Radford University Athletics

The Radford Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1995 to honor our most successful graduates and provide a space to recognize their great accomplishments as a Highlander. As of 2019, there have been 62 members inducted into the Radford University Athletics Hall of Fame during the annual induction ceremony held each fall during Homecoming Weekend.

To nominate someone for the Radford Athletics Hall of Fame, click here. Under Hall of Fame guidelines, persons are not eligible for induction until they have been out of school for a period of 10 years.

THE CLASS OF 2019

Whit Holcomb-Faye – Men's Basketball | 2002-06
Whit Holcomb-Faye ('06) showed star-studded potential right away, tallying 14.3 points and 4.0 assists per game as a freshman which garnered him the 2002- 03 Big South Freshman of the Year award. He delivered on that potential with a phenomenal career and capped it with a stellar senior campaign that included 669 points and 23.1 points per game – both of which rank first in a single season at Radford. Holcomb-Faye averaged at least 15 points per game in each of his last three seasons with the Highlanders, including a career-best 23.1 per game in his senior season. The dynamic guard also averaged four assists and three rebounds per game for his career. The Winston-Salem native sits third in career total points (1,856) and second in points per game (17.7), while also ranking inside the top 10 in field goals made, three-pointers made and free throws made at Radford. Holcomb-Faye finished his career eighth in scoring among all players in the Big South before beginning a professional career overseas. 


Jeff Majewski – Men's Soccer | 1988-1991
Distinguished by four years in a Highlander uniform and four years as a First Team Big South All-Conference member, Jeff Majewski ('92) is one of 23 players in the Big South to earn all-conference accolades four times in a career, earning the distinction each season from 1988-91. Majewski also earned All-Big South Tournament honors three times in his career (1988, 1990-91) and was the conference's player of the week on multiple occasions. Throughout his stint as a Highlander, Majewski brought home two Big South Regular Season Championships (1988 & 1991) and one Big South Tournament Championship (1988). Majewski tallied 35 goals and 23 assists in his time at Radford, which added up to 93 points – all ranking inside the top five at Radford. The midfielder was also named to the 1990-99 Big South All-Decade Team, which recognized the top players in the conference during the 1990s.


Ashley Taylor Hall – Softball | 2005-2008
There's no other way to describe the illustrious career of Ashley Taylor Hall ('08) than dominant. The two-way player's name is all over the Radford record books. As a pitcher, she tallied 84 wins with a 1.74 ERA and 842 strikeouts through four years at Radford, all ranking first in program history. The Dan River High School graduate was the first and only three-time Big South Pitcher of the Year and was a three-time first team all-conference performer. Taylor also earned All- Southeast Region accolades during her career. Taylor also put up impressive numbers with her bat. She collected 40 doubles, 30 home runs and 136 RBIs, which rank inside the top 10 school history in their respective categories. The Ringgold, Va., native finished her career with 133 starts, 100 complete games, 25 shutouts and 12 saves through 896.2 innings pitched – all top numbers in Radford Softball history. She still holds the single-game mark for strikeouts with 16 and threw two no-hitters during her career. 


Tyler Will - Men's Cross Country Head Coach | 1978-1987 • Women's Cross Country Head Coach | 1978-82
This high-caliber coach was here when it all began for the Radford Men's Cross Country program. Tyler Will was the first coach of the men's cross country team and took the Highlanders to new heights with their first Big South Championship in 1985. The nine-year head coach was named to the 1984-89 Big South All Decade Team after claiming three total Big South Men's Cross Country Championships at Radford (1985-87). The three conference titles are currently tied for the most by a coach at Radford and tied for second-most in the Big South. Will coached many great runners including current Hall of Fame member, Donnie Tickle. Tickle was among 16 all-conference selections Will brought to the New River Valley. Will also coached the women's cross country team from 1978-82. 


THE CLASS OF 2018

Jackie Clouse Snell (Athletic Trainer / 1984-2008)
This former athletics staff member contributed countless time and effort to the Radford Athletics Department as head athletic trainer for three decades. Beloved by hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and staff, Jackie Clouse Snell began her career at Radford as a graduate assistant in August 1983. She was appointed as head athletic trainer in 1984 and that same year completed her Master of Science degree in Physical and Health Education at Radford. Clouse Snell was the guiding force in the upstart of the Radford University Athletic Training Education program and served as the department's Senior Woman Administrator. A native of Somerset, Ohio, Clouse Snell currently serves as the head athletic trainer and a teacher at Pulaski County High School in Dublin, Va.


Nikki Porter (Women's Soccer / 2001-04)
One of the most prolific offensive players to don a Radford uniform, Nikki Porter's name can be found throughout the program's record book. Porter holds the career record for shots with 295, while ranking second with 41 goals. Earning Big South First Team honors four times, Porter opened her career as the Big South's Freshman of the Year in 2001 before leading the Highlanders to a championship in 2002. The Maryville, Tenn., native was named Big South Player of the Year that season after leading Radford with 13 goals. The 2002 season saw the Highlanders win 15 games and its second tournament championship. Tallying 33 points in 2002, Porter completed her career with 104 points, ranking second in program history. The 2003 season saw Porter win her second straight Player of the Year award, becoming the only Highlander in program history to earn the honor in consecutive seasons.


