| Sports
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New Staff
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As U of L continues to address
gender equity and increase opportunities for women in sports at Louisville, and as the
school works to overcome recent NCAA rules violations, Athletic Director Tom Jurich has
made several key personnel moves. Julie Hermann has been hired as senior woman
administrator. She previously worked as head women’s volleyball coach at the
University of Tennessee and most recently as assistant coach of Team USA Volleyball,
preparing the nation’s top players for the Olympics. Jill Reeve has been named U of
L’s first full-time field hockey coach and will oversee a staff of two full-time
assistants, another first for the program. Reeve, captain of the United States Field
Hockey Team, previously worked as assistant coach at Penn State. Both Hermann and Reeve
will maintain affiliations with their respective national teams, a move that Jurich
welcomes. "They can provide our programs with a wonderful opportunity for both
national and international recognition," he says. A third newcomer to the U of L
administrative staff is Neil Brooks, associate athletic director for compliance. Brooks,
who left a similar post at the University of Maryland, will work to establish a
comprehensive plan to maintain strict adherence to NCAA rules. |
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Hall of Fame
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Seven
former Cardinal basketball and football stars and a veteran basketball coach were inducted
into the U of L Athletic Hall of Fame in February. Valerie Owens Combs, the first woman in
U of L history to sign a national letter-of-intent in basketball, helped the Lady Cards
win the 1979 Metro Conference title. Jerry Eaves was a starting guard on U of L’s
1980 NCAA Championship team. Jeff Hall started at guard for the 1986 NCAA title team. Mike
Lawhon was a starter for Denny Crum’s 1972 Final Four squad that met UCLA. Former
men’s basketball coach Jerry Jones was part of two NCAA titles, five Final Four
teams, and a 16 U of L NCAA tournament appearances. Ed Harmon was an all-Missouri Valley
Conference selection and a second-team all-American linebacker in 1967. Frank Minnifield
led the NCAA in kickoff returns in 1981 and punt returns in 1982, then became an All-Pro
player for the Cleveland Browns. David Rivenbark was a defensive halfback and a
record-setting tight end for the Cards. |
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Retired Jerseys
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In
January, four Cardinal basketball greats were honored at Freedom Hall as their jerseys
were retired. George Hauptfuhrer helped lead the first two teams coached by Peck Hickman
to an outstanding 38-9 record. Kenny Reeves was a starting guard on the Cards’ 1948
NAIB Championship team. Rodney McCray is one of just four U of L players to surpass both
1,000 career points and rebounds. Alfred "Butch" Beard earned All-America honors
in 1968-69 and totalled 1,580 career points. |
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Special Honors
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In February, U of L fans Harry (a U of L
trustee) and Nancy Jones were presented with the Hickman-Camp Award, the highest honor
given to fans by the athletic department. The award is named in honor of former men’s
basketball coach Peck Hickman and the late football coach Frank Camp. |
