University of the Ozarks Sports Hall of Fame

A four-year college located on a thirty-acre campus in Clarksville (Johnson County) and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the University of the Ozarks has a mission of social inclusiveness, academic rigor, and spiritual edification. In 1990, the University of the Ozarks Sports Hall of Fame began recognizing former student athletes, university athletics supporters, athletic trainers and coaches, and teams for their leadership, values, and contributions to the athletics department.

Eligibility for the Sports Hall of Fame varies based on the following:

• Athlete: ten years after graduation
• Coach: five years after their Ozarks career
• Administrator/Professional Staff: five years after their Ozarks career
• Team: ten years after graduation

The Hall of Fame started under the university’s Green Country Alumni Association in 1990 and continued to be associated with the alumni group until 1998, when the university’s Office of Alumni Engagement took it over. All nominations are reviewed by the Sports Hall of Fame committee and accepted all year. The committee is made up of the athletic director, alumni office representative, alumni board president, Sports Hall of Fame representative, and student-athlete advisory president. Each individual serves a four-year term. The Hall of Fame ceremony is held during the spring semester Homecoming weekend. A luncheon is hosted at the Rogers Conference Center, with an induction ceremony hosted at Mabee Gymnasium.

The University of the Ozarks is in NCAA Division III athletic competition. The earliest sports team at the school was football, which lasted from 1902 to 1965. The school’s first athletics conference was the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) in 1947, and it remained with the conference until it dissolved in 1995. It became a Division III Independent (not formally affiliated with an athletics conference) from 1995 to 1996 before formally joining the American Southwest Conference in the 1996–1997 season as a charter member. In 2024–2025, the University of the Ozarks will be moving into the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

For additional information:
“Coach Wag Headed into U of O Sports Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, February 2, 2011. https://ozarks.edu/news/coach-wag-headed-into-u-of-o-sports-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

Hanberry, Dwayne. “Concordia University Texas and University of the Ozarks Set to Join the SCAC in 2024–2025.” Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, May 15, 2023. https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Hard Work Leads Porchia to Sports Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, February 10, 2009. https://ozarks.edu/news/hard-work-leads-porchia-to-sports-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Hines and Little Inducted into Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, January 29, 2007. https://ozarks.edu/news/hines-and-little-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

Isch, Larry. “Football History.” Today magazine, Winter 2003. https://uofoathletics.com/documents/2023/10/17/Today_Magazine_Article.pdf (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Johnny Johnson to be Inducted into U of O Sports Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, February 4, 2011. https://ozarks.edu/news/johnny-johnson-to-be-inducted-into-u-of-o-sports-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Ozarks Sprinter Headed to Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, December 31, 2012. https://ozarks.edu/news/ozarks-sprinter-headed-to-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Six to Be Inducted into Sports Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, May 22, 2019. https://ozarks.edu/news/six-to-be-inducted-into-sports-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Sports Hall of Fame Induction to Be Held January 27.” University of the Ozarks, January 17, 2007. https://ozarks.edu/news/sports-hall-of-fame-induction-to-be-held-january-27/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Two Inducted into Sports Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, February 16, 2009. https://ozarks.edu/news/two-inducted-into-sports-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

“U of O Sports Hall of Fame Induction to Be Held February 12.” University of the Ozarks, December 6, 2010. https://ozarks.edu/news/u-of-o-sports-hall-of-fame-induction-to-be-held-february-12/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

“University of the Ozarks.” National Collegiate Athletics Association. https://web3.ncaa.org/directory/orgDetail?id=23008 (accessed September 13, 2024).

“Whorton, Williams, 1983–85 Team to Be Inducted into Hall of Fame.” University of the Ozarks, January 9, 2013. https://ozarks.edu/news/whorton-williams-1983-84-team-to-be-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/ (accessed September 13, 2024).

James Wethington
UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture