UNF announces 2008 Hall of Fame class
1/23/2008 4:11:23 PM | Baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, General, Women's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming, Softball, Men's Track, Women's Track, Volleyball, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, Cross Country, Track & Field
Induction ceremony planned for Feb. 20 at UNF Arena
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida Athletics Department will welcome both of its national championship women's tennis teams and those squads' head coaches among the seven inductees into the second class of its Hall of Fame presented by THE PLAYERS Championship, the school announced on Wednesday.
The Hall of Fame honors individuals and teams that have excelled in intercollegiate athletics at the University and non-athletes who have contributed significantly to the development of the school's athletics program during the last 25 years. A committee of current coaches, administrators and boosters selects a class of honorees annually.
UNF inducted 10 members into its inaugural class in February 2007.
This year's class will include the 1986 NAIA women's tennis national championship squad, the 1994 NCAA Division II women's tennis national championship team, former tennis coaches Leo Vorwek and Charley Jenks, former baseball great Kevin Ohme and longtime supporters Gerry Hurst and John Hayt.
"We are excited about our Hall of Fame and what it represents," UNF Athletics Director Dr. Richard Gropper said. "Our inaugural class was very special last year, and I believe that this second group of outstanding individuals and teams that will be enshrined in our hall of fame is just as deserving for their achievements and contributions. It will be another proud day for UNF Athletics."
This year's Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 20, at UNF Arena.
The UNF athletics program began in 1983 as a fledgling NAIA member with cross country and track & field as its only varsity sports. Since that time, the program has grown to 17 sports and welcomed hundreds of student-athletes. Osprey athletic teams have won a combined four team national championships, 72 conference championships and have captured six conference all-sport awards for overall athletic excellence.
Included in that total is an unprecedented five consecutive conference Commissioner Cup awards in the program's former home, the Peach Belt Conference.
The Hall of Fame is housed in the lobby of UNF Arena and is sponsored by THE PLAYERS Championship, a PGA Tour event played annually in nearby Ponte Vedra.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2009 class. Hall of Fame criteria and nomination forms are available for download via the UNF Athletics web site at www.unfospreys.com or by visiting the UNF Athletics Department. For more information, contact Assistant Athletics Director Rick Granger at (904) 620- 1506.
2008 CLASS
- Leo Vorwerk, Tennis Coached the 1986 women's tennis team to the NAIA national title -- the first for UNF in any team sport
- Charley Jenks, Tennis Coached the 1994 women's tennis team to the school's only NCAA Division II national title
- Kevin Ohme, Baseball All-America selection in 1993 after leading the nation with 13 wins and recording 105 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. His 1.63 career ERA still ranks as the best in UNF history.
- Gerry Hurst, Supporter A long-time supporter and charter member of the Osprey Club, UNF's athletics booster organization
- John Hayt, Supporter A long-time supporter and member of the UNF Osprey Club. The University's Golf Learning Center bears his name, as does the prestigious annual tournament hosted by the UNF golf program
- 1986 Women's Tennis National Championship Team
- 1994 Women's Tennis National Championship Team
