INDUCTEES

Barney Burnett Men’s & Women’s Golf Class of 2020

Nancy Dansby Swanson Women’s Tennis & Basketball Class of 2020

Leon Davis Men’s Basketball Class of 2021

Max Howell Football Class of 2020

Mark King Football Class of 2020

Rachel Hassan Gravel Volleyball Class of 2020

Jude Rinaldi Baseball Class of 2020

Andy Whitener Track & Field Class of 2021

Collin McCrary Men’s Golf Class of 2021

ORDER OF PROGRAM

Troy University Sports Hall of Fame

Ninth Induction Ceremony and Banquet

Trojan Arena • Troy, Alabama

September 3, 2021 • 7 p.m.

Music ............................................................................................................ Troy University Jazz Group

Call to Order/Master of Ceremonies ...................................................................... Barry McKnight

Welcome .................................................................................................................................. Brent Jones

Parade of Inductees ..................................................................................................... Barry McKnight

National Anthem ............................................................................................................. Shelia Jackson

Invocation ....................................................................................................................... Lonnie Cochran

Dinner

Dinner Music .................................................................................... Troy University Jazz Group

Introductions Corporate Sponsors ............................................................................................ Barry McKnight

Board of Advisors ......................................................................................... Mayor Earl Johnson

Special Guests ....................................................................................................... Barry McKnight

Special Remarks ................................................................................................................ Gibson Vance

Message from the Chancellor .......................................................................... Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr.

Induction Ceremony .............................................................................................Video Presentation

Video Tribute to Inductees

Closing Remarks ........................................................................................................... Barry McKnight

Troy University Athletics would like to thank Troy University and its leadership, including the Chancellor and Senior Vice Chancellors, for their continued support and commitment to athletics.

Banquet Program ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................Board of Advisors

Event Coordination Sandy Atkins, Mike Frigge

Music .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Troy University Jazz Group

Video Presentations ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Adam Prendergast

Inductee Awards Sandy Atkins, Tony Ferrante

Banquet Production .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Mike Frigge

Photographer Joey Meredith

Printed Program Adam Prendergast, Kelly Shipp, Hanna Cooper, Andrew Stern

Inductee Reception ................................................................................................................................................................................................... Sandy Atkins, Chase Blake

Ticketing and Seating Rebecca Whetstone, Santiago Pinzon, Helen Shirey

Parking Troy Equipment Room Staff

Guest Relations ............................................................................................................................................................ Hospitality Students in Revenue Generation Class

Banquet Meal Sodexo Dining, Ibrahim Yildirim

Stage, Table and Chair Set Up .................................................................................................................Student Services, Herb Reeves, Mike Frigge, Tony Ferrante

Maintenance, Housekeeping ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Physical Plant

Security Chief George Beaudry

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

KAY IVEY Governor of Alabama President, ex-officio

GERALD O. DIAL Area 5

JOHN D. HARRISON Area 2

KAREN CARTER Area 6

EDWARD F. CROWELL At-Large Vice President pro tempore

ROY DRINKARD Area 7

EARL JOHNSON Area 2 FORREST LATTA Area 1

C. CHARLES NAILEN At-Large

CAM WARD Area 4

ALLEN OWEN Area 3

C. GIBSON VANCE Area 4 President pro tempore

MAXWELL GEORGE SGA President Non-Voting

JACK HAWKINS, JR. Secretary

BOARD OF ADVISORS

The Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Board of Advisors is made up of 21 members who serve to encourage, receive and evaluate nominations of persons who shall be considered for induction into the Sports Hall of Fame, then to select from among the nominees those persons who will be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.

ALLEN OWEN Chairman of Board of Trustees Athletics Committee (Ex-Officio)

JOHNNY WILLIAMS Fourth District - Tuscaloosa

DONNA HORN At-Large - Troy

DONNIE PEMBERTON City of Phenix City

MAJOR JOHN WILLIAMS First District - Mobile KELLY COLBERT City of Dothan

CHRIS BLACKSHEAR Alabama Electronic Media

BRENT JONES Director of Athletics (Ex-Officio) Secretary

PATRICK KELLOGG Fifth District - Hoover

BOBBY PIERCE At-Large - Seaside

MAYOR JASON REEVES City of Troy

DR. KARL STEGALL Third DistrictMontgomery

RANDALL MOORE At-Large - New Orleans

BUZZ PHILLIPS City of Montgomery

BOB BOOTHE Alumni Board

MAYOR EARL JOHNSON Second District - Andalusia Chairman

FREDDIE THOMAS Sixth District - Birmingham

DENISE MONROE Sports Official

DR. JACK HAWKINS, JR Chancellor (Ex-Officio)

JON JOHNSON Alabama Sports Writers Association

PHILLIP GRICE Seventh District - Birmingham

2020 Inductee BARNEY BURNETT

A life-long Trojan and one of the most decorated coaches in Troy Athletics history, Barney Burnett’s induction into the Troy Hall of Fame has been a long time coming.

“Before Barney was named the head coach, he would help recruit for the program and help with scheduling practice at the Country Club,” former Troy Athletic Director and Troy University Sports Hall of Fame member Robert Earl Stewart said. “He played golf all over, so he had a network of people that could help him with recruiting, and that was what directed me to hire him.”

Burnett, who has lived in Troy since 1948 and graduated from Troy State in 1961 following four years as a student-athlete, was named the head coach of the men’s program in 1986. Before, during and after his tenure, all the Trojans knew was success.

In his first season in charge of the Troy men’s golf program, Burnett guided his Trojan squad to a Gulf South Conference Championship. For an encore, he went on to lead his Trojan program to three additional Gulf South Championships and a second-place finish over the course of his five seasons.

“With [Barney’s] talent for playing the game of golf, and what was already a very strong Troy team, he kept the strong recruiting going and the high standards that Troy has for golf,” Stewart said. “It was the strong recruiting that allowed [Barney] to win all the conference championships and regional championships that he did.”

While dominating the Gulf South Conference, Burnett was also beating up on the rest of the country. Burnett’s teams made seven appearances in the NCAA Division II Championship, finishing second in 1992, third in 1987, fourth in 1989, 1990 and 1991, sixth in 1988 and ninth in 1993.

After dominating at the Division II level, Burnett guided Troy to a seamless transition to the Division I ranks. Without missing a single beat, Burnett had his squad competing and winning conference championships from the start. Burnett’s squads went a perfect 4-for-4 in championships in their first four years at the Division I level while also advancing to the NCAA East Regional in just their second season at the Division I level.

“There are two programs in sports where the numbers don’t lie and one is golf. You shoot to score, and you shoot not to score,” Stewart said. “The quality of the golfers Barney recruited to Troy, and them being able to shoot the scores that they shot, helped Troy keep its success going when they moved to Division I.”

After Burnett’s successful career as the men’s head coach, he was promoted to Director of Golf in 1996, where he would also become the head coach of the women’s program. Burnett showed why he was an elite level head coach as he guided his women’s programs to nine team titles in five years, including 11 different individual tournament titles.

“The main thing I’d want to share about Barney was his stress for excellence,” Stewart said. “He didn’t except low quality, and he wanted the Troy golf program to do well. He was able to recruit and that’s what allowed him to win so many championships.”

“The quality of the golfers that Barney had recruited to Troy, and them being able to shoot the scores that they shot, helped Troy keep its success going when they moved to Division I.”

- Robert Earl StewartTroy Director of Athletics (1974-91) Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2015)

NANCY DANSBY SWANSON

Nancy Dansby-Swanson was a pioneer. One of the first dual-sport athletes in the country and at Troy, the former Nancy Dansby was a standout for the Trojans on both the hardwood and the hardcourt.

Swanson is married to former Troy baseball standout Cooter Swanson and is the mother of current Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, Dansby-Swanson finished her freshman year with a combined record of 17-3 overall as the Trojans’ No. 1 singles player and a 14-1 mark as the Trojans’ top doubles duo.

