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The UAB Athletics Hall of Fame was created in 2009 to recognize accomplishments of individuals whose participation in Blazers Athletics has brought distinction and honor to the program. As outlined in the Hall of Fame Bylaws these inductees have met all of the criteria required to be inducted. Nominations were taken from Blazer fans and the Hall of Fame committee, unanimously voted in each year's class.
Nomination Form
Hall of Fame Members
Class of 2024
Drew Ferguson -- Athletic Training
Drew Ferguson served as UAB Athletics’ first head athletic trainer and Director of Sports Medicine, helping establish the university’s sports medicine infrastructure during the early years of the athletics department. Ferguson later co-founded the Sports Medicine Institute of Alabama and served as chairman of the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers. During his career at UAB, he coordinated medical services for more than 400 student-athletes across 17 sports while supervising a large staff of athletic trainers and graduate assistants. Ferguson was also selected as one of only 20 athletic trainers nationally to work the track and field venue at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Izell Reese -- Football
Izell Reese was one of the top defensive players in UAB football history and became the second Blazer ever selected in the NFL Draft. A standout safety, Reese ranks among the program’s career leaders in tackles, solo tackles and interceptions while helping establish UAB Football during its early years at the Division I level. Reese was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft and went on to spend seven seasons in the NFL with Dallas, Denver and Buffalo, recording 226 career tackles, eight interceptions and 19 passes defended.
Frank Schaffner -- Men's Tennis
Frank Schaffner became the first All-American in UAB men’s tennis history after earning ITA All-America honors during his junior season in 1992. Schaffner ranked as high as No. 7 nationally in singles play and became the first Blazer to compete in the NCAA Singles Championship, qualifying in both 1992 and 1993. During his collegiate career, he compiled an outstanding 116-33 singles record while earning multiple conference MVP honors and Great Midwest Conference Player of the Year recognition. In honor of his accomplishments and impact on the program, UAB retired Schaffner’s tennis racket in 1994.
Sam Serley -- Volleyball
Sam Serley became one of the most decorated volleyball players in UAB history during her standout collegiate career. Serley finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in block assists and total blocks while also ranking among the top players in attack percentage, solo blocks and kills. She helped lead the Blazers to one of the best seasons in program history with a 23-9 record and earned numerous accolades, including three AVCA All-America honors, three All-Midwest Region selections and three All-Conference USA honors. Serley also earned Lowe’s Senior CLASS All-America recognition and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
Marla Townsend -- Softball
Marla Townsend served as the first head coach in UAB softball history and built the Blazers into a consistent national contender during her 19 seasons leading the program. Townsend guided UAB to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2010-14, highlighted by the program’s first NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2013. A three-time Conference USA Coach of the Year, Townsend finished her career with 532 victories and nine 30-win seasons while helping establish UAB Softball as one of the top programs in the conference. In 2008, she was inducted into the Alabama Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame.
Class of 2022
Fran Braasch -- Women's Basketball
Fran Braasch was the first head coach in UAB women’s basketball history and helped establish the foundation of the program beginning in 1978. Over three seasons, Braasch compiled 58 victories and a .637 winning percentage, which still ranks as the highest winning percentage in program history. During her tenure, she recruited and coached UAB legend Wanda Hightower, one of the most accomplished players in school history.
Derrick Ingram -- Football
Derrick Ingram was one of the original stars of UAB Football and remains one of the most prolific receivers in program history. A member of UAB’s first NCAA-sanctioned football team, Ingram still holds school records for career receptions (207), single-season receptions (83), career receiving yards (3,379), single-season receiving yards (1,457) and career touchdown receptions (28). His standout performances earned him Associated Press First-Team All-America honors in 1994 and helped establish the foundation of UAB Football during its early NCAA years.
Alan Kaufman -- Men's Golf
Alan Kaufman led the UAB men’s golf program for 15 seasons and helped elevate the Blazers into a nationally respected program. During his tenure, Kaufman guided UAB to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and captured the program’s lone Conference USA Championship in 2008. He also recruited and coached several of the greatest players in school history, including Graeme McDowell, Zach Sucher and Paul Dunne.
Ryan Keedy -- Baseball
Ryan Keedy established himself as one of the greatest hitters in UAB baseball history during his three-year career with the Blazers. Keedy still holds school records for career batting average (.382) and on-base percentage (.491), while his 29 doubles in 2006 remain a single-season program record. His 2008 season ranks among the best in school history, highlighted by 99 hits, a .423 batting average, 69 RBI and 61 runs scored. Keedy earned Third-Team All-America honors in 2008 before being selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 18th round of the MLB Draft.
