By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Five individuals who helped take Tennessee Tech Athletics to new heights and pave the way for those student-athletes who followed them have been selected as members of the 49th class for induction into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2023 honors five individuals who enjoyed incredible success not only as student-athletes of Tennessee Tech but in each of their endeavors following their time at the University. Selected for induction as the 49th class of the TTU Sports Hall of Fame are Tristan Archer (baseball), Tim Benford (football), Bruce Hatfield (football), Dr. M. Dianne Murphy (women's basketball/volleyball/women's tennis/supporter), and Beth Underhill (women's golf).
"It truly seems like the decision our Hall of Fame Committee has to make each year in selecting the next class for induction into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame only gets increasingly difficult," Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson said. "Once again, they did spectacular work in putting together another incredible class to join an elite group of individuals that have represented Tennessee Tech Athletics at the highest levels. Each of our inductees is undeniably deserving of this honor and we are excited to recognize them and celebrate with them during this year's Hall of Fame Weekend."
The Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame will hold its 49th induction during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 3-4. The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 p.m. CT in the Multipurpose Room of the University Center. Tickets are available through the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office by calling 931-372-3940 or by visiting TTUSports.com. The group will also be recognized at the Homecoming football game on Saturday afternoon against UT Martin, which features a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
The Class of 2023 includes:
Tristan Archer | Baseball | 2010-13 A weekend starter since he first set foot on campus, Archer built a remarkable career on the mound for the Golden Eagles. In four seasons representing the purple and gold, the Kingsport, Tenn. native made a whopping 55 starts on the bump, setting both a program and Ohio Valley Conference career record that still stands today. The right-handed hurler also ended his illustrious career first in school history with 323 and two-thirds innings pitched, first with 23 wins (now ranks second), second with 273 strikeouts (now third), third with a 2.81 strikeout-to-walk ratio (now sixth), and fifth with a 2.70 walks per nine innings ratio (now sixth). The Golden Eagle ace was a key cog in leading Tech to the 2010 OVC regular season title, making 12 starts as a freshman. He was the ace of the 2013 OVC regular season championship squad that set a program record with 40 wins (since broken) and an OVC record 24-6 mark in league action (since broken). During his career, Archer was named All-South Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association, All-OVC First Team, and to the OVC All-Tournament Team as a senior in 2013 and to the OVC All-Freshman Team in 2010. In addition to being named Tech's 2013 Man of the Year, he was a six-time member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, a member of the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, and was twice named to the Dean's List. Drafted in the 21st round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, Archer spent seven seasons competing in the minor leagues.
Tim Benford | Football | 2008-11 Benford was making big marks in the Tennessee Tech record book before his senior campaign, but the Golden Eagle wide receiver saved the best for last. A Preseason All-OVC pick that season, he backed that up with 65 catches for a single-season program record 925 yards (since broken) and the OVC Offensive Player of the Year Award. The Chattanooga native helped lead the Golden Eagles to the 2011 OVC Championship, as Tech defeated Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State on their home fields to force a three-way tie at the top and ultimate tiebreaker for their 10th OVC championship. His dynamic play on the gridiron was recognized with All-America honors by The Sports Network and Phil Steele's Football both in 2010 and 2011. For his career, Benford continues to represent the Tech career leader in receptions with 216 and receiving yardage with 3,097 yards. He ranks 10th all-time in all-purpose yardage with 3,116 yards. The wideout still ranks fifth in the OVC career marks in receptions and receiving yards. He also boasts the most 100-yard receiving games with 10, including a career-best 177 yards against Southeast Missouri in 2010. Benford was named the OVC Freshman of the Year in 2008 and was a three-time All-OVC First Team selection from 2009 to 2011 with an All-Newcomer nod in 2008. Following his senior campaign, in which he was named Tech's Male Athlete of the Year and earned his third Robert Hill Johnson Award, he attended the NFL Combine and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.