Dansby-Swanson also represented the Trojans on the basketball hardwood, averaging 12.3 points-per-game, second to Troy Sports Hall of Famer Denise Monroe.

“Nancy was an extremely gritty and focused individual,” Monroe said when she was asked to describe her former teammate.

“Nancy has a lot of natural talent, and her athleticism was evident. Even though she was about 5-foot-2, she was an amazing athlete. When you see people that are elite athletes, their ability can translate to many different sports, so it does not surprise me at all that she was able to play both women’s basketball and tennis at Troy.”

When asked why she felt this honor would be special to Nancy Dansby-Swanson, Monroe has a simple yet powerful answer.

“It’s clear that Troy University meant, and means, a lot to Nancy,” Monroe said. “The fact that she married a baseball player from Troy and played both tennis and basketball makes Troy even more important. When you have a husband and a wife who contributed to a university at a high level and accomplish what both Nancy and Cooter accomplished, it’s special.

“For as long as women’s sports exist at Troy, the name Nancy Swanson should be brought up. I would think when Nancy looks back at her legacy, she must have a great amount of appreciation and admiration.”

Coupled with the fact that Troy’s women’s sports were just beginning to emerge at a time where every university was trying to establish their women’s sports programs at both the D-I and D-II levels, makes her accomplishments even more important. For Nancy to be a dualsport athlete, she was able to establish the women’s tennis program as one of the best programs ever. Then, she was also able to contribute to a basketball program that was also trying to establish itself for the future. So, for her to accomplish what she did should live forever.”

When asked to speak about her teammate’s legacy at the university they both love and share a degree from, Monroe did not mince her words.

“For as long as women’s sports exist at Troy, the name Nancy Swanson should be brought up. I would think when Nancy looks back at her legacy, she must have a great amount of appreciation and admiration,” Monroe added.

In the end, Swanson’s legacy is undeniable. As a true freshman, Swanson completed the aforementioned 17-3 record, advancing to the AIAW Small College National Championship. The former Marietta, Ga., native also helped the Trojans end the season as the No. 5 ranked team in the country. In 1977, Dansby-Swanson helped Troy reach the pinnacle, as the Trojans took home AAIAW Championship as well as the doubles state title.

On the basketball court during the 1977-78 season, she led the Trojans in made free throws (58) and percentage (.722), as the Georgian helped lead the Trojans to a 21-9 mark during the 1978-79 season and an AIAW Regional appearance.

“This honor I would think is a good opportunity for Nancy to take a look back and realize what she was able to accomplish for Troy University,” Monroe concluded. “The thing I remember about Nancy and will always remember is how tough she was as an athlete and how accomplished she was as an athlete. It didn’t matter to her how much taller the other team was than her, she was just focused and willing to do whatever to win, which to me is the ultimate testament to an athlete.”

- Denise MonroeTroy Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete (1977-81) Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2012)

LEON DAVIS

From team captain to United States Army sergeant to NAIA president, Leon Davis’ impact and leadership stretches from the playing court to the Special Services.

Davis’ premier basketball career started at Perkinston Junior College, where he received the Dr. D.H. Hollis Trophy, an award that went to the sophomore studentathlete who “has done the most to advance and promote the best interests of good student conduct and welfare and promoting athletics and thereby has set an example that other students may emulate and follow.”

Davis went on to become one of the early pioneers of Troy basketball. He was named team captain of the 1952-53 team that finished 18-7 and tallied a win over in-state foe Samford in the NAIA District Tournament.

The Elba, Ala., native, served as the president of the Troy senior class and received the Kilpatrick Award, which was presented annually to a graduating student-athlete based on citizenship, scholarship and leadership.

“I remember Leon Davis having an incredible playing career here at Troy,” former Troy student-athlete Mike Amos said. “His achievements as a student-athlete were great, but he went on to become a great leader and well-respected man as well.”

After graduating from Troy in 1953, Davis served in a Special Services section of the United States Army. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant.

Davis stormed the athletics world after his time in the military serving as a coach and athletics administrator at what is now known as the University of Montevallo.

“I remember Leon Davis having an incredible playing career here at Troy. His achievements as a student-athlete were great, but he went on to become a great leader and well-respected man as well.”

“He helped build Montevallo’s men’s basketball program,” Amos said. “Of course, he was Dr. Leon Davis. He was an outstanding educator and athletic director at Montevallo.”

Davis became the school’s first men’s basketball coach in 1964 before assuming the role of athletics director in 1969. He also served a brief stint as Montevallo’s tennis coach and several years as the school’s golf coach.

Montevallo now awards the Leon G. Davis Trophy annually to a studentathlete who has “distinguished himself or herself through personal achievements and community service.”

“He took on a lot of leadership roles,” Amos said. “He was a really good player back in the 50s, but he went on to take on a lot of really important roles that helped build Montevallo. He was very well-respected. He coached in a really good basketball playing conference that Troy had to play against.”

Alongside his incredible career at Montevallo, Davis made waves at the national level, where he served as the NAIA District 27 chairman for six years and served a four-year stint on the NAIA National Executive Committee.

He was named the NAIA President in 1982 and served on the United States Olympic staff for the World University Games in Edmonton, Canada.

“He was extremely involved in the NAIA,” Amos said. “He was president for a long time and always wanted to be involved in their development. Leon was a great leader and made everywhere he was better, whether it was Troy or Montevallo or the NAIA. He was very instrumental in every organization he was a part of.”

Davis’ work has been recognized in each place he had a hand in. He is a member of the Montevallo Hall of Fame, Wiregrass Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and now, the Troy University Hall of Fame.

- Mike AmosTroy Football Student-Athlete (1965) Troy University Alumni Association Membership Coordinator

RACHEL HASSAN GRAVEL

She was dominant on the court and in the classroom, so it’s only fitting that Rachel Hassan Gravel becomes the first Troy volleyball player inducted into the Troy Athletics Hall of Fame.

“I had some incredible players in my 18 years at Troy, but Rachel was one of the best,” former Troy volleyball head coach Ginger Lowe said. “I recruited girls not for just how they played volleyball, but also for who they were as people, and Rachel was great both as a student and an athlete.”

In four seasons with Troy (2000-04), Hassan rewrote the record books on her way to becoming the most dominant offensive player in Troy’s history. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Hassan was a two-time All-Atlantic Sun First Team honoree and an A-Sun All-Freshman Team member. She is Troy’s all-time leader in kills (1,644), points per set (4.50) and kills per set (3.96) while ranking second in points (1865.5) and eighth in blocks (212).

As of 2021, Hassan’s name is still all over the record books. She ranks in the top 10 49 times across single-match, single-season and career records. She is one of only three players in program history with at least 1,000 career kills and digs and one of five with 1,000 kills and 200 blocks.

“Rachel was one of the most prolific hitters in the history of Troy volleyball,” Lowe said. “She was quick as a cat, ran a beautiful fly and every team we played had problems blocking her.”

Hassan’s 2002 season was memorable. The Trojan great recorded 616 kills, the single-season program record by 119 kills, while earning 675.5 points, which are the most in a season by 72-points. She was named an All-Atlantic Sun First Team performer for her outstanding season.

“A lot of our 2002 success was because of our hitter and setter combination,” Lowe said. “As Erika [Leitzke] and Rachel continued working together, they just became more-and-more in sync and inline. Rachel worked hard and decided that she was going to make a difference, and she did. She had a goal, and she was focused and between that desire and her connection with Erika she had an incredible season.”

What may be the most impressive attribute about Hassan was her ability to balance both volleyball and school at such a high level. Hassan graduated from Troy with a 3.85 GPA and was awarded the Algeron Sydney Sullivan Award, which is the highest academic honor a Troy student can earn. She was a member of the Verizon Academic All-District First Team and was named the 2003-04 Atlantic-Sun Student-Athlete of the Year while also being a member of Troy’s Campus Outreach program.