Denny Van Pelt (Baseball / 1991-94)
Dennis "Denny" Van Pelt proved to be one of the best all-around players in program history, setting the tone for future Highlanders. The New Jersey native etched his name within the Radford baseball record book, ranking inside the Top 10 in nine career categories. When he graduated in 1994 he held the single-season and career records for home runs and stolen bases. He hit 11 of his 25 career home runs in 1994 and swiped 22 bases that same year with 46 total in a Radford uniform. Van Pelt ranks second in career walks (105), fourth in on-base percentage (.431) and fourth in RBIs (151). With a career .330 batting average, he became the fourth Highlander selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft as the California Angels took him in the 25th round. With three All-Big South selections, Van Pelt earned a spot on the Big South's 1990s All-Decade team in 2014.


Dr. Donald N. Dedmon (University President / 1972-1994)
A current member of the Big South Conference Hall of Fame, Dr. Donald N. Dedmon was named the fourth president of Radford College on March 20, 1972. He was at the forefront of Radford being granted university status, allowing men to be admitted and giving the athletic programs the nickname "Highlanders." During the two decades that Dr. Dedmon served as Radford's president, the university experienced unprecedented growth in campus size, curriculum and student population. As the campus grew, so did the amenities around it. Located adjacent from the New River, the Dedmon Center, named in honor of Dr. Dedmon opened in 1981. He was instrumental in the building of the center, which became one of the first buildings designed with an inflated air-supported roof. In 1981, Dr. Dedmon led Radford to NCAA Division II status and then onto a NCAA Division I affiliation in September 1984 thanks to a move to the Big South Conference in 1983. He served as Big South President from May 1986-92 and his tenure included the conference becoming a full-fledged NCAA Division I member in September 1986. Dr. Dedmon will enter the hall of fame posthumously.


THE CLASS OF 2017

Tiffany Evans (Women's Track & Field / 2003-07)
Evans ('07) finished her four-year career as one of the top throwers in both Radford and Big South track and field history, leaving her name all over the record books. She holds the program record in both indoor and outdoor shot put (owning all top 10 marks in each), as well as weight throw and discus. The Albany, Ga., native was named Big South Female Track and Field Athlete and Female Athlete of the Year in 2006. Evans swept the Big South indoor shot put and weight throw championships, along with the outdoor shot put and hammer throw titles three straight years from 2005-07. Nationally, she earned indoor All-American honors in 2006 and was a four-time outdoor NCAA Regional qualifier.


Chris Oliver (Men's Basketball / 2003-07)
Oliver ('07) had a stellar all-around four-year career for the Highlanders and is only one of eight players in the Big South Conference to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 steals, 100 blocks and 100 assists. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Oliver ranks second in Radford history with 845 rebounds and fourth with 1,659 points. He ranks all-time in the Radford career top-10 in seven categories (total rebounds, total points, field goals made, free throws made, blocked shots, points per game and rebounds per game). As a senior, he set the single-season program record with 220 field goals made. The 6-7 forward was a three-time All-Big South Second-Team member and claimed five Big South Player of the Week awards.


Don Staley (Men's and Women's Soccer Head Coach / 1985-93)
Staley ('89) helped build both of Radford's soccer programs and capped off his Radford career with a combined 182 wins. He had 97 wins as the women's coach and 85 as the men's. Altogether, Staley compiled 323 collegiate soccer wins. As the men's leader he won three Big South regular season championships and one Big South Tournament Championship. With the women, Staley went 14-7-1 in his first year and led the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance. During his tenure at Radford, he coached two All-Americans, a men's U.S. Olympic Team member and a women's Hermann Trophy finalist. Staley is the only hall of fame member to be named Big South Coach of the Year in two different sports. He won the first with the men in 1991 and the women in 1993 during his final stint as a Highlander.


THE CLASS OF 2016

Rachid Benjelloun (Men's Tennis / 1991-94)
Benjelloun ('94) became Radford's first-ever Big South Player of the Year in men's tennis, while garnering all-conference recognition in singles and doubles as a senior in 1994. His 96 career singles victories rank third in program history and held up as the mark to beat for 15 seasons. Over his last three years, Benjelloun was a mainstay in the NCAA Region II rankings. He ranked 16th in the region following his junior campaign (30-5), defeating seven players ranked higher than him. In addition to his on-court success, Benjelloun was selected as a 1994 Academic All-America honoree.


Steve Govett (Men's Lacrosse / 1990-93)
Govett ('93) was the Highlanders' all-time leading scorer, tallying 118 goals during his RU career. The British Columbia native played for Team Canada in the 1994 and 1998 World Games, and later assumed a leadership role for both Canada and the United States in gold medal-winning performances. Following his collegiate career, Govett played professionally for the Philadelphia Wings from 1994-1998, collecting 26 goals and 23 assists in 36 regular-season games. During his five-year pro career, the Wings won three league championships. In 1999, Govett took the next step in his career by becoming the Wings' new general manager. His talents eventually led him to Denver where he is the president and general manager of the Colorado Mammoth. Under Govett's leadership, Colorado has won three division titles, made 11 playoff appearances and captured the 2006 NLL championship. A dominant force during his playing days, Govett has become a renowned, award-winning sports business executive.


