The Eastern Kentucky University Athletics Hall of Fame 2018 induction class features eight distinguished individuals. The class will be enshrined inside the Perkins Building on Saturday, Oct. 6.
The 2018 induction class includes: Richie Bancells (trainer, 1978-81), Yeremiah Bell (football, 1999-02), George Bryant (basketball, 1968-72), Rick Erdmann (track/cross country head coach, 1979-18), Nichole Gibson (track, 2001-05), Sheyenne Hussey (softball, 2007-11), Bob McIntyre (football, 1976-79) and Randy White (baseball, 1986-89).
The activities begin with a luncheon at 11 a.m. The group will also be recognized during the Colonels' football game against Jacksonville State later that day at 4 p.m.
Tickets for the luncheon are $25 and can be purchased by calling the Colonel Club office, 859-622-2046. The deadline for registration is Friday, September 28. Tickets will not be sold at the event.
Bancells was a member of EKU’s training crew from 1979-1981. Following his time at Eastern Kentucky, he served as an athletic trainer in the Baltimore Orioles organization for 40 years, including 34 years with the major league team. He was a trainer in 1993 and 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Games and is a two-time recipient of the MLB Training Staff of the Year award.
Bell played safety for coach Roy Kidd for three seasons, earning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and first-team All-America recognition from three different organizations his junior season. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, which began an illustrious 11-year career in the NFL.
Bryant played four seasons for coach Guy Strong’s EKU basketball team from 1968-72. As a senior, he scored 21.1 points per game and led Eastern to an OVC championship, losing 83-81 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Florida State who finished that year as the national runner-up. Following graduation, he was drafted by Buffalo in the NBA, Utah in the ABA and was offered an overseas contract with a pro team in France.
Erdmann guided the Colonels to 73 OVC championships and picked up 70 OVC Coach of the Year awards in 39 years as the head coach of the cross country and track and field teams. He tutored, countless All-OVC athletes, 46 All-Americans and three Olympians. On May 12, 2018, the Colonels sent their beloved coach out on top, stunning the conference by winning the men’s outdoor title by more than 30 points. At the June Board of Regents meeting, Erdmann was honored by being named Head Coach Emeritus.
Gibson ran indoor and outdoor track for four seasons. Her best season came during the 2005 outdoor season when she was named OVC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year and Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Championship. She was chosen as the Lexington Police Officer of the Year in 2016. She was named the 2017 Kentucky Women’s Law Enforcement Network Police Officer of the Year.
Hussey played four seasons at third base for coach Jane Worthington’s Colonel softball team. She posted batting averages of .371, .393, .349 and .412. She was a first-team All-OVC player in 2008 and 2009 and a second-team all-conference choice in 2007 and 2011. She finished her career with a .382 batting average, 28 home runs, 156 RBIs and a .602 slugging percentage.
McIntyre played four seasons at linebacker for Kidd from 1976-79. He was a first-team All-America choice in 1979 when EKU won its first national championship. Upon graduation, he had tryouts with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers in 1981 and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 1982.
White played four seasons of baseball for Hall of Fame coach Jim Ward from 1986-89 as a right-handed pitcher. He was known for his two-seam moving fastball, change of speeds and sweeping curveball. He finished his career with a 27-11 overall record, going 9-2 as a junior and 10-3 as a senior. White was named OVC Player of the Year and NCAA Division I All-South Region. In 1989, he signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Braves and played two seasons in the minor leagues.
For more information on the EKU Athletics Hall of Fame, please contact Karl Park, Executive Director of the EKU Athletics Hall of Fame, at karl.park@eku.edu.