“I was someone who believed in the student part of student-athlete, and Rachel told me right off the bat on her recruiting weekend that she wanted to be a doctor,” Lowe said. “She would spend extra time in the classroom and labs that others didn’t because she was in the pre-med program. There was never a question on what she was going to do.”

Following her graduation from Troy, Hassan returned home to San Antonio, joined the Air Force and earned a medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

“Before becoming a doctor, she served her country in the Air Force, and I am so proud of her for that,” Lowe said. “As a coach, you know when you have certain players that are going to make a difference, and I’ve had a few of those types of players in my 18 years at Troy, but there was no question in my mind that Rachel was going to make a difference. She was driven, focused and knew when it was time to take care of business, and I am absolutely thrilled to death that she is being honored because she deserves it.”

“Rachel was one of the most prolific hitters in the history of Troy volleyball,” Lowe said. “She was quick as a cat, ran a beautiful fly and every team we played had problems blocking her.”

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Ginger Lowe

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Troy Volleyball Head Coach (1996-03)

2020 Inductee MAX HOWELL

Troy State College, also known as a factory for exceptional coaches.

“I remember Max Howell playing here at Troy,” former Troy football player Mike Amos said. “However, I remember his coaching career very well too because back then, they produced a lot of coaches.”

A crucial two-year letterman and all-conference player for the 1960 and 1961 Red Wave, Max Howell went on to have a storied coaching career because of the guidance he received as a player.

“We weren’t quite winning all of the national championships yet, but Troy produced a lot of good coaches back then,” Amos said. “I’ll tell you this: Max Howell was very well known and coached at some really good places. Him being a good coach wasn’t surprising at all.”

After his time on the football field, Howell joined Troy Hall of Fame head coach Billy Atkins’ staff and help lead the Red Wave to the 1968 NAIA National Championship.

“He was one of the coaches on the NAIA National Championship team,” Amos said. “He did a great job coaching linebackers and helping run the offense. He had a lot of responsibility on that really successful team.”

Howell’s coaching trajectory proved to have a positive outlook from his time under Atkins.

“You could tell from his time with Coach Atkins that he would have a good coaching career,” Amos said. “During his time at Troy, the team had two eight-win seasons and an 11-win season. The NAIA championship really proved that he had a lot of coaching potential.”

“You could tell from his time with Coach Atkins that he would have a good coaching career. During his time at Troy, the team had two eight-win seasons and an 11-win season. The NAIA championship really proved that he had a lot of coaching potential.”

The Prattville, Ala., native, went on to move through the high school coaching ranks after earning a national title at Troy. Howell coached future NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith at Escambia (Fla.) High School.

After spending time at the high school football level, Howell jumped back into college coaching when he joined Bobby Bowden’s staff at Florida State for the 1987 and ‘88 seasons. The prominent coach also served as the recruiting coordinator under Billy Brewer at Ole Miss from 1989-90.

Following his coaching days, Howell’s time talking about sport didn’t quite come to an end, as he became a prominent sports media member.

“He was very well known, so he got into the radio business,” Amos said. “He became one of the top analysts in the country.”

Howell is best known as the host of multiple syndicated sports radio programs across the South and is actively involved in sports media, writing for various sports publications and internet sites. He pioneered the medium of southern sports radio and is widely known for his times as a sports talk host in the Atlanta area.

Howell currently serves as a partner for the Southern Classic Radio and owner of Gameday Marketing. Howell is the new host of “Game Day Ticket” and continues to make frequent guest appearances on several sports programs throughout the southeast.

Despite his storied coaching career blooming into a successful sports media career, Max Howell remains well connected to the place where it all started: Troy, Alabama.

“He is always close to Troy and with his Troy connections,” Amos said. “He is a good friend of mine and of Troy.”

- Mike AmosTroy Football Student-Athlete (1965) Troy University Alumni Association Membership Coordinator

MARK KING

A leader on the football field and for his country, Mark King is the definition of a true Trojan Warrior. King found success in everything he did in life, earning numerous honors all while leading from the front.

“When [Mark] first came to Troy, we were all wondering who this guy was,” former teammate and Troy Hall of Famer Perry Griggs said. “On the first day of practice, everyone was amazed at how he could get off the ball so fast. We had a middle linebacker by the name of Rick Maxey (Troy Hall of Fame Class of 2016), and I saw Mark put him on his back, and from that moment on, we knew we had one of the best players in the conference anchoring our line.”

A two-time All-American, King is regarded as the best offensive linemen to ever wear the Cardinal and White. During his two years anchoring the offensive line (1973-74), King helped lead Troy to a Gulf South Conference championship in his first season. During that impressive ‘73 campaign, Troy’s running backs averaged four yards per carry while the Trojans led the Gulf South Conference in total offense, rushing offense, passing offense and scoring offense. Following the season, he was named to the Associated Press All-America First Team and was named the United Press International National Lineman of the Week twice.

“Mark knew that we had athletes around him,” Griggs said. “We had one of the best offensive lines in the country, and they provided the blocking that we needed to do our thing, and Mark was a big reason for our success on offense. He provided the intensity, and everyone fed off that intensity.”

“Mark knew that we had athletes around him. We had one of the best offensive lines in the country, and they provided the blocking that we needed to do our thing and Mark was a big reason for our success on offense. He provided the intensity, and everyone fed off that intensity.”

King, a team captain and winner of the Capital City Bowl Sportsmanship and Leadership Trophy, continued to create mammoth-sized holes for his running backs on his way to being named to the NAIA All-America First Team and the Associated Press All-America First Team in 1974. He was also a semifinalist for the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. But although he was a standout lineman in his own right, King was always helping his teammates improve their game.

“The moment Mark got to Troy he anchored our offensive line while also being a great teacher,” Griggs said. “He took another offensive lineman under his wing, and he helped him become one of the national linemen of the year because he held onto Mark’s work ethic and learned to come off the ball and use different techniques that Mark would show him.”

King, who was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, continued his football career in the NFL, where he played for the Kansas City Chiefs before coaching high school football in the state of Alabama.

When King’s football career finally ended, he joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 28 where he served for 28 years, retiring at the rank of Full Colonel.

“Mark was the same guy off the field that he was on the field,” Griggs said. “When I saw him a year ago at a football game, he was still the same guy. He loves to conversate, tell jokes and talk about some of the toughest players he played against. He’s always just so personable with everyone he meets. A great guy.”

- Perry GriggsTroy Head Men’s Basketball Coach (1973-76) Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2014)

COLLIN MCCRARY

A leader on and off the golf course for the Troy men’s golf program during his tenure with the Trojans, Collin McCrary set the table early in his career for how he would be remembered by his teammates and coaches. Now, some 40 years later, his former head coach bestowed on him one of the highest compliments a young man can receive.

“I’ve had the fortune in my 36 years of coaching to say this about very few of my former players,” Troy University Sports Hall of Fame member Mike Griffin said. “I am very quick to say that Collin is the son I never had. I say that very seriously. He was one of those special players that you get in your coaching career – he was uniquely special and stood out in a lot of different ways.”

On the course, McCray’s accolades speak for themselves. He helped lead Troy to four straight Gulf South championships, and McCrary finished second at the 1983 NCAA Division II National Championship to earn All-America honors.

The road from Georgia High School Golfer of the Year honors at Southland Academy in Americus, Ga., to All-American following his senior year at Troy did not come without a bout of adversity. One of the top players on Griffin’s 1982 squad, McCrary sat out the NCAA Championship that season due a strategic decision by Griffin based on the layout of the championship course.

“I had to make the gut-wrenching decision to leave Collin at home,” Griffin said. “It was a lot tougher on me than it was on him, but the next year it came full circle.”

