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Greensboro College Athletics Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Greensboro, NC (08/16/2024) — Greensboro College Athletics has announced the Hall of Fame class of 2024. The class includes three former Greensboro College coaches, five former players, and one team.

The class of 2024 includes Julia Spear Collins ('98), Tricia Zeigler Watson ('04), Jeff Dastmalchian ('91), David Sutton ('09), Dirk Fennie (2009-2015 Men's Golf Head Coach), Jessica Upchurch Nelson '04, Sam Hanger (1990-1995 Men's Basketball Head Coach/Sports Information Director), Tim Guter ('89, 1989-1992 Men's & Women's Soccer Head Coach), and the 2008-2009 Women's Basketball team.

A two sport student-athlete in volleyball and tennis, Collins ranks first in Greensboro Volleyball history in career assists (4,185) and career assists per set (9.0). Collins also ranks sixth in single season assists (1,230) and third in single season assists per set (10.3).

Watson, a two-sport star in basketball and volleyball, had an illustrious career in both sports, ranking in the top 10 in multiple statistical categories. In her basketball career, Watson ranks sixth all time in free throws made (287), fifth in free throws attempted (439), eighth in steals (186), and tied for ninth in career games played (84). Watson's volleyball career was just as decorated, as she ranks ninth all time in kills (1,295), and sixth in total attempts (3,566), tenth in attempts per game (7.20). She ranks fourth in total digs (1,406), tenth in digs per set (2.84), seventh in blocks (304), and third in sets played (495).

Jeff Dastmalchian played basketball at Johnson County Community College before transferring to Greensboro in 1988. Dastmalchian was a rebounding machine, totaling 470 rebounds and averaging 9.0 rebounds per game in his Greensboro career. Dastmalchian was named Second Team All-Conference for the 1988-1989 season, and a year later named First Team All-Conference for 1989-1990.

David Sutton enters the Hall of Fame as one of the most accomplished men's tennis players in Greensboro history. Sutton was ranked as high as #3 in the NCAA Southeast Regional rankings and #12 nationally. David was the team's MVP from 2006-2009 and was the first player in Greensboro men's tennis history to be selected as a first alternate for the NCAA Men's Singles Tournament. Sutton was also awarded the Fred Joseph Award, which is the highest athletic achievement award for one male and one female student-athlete each year at Greensboro College. Finally, David was named the USA South Men's Tennis Player of the Year for the 2006-2007 season.

An NCAA National Champion head coach enters the Greensboro Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024. Dirk Fennie led the Greensboro men's golf team from 2009-2017, and helped bring the program its second National Championship in 2011. Fennie was also named the 2011 Golf Coaches Association of America Division III Coach of the Year. Under Fennie's direction, the men's golf team won the 2012 USA South Conference Championship, which was the team's first since 2002. The program also got the job done in the classroom, as in 2013, the program won the GCAA Division III Academic National Championship. Fennie coached eleven NCAA All-Americans and nine All-American Scholars during his tenure as the Pride's men's golf coach.

Jessica Nelson shined on the soccer field for the Greensboro women's soccer program. Nelson ranks eighth in career goals per game (0.59) and totaled 23 goals in her two-year career at Greensboro. In 2002, Upchurch was named the Dixie Athletic Conference (DIAC) Tournament MVP and named to the DIAC All-Tournament Team. Nelson's 2003 season was one to remember, as she was named Second Team All-America, First Team All-Region, Second Team All-USA South, and was named to the USA South All-Tournament Team.

Sam Hanger led the Greensboro men's basketball program to new heights during his tenure as head coach from 1990-1995. The team had its most successful season under Hanger in 1993-1994, as the Pride made a run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division III Tournament and took home the DIAC Conference Title. Hanger amassed 205 victories as Greensboro's head coach with a .526 win percentage.

The first women's soccer head coach in school history, Tim Guter helped build the program in the spring of 1990. Guter played all four years of his soccer career at Greensboro and after graduating, immediately joined the men's soccer coaching staff led by Doug Hamilton. Guter was tasked with building a brand-new program beginning in 1990, and led the women's soccer team until 1995. As important as he was in building the women's soccer program, Guter is one of the best goalies in Greensboro men's soccer history. Guter ranks #1 in career saves in goal with 241, as well as saves per game with 6.69. Guter is fifth all time in save percentage (79%) and fifth in career shutouts (10).

Finally, the 2008-2009 Women's Basketball team will enter the Hall of Fame. Led by head coach Jason Tuggle, Greensboro went 27-3 overall and 18-0 in conference play in route to the USA South Conference Championship. The team also made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, making them one of just three teams in program history to make it to the second round of the tournament. The team ranked in the top ten in the NCAA in multiple statistical categories during the season, including scoring margin (#3), scoring offense (#5), turnover margin (#6), and steals per game (3). Greensboro Hall of Famer Dionne Eccles led the team in scoring at 18.5 points per game, while Kim Enoch led the team in rebounds at 8.1 rebounds per game.

Head coach Jason Tuggle was named USA South Coach of the Year, while the team had multiple individual award winners. Eccles was named NCCSIA All-State First Team and First Team All-Conference. Danielle Duncan was also named First Team All-Conference, while Enoch was named Second Team All-Conference.

The Greensboro Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 28 at 9:30 am. The ceremony is part of Homecoming weekend and will be followed by the Greensboro College Football game against Southern Virginia at 12:00 pm.

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