Kelly Dampeer (Baseball / 1994-97)
Dampeer ('00) is one of only two Highlanders in program history to be named a four-time all-conference honoree. A local product from Northside High School in Roanoke, Va., Dampeer was the Division I Player of the Year in 1995 and Mizuno Freshman of the Year in 1994, in addition to being a Freshman All-America selection. Known for his power, Dampeer is tied for the most home runs in a single season (16) and for a career (38). Dampeer is also the career leader in doubles (64) and total bases (456). The Cleveland Indians drafted Dampeer in the 22nd round of the 1997 MLB First-Year Player Draft. In three professional seasons, Dampeer hit for a .263 average with nine home runs, 43 doubles and 88 RBIs.


Stephanie George (Women's Golf / 1997-01)
George ('02) earned the program's only individual conference title when she hoisted the 2001 Big South Championship on her way to Golfer of the Year and all-conference honors. As the first-ever Radford golfer to advance to regionals, George tied for 21st on the individual leaderboard at the 2001 NCAA East Region Championship. She currently owns the program's third-best career scoring average (78.23). George remains the only Highlander to have qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.


Katie Sherwood Roof (Volleyball / 1998-01)
Sherwood Roof ('02) is the program's only two-time Big South Player of the Year, while leading the Highlanders to the 2000 NCAA Tournament and earning BSC Tournament MVP honors in the process. She burst onto the scene in 1998, garnering Big South Freshman of the Year and went on to earn first-team all-conference recognition in her final three seasons-the first-ever Highlander to do so in program history. Roof still owns the single-season rally-scoring record for kills per set (4.86) and points (592)-all obtained in 2001. A crossover player (side-out and rally scoring), she finished her career with 1,568 kills, 1,158 digs, a .307 attack percentage, 530 total blocks, 144 aces and 2,032 points. She was selected to the Big South's All-Decade Team for 2000-09, along with earning all-tournament honors in each tournament over her four years, including several MVP honors, and ranked as high as 12th nationally in digs during her freshman season.


THE CLASS OF 2014

Tammie Crown (Women's Basketball / 1989-93)
Tammie Crown ('94) capped a stellar career with a tremendous senior campaign that culminated with being named 1992-93 Big South Player of the Year. A first-team all-conference selection in her final season, Crown averaged 15 ppg and 8.6 rpg en route to a fourth straight Big South title. A member of the 1,000-point/500-rebound club, Crown posted 1,055 points and 735 rebounds for her career. At the completion of her career, she had garnered the fourth most rebounds and at the time of her induction sits seventh in the program annals. A stellar shooter, Crown owns the mark for consecutive made free throws with 37 (1991-92), along with the single-season records for free throw percentage (.864) and shooting percentage (.611).


Dan Grubbs (Men's Basketball / 1978-80)
A two-year member of the Highlanders, Dan Grubbs ('80) was a force in the paint. In 1978-79, Grubbs set the single-season rebounding (269) caroms and finished with 511 career rebounds, which was second all-time upon his graduation. His career 9.3 rebounds per game stood as the program standard until the completion of the 2009-10 season. Grubbs pulled down a single-game record 19 boards as both a junior and senior. On top of those marks, he recorded the best single-season (.688/1979-80) and career (.652) field goal percentage in RU history. Part of RU's first scholarship class, Grubbs, a two-year captain, was a key cog on the 1978-79 squad that went 23-4, which remains the benchmark for victories in a single season.


Tommy Lillard (Men's Soccer, 1974-77; Coach and Administrator / 1978-2008; Women's Soccer, 1981; Coach)
From his start as a student-athlete to serving as an administrator, Tommy Lillard ('79) made numerous contributions to RU Athletics. A member of the inaugural men's soccer team, he served as assistant and then head coach for six seasons (1980-85). Instrumental in the men's program's transition to NCAA Div. I, he was also pivotal in the formation of women's soccer in 1981, serving as its first head coach. With the men, Lillard guided RU to an NAIA district title in 1980 and a Virginia Intercollegiate (VISA) title in 1981, earning VISA Coach of the Year. In his final season, he guided RU to a 5-1 Big South finish and its first title game appearance. Lillard also served RU Athletics in various administrative roles until 2008.


Laura Topolski (Women's Soccer / 1990-93)
A Big South First Team selection in 1993, Laura Topolski ('94) keyed Radford to a 6-1 mark in the first year of Big South women's soccer. One of the best defensive players in program history and a two-year team captain, Topolski led a 1993 defense that allowed a school-record low 12 goals and posted a league and program-best 0.56 GAA, marks which still stand at the time of her induction. Radford started the 1993 season 10-0 and set a then program record with 15 wins, which included a 2-1 victory over eventual NCAA runner-up George Mason and a 12-0-1 home record. With her four-year presence on the back line, the Highlanders posted 31 shutouts and won 54 contests.