The Trojans were tasked with another difficult golf course the following year and this time in the mountainous region of Southwest Pennsylvania. McCrary was in the lineup that week, and he held the lead following 36 holes and ended the week in second place.

“He was able to look at me in the face at the end of that week and say, ‘I told you so’ without even having to utter a word,” Griffin laughed.

It was that type of fire that pushed McCrary from the beginning when he joined the Trojans squad as a freshman. He joined a Troy team that was loaded with All-Americans and established players, but that was not an obstacle for the young McCrary, rather a challenge he was willing to attack head-on.

“He was not big in terms of his physical stature when he came to us,” Griffin said. “But he was a young man who loved the game of golf. He played with a different energy and was one of the most competitive players I ever coached. He came into a team that was blessed with a lot of talented golfers and worked his way into the lineup. Collin played with his brain and had a great feel for the game. It came quickly to me that his competitiveness was his best quality, and he wouldn’t back down from anything – he was a bulldog.”

McCrary earned multiple All-Gulf South honors in his career, and he shot Troy’s lowest round of the 1983 season with a 68 at the Southeastern Intercollegiate, which featured the likes of Ohio State and Alabama. McCrary was consistently at the top of the leaderboard during his Troy career and helped lead the Trojans to five team titles during the 1981 season.

“Anywhere from 100 yards in, he was deadly,” Griffin said. “They say that good putting is the great equalizer, and Collin was a great putter. His short game was strong, and he was amazing with an iron in his hand. He wouldn’t try and overpower the golf course, so he was always playing from the fairway. He was a good player because he just wanted to beat you and no matter what he was going to find a way to beat you … two down with three holes to play, you’re still in trouble against him.”

Following his career at Troy, which saw him graduate with a degree in business and finance, McCrary has gone on to a very successful professional career as a financial advisor. Additionally, McCrary found his calling on the television side of the golf game where he has worked with NBC for years as a course spotter at some of the game’s biggest events.

“I am very quick to say that Collin is the son I never had. I say that very seriously. He was one of those special players that you get in your coaching career – he was uniquely special and stood out in a lot of different ways.”

- Mike GriffinTroy Head Men’s Golf Coach (1973-84) Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2014)

JUDE RINALDI

Jude Rinaldi. Just the name alone resonates with all those that hold Troy Baseball near and dear to their hearts. The MVP of the 1987 NCAA Division II World Series, Rinaldi was such a dominant force during Troy’s second straight National Championship run that several of his records still stand today.

“Jude morphed into the bell cow role during the 1987 season and really carried what was an already strong lineup,” teammate Mark Smartt said. “He hit in the middle of the order, came up with all of the big hits and had 16 home runs in a time when 10 homers was considered a lot. The best trait that he had was that he never struck out. Despite all his power, he struck out nine times; he was a contact hitter who had power.”

Arguably the best hitter in school history, Rinaldi helped lead Troy to back-toback NCAA Division II National Championships in 1986 and 1987 all while cementing himself in the Troy record book with numbers that will likely never be broken.

Rinaldi earned All-America First Team honors following the 1987 season in which he set the school record with a .431 batting average and .819 slugging percentage; additionally, his .511 on-base percentage that season ranks fifth best in Troy history.

“His batting average was a legitimate .431, there was no fudging of the numbers,” Smartt said. “He just became more comfortable and more confident in who he was as a player in between the 1986 and 1987 seasons. He learned while he was here to hit the ball to the opposite side of the field, and they just couldn’t get him out pitching away. He was a physical guy and was ultra-competitive, which was a mark of our teams those two years.”

“He was one of the most, if not the most, selfless player I ever shared a uniform with. He is the type of guy who wants you to succeed more than himself. Even though he was the bell cow of that team, he never developed an ego. He is certainly worthy of this honor and this grouping of athletes in Troy history.”

Mark

Rinaldi transferred to Troy in 1986 and joined an overhauled Troy lineup that year in which most of the position players were new to the fold. Hitting in the six-hole most of the season, Rinaldi certainly made an early impression on both the coaches and his new teammates prior to his breakout 1987 campaign.

The Trojans played 47 games during the 1987 season, and Rinaldi drove home 45 runs to go along with the 16 home runs and just nine strikeouts. The 16 homers ranked as the second-most in school history at the time, while his career batting average and slugging percentage rank among the top 10 all-time at Troy.

Known for the big hit his senior year, Rinaldi saved his biggest blast for the biggest game of the year. Already with a home run and four RBIs to his credit in the 1987 College World Series, Rinaldi came to the plate in the seventh inning with the Trojans down two in the National Championship Game.

On the other side of the diamond was the University of Tampa, which was just 25 minutes from his hometown of Dunedin, Fla. The Spartans neglected to recruit the hometown star out of junior college and the Trojan first baseman made them forever regret that decision with a 3-run home run to put the Trojans on top. Tampa would pitch around Rinaldi in a tie game in the ninth only to see Troy’s next batter drive in the game-winning run. He hit at a .588 clip with five runs scored, two homers and seven RBIs during Troy’s run to the title.

“He was one of the most, if not the most, selfless player I ever shared a uniform with,” Smartt said. “He is the type of guy who wants you to succeed more than himself. Even though he was the bell cow of that team, he never developed an ego. He played the final stretch of the season with a knee injury and could barely move, but you wouldn’t know it by watching him play or talking to him. He is certainly worthy of this honor and this grouping of athletes in Troy history.”

-

SmarttTroy Baseball Head Coach (2016-21) Troy Baseball Student-Athlete (1986-87)

2021 Inductee ANDY WHITENER

Andy Whitener will forever be remembered as one of the most decorated runners in Troy’s cross country and track and field history; however, Whitener’s legacy stretches far beyond the track.

Whitener excelled at winning on the field, winning in the classroom and winning in the community. The now Hall of Famer has earned accolades and honors as an athlete, a student and a healthcare professional.

“Just look at his resume,” former Troy track & field head coach and Troy University Hall of Famer John ‘Doc’ Anderson said. “It will tell you everything you need to know about Andy Whitener. He is well-deserving of this honor, and his success will always be a part of our cross country and track and field history.”

The distance runner earned several All-America honors, was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and is now a leading professional in the health care field.

“His academics are just as good when you look at what he did,” Anderson said. “He was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and student-athlete of the year. He was on an academic scholarship, and he took that seriously.”

With Whitener leading the way, the Trojans dominated the Gulf South Conference earning four consecutive cross country championships and the 1977 Gulf South Conference outdoor track & field title.

“Andy checked all of my boxes,” Anderson said. “Athletics makes you strong. Study makes you wise. Character makes you great. That sums up Andy. He was the total package.”

The Tampa, Fla., native earned NAIA All-America honors in 1977 as a member of the two-mile indoor relay team. Whitener then earned USTFF All-American honors the following year in the same event.

“He still holds some of the fastest times in the 1500m and 8K for cross country. Andy was an insane athlete but also a winner in the classroom. He checked all of my boxes because he works hard in every way.”

Whitener’s 1978 success continued as he was named the Gulf South Conference’s Student-Athlete of the Year, received the Commissioners Award and was awarded the NCAA’s Postgraduate Scholarship.

Despite Troy’s standing in the NAIA, Whitener ran in the 1977 NCAA Cross Country National Championship Meet and the 1978 NCAA National Championship Meet in the 1500 meters.

“He deserved all of the recognition and honors,” Anderson said. “It’s funny to think that I didn’t even realize some of the awards he had gotten until now. His resume is just that good.”

The track star’s name was also etched into several places of Troy’s record books.

At the time of his graduation, Whitener held Troy school records in the mile, 1500m, 800m, 4x800m relay, distance medley and the twomile relay.

“He still holds some of the fastest times in the 1500m and 8K for cross country,” Anderson said. “Andy was an insane athlete but also a winner in the classroom. Like I said, he checked all of my boxes because he works hard in every way.”

