“Thanks for recognizing someone from the Dark Ages.”

  --  Catherine Neely, upon being inducted Friday night into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame for women’s basketball and volleyball …

From a hall of fame coach from the “dark ages’ to the talented student-athletes of the new millennium and a few in between, a talented and record-setting class was inducted into the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Hall of Fame Friday night at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.

Three men and three women were hall of fame inductees, while four special awards were presented.

UTC Athletics HOF Inductees (6)

Josh Cain – Football (1999-02)

Two-time All-American linebacker … had an NCAA FC-record setting 30 tackles in 2001 … two-time All-Southern Conference … 511 career tackles

Susan Carson – Women’s Tennis/Volleyball (1974-75 – 77-78

1978 All-American tennis player … led the Lady Mocs to three straight AIAW Small College National Championships …

“My sophomore year the match with Tennessee was tied 4-4 and I and Chappell Guerry were playing in the deciding match at No.3 doubles … during the break between the second and third sets I overheard one of the Tennessee players tell her coach that there was no way we (UTC) should have won the second set and they were going to win the third set and the match.

“I told Chappell what I had heard and we went out and won 6-0 to clinch the match. We never lost to Tennessee in my four years at UTC.”

Neil Connelly – Men’s Golf (1990-93)

First UTC golfer to advance to the NCAA Regionals (1992-93) … As a senior, he was the top individual (finished fifth overall) to advance to the NCAA Championship … Three-time All-Southern Conference …

Katasha-Brown Flatt - Women’s Basketball (2004-07)

Two-time Southern Conference Women’s Player of the Year … led Lady Mocs to their most successful four-year run – 107-17 record  SoCon tournament titles and a win against Rutgers in the NCAA tournament in 2004.

Catherine Neely, Women’s Basketball/Volleyball (1961-64)

Member of the first U. of Chattanooga women’s volleyball and basketball teams in the early 1960s … she is a member of seven halls of fame … ranks third all-time nationally in high school volleyball wins (at East Ridge) with a record of 1,381-648 …

UC’s early basketball teams (playing 6-on-6 on two courts) included Neely, Connie Day (UTC hall of famer), Marty Cannon, Betsy Johnson and Linda Leatherwood Benefield ..

Neely, Benefield, Grace Keith and others led the way in the 1970s to have girls’ basketball in Tennessee changed to playing 5-on-5 as did the colleges from the previous standard of 6-on-6 and two courts.

“There is nothing better than being a coach … UTC prepared me for my high school coaching career at East Ridge (49 years) and the coaches I had from junior high through college cared for me and had a great influence in my life.”

Scott Zaccaria, Men’s Tennis (1981-84)

1984 Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Year … led the Mocs to four SoCon team titles … also won SoCon singles crowns at No.1 and No.3 and three doubles titles.

“My coach Tommy Bartlett made me a better person on and off the court … He was a great coach and I learned so much from him … I will always cherish this honor.”  

Special Awards

Gordon Davenport Award – outstanding  commitment to UTC athletes

Recipient - Bob Davis

Harold Wilkes Award – to recognize a supporter, volunteer, coach, staff member or University administrator who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in furthering the Vision of Chattanooga Athletics.

Recipient – David & Carol Gibbs

Joe Morrison Award – a former student-athlete or coach for notable accomplishments

Recipient – Sharon Fanning-Otis

Scrappy Moore Award – the UTC student-athlete who best personifies the athletic department’s vision of establishing comprehensive excellence

Recipient – Christina Teter, volleyball – Academic All-American, 3.96 GPA 

Hall of Fame Notes:

UTC Mocs Recently Recognized ... hall of famer Sue Bartlett (tennis, 1994) and Joe Morrison Award winner Dan Beery (rowing, 2010) are featured in the current issue of CityScope magazine in an article on Chattanooga area world champions.

UTC Mocs in other Halls of Fame ... Wayne Golden (basketball, 1991), Lori Massengill (tennis, 2007) and former UC football player Ed Woodham (mid-1950s) will be inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame Mon. Feb. 25 ... Woodham will be inducted for wrestling.

Outstanding American Award :.. UTC wrestler John Kalvelage (wrestling, 1994) will receive the Outstanding American Award at the Georgia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame banquet May 5 in Atlanta.

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net