Andy Kennedy -- Men's Basketball
Andy Kennedy became one of the most prolific scorers in UAB men’s basketball history despite playing only three seasons with the Blazers. Kennedy currently ranks second on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,787 points and still holds school records for three-point field goal percentage (.437), three-pointers made (318) and free throw percentage (.872). During the 1989-90 season, Kennedy helped lead UAB to a Sun Belt Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance while averaging a team-best 16.9 points per game. He later went on to become one of the winningest coaches in college basketball before returning to his alma mater as UAB’s head coach in 2020.
Class of 2020
Jim Hilyer -- Football
Dr. Jim Hilyer was the first head coach in UAB football history and helped guide the program from its club football beginnings into the NCAA ranks. Hilyer led the Blazers through their club seasons in 1989 and 1990 before transitioning the program to NCAA Division III competition in 1991 and later Division I-AA in 1993. He finished his coaching career at UAB with a 28-12-1 record and still holds the highest winning percentage in program history at .695. Hilyer also coached several of the program’s foundational stars, including Josh Evans, the first Blazer to play in the NFL. He later returned to assist with the rebirth of UAB Football under Bill Clark from 2016-19.
Josh Evans -- Football
Josh Evans was one of the foundational stars of UAB Football and became the first former Blazer to reach the NFL. During his collegiate career, Evans totaled 274 tackles, 20 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries while helping establish the program during its early NCAA years. His standout 1993 season helped lead UAB to a 9-2 record, which stood as the school record for wins in a season until 2018. Evans went on to enjoy a nine-year NFL career and started Super Bowl XXXIV for the Tennessee Titans in 1999.
Elinor Kirk -- Track and Field
Elinor Kirk became one of the most accomplished distance runners in UAB history after joining the Blazers in 2012. Kirk earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors in cross country and set multiple school and conference records during her career. She became the first UAB runner to break the 16-minute mark in the 5000m and earned Conference USA Track Athlete of the Year honors after record-setting performances during the indoor season. Kirk later earned multiple All-America honors and posted some of the top NCAA Championship finishes in program history.
Shayne Carnes -- Baseball
Shayne Carnes remains one of the greatest hitters in UAB baseball history following a record-setting collegiate career. His standout senior season in 1998 included 23 home runs, 87 RBI and a .417 batting average, while he also set the school record with a 10-RBI performance against Alabama State. Carnes finished his career as UAB’s all-time leader in hits (306), RBI (213) and slugging percentage (.647), while ranking among the program leaders in batting average and on-base percentage. A three-time All-American in 1998, Carnes was later drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and played professionally in the minor leagues.
Tara Kidwell -- Women's Soccer
Tara Kidwell helped lead UAB women’s soccer to unprecedented success during her four-year career and remains the program’s all-time leader in points, goals and assists. Kidwell guided the Blazers to their first Conference USA Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004 while helping the program set a school record for victories. She earned Conference USA Player of the Year honors and multiple all-region and All-America recognitions after leading the league in scoring during her senior season.
Class of 2018
Graeme McDowell -- Men's Golf
Graeme McDowell is one of the most accomplished golfers in UAB history and one of the university’s most recognizable international athletes. During his collegiate career, McDowell won nine individual tournament titles and recorded the highest NCAA Championship finish in school history with a fourth-place finish in 2002. He remains the only golfer in program history to average under 70 strokes for a season at 69.90. Following his time at UAB, McDowell enjoyed tremendous success professionally, highlighted by winning the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and reaching No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He was later appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to golf.
Jacque Nero -- Women's Basketball
Jacque Nero was one of the top scorers in UAB women’s basketball history, finishing her career with 1,939 points while averaging 20.6 points per game. Nero earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors in 1990-91 and was a two-time First-Team All-Sun Belt selection before being named Great Midwest Conference Player of the Year in 1992 following UAB’s conference transition. Following her collegiate career, Nero played professionally both in the United States and internationally, spending multiple seasons competing in Brazil and Israel.
Gary Sanders -- Announcer
Gary Sanders served as the longtime radio voice of the Blazers and became synonymous with many of the greatest moments in UAB Athletics history. Over a 27-year career with WAPI-AM, Sanders called more than 1,000 UAB athletic events, including memorable NCAA Tournament victories over Kentucky in 1981 and 2004, football’s landmark win over LSU in 2000 and the iconic 1992 NCAA East Regional Final between Duke and Kentucky.