Bruce Hatfield | Football | 1984-87 When Hatfield finished his career at Tennessee Tech, he stood as the fourth-best tackler in Golden Eagle history. From 1984 to 1987, Hatfield started 35 of 40 games for the Golden Eagles and was a force on defense, wrapping up his Tech career with 348 tackles, still good for eighth on the all-time charts. He also forced two fumbles, recovered three, broke up five passes, and intercepted a pass. Hatfield led the Golden Eagles in tackles as a junior in the 1986 campaign, even after missing two games with a hand injury. He tacked on 109 more as a senior, teaming up with TTU Sports Hall of Famer Thomas Squires (136 stops) to form one of the best linebacker tandems in program history. Hatfield was named a permanent team captain for the 1987 squad and also earned the 1987 Sonny Allen Leadership Award. Following the 1998 NFL Draft, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets. Following his stint with the Jets, Hatfield spent 28 years as a high school coach and teacher. He built a legacy with Hendersonville High School as the head coach from 1998 to 2018, collecting a 159-89 record with the Commandos and becoming the school's all-time winningest football coach. Hatfield was named region coach of the year in 1999, 2001, 2008, and 2014, then took teams to the TSSAA BlueCross Bowl four times – 1998, 2001, 2010, and 2013. He left Hendersonville in 2017 to join current Golden Eagle head coach Dewayne Alexander as assistant coach, leading the linebacker unit.
Dr. M. Dianne Murphy | Women's Basketball / Volleyball / Women's Tennis / Supporter | 1969-Present A pioneer in so many ways, Murphy blazed a trail for women in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete, a coach, and an administrator. A member of the inaugural Tennessee Tech women's basketball, women's tennis, and volleyball teams, she became the first graduate assistant for the Golden Eaglettes in the 1972-73 season before branching out as a head coach from 1972-86 at a trio of stops, including Florida State. She began her athletics administrative career in 1987-88 as the assistant athletics director at Kentucky State and then spent six years as director of athletics at the University of Denver, leading the Pioneers through their transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. Eight Denver teams made NCAA tournament appearances, four of which would win national championships. Following Denver, she served as the director of athletics at Columbia University from 2004-15, eventually being honored as Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA in 2013-14. Under her direction, the Lions won 30 Ivy League titles across 11 different sports, earned six Ivy League Coach of the Year honors, numerous programs earned their best national finishes in school history, and the fencing team earned the program's 14th NCAA national championship. In 2006, she created a leadership initiative at Tech – the Dr. M. Dianne Murphy Leaders for Life program, an initiative that provides comprehensive leadership training to student-athletes. In 2019, she was honored with the TTU Athletics Distinguished Alumni Award. Murphy currently serves as a senior partner with The Pictor Group, an intercollegiate athletics consulting firm, and volunteers at Tennessee Tech with alumni engagement and fundraising efforts.
Beth Underhill | Women's Golf | 2002-06 One of the most consistent and successful golfers who played for Tech, Underhill left her mark in the record books, gaining the reputation as one of the toughest workers on the links after playing in just six total events as a freshman. After claiming the team's Most Dedicated honor following her first year, it was her work ethic and dedication to the game that propelled her from a modest rookie campaign to breaking (and still holding) the Golden Eagle program record of 14 All-Tournament honors for a career. She claimed four as a sophomore and five each as a junior, and senior, picking up Most Improved honors from TTU Hall of Fame head coach Bobby Nichols following her freshman season. She turned in three straight top-10 finishes and picked up her first career medalist honor. The improvement continued into her junior season when she posted a 79.9 scoring average to lead the team and earn All-OVC Second Team accolades. That same year, she also claimed OVC All-Tournament honors and was named team MVP, the team's Best Putter and earned the Low Average Award. Underhill saved her best for last, erupting in her senior campaign to lead the OVC in scoring average while posting a 77.3 for the second-lowest mark in program history (at the time). Her performance, along with five more All-Tournament honors helped earn her a spot on the All-OVC First Team and OVC All-Tournament Team. Underhill was a three-time member of the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll all eight semesters, and earned the President's Award for the women's golf team in 2005 and 2006.
