The ACU Sports Hall of Fame ushered in one of its most diverse and prestigious classes 2009 Celebration Dinner on Saturday evening.
Members of the 2009 class include two track and field athletes, a star quarterback, a golf coach, an athletic trainer and a longtime ACU athletics devotee. In the midst of another successful athletics season, Athletic Director Jared Mosley and the rest of the department took a night to step back and reflect on the proud tradition of ACU sports.
“I think what’s really special about this group is that, first of all, we are inducting two of the most dominating track and field women in NCAA Division II history,” Mosley said. “We’re inducting the only golf coach to ever win a championship for us and even our first full-time athletic trainer.”
Athletes must be 10 years removed from playing to be eligible for induction into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame. Coaches, on the other hand, must be five years removed from coaching. ACU, it seems, was champing at the bit to induct former track and field stars Tracey Barnes and Delloreen Ennis-London. Both women are 1999 graduates of ACU, in their first year of eligibility.
Barnes has the distinction of being the most decorated track and field athlete in ACU history. Between 1996 and 1999, she amassed an astonishing 14 individual NCAA National Championship wins for the Wildcats. She also helped the Wildcats win back-to-back national team championships in 1998 and 1999. She represented her home country of Jamaica in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, finishing fourth in the 4×400 relays. Barnes graduated from ACU with a degree in human development and family studies.
“It’s a great honor to be inducted,” Barnes said. “My advice to ACU athletes is make goals and work towards them. Use the staff and facilities we have here; we have some wonderful teachers.”
Barnes’ teammate, Delloreen Ennis-London, also highlights an excellent 2009 class. Ennis-London stands alone as the only woman in NCAA history to win eight national titles in hurdles. After graduating from the College of Business Administration, she went on to represent Jamaica in the Olympics three times. She finished in fourth place in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, and she still holds the top marks in NCAA Division II in the 55- and 100-meter hurdles.
“It’s a great privilege to be noted for my hard work in my years at ACU,” Ennis-London said. “I am humbled by this prestigious award.”
Former ACU golf coach Vince Jarrett is also a member of the 2009 inductee class. Jarrett stands as one of the most successful coaches in school history. Between 1986 and 1996, his golf squads finished in the top two at every Lone Star Conference tournament except one. His 1993 squad captured the only NCAA National Championship in ACU golf history.
Reese had some simple advice for the ACU football team, as well.
“Enjoy it while you can,” Reese said. “It won’t be there forever.”
Two other 2009 inductees were neither player nor coach, but nonetheless played a major role in ACU sports history.
Wes Speights served as the first full-time trainer in ACU history. Speights looked out for the-well being of all ACU athletes between 1876 and 1985.
Dr. Jerry Strader has been a long-time supporter of ACU sports. He graduated from ACU in 1952, is a former president of the Alumni Association and currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Strader also achieved the rank of Brigadier General serving in the Army Dental Corps.
Perhaps the most notable member of the 2009 class is former ACU quarterback Jim Reese. Widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in ACU history, Reese became the ACU starter in 1975 and led ACU to a 15-5-1 record over the course of two seasons. He still holds the ACU records for passing yards in a game, with 564, and the average yards per completion record with 16.3 yards per catch.
Reese and the Wildcats defeated Harding in the 1976 Shrine Bowl, and Reese was named the game’s MVP. Reese served as ACU offensive coordinator from 2000-2004, so he is also being inducted in his first year of eligibility as a coach.
“It really is a great honor, but I think it means more about how fortunate I was to play here at a great time,” Reese said. “It’s really nostalgic seeing so many former players with whom I’m still friends.”