Patti Schroder -- Volleyball
Patti Schroder excelled both on the court and in the classroom during her two seasons at UAB. Schroder ranks among the top assist leaders in program history despite playing only two years and finished the 1985 season with 1,496 assists and 95 service aces, both among the best single-season marks in school history. A two-time All-Sun Belt selection, she also earned Sun Belt Conference Female Athlete of the Year honors in both 1985 and 1986 while being named to the Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll each season. In 1986, Schroder earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, and UAB later retired her jersey.
Class of 2017
Daniel Gaitan -- Men's Soccer
Despite playing only two seasons at UAB, Daniel Gaitan established himself as one of the most prolific scorers in program history. He still holds school records for career goals (57), career points (133), single-season goals (35), single-season assists (14) and single-season points (84). Gaitan also owns the school record for most goals scored in a game after netting seven against Valdosta State and holds three additional five-goal performances. His scoring averages remain among the best in UAB history.
Deanna Jackson -- Women's Basketball
Deanna Jackson became one of the most decorated players in UAB women’s basketball history, earning multiple All-Conference USA and All-America honors throughout her career. Jackson was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 1999 before later earning Conference USA Player of the Year honors and AP Third-Team All-America recognition in 2001. She became the first player in Conference USA history to record 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds and finished her career second in school history with 2,144 points while setting program records for rebounds and rebounds per game. Jackson later became the first player in UAB history selected in the WNBA Draft, going eighth overall, and her jersey was eventually retired by the university.
Jerome Mincy -- Men's Basketball
Jerome Mincy was one of the most accomplished and consistent players in UAB men’s basketball history. He finished his career among the program leaders in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and free throws made, including 1,473 career points and 933 rebounds. Mincy also set school records for career starts and games played during his four-year career. A two-time First-Team All-Sun Belt selection, Mincy was later named to the Sun Belt Conference 30th Anniversary Team, and UAB retired his jersey in recognition of his impact on the program.
Mirela Vladulescu Booker -- Women's Tennis
Mirela Vladulescu-Booker established herself as one of the most accomplished players in UAB tennis history during a career filled with national recognition. She was ranked No. 1 nationally in singles during the 1997-98 season and earned ITA All-America and NCAA All-America honors while also being named the ITA National Rookie of the Year in 1998. A four-time All-Conference USA selection and two-time Conference USA MVP, Vladulescu-Booker reached the NCAA Singles quarterfinals in 1998 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2001. She was later named to the Conference USA All-Decade Team in 2005.
Roddy White -- Football
Roddy White is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players in UAB history. During his senior season in 2004, White recorded 71 receptions for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning All-America honors from multiple publications, including First-Team recognition from Pro Football Weekly. He remains among UAB’s all-time leaders in receptions, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards, including the school record for receiving yards in a game with 253 at Tulane. Following his collegiate career, White became one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers during an 11-year career with the Atlanta Falcons, where he earned four Pro Bowl selections and became the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
Class of 2013
Vonetta Flowers -- Track and Field
Vonetta Flowers became one of the most decorated student-athletes in UAB history during her standout career as a sprinter and jumper. Flowers still holds multiple school records, including the indoor 55m and 200m dashes and the outdoor 100m, 200m and long jump marks. She earned seven All-America honors and captured 35 conference individual titles during her collegiate career. Following her time at UAB, Flowers competed in the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials before making history at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where she won a gold medal in bobsled and became the first Black athlete to win gold at a Winter Olympic Games.
Dr. Charles "Scotty" McCallum -- Former UAB President
Dr. Charles “Scotty” McCallum served as UAB’s third president from 1987-93 after previously serving as Vice President for Health Affairs and Director of the Medical Center. During his tenure, UAB Athletics experienced significant growth, highlighted by continued success in men’s basketball with regular conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Alongside Gene Bartow, McCallum helped guide UAB’s transition from the Sun Belt Conference to the Great Midwest Conference and played a key role in the launch of UAB Football in 1991. Following his time at UAB, McCallum later served two terms as mayor of Vestavia Hills.