Since his time as a Troy Track and Field student-athlete, Whitener has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Gainesville Surgery Center, the CEO of the Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital and the Director of the Rehabilitation Institute and Wellness at the Northeast Georgia Health System.

While his running legacy is undeniable, Whitener has set the standard for what it means to be a Troy student-athlete. The now leader in the health care profession has become the model for what success in the classroom and after Troy looks like.

- John “Doc” AndersonTroy Track & Field Head Coach (1966-80) Troy University Sports Hall of Fame (2013)

2019 INDUCTION CEREMONY

The eighth class of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame was inducted on April 13, 2019, inside state-of-the-art Trojan Arena. Six of the greatest men and women in Troy history were part of the sixth annual class. The class included John Faircloth, Tamra Howren, Mitzi McLendon Hasty, Brock Nutter, Garrick Pimienta and Darryl Thomas. A sold out gathering of over 600 people enjoyed a ceremony that featured comments from Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. and President pro tempore of the Troy University Board of Trustees Gerald O. Dial.

MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2012

Inaugural Induction Class

RALPH ADAMS Administration

Ralph Adams became President of Troy State University in 1964 and remained in that role for 25 years. Under his administration, Troy State achieved university stature and more than doubled its enrollment. Athletically, the Trojans won three national championships in football, two in baseball and numerous national titles in golf and track & field.

(Deceased)

BILLY ATKINS Football

Billy Atkins coached the Troy State football team for six seasons from 1966 to 1971 and led the Trojans to the 1968 NAIA national championship. Atkins also led TSU to three Alabama Collegiate Conference championships (1967-6869). He was a two-time NAIA District 27 Coach of the Year and was the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1968. He served in the dual role of football coach and athletic director from 1969 to 1971. (Deceased)

LARRY BLAKENEY Football

Larry Blakeney led the Troy University football program from Division II, through Division I-AA and into Division I-A. Blakeney led Troy to eight conference championships, including five straight Sun Belt titles (2006-10). He guided the Trojans to 15 winning seasons, including six seasons of 10 wins or more and led the Trojans to five bowl game appearances at the FBS level. Before retiring in 2015, he was the second longest tenured coach in the FBS.

SIM BYRD Football

Sim Byrd owned many of the Troy football program’s alltime passing records for over four decades. During his three seasons at quarterback (1966-68), he guided the Trojans to a 24-8 record and the school’s first national championship (1968). He was named a first team All-American as a senior, setting then single-season records for passing yards, completions and pass attempts. (Deceased)

DON MAESTRI Men’s Basketball

Don Maestri led the Troy men’s basketball program from Division II to conference championships in three different Division I leagues. He retired in 2013 with 501 victories, nine 20-win seasons and seven conference championships. Troy led the nation in scoring three times and in 3-pointers seven times. Troy also set numerous records in a 258-141 win over DeVry in 1992, hitting 51 three-pointers while becoming the first team in NCAA history to score 200 points.

VERGIL PARKS McKINLEY Football

Vergil Parks McKinley, a professor at Troy Normal School, was charged with the task of fielding the school’s first football team in 1909. McKinley, who never played football, had 14 players try out for the first team, but kept just 11. He guided that squad to a 1-0-2 record in his only year as the head coach. Both Troy University and the University of Alabama now award a Virgil Parks McKinley Employee Award on a regular basis. (Deceased)

DENISE MONROE Women’s Basketball

Denise Monroe is the all-time leading scorer in Troy women’s basketball history with 2,024 points in her four year career (1977-81). Monroe also ranks second in Troy history with 1,312 career rebounds and holds the Troy career records for field goal attempts, field goals made, free throws attempted and free throws made. A 1981 All-American, Monroe’s No. 30 uniform was retired on Nov. 14, 1998 and is still the only retired jersey in Troy women’s basketball history.

CHARLES OLIVER Track and Field

Charles Oliver made an impression on Troy State track and field as both a student-athlete and as a coach. Oliver, who is still Troy’s 400-meter record holder, was the NAIA 400-meter national champion in 1976 as an athlete. He became the head coach at Troy State in 1981, and in his nine seasons won seven conference championships while coaching 26 athletes to All-America honors. Oliver still sponsors two Coach O Invitationals in Troy every year.

CHASE RIDDLE Baseball

Chase Riddle is the all-time winningest coach in Troy baseball history with 434 victories in his 12 seasons (197990). Riddle led the Trojans to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships (1986-87) and guided Troy State to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams won five conference championships and played in six NCAA Division II World Series. He coached 30 All-Americans and Troy’s home baseball field now bears his name. (Deceased)

MIKE TURK Football

Mike Turk led the Troy football program to a pair of NCAA Division II national championships (1984, 1987) as a fouryear starting quarterback. He earned all-conference honors three times and first team All-America honors in 1987. During his career the Trojans posted a 40-8-1 record and captured three conference titles. Turk finished his career second in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in Troy history. Turk was also an assistant coach at Troy for 12 years.

DeMARCUS WARE Football

A four-year defensive lineman, DeMarcus Ware had a great career for the Troy football program and has turned it into a wildly successful NFL career. He is Troy’s career leader in tackles for loss and helped Troy to its first bowl game in 2004, earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Since being drafted 11th overall in 2005, Ware has been named to the Sun Belt’s All-Decade Team, been an NFL All-Pro seven times and was the 2008 NFC Defensive Player of the Year.

TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2013

Second Induction Class

JOHN “DOC” ANDERSON Administration Track and Field/Cross Country

John “Doc” Anderson first made his name at Troy State when he served as the track and field/cross country head coach (1969-80) and head athletic trainer (1965-80). Anderson was twice named the NAIA Track Coach of the Year while his track and field teams won three conference championships and his cross country teams won 10 conference titles. Anderson is currently an associate professor and clinical director in Troy University’s Athletic Training Education Program.

JOHN ARCHER Men’s Basketball

John Archer coached the Troy State men’s basketball team for 17 seasons (1956-73), posting a 303-185 career record. He led the program to three NAIA National Tournament appearances in his first three seasons. He helped the team to three conference championships while also serving as the head tennis coach and football line coach. After his coaching days, Archer remained at Troy State as a physical education instructor. (Deceased)

BOBBY ENSLEN Football

Bobby Enslen finished his football career at Troy State as one of the most dangerous all-purpose players in the country. He had 61 catches for 970 yards and 12 touchdowns during Troy State’s 1968 NAIA National Championship season. An allconference and all-district selection, Enslen’s 12 touchdown receptions still rank as the third most in a season in Troy history. The Red Wave went a combined 19-3 in Enslen’s two season with a pair of conference championships.

CHAN GAILEY Football

Chan Gailey spent just two seasons (1983-84) as the head coach of the Troy State football team, but his impact was felt for many years. Gailey turned a program that won just five games over the two years prior to his arrival (1981-82) into the 1984 NCAA Division II National Champions. Gailey went 19-5 in his two seasons at Troy State. Since then, Gailey has served as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Georgia Tech.

DANNY GRANT Football

Danny Grant was one of the most dominant receivers in the country when he played for the Trojans from 1966 to 1968. An NAIA All-America selection, Grant finished his threeyear career with 44 touchdown receptions, still 15 more than anybody in school history. Grant’s All-America season came during Troy State’s 1968 NAIA National Championship run when he caught 72 passes for 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns.

JOYCE SORRELL Administration

Women’s Basketball

Joyce Sorrell, the mother of women’s athletics at Troy Unversity, was the first ever Coordinator for Women’s Sports at Troy State. She also made a name leading the women’s basketball program for 20 years (1975-95). Sorrell recorded 274 wins along the way, still the most in program history. Her 1980-81 team won an Alabama AIAW State Championship. Sorrell retired from the University in 2006 after 39 years as a physical education instructor.

