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Lion Athletics announces the Hall of Fame induction class of 2020

Lion Athletics announces the Hall of Fame induction class of 2020
  • PublishedJuly 23, 2020


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COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced the five individuals and one team of the 2020 Lion Athletics Hall of Fame class, the Bobby Fox Award recipients, and the newest members of the Lion Athletics Hall of Honor.

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Kathy Goodlett, the winningest coach in Lion Volleyball history, 2008 men’s basketball All-American Scooby Johnson, 2002 long jump national champion George Sheppard, 1979 All-American wide receiver Lonnie Cunigan, 1991 All-American nose guard Micah Haley, and the 1987 Lion Volleyball Team will be inducted into the Lion Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
This year’s Bobby Fox Outstanding Alumni Coach Award recipients will be Allen ISD Athletics Director Steve Williams and Kevin Yoxall, legendary strength and conditioning coach, most recently with the XFL’s Dallas Renegades. The Hall of Honor will welcome long-time Lion supporters Debby and Buddie Barnes and Sue Davis.
 
Details for the Class of 2020’s induction ceremony will be announced at a later date.
 
Membership in the Lion Athletics Hall of Fame is limited to former Lion student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators. Student-athletes must have completed their eligibility 10 years prior to nomination, while coaches and administrators must have served A&M-Commerce for a minimum of five years. In addition, the nominee must be a person of such integrity, character, and sportsmanship that the A&M-Commerce family will be inspired by the recognition.

2020 LION ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CLASS

 

 
KATHY GOODLETT – Volleyball Head Coach – 1983-89
Kathy Goodlett is the winningest coach in Lion Volleyball history, compiling a 185-91 record in her seven seasons. The 1986 Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year mentored four All-Americans, five All-Region selections, and 25 All-LSC picks, including nine First Team All-LSC players. Under her leadership, the Lions qualified for two NCAA Division II Tournaments and won two Lone Star Conference regular season championships and one LSC Tournament championship. Both of her NCAA Tournament teams were regional finalists and national quarterfinalists.
 
SCOOBY JOHNSON – Men’s Basketball – 2007-08
Scooby Johnson was named a Daktronics Third Team All-American, the South Central Region Player of the Year, Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-South Central Region, and First Team All-Lone Star Conference in his one year as a Lion. He led the LSC in scoring with 20.7 points per game while shooting 59.2 percent from the floor and also added 7.7 rebounds per game. His 621 points in 2007-08 ranks eighth in A&M-Commerce history for points in a single season.
 
GEORGE SHEPPARD – Men’s Track & Field – 2000-02
George Sheppard won the 2002 NCAA Division II long jump National Championship to punctuate a stellar career at A&M-Commerce. His jump of 7.87 meters (25-feet-10) won the National Championship by 1.75 inches and gave the Lions their first track and field national championship in 16 years. That jump still stands as the school record and ranks in the top 25 in Division II history. He was an All-American and won the Lone Star Conference long jump championship in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
 
LONNIE CUNIGAN – Football – 1977-79
Lonnie Cunigan had an excellent career at wide receiver in three seasons for the Lions, breaking out as a senior in 1979, when he was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press and the NAIA, as well as an NAIA District 4 All-Star. He was tied for second in school history in career receptions at the end of his career with 111 catches for 1,641 yards and 12 touchdowns. In his senior year, he was named First Team All-Lone Star Conference after leading the LSC with 47 receptions for 600 yards.
 
MICAH HALEY – Football – 1989-91
Micah Haley was a standout nose guard who helped lead the Lions to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1990 and 1991 and win the Lone Star Conference Championship in 1990. He was named a Second Team All-American by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette in 1991 and twice named All-Lone Star Conference. He had 119 tackles in three seasons, with 22 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks. He blocked four kicks in his career, including three in one game at Northwestern State in his senior campaign. He was unanimously selected First Team All-Lone Star Conference in 1991.
 
1987 VOLLEYBALL TEAM
The 1987 Lions went 31-6 overall with a 9-1 Lone Star Conference record, winning the LSC and advancing to the NCAA Division II South Region Final. The Lions had a perfect 14-0 home record and had a 13-match winning streak in the middle of the season.
 
The Lions were dominant on the court and in the scorebook. Two Lions broke the 300 kill ceiling, with Alice Fortes hitting 354 kills and Angie Neylon just behind with 300. Paulette Pilcik had 1,017 assists, and the rest of the Lions had a total of 248 assists. Neylon led the way in digs with 381, and Fortes was just behind with 364. Fortes led the Lions in total blocks with 186, and Neylon had 146.
 
Five Lions earned accolades in 1987, including the last two All-American recognitions Lions volleyball would receive until 2001. Alice Fortes snagged her first AVCA All-American award, and Paulette Pilcik was named a second team AVCA All-American for the second year in a row. Both Fortes and Pilcik were named to the first team AVCA All-Region, as well as First Team All-LSC. Angie Buantello, Teresa McLain, and Angie Neylon were all named to the Second Team All-LSC. Fortes, McLain, and Pilcik each earned a spot on the All-LSC Academic team as well.

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