THE CLASS OF 2013

Karen (Bowles) Jordan (1986-90) - Women's Basketball - One of two women's basketball Student-Athletes and three Highlanders to accumulate 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, Karen Bowles ('90) helped lead Radford to three Big South Championships and the league's first postseason appearance (WNIT) in 1989. A three-time first-team all-conference selection, Bowles was named the Big South Tournament MVP in 1990. She currently ranks second in career rebounds (1,012), and at the time of her graduation, was fifth on the all-time scoring list (1,072). Bowles was instrumental in guiding the Highlanders to 84 wins over a four-year span, posting three straight 20-win seasons, including a school-record 25 in the 1988-89 season.


Sheila (Branch) Turpin (1976-80) - Women's Basketball - Starting every game of her collegiate career, Sheila Branch ('80) was the second Highlander women's basketball Student-Athlete to reach 1,000 points. Graduating as the program's all-time leader in points (1,197) and rebounds (679), Branch was the squad's leading scorer (16.9 ppg) and rebounder (8.2 rpg) during her junior campaign (1978-79), a season which also included a career-best 36 points against Wake Forest. A three-time all-state selection, Branch was an integral part of teams that won 61 contests and sported a .670 winning percentage during her four-year career, which culminated with a 1980 Division II State Championship.


Don Burgess (1990-94) - Men's Basketball - A first-team All-Big South selection in 1994, Don Burgess ('94) finished his career with 1,452 points, which at the time, was second on the Radford scoring list. This total currently ranks sixth on the all-time list for the Highlanders. More than just a scoring threat, Burgess also ranked in the top-10 in career steals (5^th-162), rebounds (5^th-614), and assists (9^th-231) when his career ended. These totals currently place him sixth on the all-time steals list and 10^th in rebounds. Burgess owns the Radford record for career free throw percentage as well (.842). During his career, the Highlanders posted a 48-4 record inside the Dedmon Center, including the only undefeated home season since becoming a Division I program in 1984-85 (13-0 in 1993-94).


Gretchen (Foster) Robertson (1984-87) - Volleyball - A Big South all-conference selection and the league's MVP runner-up in 1986 and 1987, Gretchen Foster ('88) played an instrumental role in Radford's transition to Division I and helped RU to its first Big South Championship in 1987. She was also named to the Big South All-Tournament teams in each of those seasons. Foster's stellar play during her four-year career earned her several in-season all-tournament honors and helped lead the Highlanders to 103 victories, including a school-record 31 wins in 1985. The Highlanders posted a .701 winning percentage during that span and enjoyed an 11-2 regular season mark in their first two Big South campaigns.


Rich Hogan (1976-80) - Men's Lacrosse - Credited with helping establish men's lacrosse as a club sport while a student at Radford, Rich Hogan ('80) emerged as one of the most prolific scorers in the program's history once it transitioned from a club to a varsity sport in 1979. Hogan scored 70 goals over a two-year span and stood, at that time, as the program's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. As a junior in the inaugural varsity season, he scored 43 goals in just eight games. He followed that with an MVP senior season in which he tallied 27 goals, 11 assists, and 38 points.


THE CLASS OF 2012 Melissa (Gaitka) Halpern (1991-94) - Women's Soccer
A Kearny, N.J. native, Melissa Gaitka ('95) was a standout player for the Radford women's soccer team from 1991-94. In 1993, Gaitka collected 34 points (11 goals, 12 assists) en route to earning second-team All-Big South honors. She returned in 1994 to record one of the best individual seasons in program history. With her 19 goals - a single-season program record - Gaitka was named first-team all-conference and Big South Player of the Year. In addition, she led her club to the league semifinals and earned all-tournament honors. Gaitka currently ranks third in career goals (40), assists (23), points (103) and second in total shots taken (254) in the Radford record books. Over her four years, Gaitka charted five two-goal games, four hat tricks and tied the program record with four goals scored against Appalachian State in 1994, becoming one of four players to net four goals in a game in Highlander women's soccer history.
  Suzie (Rath) Creech (1993-96) - Softball
A three-time Big South All-Conference selection, Suzie Rath ('96) left her mark on the Radford softball program by setting several program records, some which still stand today. Rath joined the Highlanders' newly-found softball program in the fall of 1992, following its first year of NCAA competition, and made an immediate impact. She was the first-ever Radford softball player selected to a Big South All-Conference team with a first team honor as a freshman in 1993. That season, Rath batted .380 with four doubles and 19 runs scored, while swiping 25 bases in 34 contests. In addition, the Springfield, Va. native would go on to earn another first team distinction in 1995 and a second team honor in 1996. Her career culminated with the program's most successful season at that time in 1996. Rath's .357 average and still school-record 61 runs, along with 13 doubles and 32 stolen bases, keyed the Highlanders to their first-ever winning season and then-school record 33 wins. Known for her speed, she still owns the all-time triples mark with 17, which includes the single-season record of seven posted in 1994 and 1995. At the time of her graduation in 1996, Rath was the program's career leader in 10 offensive categories and still ranks in the Top-10 in six of those.
 