WILLIE TULLIS Football

Willie Tullis still ranks among the Troy football all-time greats. A dual-threat quarterback from 1978 to 1980, Tullis was a Kodak All-American in 1980 when he rushed for 450 yards and threw for 1,880 yards with 20 total touchdowns. A twotime All-Gulf South selection, Tullis went a combined 21-7 in his three seasons. Tullis was selected by the Houston Oilers in 1981 NFL Draft returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown in his first career game.

LAWRENCE TYNES Football

Lawrence Tynes transformed his successful career as a Trojan into a pair of Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants. A three-time All-Southland Conference selection, Tynes helped Troy State to a pair of NCAA Division I-AA Playoff berths. Tynes still holds Troy’s career record for extra point percentage and ranks second in field goal percentage. He has since kicked game-winning field goals in the 2007 and 2011 NFC Championship Games on his way to two titles.

TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME

MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2014

Third Induction Class

DANNY COX Baseball

Danny Cox put together one of the most magical seasons by a Troy State pitcher in 1981, earning first team AllAmerica honors. Cox won a school-record 13 games with six shutouts, a number this is still both the single-season and career record at Troy. An inaugural member of the Troy Baseball Hall of Fame, Cox set an NCAA record with 43 consecutive scoreless innings and posted a 1.30 ERA. Cox played 11 major league seasons for four different teams.

MIKE GRIFFIN Men’s Golf

One of the most successful golf coaches in NCAA history, Mike Griffin led Troy State to three NCAA DIvision II National Championships (1976, 1977, 1984), one runner-up finish and nine straight appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament. Griffin won nine coach of the year awards and coached 32 All-Americans in his 11 seasons at TSU. Griffin then took over at Auburn in 1984 and led the Tigers to 18 NCAA Regionals in his final 20 years.

PERRY GRIGGS Football

One of the most versatile players in Troy football history, Perry Griggs held the school’s all-purpose yards record for over 30 years after finishing his career with 4,079 yards. Griggs was named a Kodak first team All-American and a NAIA second-team All-American in 1976. Griggs posted his best statistical season as a sophomore in 1974 when he gained 1,585 all-purpose yards. In that season, Griggs was named the Gulf South Player of Year.

TED HORSTEAD Football

One of the all-time great running backs in Troy football history, Ted Horstead currently ranks second in Troy history with 2,926 career rushing yards. During Troy’s 1984 National Championship season, Horstead rushed for 1,123 yards on 238 carries, both setting Troy single-season records, at the time. A fullback, Horstead earned All-Gulf South honors in 1984 and 1985. He is tied for second in Troy history with eight career 100-yard rushing games.

ANTHONY REED Men’s Basketball

Troy’s all-time leading scorer, Anthony Reed dominated the Gulf South for four years, posting 1,875 career points. He was named Gulf South Freshman of the Year in 1986 after averaging 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Reed’s scoring increased by over 10 points a game over his career as he averaged a Troy single-season record 24.4 points his senior season. Reed was named All-Gulf South three times and was an All-American following his senior season.

RICK RHOADES Football

Rick Rhoades is one of three men to lead Troy football to a national championship as he was at the head of the school’s 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship. Troy State won two Gulf South titles in Rhoades three seasons, posting a 22-2 conference record over his tenure. He was the National Coach of the Year in 1987 and was also the defensive coordinator for TSU’s 1984 NCAA Division II National Championship.

OSI UMENYIORA Football

A top-notch defensive lineman in the NFL for much of his career, Osi Umenyiora was an All-American in 2002 following his senior season at Troy. Umenyiora finished second in the nation that season with 15 sacks and set a then-Troy record with 20.5 tackles for a loss. He finished his career as the Troy all-time leader in TFLs and was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Umenyiora has won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants and has played in two Pro Bowls.

PAUL WORD Men’s Basketball

One of the early pioneers of Troy State men’s basketball, Paul Word was named a Small College All-American following the 1961-62 season. In his three-year career at Troy State, he helped TSU to three NAIA National Tournaments and scored 1,113 points. Word led the team in scoring and rebounding in each of his final two seasons, including 17.6 points and 9.9 rebounds as a senior. Word went to win 614 games in 38 years as a high school coach in Alabama. (Deceased)

TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2015

Fourth Induction Class

JAMES BATIE Track and Field

A five-time NCAA & NAIA All-American from 1970 to 1973, James Batie set Troy records the moment he stepped foot on campus. Rated as the sixth-fastest runner in the nation by Runner’s World, Batie held school records in the 50, 60, 100 and 200-yard dashes, in addition to being a member of three different school-record relay teams. A member of the U.S. Olympic Training Team, Batie finished just one-tenth of a second off the world record in the 50-yard dash in high school.

RONNY MOBLEY Men’s Golf

The first student-athlete to receive a golf scholarship at Troy, Ronny Mobley did not disappoint as he went on to become a four-time NCAA Division II All-American and help lead the Trojans to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 1976 and 1977. Mobley won a remarkable 18 tournaments during his Troy career before going on to play on the PGA Tour for two years. Mobley coached the Troy men’s team for two seasons (1985-86).

KATHY RUSSELL Women’s Basketball

The all-time leading rebounder in Troy history, Kathy Russell earned All-America honors and helped lead the Trojans to the 1981 AIAW State Championship. Russell finished her career with 1,325 rebounds, which was one more than teammate Denise Monroe. Russell, who was a two-time AllAIAW Conference selection, ranks seventh all-time in Troy history with 1,521 career points. She set the Troy singleseason rebounding record with 394 in the 1979-80 season.

VIRGIL SEAY Football

One of the most dynamic players in Troy history, Virgil Seay parleyed an outstanding collegiate career into a pair of Super Bowl appearances with the Washington Redskins. Seay holds the Troy career record as he averaged 16.66 yards per punt return over his two-year career. His five punt return touchdowns ranks as the second most in Troy history, Seay ranks fourth all-time in punt return yards, despite ranking eighth in punt return attempts.

RONNIE SHELLEY Football

Ronnie Shelley holds Troy single-season and career records for interceptions. A key piece of Troy’s 1968 NAIA National Championship team, Shelley earned All-America honors after intercepting 15 passes during the 1968 season. He broke his own school record that season as he established a new single-season mark with eight interceptions the prior year. Shelley finished his career with 36 interceptions, which is almost double that of the next closest player’s tally.

ROBERT E. STEWART Administration

Robert E. Stewart was Troy’s athletic director from 1974-91 and the Trojans won 10 NCAA Division II National Championships, 66 conference championships and eight All-Sports Trophies during his tenure. During his career, the men’s golf and women’s golf teams each won three national titles, while the football and baseball teams each won two national titles. He was responsible for the hiring of Troy University Sports Hall of Fame coaches Larry Blakeney, Don Maestri, Chase Riddle, Chan Gailey and Rick Rhoades.

WARD THIGPEN Baseball

Ward Thigpen turned in one of the best seasons in Troy baseball history as he posted an 11-1 record with a 2.12 ERA en route to Gulf South Pitcher of the Year and First Team AllAmerica honors. Thigpen helped lead the Trojans to within one game of a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series. Thigpen struck out 107 batters during the 1990 season, including a school record seven consecutive strikeouts.

FREDDIE THOMAS Football

From walk-on to two-time All-American, Freddie Thomas is a true success story in the history of Troy Athletics. Thomas earned Kodak All-America honors his junior season after recording 85 tackles, five interceptions, eight pass break ups and a blocked punt. He parleyed his outstanding junior season into an even better senior campaign where he was named captain of the 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship squad. Thomas was a Consensus AllAmerican that season as he finished with 85 tackles and an interception from his safety position

TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2016

Fifth Induction Class

SANDY ATKINS Softball

A dynamic offensive threat, Sandy Atkins helped lead the Troy softball team to its best season in school history, while at the same time etching her name in the Troy record book. Atkins finished her Troy career with a .359 batting average over two seasons, which is a number that still holds true as the best in school history. She also ranks fifth in on-base percentage (.419) and steals (69). As a senior, Atkins set single-season records for hits (85) and runs scored (54); she finished ninth nationally with 36 stolen bases.