Steve Mitchell -- Men's Basketball
Steve Mitchell was one of the first players to help bring national prominence to UAB men’s basketball under Gene Bartow. A standout guard and All-American, Mitchell finished his career as UAB’s all-time leading scorer with 1,866 points while also ranking second in program history with 597 assists. He helped lead the Blazers to four NCAA Tournament appearances, two Sun Belt Conference championships and 92 victories during his four-year career. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mitchell’s No. 14 jersey was retired by UAB.
Harry "The Hat" Walker -- Former UAB Baseball coach
Harry “The Hat” Walker brought decades of Major League Baseball experience to Birmingham when he became UAB’s first head baseball coach. A former National League batting champion and two-time World Series champion with the St. Louis Cardinals, Walker played 11 seasons in the majors before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he saw combat in Europe and earned a Purple Heart. Following his playing career, Walker managed the Cardinals, Pirates and Astros during a Major League managerial career that spanned nearly two decades.
Walker arrived at UAB in 1979 and helped establish the foundation of the baseball program, guiding the Blazers to Sun Belt North Division titles in 1981 and 1982. During his eight seasons at UAB, Walker compiled a 211-171 record and led the Blazers to four consecutive 20-win seasons. Known throughout baseball as “The Hat” for his trademark habit of adjusting his cap between pitches, Walker’s impact on the game spanned more than five decades at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Class of 2009
Gene Bartow -- Head Men's Basketball Coach and Director of Athletics
Gene Bartow is widely regarded as the founder of UAB Athletics, building not only the men’s basketball program, but helping shape the university’s entire intercollegiate athletics department into the 17-sport program it is today. As UAB’s first head men’s basketball coach and athletics director, Bartow guided the Blazers through three conference affiliations, helped elevate football from a club program to the FBS Division I-A level and oversaw the addition of numerous women’s sports.
On the court, Bartow led the men’s basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a 366-203 (.643) record. In just the program’s second season, he guided the Blazers to the NIT before leading UAB to seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 1981 and an Elite Eight appearance in 1982. Under his leadership, UAB made 14 postseason appearances, including nine NCAA Tournament berths.
Over a 34-year collegiate coaching career spanning six universities, Bartow finished with 647 career victories, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances and a Final Four appearance. He earned induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, while also becoming a member of the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame and the Northeast Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame. In recognition of his lasting impact on the university, UAB renamed its basketball venue Bartow Arena in his honor.
Dr. S. Richardson Hill -- UAB President
Dr. S. Richardson Hill served as UAB’s second president from 1977-87 and played a major role in the university’s growth during a transformative era. Hill helped position the university for expansion both academically and athletically while remaining a strong supporter of the athletics department throughout his tenure. Hill famously hired former UCLA head coach Gene Bartow to become UAB’s first head men’s basketball coach and athletics director, a move that helped launch the university’s athletics program into national prominence.
Oliver Robinson -- Men's Basketball
Oliver Robinson was one of Gene Bartow’s first recruits when UAB’s men’s basketball program was established in 1978. He quickly became the first star in program history and helped lay the foundation for the Blazers’ early success, leading UAB to two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Robinson finished his collegiate career with 1,577 points, becoming the first player in school history to reach 1,000 career points while ranking fourth on UAB’s all-time scoring list. He also ranks second in school history in field goals made (635), ninth in assists (290), fourth in steals (176), fifth in free throws made (327) and sixth in blocked shots (67). In 1982, Robinson earned NCAA Mideast Regional Most Valuable Player honors, Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Sun Belt Conference Senior of the Year and became UAB’s first All-American. Following his collegiate career, he went on to play professionally with the San Antonio Spurs.
Wanda Hightower Jordan -- Women's Basketball
Wanda Hightower Jordan remains one of the most dominant players in UAB women’s basketball history. She finished her career as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,854 points and still holds the school record for scoring average at 25.7 points per game. Hightower led the Blazers in scoring during all four of her seasons and led the team in rebounding three times. She also holds school records for field goals made (1,113) and free throws made (628). In recognition of her impact on the program, Hightower became the first student-athlete in UAB history, across any sport, to have her jersey retired.
Dr. Jerry D. Young -- UAB Senior Vice President for Finance
Dr. Jerry D. Young served as a longtime administrator and senior vice president at UAB and played a significant role in the growth and development of the university and its athletics department. A strong supporter of Blazer Athletics, Young assisted in the creation and expansion of several athletic programs, including UAB Baseball. In recognition of his lasting contributions to the university, UAB’s baseball facility was later renamed Jerry D. Young Memorial Field in his honor.
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