THE CLASS OF 2005 Over her 39-year teaching career at Radford, Arnold was the driving force behind the school's respected physical education program, a cornerstone that allowed Radford to move easily and swiftly into mainstream intercollegiate athletics in the early 70's, just after her retirement. The Milledgeville, Ga., native came to Radford in 1931, and served as chair of the P.E. department for 25 years, establishing the new major at the school, and building the PEM Club (P.E. Majors) into one of the college's largest and most popular organizations. Many Radford alumni most remember her for organizing the school's Annual May Day event, one of Radford's most popular and successful traditions for many, many years. Her "sunny disposition and readiness to cooperate" were a foundation for the campus in its formative years and she is fondly remembered by countless students for her untiring service and dedication.
  Billy Myers (1982-86) - Men's Basketball
Billy Myers ('86) was one of Radford basketball's first four-year starters, entering school at a pivotal juncture as the Highlanders transitioned from NAIA competition all the way to NCAA Division I play. A pure shooter, Myers would score 1,178 points during his career, but was often asked to sacrifice his scoring to play point guard and his consistently hard-nosed defense. He started in 104 of 108 games and also ranks among the school's all-time leaders in steals. A team captain and recognized leader on campus, Myers graduated in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in statistics. The Highlanders averaged 15 wins a season during his career from 1982-86, moving up a level in competition each year. The Blacksburg native became Radford's first Division I Academic All-American in basketball and was a Dean's Scholar nominee in math and statistics.


THE CLASS OF 2004

Mitzi Hartwell (1983-86) - Women's Cross Country
One of the most dominating performers in the history of the Big South Conference, Hartwell was undefeated in league competition as a junior and a senior, capturing the conference's first women's championship at the 1986 meet and leading Radford to the first recognized team title that season. She was the Big South's first women's cross country Runner of the Year. The previous season as a junior, she also won the league title and led RU to the championship though the sport hadn't officially become recognized by the conference. Hartwell, a native of Radford, emerged as the team's top runner as a sophomore, setting a work ethic that would later propel the entire squad to those championships. Competing in the Division II National Championships in 1983 as a freshman, Hartwell finished seventh in a field of over 110 runners.

Travis Morgan (1988-91) - Baseball
A cornerstone of the baseball program's early years, Morgan ('93) was on his way to becoming one of the greatest athletes that the university had ever produced when a back injury slowed him late in his sophomore season. A first-team all-conference catcher in 1988 and 1989, Morgan was also named VaSID all-state in 1989, when he hit .431 and had eight home runs and 40 RBI before the injury. He still holds the school record for slugging percentage, set that season with a .748 mark, and his three home runs and 10 RBI in a 1988 game against UNC Asheville are also still school milestones. A four-year starter, Morgan ranks among the team's alltime leaders in career average (.335), RBI (139) and home runs (23), and the Lynchburg native remains one of the most popular figures to ever don a Highlander uniform.


THE CLASS OF 2003

Laurie (Morris) Bell (1981-85) - Field Hockey (Student-Athlete & Coach)
A founding member of both the field hockey varsity team and the softball club, Bell ('82) was at the forefront of the explosion of athletics at Radford in the early 1980s. She was a letter winner and team leader on the first field hockey squads, including the first varsity team in 1981. The Virginia Beach native was a final cut from the U.S. Olympic team in 1980, and went on to a successful coaching career after her 1982 graduation, beginning with a four-year stint at Radford. Only 21 years old when she took over in 1982, by her second season she had turned Radford into a Division II powerhouse. The team went 14-2-3 and was ranked 10th in the nation in the final 1983 poll. Her final RU team was 10-7 in 1985, making the difficult transition to NCAA Division I play.

Mike Perrone (1981-85) - Men's Tennis
Arguably the greatest men's tennis player in Radford history, Perrone qualified for the 1984 NCAA Division II nationals. He played No. 1 singles and doubles for the Highlanders for three seasons and captained the 1984-85 squad, Radford's first season in NCAA Division I. He led the Highlanders to a second place finish in the Big South Conference that season, earning all-league honors and was also honored as an all-academic performer. The Woodbury, N.J., native burst upon the scene as a freshman in 1982, helping the Highlanders to a 20-5 record, and the team had winning records in three of his four seasons. He was ranked among the Top 10 players on the East Coast as a senior. Since graduation in 1985, Perrone has enjoyed a successful career as a tennis club director, instructor and as a player.


THE CLASS OF 2002

Anne (Fontaine) Sluder (1990-95) - Volleyball (90-93) & Women's Basketball (92-95)
One of Radford's most decorated volleyball performers ever, Fontaine ('95) holds a distinction few collegiate athletes can claim. She played in two different NCAA championship tournaments the same year, leading the 1993 volleyball team to a berth, and playing a key role on the basketball team's 1993-94 tournament team, too. Fontaine is the career leader in digs and service aces and number two in kills in volleyball. She was All-Big South Conference from 1991-93, earning all-tournament honors in 1990, 1991 and 1993. She was a three-time team MVP and VaSID All-State in 1992 and 1993, a four-time selection to the Conference Presidential Honor Roll and named as one of RU's Outstanding Students in 1995. The Wytheville native was a three-time letter winner in basketball, and played on three conference title teams.

Shannan Wilkey (1990-95) - Women's Basketball (90-94) / Cross Country (1995)
Wilkey's competitive drive fueled four consecutive Big South basketball championship teams. She was twice the tournament MVP (1993, 1994), and finished her career with 1,714 points (third all-time at RU). She also ranks among the career leaders in steals (244) and games played (117). Wilkey led the Lady Highs in scoring twice, including a 21.3 points per game average as a senior, the second highest average in school history. The Edinboro, Pa., native was Big South Rookie of the Year in 1991. Wilkey became one of the first three-sport stars at RU, lettering in cross country and softball after her basketball career. She was a rare two-sport all-conference performer, earning league honors in basketball 1992-94, and in cross country in 1995, finishing as RU's leader in five of six meets.


THE CLASS OF 2001

Donnie Tickle (1982-86) - Men's Cross Country
Tickle was one of Radford's top cross country competitors ever, leading the team to an ultra-successful transition to Division I in the mid-80s. He was third at the 1983 Division II Southeast Regionals after winning the Virginia state championship as an individual and guiding Radford to a second place team finish. Behind Tickle's strong showing, Radford was second at the regionals as a team. In 1985, his second place finish at the Big South Conference championships paced Radford to the team title, and his fourth place showing in 1986 led to another Big South team championship for the Highlanders. The Dublin, Va., native won the Virginia state championship as a sophomore in 1983, was third in the regionals and competed at the NCAA Division II national meet in 1982 and 1983.

Andi (Lawler) Van Wagner (1980-83) - Volleyball
Radford's first scholarship athlete in volleyball, Lawler ('83) helped take the program to a higher level during her four-year career. The leading hitter on state championship teams in 1980 and 1981, she led Radford to 28-8 and 30-6 records those seasons and to berths in the AIAW Regionals. She was co-captain and the leading passer on Radford's first NCAA Division II team in 1983, as the squad posted another strong 24-9 record and earned another trip to the regionals. Overall during her career, the Lady Highlanders were 98-37 (a winning percentage of .726), in moving from the small college ranks to Division II competition. She earned all-state honors in 1981 and 1982, and was also all-region in 1982. Lawler graduated in 1983 with a degree in Liberal Studies.


THE CLASS OF 2000

Fred McCoy - Contributor
An outstanding volunteer, fundraiser and organizer, McCoy served as chair of the Athletic Association from 1980-89 and served as the first chair of the organization's Advisory Council. He spearheaded fundraising efforts which secured a total of $1,543,469 during his 10 terms as elected chair, which helped pave the way financially for RU's successful move to NCAA Division I competition. During his tenure, McCoy helped the association's annual contributions grow from $25,000 to nearly $300,000

John White (1978-81) - Men's Soccer
One of the most decorated athletes in the early years of men's athletics at RU, White still holds numerous records as a soccer goalkeeper. He was a four-year starter and a three-time Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association all -star from 1978-81, and he still holds records for saves in a season (138 in 1979) and saves in a career (475). His four shutouts and 1.19 goals against average (GAA) in 1981 paced the Highlanders to the Division II and III State Championship. In 1979, the Arlington native posted a record six shutouts, including four in a row, on his way to a 0.941 GAA and NAIA All-District honors. His career 1.23 GAA still ranks among RU's best ever.


THE CLASS OF 1999

Ricky Saunders (1985-88) - Baseball
Radford's first baseball scholarship recruit, Saunders lived up to the honor, hitting .367 over his four-year career and finishing as the school's all-time hits leader. His .456 batting average in 1985 set the standard for a single season and his six hits in a single game that year rank as the best day in RU and Big South Conference history. The Hopewell, Va., native was RU's first all-conference athlete in baseball, earned team MVP honors in 1985 and 1986, and was an all-state selection in 1986. He led the team in hits, batting average and RBI each of his first three seasons, and went on to serve as an assistant coach on RU's first winning squad in 1989. Saunders graduated in 1988 with a degree in heatlh and physical education.

Sue Williams (1990-93) - Women's Soccer
Williams ('94) was simply the best player on one of Radford's best sports teams ever, the 1993 women's soccer team that posted a 15-3-2. An All-America selection and a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, soccer's top collegiate honor that season, Williams was second in the nation in scoring with 18 goals and 19 assists. The Medford, N.J., native finished her brilliant career as RU's all-time leading scorer with 57 goals and 32 assists from 1990-93. A four-year starter at forward, she was RU's MVP each season, and earned Big South Player of the Year honors and a berth on the prestigious All-Central Region squad in 1993. She earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies in 1994.


THE CLASS OF 1998

Joe Davis (1978-88) - Men's Basketball (Coach)
Davis successfully guided the Highlander men's basketball program from an unaffiliated small college entry all the way to the NCAA Division I ranks. He posted nine winning seasons in 10 years as RU's head coach from 1978-88, including a 23-4 record in 1978-79 and a 16-12 mark in 1984-85, RU's first Division I season. Davis left Radford as RU's all-time winningest coach, posting 165 victories and a .589 winning percentage. Davis earned his master's degree in physical education from RU in 1970.

Doug Day (1989-93) - Men's Basketball
Day completed his Radford career as the NCAA Division I career leader in three-point baskets made. He sank 401 three-pointers during his career from 1989-1993, and left RU as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,027 points. Day ('94) led the nation in three-point baskets per game with 4.03 per contest, and earned All-Big South honors during each of his four seasons at RU. He averaged 17.3 ppg for his career, and left Radford ranked second on the Big South Conference career scoring chart. Day's offensive prowess helped RU to back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1990-91 and 1991-92, and to the Highlanders' first regular season conference crown in 1991-92. Day earned a degree in education from RU in 1994.

Chris Nelson-O'Keefe (1980-84) - Women's Tennis
Nelson-O'Keefe was arguably Radford's first superstar in women's tennis, helping the Highlanders earn a national reputation in the early 1980's. She played No. 1 singles during each of her four years at RU, compiling a 91-34 career record. Nelson-O'Keefe ('84) led the RU squad to the 1984 NCAA Division II National Tennis Tournament, posting a 23-11 singles record in helping the Highlanders to a 21-7 overall mark. She competed in singles in the 1984 national tournament, reaching the final 16. Nelson-O'Keefe captured the Virginia State Division II Tennis title as a freshman in 1981 and gained a spot in the AIAW Region II, Division II Championship. Nelson graduated with a degree in business/marketing in 1984.


THE CLASS OF 1997

Nan Millner (1980-84) - Women's Basketball
Millner ('84) became the first Radford basketball player with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career (1,288 rebounds, 1,069 points). Leading coach Pat Barrett's strong Division II teams in rebounding for four consecutive seasons from 1980-84, Millner set school records with 21 rebounds in a 1981 game with Roanoke College, with 342 rebounds in 1981-82, and records for best rebound average in a season (11.5) and in a career (11.2). RU was 79-36 during her career, including a 23-5 mark in 1983-84. The Martinsville native graduated in 1984 with a degree in business.

Steve Robinson (1978-80, 1983-86) - Men's Basketball (Student-Athlete/Coach)
Robinson ('81, '85) was one of the first scholarship athletes ever at Radford University. Robinson was a two-year starter and co-captain for the men's basketball team from 1978-80, averaging 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 54 games. Robinson averaged 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds during one of Radford's greatest seasons ever, the 23-4 year in 1978-79, under coach Joe Davis. He hit 51.7 percent of his field goals, and later distinguished himself as an assistant coach at RU from 1983-86. The Roanoke native earned both his bachelor's ('81) and master's ('85) degrees from Radford, and has gone on to great success as a collegiate head coach. Robinson led the University of Tulsa to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances before landing the head coaching position at Florida State. Robinson is currently Roy Williams' top assistant at the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Chuck Taylor (1974-96) - Administrator
Taylor served as athletic director from 1974-1996, and led Radford on a remarkable journey from a six-sport unaffiliated small-college program to Division I athletics. Also serving as men's basketball coach from 1974-78, Taylor compiled a 56-43 record, never suffering a losing season, and setting the stage for basketball's great future success. He led RU's move to Division I status in 1984, and in the growth of the Big South Conference. During his tenure as athletic director, RU athletics was nationally-recognized as a leader in opportunities for women and minorities, and in graduation rate for athletes. Seven different athletic teams achieved national rankings during his tenure.

Dante Washington (1988-92) - Men's Soccer
Washington ('93) led the nation in scoring in collegiate soccer in 1988 and 1990, and finished his career at RU in 1992 as the second leading scorer in NCAA history. He tallied 82 goals and an NCAA record 66 assists. He had RU record totals of 27 goals and 22 assists in 1988, leading RU to its first Big South soccer title. A two-time All-American, he earned NSCAA Academic All-America honors in 1992. Washington would go on to compete on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, and for the U.S. National squad. He now stars with the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer. A Columbia, Md., native, Washington earned a double major in history and political science.


THE CLASS OF 1996

Pat Barrett (1971-84) - Women's Basketball (Coach)
Barrett was Radford's first basketball coach of the modern era, starting the intercollegiate program in 1971. Over the next 13 years, her Radford women's teams won nearly 70 percent of their games, posted a remarkable 193-94 record, and never suffered a losing season. She established Radford as a state and regional basketball power and paved the way for future success in NCAA Division I. Her 1979-80 team won the Virginia Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (VAIAW) state championship to cap a 19-11 season. The next year, the Forest, Va., native was named coach of the year in the state. Barrett's final team, in 1983-84, finished 23-5 and was ranked 16th in the nation in the final NCAA Division II poll.

Billy Gerber (1982-85) - Men's Soccer
Gerber was Radford's first men's soccer All-America selection (Division II), earning the honor in 1983. A four-year starter on defense and as a midfielder, he went on to play professionally with the Washington Diplomats of the American Soccer League. Gerber ('86) had 16 goals and 14 assists for the Highlanders from 1982-85, while playing primarily on defense. A second team Division II All-America in 1983, the Annandale, Va., native earned a selection on the Division I All-Region team in 1984, and was named to the first Big South All-Conference squad in 1985.