RALPH BLACK Broadcaster

Ralph Black was responsible for many historic calls during his 26 years as the play-by-play broadcaster for Troy football, basketball and baseball. He called four national championship games during his career. Black was also part of the 1993 men’s basketball run to the national championship game. Black called over 1,000 Troy sporting events from 1976 to 2002 and helped build the Troy State Sports Network into one of the largest of its kind in Alabama, at one point comprising 18 stations. (Deceased)

DAVID FELIX Men’s Basketball

David Felix made his mark at Troy as both a player and coach. He still holds the school records for assists (625) and steals (251). Felix spent 32 seasons as an assistant coach at Troy. He helped guide the Trojans to four trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, a pair of NCAA Division II Final Four appearances, one NCAA Division I Tournament appearance in 2003 and two NIT appearances. Troy led the nation in 3-pointers six times and won three NCAA scoring titles.

AL LUCAS Football

Two-time All-American and 1999 Buck Buchanan Award winner, Al Lucas was a true force on Troy’s defensive line during the late 1990s. A unanimous All-America selection following his senior year in 1999, Lucas led the Trojans to an 11-2 record and a berth in the NCAA FCS (I-AA) quarterfinals. He finished the season with 129 tackles and 20 tackles for loss, which rank as the ninth and third most in a singleseason in school history, respectively. (Deceased)

RICK MAXEY Football

One of the most feared defensive players of the 1970s, Rick Maxey was a four-year starter for the Trojans at linebacker and was named one of the team’s permanent captains his senior year. A native of Ocoee, Fla., Maxey led the Trojans in tackles as a sophomore and a senior en route to earning NAIA All-District honors his sophomore campaign. A member of the 1974-77 football teams, Maxey helped lead Troy to a 1976 Gulf South Conference championship.

TERRY McCORD Men’s Basketball

One of the top offensive players in Troy men’s basketball history, Terry McCord not only lit up the scoreboard, but he also helped lead Troy to the 1993 NCAA Division II National Championship Game. McCord earned All-America honors his senior year after averaging a Troy single-season record 24.2 points per game. The Trojans topped the 100-point mark a remarkable 24 times, McCord also a set Troy single-season record that season for free throws made (156). McCord ranks second all-time in Troy history in scoring average at 22.0 points per game.

CHARLES PICKETT Football

Troy’s all-time sack leader and a three-time NAIA All-District selection, Charles Pickett’s name is littered throughout the Troy defensive record book following an All-American career. Pickett earned honorable mention All-America and NAIA All-District honors following his junior season in 1975 after recording 106 tackles and 19 sacks. He followed with another 19-sack season his senior year as the Trojans went on to win the Gulf South championship. (Deceased)

JOHNNY WILLIAMS Administration

One of the instrumental leaders in Troy’s move from NCAA Division II to Division I, Johnny Williams’ was named Troy’s Athletics Director in the spring of 1994 following a sevenyear stint as Troy’s defensive coordinator. Williams was an original member of the Athletic Challenge Fund Steering Committee, which was the precursor to the committee that raised $1 million in less than two years to initiate Troy’s move to Division I.

DR. JOHNNY LONG Sound of the South

CLASS OF 2017

Sixth Induction Class

BENNY BEARD Supporter

The “driving force” for the plan to move Troy University Athletics from Division II to Division I, Benny Beard provided the vision and countless hours of work towards that move.

A two-term president of the Troy Alumni Association from 1983 to 1987, Beard made the first presentation to the Board of Trustees to recommend the step up on the NCAA ladder, which he dubbed “The Dream”. Beard served as the president of the Troy University Challenge Fund which was charged to help fund the drive to Division I athletics.

DeWHITT BETTERSON Football

The all-time leading rusher in Troy history, DeWhitt Betterson was a key member of the Troy football teams that helped the Trojans make the transition from the FCS to the FBS and the Sun Belt Conference. Betterson, who played for the Trojans from 2001-04, rushed for 3,441 yards on 653 carries over his four-year career – his career rushing total is 515 yards more than anyone else in school history. in Troy’s first year in the league after rushing for 1,286 yards, which ranks as the third most in a season in school history.

MELANIE DAVIS Softball

The face of the Troy softball program for 21 years, Melanie Davis accumulated a 780 wins, led the Trojans to a pair of conference titles and one NCAA Regional. Davis built the Troy softball program from the ground up and her win total stands as the most by any coach in the school’s history. She has been inducted into the West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame, the Wiregrass Hall of Fame and the Alabama Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame.

DR. DOUG HAWKINS Administration

A 35-year veteran of the Troy University Board of Trustees, Dr. Doug Hawkins dedicated his life to service and was a major administrative voice behind Troy’s move from NCAA Division II to Division I. Dr. Hawkins served as a guiding vision to many projects at Troy University including the first doctoral programs, Division I athletics and the internationalization of the University; he also served as the President Pro Tempore on the Troy University Board of Trustees.

(Deceased)

JERREL JERNIGAN Football

One of the most dynamic players in Troy University and Sun Belt Conference history, Jerrel Jernigan was a player that head coaches and defensive coordinators had nightmares about and game planned against. A seven-time All-Sun Belt selection, Jernigan ranks in the top five in Sun Belt history in four categories, while holding Troy career records for 100-yard receiving games, receiving yards, receptions, receptions per game and all-purpose yards.

Thanks to the life-long dedication to his craft, Dr. Johnny Long transformed the Sound of the South into one of the nation’s premier marching bands and forever changing the pageantry surrounding Troy Athletic events. Hired in 1965, Dr. Long not only wrote The Sound of the South’s trademark piece “The Fanfare”, he also named the band upon his arrival. Under Dr. Long’s direction, The Sound of the South represented the state in four presidential inaugural parades and served as the official band for two presidential visits to Alabama.

(Deceased)

BUBBA MARRIOTT Football

Troy University has a history of producing top-level quarterbacks. The pioneer of that long lineage of strong signal callers is Bubba Marriott. A two-sport star for the Trojans, Marriott lettered four seasons in football and three seasons in baseball. Marriott became the fifth All-American in Troy’s football history his senior year when he was tabbed to the Associated Press’ Little All-American Team in addition to earning All-Alabama Collegiate Conference honors in Troy’s first season in the conference.

FRANK SADLER Football

One of the best kick returners in school history, Frank Sadler still holds records today that he set during his tenure from 1957-59. A four-sport star for the Trojans, Sadler earned allconference honors both on the football field and baseball diamond in addition to playing one season of basketball and competing in track & field for one season. Following his Troy career, Sadler went on to become a successful collegiate and high school coach before returning to Troy to retire.

(Deceased)

TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2018

Seventh Induction Class

MANDEE ARMSTRONG Women’s Basketball

One of the most dynamic scorers in Troy women’s basketball history, Mandee Armstrong’s name is littered throughout the Troy record book. Armstrong ruled the court for the Trojans from 1993 until 1997 and finished her career with 1,606 points, a total that stood as Troy’s Division I record for nearly 20 years and still ranks as the second-best mark in the school’s Division I history and fourth-best overall. A twotime Mid-Continent Conference First Team selection, checks in fifth all-time in Troy history in scoring average (17.1).

CHUCK ASH Administration

An influential voice in collegiate athletic training for more than three decades, Charles “Chuck” Ash served Troy University student-athletes from his roots as an undergraduate student athletic trainer in the mid 70s until he retired as the Director of Sports Medicine in the fall of 2017. The 2016 Troy University Alumnus of the Year, Ash was inducted into the Alabama Athletic Trainer Hall of Fame in 2008 and was named the Alabama Athletic Trainer Association College and University Athletic Trainer of the Year during his career.

