Nine finalists unveiled for 2027 Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame Class, voting open
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's athletics club executive committee has released the nine individuals up for consideration for induction into the Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame.
2026 Induction ceremony tickets
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's athletics club executive committee has released the nine individuals up for consideration for induction into the Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame.
Voting is open to all former Carson-Newman athletes, coaches and administrators. It can be done at the following link: cneagles.com/HallOfFame/2026HoFBallot
Voting will close January 26 at 12:01 a.m.
Nominations are accepted year-round, but close on Aug. 1 of each year. Nominations can be made at: cneagles.com/HallOfFame/HofNom.
Individuals who finished their playing careers in May of 2017 or earlier are now eligible for nomination/induction.
The individuals up for consideration for the class of 2027 are listed below in alphabetical order.
Ron Case (1978-80), head football coach and athletic director; Stan Cotten (1980-92), Voice of the Eagles; Alex Good (2010), football; Donna Mapp (1985), basketball; Ed Miller (1985), tennis; David Pool (1990), football; Elana Shannon (1995), cross country; Avis Smith (1986), basketball; and Buck Wakefield (2010), football.
Ron Case (1978-80) – Carson-Newman's head football coach and athletic director from 1978-80, and linebackers coach for the 1972 national-runner up team, Ron Case carved out a 50-year career coaching football. He helped C-N secure a winning season in 1979 after four consecutive losing campaigns to spark a run of 32 straight winning seasons. Case spent time as an assistant with the University of Richmond, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Louisiana State, University of North Carolina and Alabama.
Stan Cotten (1980-92) - The Voice of the Eagles from 1980-92, Stan Cotten was behind the microphone for all five of Carson-Newman football's national championship wins in the 1980s. Cotten is a three-time Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters Association award winner and a member of the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. He was given the Lindsey Nelson Award in 2019 by the Knoxville Quarterback Club. He has spent the last 30 years as the play-by-play voice for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, where he is six-time NSMA North Carolina "Sportscaster of the Year" honoree
Alex Good, football (2010) - A three-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection, Good led the Eagles to four-consecutive SAC titles, and back-to-back NCAA playoff appearance, including a spot in the 2009 semifinals. At the time of nomination, he is C-N's all-time leader in total offense and touchdowns respondsible for. Good racked up 7,853 yards of total offense and 87 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. Good was the 2009 SAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Donna Mapp, women's basketball (1985) - An NAIA All-American in 1985. Mapp helped Carson-Newman to 59 wins against just nine losses as a junior and senior. She helped the Eagles to a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances. A prolific rebounder, she was the first player in school history to snag average double-digit rebounds per game. Her 720 career rebounds are still 10 th in school history. She was an active member of Carson-Newman's ROTC while she played.
Ed Miller, men's tennis (1985) - Miller was a four-time All-VSAC selection, a four-time NAIA District 24 All-District choice and the second All-American in the history of the Carson-Newman men's tennis program. He was chosen as the 1985 ITCA Scholar Athlete of the Year. Over the course of his career, he amassed more than 200 sinlges wins and 175 doubles wins.
David Pool, football (1990) - An All-American, Pool was a member of Carson-Newman's 1988 and 1989 national championship teams. He was a sixth round draft pick for the San Diego Chargers in 1990. At the time of nomination, he has the fourth-most passes defensed in school history at the time of nomination. He was a three-time All-SAC selection, earning honors both as a defensive back and a return specialist. Pool has the longest punt return in school history and is top 10 all-time in seven punt-return categories.
Elana (Eash) Shannon, cross country (1995) - A four-time national qualifier and 1991 NAIA All-American as a freshman, Shannon was the gold medalist of the first two SAC Championship Meets. She finished as the runner up at the first two NCAA Southeast Regionals in which C-N participated. Shannon won 16 races in her four years at C-N. She finished 18th at nationals as a freshman en route to All-America honors.
Avis Smith, women's basketball (1986) - Smith was 85-15 as a player suiting up for the Orange and Blue. At the time of nomination, she is still Carson-Newman's single-game assists record holder with 19 on Jan. 24, 1984 against Lee. Smith was an All-American selection in 1984. She also earned All-District, All-VSAC and All-East honors.
Buck Wakefield, football (2010) - A part of four straight SAC titles and back-to-back NCAA playoff appearances, including a spot in the semifinals, Wakefield was a 2009 All-American. He is Carson-Newman's single-game rushing record holder and one of two running backs all-time with a 1,500-yard rushing season. Wakefield reset the program's single-game record in back-to-back weeks with a 303-yard day at Wingate followed by 332 yards against Tusculum.
To nominate a former Carson-Newman athlete for the 2028 Hall of Fame, click here and fill out the nomination form. Individuals can only nominate two people in each nomination cycle. Nominations for the 2028 Hall of Fame close Aug. 1, 2026.
Tickets are on sale for the 2026 Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, set for Friday, April 10 in the Stokely Memorial Building on Carson-Newman's campus.
Tickets are 50 dollars per person. Ticket holders are encouraged to arrive at 6 p.m. for an hour of fellowship and meet and greet with the inductees. The dinner and ceremony will follow at 7 p.m.
Carson-Newman will induct seven that day in Jeff Bedard (1993), wrestling; Megan Elliot (2006), softball; Leroy Mincey (1992), football; David Needs (1998-2024), head track & field coach; Reggie Perkins (2002), football; Jenna Rust (2024), volleyball; and Fred Woolwine (1950), football.
The group will be recognized at Carson-Newman football's spring game the next day.
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.
