Seven slated for induction in 2021 Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame Class

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's Athletic Club has tabbed seven individuals for induction into the Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame. 

Those slated for induction in this class are Tyler Baldock (Men's Soccer, 2007), Shari Buford (Women's Basketball, 2010), Steve Cishek (Baseball, 2007), Libby Conley (Softball, 2002), Jay Floyd (Football, 1988), Charlie King (Men's Golf/Football Coach, 1957), Mike Schlecter (Football, 1989). 

The septet will be inducted in a cerermony on Feb. 26 in the Stokely Memorial Building on Carson-Newman's campus. Should CoVID-19 prevent a banquet from being held, the induction willl be conducted virtually. 

Tyler Baldock (2007) – Tyler Baldock left his stamp on the Carson-Newman men's soccer program as a three-time All-American goalkeeper. He backstopped the Eagles to four straight regular season SAC titles, a tournament title and a regional title.  He spent time playing professionally with the West Virginia Chaos, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Abbotsford Mariners.  He is the Carson-Newman and SAC record-holder for career shutouts with 36, his 0.75 career goals against average and 51 wins are also Carson-Newman bests.

Shari Buford (2010) – The first NCAA All-American in Carson-Newman women's basketball history, Shari Buford was a three-time All-SAC performer and helped the women's basketball program to a trio of NCAA tournament appearances and a Sweet 16 berth in her senior season.  She is Carson-Newman's third all-time leading scorer and second leading rebounder with 1,496 points and 1,058 boards. 

Steve Cishek (2007) – Steve Cishek helped pitch Carson-Newman to the 2007 SAC tournament title before being drafted by the Florida Marlins in the fifth round of the 2007 MLB draft.  He has spent a decade playing in the big leagues with the Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.  He is the Marlins franchise record-holder for consecutive saves with 33.  

Libby Conley (2002) – A two-time SAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year for the league, Libby Conley hit .435 for her career – a figure that is good for fifth in school history.  She ranks in the top five in program history in runs scored, hits, triples, stolen bases and highest stolen base percentage.  She earned all-league honors all four years of her career with four SAC regular season titles and a pair of NCAA tournament appearances. 

Jay Floyd (1988) -  A two-time All-American and three-time all-SAC selection, Jay Floyd was an anchor on Carson-Newman's offensive line for a national title and a national runner-up trophy.  Floyd cleared the way for 7,236 rushing yards in his final two years with the program.  He blocked for a fifth of Carson-Newman's top 25 all-time rushers. 

Charlie King (1957) – A long-time assistant football coach and head golf coach for Carson-Newman, his 1972 golf team was the first to participate in a national tournament. In his 32-year coaching career, he accounted for eight NAIA District 24 titles and five NAIA National Tournament berths.  King oversaw the transition of the program from NAIA to NCAA Division II; he went on to coach two SAC golfers of the year and six All-SAC golfers. He was also an assistant football coach for the 1972 national runner-up team.  

Mike Schlecter (1989) – An All-American and the 1988 SAC Defensive Player of the Year, Mike Schlechter starred at safety for a pair of national championships for Carson-Newman football and another trip to the title game. Schlecter is the school record holder for picks (25), interception return yards (520), interception returns for TDs (four) and fumble returns (seven). He ranks seventh in program history with 315 tackles, the second most of any defensive back all-time. 

To nominate a former Carson-Newman athlete for the 2022 Hall of Fame, click here and fill out the nomination form. Individuals can only nominate two people in each nomination cycle. Nominations for the 2022 Hall of Fame close Aug. 1, 2020. 

This year's class could balloon to 10. Former New England Patriot Todd Collins, Olympic Bronze Medalist wrestler Lazaro Reinoso and women's soccer All-American Rebecca Angus have been tabbed for induction in previous years, but have yet to be able to make a ceremony to be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Tickets for the gala can be purchased by calling 865-471-3396 or emailing Sam Savelll at ssavell@cn.edu

CLASS OF 1985

(INITIAL INDUCTEES): Dana X. Bible (1912): Football, Basketball,

Baseball; Bernie Moore (1917): Football; Ernest Tucker (1924): Football, Baseball, Tennis; Mae Iddins (1926): Basketball; Lake Russell (1926): Football, Basketball, Baseball, Coach; Sam "Frosty" Holt (1927): Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track, Coach, Athletic Director; Milas Shoun (1927): Football, Basketball; Roy Harmon (1943): Football, Track, Coach.

CLASS OF 1986

Roy Smith (1934): Football, Basketball, Baseball; Frank Grubb (1937): Football; Wendell Henderson (1937): Football, Baseball, Track; Bill Catlett (1940): Football, Basketball, Baseball; John Murray (1948): Football, Basketball, Baseball; Ernest "Baldy" Cosson (1950): Football; Ray Allen Shubert (1941): Football, Baseball; Arnold Mellinger (1957): Basketball; Dal Shealy (1950): Football, Coach; Bobby Baker (1963): Football; Clyde Wright (1965): Baseball.

CLASS OF 1987

John Hutchins (1925): Football, Basketball, Baseball; Paul Layman (1935): Football, Basketball, Baseball; Don King (1924): Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track; Albert Sloan (1932): Athletic Administrator.

CLASS OF 1988

Charles Hamblen (1939): Basketball; Nick Hyder (1957): Football; Chris Jones (1962): Basketball, Coach; Milton Nixon (1937): Football, Basketball.

CLASS OF 1989

Ken Sparks (1968): Football, Coach, Athletic Director; W.A. Wright (1968): Baseball, Basketball; Carl Torbush (1974): Football, Baseball; Buddy Catlett (1954): Tennis.

CLASS OF 1990

Gil Luttrell (1964): Basketball, Baseball; Dusty Roden (1947): Football, Basketball, Coach; T.J. Stafford (1938): Football, Basketball, Coach.

CLASS OF 1993

John Ed Dowling (1937): Football, Basketball, Baseball; Libby Hudson Gardner (1968): Basketball, V-ball, Tennis, Swimming, Coach

CLASS OF 1994

Missy Brown (1982): Basketball; Dick Campbell (1958-67): Men's

Basketball Coach; Sanders Shiver (1975): Football; Bobby Wilson (1965-87): Baseball Coach.

CLASS OF 1998

Hubert Ashe (1953): Football and Baseball; Bobby Black (1965): Football and Baseball; Ira Dance (1923): Football; Fay Bowman Evans (1929): Basketball; Tommy Everette (1970): Basketball; Sylvia Hatchell (1974): Basketball; Tommy Jones (1970): Baseball and Football.

CLASS OF 2002

Bob Cope (1964): Football; Boyce Green (1974): Football; Roy Hill (1965): Baseball and Basketball; Vickee Kazee Hollifield (1983): Softball; Jean Love (1983): Tennis; Jack Wade (1950): Football, Basketball and Baseball.

CLASS OF 2007

Pat Apke (1986): Football; Tim George (1973): Football; David Guinn (1970): Wrestling; Data Caldwell (1980): Basketball; Bill Foster (1958): Basketball; Mike Ogan (1974): Basketball.

CLASS OF 2009

Larry Cooke (1978): Track; Billy Henry (1959): Basketball; Carol (Zachary) Mitchell (1991): Softball; Ken Rucker (1976): Football; Danny Sanders (1979): Football; Lisa Stogner (1984): Basketball; Glenn Wade (1949): Football and Basketball; Rodney Wampler (1972): Football.

CLASS OF 2010

William "Puggy" Blackmon (1973): Golf; David Brewer (1975): Tennis; John W. Hudson (1939): Basketball; Mac Lambert (1955): Football; Dr. Jack Owenby (1960): Basketball and Baseball; Patricia (Rouchon) Wells (1988): Tennis Steve Williams (1973): Basketball

Class of 2011

Bud Bales (1964): Baseball; Ben Booker (1943) Basketball and Football; Clark Bryan (1963) Basketball and Track; Derrick Davis (1961) Soccer; George "Buzzy" Mann (1982) Wrestling; Danny Maples (1977) Baseball; Jim Shuler (1966) Basketball and Tennis

Class of 2012

David Barger (1970): Adminstrator; Jerry Cannon (1967): Basketball; Joe Fishback (1990): Football; Mark Isom (1985): Football; Lib Julian (1958): Basketball and Baseball

Class of 2013

Sammi Hatcher Chafin (1993): Softball; Heather Randolph (1996): Softball; Leah Jackson-Smith (1993): Women's Basketball

Class of 2016

Mike Clowney (1997): Football; Gene Lively (1967): Baseball; Karen Morton (1986); Women's Basketball; Cedric Killings (2000): Football; Lewis Bivens (Women's Basketball Coach 1979-87)

Class of 2019

Mike Turner (1973), Football;  Jim Deaton (1974), Football; Bill Mitchell (Football Coach); Mike Whitley (Football Coach); Leonard Weaver (2005), Football;  Marci Mitchell Whiteside (2003), Softball

Class of 2020

Steve Adams (1984), Men's Basketball; Jennifer Bock Ryan (2006), Women's Soccer; Eddie Carter (1979), Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball Coach and Administrator; Whitney Hickam Cruze (2008), Softball; Quez Rumph (2000), Football; Robert Thomas (1992), Football; and Kenneth Tyson (1988), Football