BEN BATES Men’s Golf

Two-time All-American, national champion and PGA professional, Ben Bates has been successful at every level throughout his golf career. A four-time all-Gulf South Conference honoree, Bates earned All-America honors in 1983 and 1984 under Troy University Sports Hall of Fame head coach Mike Griffin. Bates and Troy won the 1984 NCAA Division II national championship and the Trojans finished no worse than third in the four national appearances during his career.

BOB LAMBERT Track & Field

Eight-time conference coach of the year, Bob Lambert served as the director of track & field / cross country for 14 seasons and finished his career as one of the most successful coaches in Troy history. Lambert led the Trojans to seven men’s conference titles and one women’s conference title, while more than 300 of his student-athletes earned allconference honors. (Deceased)

LEODIS McKELVIN Football

Troy’s only Football Bowl Subdivision All-American, Leodis McKelvin was a terror for opposing offenses and special teams units. In 2007, McKelvin ranked third nationally averaging 18.3 yards per punt return and was the only player in the country to return three punts for a touchdown. Those numbers landed him on the Rivals.com, The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly All-America Teams. He also led the Trojans in all-purpose yards (1,192) despite not taking an offensive snap at all that season.

BOBBY PIERCE Baseball

The all-time winningest coach in Troy baseball history, Bobby Pierce led Troy to four conference titles and four NCAA Regional appearances, while his players earned numerous All-America, all-conference and NCAA statistical champion awards. In his time at Troy, Pierce coached 15 All-Americans and had 28 players sign professional contracts. He also coached 42 all-conference selections, four Pitchers of the Year (2005, 2006, 2011, 2013), two Players of the Year (2005, 2011), one Newcomer of the Year (2007) and two Freshmen of the Year (2009 & 2014).

WENDELL STEPHENS Baseball

In what forever will be known as the “Grand Slam at Midnight”, Wendell Stephens etched his name in Troy lore for all-time with one powerful swing of the bat. Stephens stepped to the plate in the top of the ninth inning with one out and the bases loaded in Troy’s opener of the 1986 NCAA Division II World Series. Down to his final strike and with Troy trailing Mankato State, 6-4, Stephens sent his 12th home run of the season deep into the midnight sky to give Troy the lead and eventually the national championship.

STEVE VENABLE Track & Field

One of the most decorated athletes in Troy track & field history, Steve Venable is a five-time NCAA All-American and still holds numerous school records more than 30 years after his final meet for the Trojans. Nicknamed “Animal” by Coach Doc Anderson, Venable ran on six Troy teams that won both conference and regional championships during his tenure and he himself won seven individual conference titles, five in track & field and two in cross country. (Deceased)

TROY UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

CLASS OF 2019

Eighth Induction Class

JOHN FAIRCLOTH Football

A trailblazer in the history of Troy football, John Faircloth was a prominent fixture on the offensive line and as a linebacker during his tenure as he started every game of his career. The true definition of iron-man football, Faircloth averaged 56 minutes of playing time per game. He earned All-Alabama Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior in addition to earning honorable mention Little AllAmerica honors as a senior in 1961. Faircloth was a two-time All-Alabama Collegiate Conference selection.

TAMRA HOWREN Softball

Tamra Howren produced one of the most productive careers in Troy history. Howren finished her career in the top 10 of 11 offensive categories and still holds five records – slugging percentage (.637), hits (273), doubles (67), home runs (52) and runs batted in (202). Howren is one of 35 players to be a three-time All-Atlantic Sun selection. A member of Troy’s 2005 A-Sun regular season championship team, Howren hit 23 home runs and drove in 65 runs, single-season records that still stand.

MITZI McLENDON HASTY Softball

One of the most prolific hitters in Troy softball history, Mitzi McLendon Hasty’s name is scattered throughout the Troy record book. Hasty finished her career with 256 career hits, a record that stood until 2005 and currently stands second alltime. Hasty was a three-time All-Mid Continent Conference First Team selection and led Troy to the 1996 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament title and the program’s first-ever berth into the NCAA Division I Tournament.

BROCK NUTTER Football

A leader both on and off the field, Brock Nutter started 48 straight games for the Trojans and made history as Troy’s first quarterback at the NCAA Division IA level. Nutter was the school record holder in passing yards and completions at the time of his graduation. A two-time All-Southland Conference selection and the 1998 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, Nutter led the Trojans to a pair of conference titles and three trips to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.

GARRICK PIMIENTA Football

Troy’s all-time leading tackler, Garrick Pimienta was a threetime All-Gulf South selection and was a key member of the Trojans’ 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship team. Pimienta finished his Troy career with 563 career tackles, 98 more than anyone else in school history. Known as a big hitter on the Troy defense, Pimienta also holds the school’s career record for unassisted tackles (307) and assisted tackles (256).

DARRYL THOMAS Men’s Basketball

Darryl Thomas, a two-time junior college All-American, averaged 23.2 points per game while being named an AllAmerican and Gulf South Conference Player of the Year in 1989. Thomas scored 1,415 points in his two seasons at Troy and finished his career in the top 10 in points, scoring average (23.2), field goals attempted (1,157), free throws made (298) and free throws attempted (391). Thomas still holds the program’s single-season record with 815 points and 320 field goals made in 1987-88.

HALL OF FAME

The Troy University Sports Hall of Fame came to being in the spring of 2010 following a conversation between Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, and former trustee, the late Dr. Doug Hawkins. Ensuing conversations between the Chancellor and the Athletics Director resulted in a plan to develop the TROY University Sports Hall of Fame.

The vision shared by Dr. Jack Hawkins and Dr. Doug Hawkins was of a Hall of Fame whose membership is based on merit and free of political favoritism. To that end, bylaws were drafted appointing a wide-ranging Board of Advisors drawn from across the Troy University family, which would be charged with selecting inductees. Complete information on the bylaws and members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee can by found by visiting TroyTrojans.com/HOF.

The Hall of Fame is located in the main rotunda of Trojan Arena, which opened in 2012. The Hall of Fame, now with 59 members, features two interactive video monitors that display pictures and induction acceptance videos of all members.

Between the two monitors is a wall permanently displaying the names of all members. The Hall of Fame area of Trojan Arena also features numerous artifacts from throughout the history of Troy University Athletics.

HALL OF FAME

Chancellor Hawkins chose Earl Johnson to lead the inaugural board of advisors. Mr. Johnson, an attorney and Mayor of Andalusia, was an active member of the Troy University Foundation Board of Directors and a strong supporter of Trojan sports. Dr. Hawkins also chose for a key leadership role Dr. Ken Blankenship, former TROY football player and former Director of Athletics, who was then serving as the Executive Director of the Central Alabama Sports Commission in Montgomery.

The other members of the inaugural Board of Advisors were alumnus Ron Davis, Mayor of Prichard, William Thigpen, former State Representative from Fayette County and a basketball letterman; G. Keith Black of Florence, former TROY baseball standout; Bob Butterworth, TROY alumnus and Montevallo insurance agency owner; Ben Beard, Troy businessman; Rick Maxey of Tallahassee, Fla., a former Trojan football star; Melanie Garner, TROY alumna and insurance agent from Geneva; Jeff Coleman, alumnus and President of Coleman Worldwide Moving in Dothan; Susan Murphree of Troy, an alumna and long-time Trojan fan; Sim Byrd, Montgomery businessman and quarterback of the 1968 Troy State University Red Wave which won the NAIA national title; Stacy Faison of Fortson, Ga., alumnus and former Trojan football player; Tommy Hicks, alumnus and sportswriter, Mobile Press-Register; Barry McKnight, the “voice of the Trojans;” Doug Mims, Dothan CPA and football letterman; Andy Britton of Montgomery, who is a Coca-Cola executive and football referee; Roy Crawford, a Birmingham attorney and football letterman.