Dr. Tom Hondras (1978-95) - Women's Tennis (Coach)
Hondras wrapped up a long and brilliant coaching career as the patriarch of Radford women's tennis in 1995. He coached 16 seasons, posting a 248-143 record in a career that ended when he retired. The 1990 Big South Conference Coach of the Year, his team was 17-4 that season and captured the conference championship. In nine seasons of league play, Hondras coached 17 individual conference champions and his teams posted winning records in 13 of his 16 seasons at the helm. His 1983-84 team finished 21-7 and placed seventh in the country at the national championship tournament.

Peggy Poore (1982-85) - Women's Soccer
Poore ('86) was a brilliant student-athlete from 1982-85, earning national attention as a goalkeeper on some of RU's strongest soccer teams, and earning recognition for her academic work, as well. Named to the Academic All-America Team in 1985, she was a three-time team Most Valuable Player and earned a berth on the All-State Tournament Team in 1982 and 1983. The Virginia Beach native posted eight consecutive shutouts in 1984, and was the goalkeeper on RU's 1983 state championship team and the 1985 NCAA Tournament squad. Poore set school records with 39 saves in a 1982 match against UNC, and with 174 saves in the 1985 season.

Ron Shelburne (1987-91) - Men's Basketball
Shelburne, a native of nearby Snowville, Va., became only the fourth Radford men's basketball player to score more than 1,000 points and grab more than 500 rebounds in a career. A three-time team Most Valuable Player, he led the Highlanders in scoring in 1989-90 and earned Big South All-Conference honors in 1990-91. He never missed a game during his four-year career, playing in 116 consecutive contests. He averaged 11.5 points per game and shot 51.8 percent from the field, and 75.3 percent from the free throw line during his career, gaining a reputation as a clutch performer. Shelburne finished in 1991 as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,332 points.


THE CLASS OF 1995 (INAUGURAL CLASS)

Charlene Curtis (1972-76, 1984-90) - Women's Basketball (Student-Athlete / Coach)
The university's first 1,000-point scorer, Curtis ('76) played basketball at Radford from 1972-76, and then was one of the most successful coaches in the country while leading her alma mater. A Roanoke native, she scored 1,043 points while serving in four academic honorary organizations and as a distinguished member of the Highlander band. Dedicated to Radford, she has served on the Board of Visitors, and as National Alumni Association chairperson. Her teams were 121-53 in six seasons as RU's coach from 1984-1990, winning two conference titles and earning a bid to the 1989 WNIT.

Janell Nester Dobbins (1971-85, 1989-93) - Volleyball (Coach)
Dobbins ('55) is a popular and familiar figure in Highlander athletics. She served 19 years as Radford's volleyball coach before retiring in 1993 as the school's winningest coach in any sport. Her teams were 369-219, growing from an unaffiliated small college team in 1971 to an NCAA Division I Tournament participant her final season. A Radford native, she built RU volleyball into an NCAA Division II power in the early 1980s, "retired" for three seasons, and then returned to coach the team to two Division I Big South Conference titles in the 1990s.

Stephanie Howard (1985-89) - Women's Basketball
Howard had scored more points than any other RU basketball player when she finished her career in 1989. The first RU basketball player to have their jersey retired, the Harrisonburg, Va., native owned 27 records when she ended her Highlander career and moved on to play professionally in Switzerland. Her records included career points (2,146), assists (661) and steals (377). She set single game records for points (42), assists (17) and steals (9) and set a single season scoring mark in 1987-88, averaging 22.7 points. Howard, who was named an AWSF All-American four times, finished her career with averages of 19.2 points and 5.9 assists per game.

Phil Leftwich (1988-90) - Baseball
Leftwich became the first Radford athlete in the major leagues when he joined the California Angels in 1993. The Angels' top selection in the 1990 Major League draft, he was taken in the second round, leaving RU with 13 school pitching records. A Lynchburg, Va. native, Leftwich was RU's first all-conference and all-state pitcher. He helped Radford's young baseball program turn the corner, leading the Highlanders to their first winning season in 1989. Leftwich was 7-2 with a 2.88 ERA for the 27-19 Highlanders that year, in only their fifth season of varsity play. Overall, he was 19-14, pitching 25 complete games and 265 innings from 1988-1990.

David Smith (1981-85) - Men's Basketball
Smith finished his sterling four-year basketball career from 1981-1985 as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. In the process, the 6-5 Amherst, Va., native keyed Radford's move from NAIA competition to NCAA Division II play and then Division I. A fierce competitor, Smith started each of Radford's 107 games during his career and shot 52.7 percent from the field. He scored 1,313 points and pulled down 739 rebounds, leading the team in rebounding and field goal percentage three years. Remaining active at his alma mater, Smith has served on the Athletic Association Advisory Council and on the National Alumni Association Executive Council.

Chuck Tickle (1981-84) - Men's Golf
Tickle ('84) led the golf program to its greatest heights in the early 1980s, and placed himself among the top collegiate players in the country. A native of Pulaski, Va., he was second at the 1982 NAIA championships, leading RU to a 12th place national finish in only the squad's fourth season. In 1983, RU's first season in NCAA Division II, he helped the Highlanders win their first state championship in golf, and again qualified for nationals. He placed 40th in his first NCAA meet as the only at-large qualifier from this region. Tickle fared much better in 1984, finishing fourth among 88 golfers at the NCAA championships after leading the field for two days.