By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
PHOTOS: 2016 Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame induction
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Title IX represents one of the most important, historical achievements in collegiate athletics. And thanks to the hard work and dedication of administrators, coaches and student-athletes, both past and present, Tennessee Tech has had the honor of achieving compliance (not to mention national recognition) with Title IX gender equity standards, a goal that few institutions have reached.
The University's adoption of and compliance with Title IX standards helped pave the way for the addition of several new programs within the athletic department, such as softball (1986) and eventually, soccer (1996). It also assisted with keeping the women's basketball program one of the most historically dominate in the country for decades.
It seems only fitting that the 42nd class inducted into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame on Friday be headlined by four former student-athletes, all among the greatest to ever don their respective uniforms, as well as an administrator that played a pivotal role with Tech's adoption and ultimate compliance with Title IX.
Why fitting? The five-member Class of 2016 represents the first all-female class inducted into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame, representing another achievement along the road of equality, one that would likely never have been reached without the University's dedication and commitment to Title IX.
This year's historical class featured Lori Bayless from softball, former administrator Marcia Borys, Jill Burns from soccer, Emily Christian from women's basketball and Allison Clark, also from women's basketball. Burns also represents the first member of the Golden Eagle soccer team to be inducted.
"We are honored to recognize these outstanding individuals for their accomplishments with induction into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame," Director of Athletics Mark Wilson said. "Congratulations to each of them for being part of this historic class!"
The 2016 Hall of Fame Class will be honored during Homecoming weekend, Oct. 21-22. The induction will take place at the Hall of Fame Dinner Friday evening, and the group will also be recognized at the Homecoming football game Saturday afternoon, against Southeast Missouri.
This year's inductees are:
- Lori Bayless was a three-time member of the All-OVC First Team and OVC All-Tournament Teams while pitching for the Golden Eagle softball team from 2001 to 2004. Named OVC Tournament MVP as a junior and OVC Pitcher of the Year as a senior, she led Tech to two OVC Championships in her career. She represents the program's career ERA leader, boasting a mark of 1.23 in four seasons and is the only Golden Eagle with multiple no-hitters in postseason play.
- Marcia Borys served the Tech Athletics Department in an administrative role for more than 25 years, joining the staff in 1976 after five years with the University's Business Office, and retiring in 2001. Serving in roles from Administrative Assistant for Business and Finance to Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator, her budget management and financial strategy, not to mention leadership with the adoption of Title IX, proved invaluable to the department.
- Jill Burns used her four-year career from 2002 to 2005 to post 10 school records and cement herself as the greatest goal scorer in program history. The league's Freshman of the Year in 2002 and two-time All-OVC First Team honoree, she ranked in the top 20 nationally in goals as a senior. Thanks to achievements such as owning four of the program's six hat tricks, Burns still ranks as the program's career leader in both points and goals scored by wide margins.
- Emily Christian spent her entire four-year career from 2002 to 2006 becoming a three-time All-OVC First Team selection and four-time OVC All-Tournament Team member. She took home OVC Player of the Year honors as a senior while leading Tech to a regular season title and captured OVC Freshman of the Year and All-OVC Second Team honors in her career as well. She still ranks in the top 10 in school history in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots and owns the OVC record for single-game field goal percentage.
- Allison Clark used her three-year playing career from 1999 to 2002 to drain more 3-pointers in both a single season and career than any other player in OVC history. She helped lead the Golden Eagles to three OVC titles, earning All-Tournament honors twice and All-OVC Second Team honor. The recipient of the 2000 Ed Steitz Award, annually given to the nation's best 3-point shooter, she returned to Tech in the role of assistant coach in 2012.
