The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Conference USA Announces Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
7/8/2019 9:26:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Women's Basketball
Gene Bartow, Deanna Jackson, Graeme McDowell represent UAB
DALLAS – As part of its 25th season celebration, Conference USA announced today its inaugural Hall of Fame Class. The 25-person class is comprised of 20 student-athletes, three coaches and two administrators. UAB is represented by Gene Bartow (Men's Basketball Coach/Athletics Director), Deanna Jackson (Women's Basketball) and Graeme McDowell (Men's Golf).
The Father of UAB Athletics, Bartow grew the intercollegiate sports program there from its infancy into one that featured 17 sports by the time he retired from the position in 2000. Among his achievements were guiding the program through three conference changes, growing the football team from a club sport into an FBS program and adding several women's sports to the university's athletics roster. Bartow was at the helm of the UAB Men's Basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 366-203 (.643) during his tenure. He led the Blazers to the NIT in the program's second year of existence and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. In all, he led UAB to 14 postseason appearances, nine of which were NCAA Tournaments.
Jackson finished her highly touted career with 2,144 career points, despite playing just 11 games her senior season. She was named to the Conference USA All-Decade team in March 2005, and was the first C-USA athlete to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. A 2001 All-American selection and C-USA Player of the Year, she led UAB to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2000.
McDowell was a 2002 Haskins Award, given to the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the United States. He led UAB to three NCAA regionals and a pair of NCAA Championship appearances while placed fourth individually in 2002. A two-time C-USA Golfer of the Year, McDowell was a First Team All-American in 2002 and a Second Team All-American in 2001.
"We are very pleased to honor this outstanding group for their many lasting contributions to their universities and to Conference USA," said Judy MacLeod, Conference USA Commissioner. "They have provided many outstanding achievements and memories and we are proud to recognize their lasting legacy to our conference."
The inaugural C-USA Hall of Fame class features student-athletes and coaches from 13 different sports. Eleven of the eligible schools (those who were members of C-USA prior to the summer of 2013 for this class) are represented. Five different schools (Cincinnati, Houston, Rice, Southern Miss and UAB) lead the way with three representatives in the inaugural group.
Criteria to be eligible for the Hall of Fame includes the following:
A Committee has been put in place to select nominees and the league's Athletics Directors serve as the voting panel for the C-USA Hall of Fame.
In the future, the C-USA Hall of Fame class size will be a minimum of one inductee and a maximum of five inductees per year.
Initial nominees not selected in this class will remain on the ballot for future years.
INAUGURAL CONFERENCE USA HALL OF FAME CLASS
STUDENT-ATHLETES
Courtney Blades, Southern Miss - Softball (1999-2000)
Arnau Brugues, Tulsa - Men's Tennis (2006-09)
Torie Bowie, Southern Miss - Track & Field (2009-12)
Jon Busch, Charlotte - Men's Soccer (1994-96)
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis - Men's Basketball (2005-08)
Jarett Dillard, Rice - Football (2005-08)
Jake Gautreau, Tulane - Baseball (1998-2001)
Tyler Henderson, Tulsa - Volleyball (2009-12)
Deanna Jackson, UAB - Women's Basketball (1998-02)
Chandi Jones, Houston - Women's Basketball (2000-04)
Case Keenum, Houston - Football (2007-11)
Michael Kogan, Tulane - Men's Tennis
Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati - Men's Basketball (1997-00)
Graeme McDowell, UAB - Men's Golf (1999-2002)
Yulia Pakhalina, Houston - Swimming & Diving (2001-03)
Anthony Rendon, Rice - Baseball (2008-11)
Brooke Tull, TCU - Women's Golf (2002-04)
Dwyane Wade, Marquette - Men's Basketball (2001-03)
DeAngelo Williams, Memphis - Football (2002-05)
Kevin Youkilis, Cincinnati - Baseball (1998-2001)
COACHES
Jeff Bower, Southern Miss - Football (1995-2007)
Wayne Graham, Rice - Baseball (2006-2018)
Bob Huggins, Cincinnati - Men's Basketball (1995-2004)
ADMINISTRATORS
Gene Bartow, UAB Men's Basketball Coach/Athletics Director
Mike Slive, C-USA Commissioner (1995-2002)
The Father of UAB Athletics, Bartow grew the intercollegiate sports program there from its infancy into one that featured 17 sports by the time he retired from the position in 2000. Among his achievements were guiding the program through three conference changes, growing the football team from a club sport into an FBS program and adding several women's sports to the university's athletics roster. Bartow was at the helm of the UAB Men's Basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 366-203 (.643) during his tenure. He led the Blazers to the NIT in the program's second year of existence and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. In all, he led UAB to 14 postseason appearances, nine of which were NCAA Tournaments.
Jackson finished her highly touted career with 2,144 career points, despite playing just 11 games her senior season. She was named to the Conference USA All-Decade team in March 2005, and was the first C-USA athlete to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. A 2001 All-American selection and C-USA Player of the Year, she led UAB to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2000.
McDowell was a 2002 Haskins Award, given to the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the United States. He led UAB to three NCAA regionals and a pair of NCAA Championship appearances while placed fourth individually in 2002. A two-time C-USA Golfer of the Year, McDowell was a First Team All-American in 2002 and a Second Team All-American in 2001.
"We are very pleased to honor this outstanding group for their many lasting contributions to their universities and to Conference USA," said Judy MacLeod, Conference USA Commissioner. "They have provided many outstanding achievements and memories and we are proud to recognize their lasting legacy to our conference."
The inaugural C-USA Hall of Fame class features student-athletes and coaches from 13 different sports. Eleven of the eligible schools (those who were members of C-USA prior to the summer of 2013 for this class) are represented. Five different schools (Cincinnati, Houston, Rice, Southern Miss and UAB) lead the way with three representatives in the inaugural group.
Criteria to be eligible for the Hall of Fame includes the following:
- A minimum of two years played for student-athletes, minimum five years served for coaches/administrators (coaches/administrators in current roles are eligible)
- Student-athletes are only eligible five years after their last C-USA competition
- Considerations for student-athletes will be based on but not limited to All-America selections and national honors, C-USA superlative awards, academic standing and off-the-field contributions
- Considerations for coaches/administrators will be based on contributions to C-USA as a whole
A Committee has been put in place to select nominees and the league's Athletics Directors serve as the voting panel for the C-USA Hall of Fame.
In the future, the C-USA Hall of Fame class size will be a minimum of one inductee and a maximum of five inductees per year.
Initial nominees not selected in this class will remain on the ballot for future years.
INAUGURAL CONFERENCE USA HALL OF FAME CLASS
STUDENT-ATHLETES
Courtney Blades, Southern Miss - Softball (1999-2000)
Arnau Brugues, Tulsa - Men's Tennis (2006-09)
Torie Bowie, Southern Miss - Track & Field (2009-12)
Jon Busch, Charlotte - Men's Soccer (1994-96)
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis - Men's Basketball (2005-08)
Jarett Dillard, Rice - Football (2005-08)
Jake Gautreau, Tulane - Baseball (1998-2001)
Tyler Henderson, Tulsa - Volleyball (2009-12)
Deanna Jackson, UAB - Women's Basketball (1998-02)
Chandi Jones, Houston - Women's Basketball (2000-04)
Case Keenum, Houston - Football (2007-11)
Michael Kogan, Tulane - Men's Tennis
Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati - Men's Basketball (1997-00)
Graeme McDowell, UAB - Men's Golf (1999-2002)
Yulia Pakhalina, Houston - Swimming & Diving (2001-03)
Anthony Rendon, Rice - Baseball (2008-11)
Brooke Tull, TCU - Women's Golf (2002-04)
Dwyane Wade, Marquette - Men's Basketball (2001-03)
DeAngelo Williams, Memphis - Football (2002-05)
Kevin Youkilis, Cincinnati - Baseball (1998-2001)
COACHES
Jeff Bower, Southern Miss - Football (1995-2007)
Wayne Graham, Rice - Baseball (2006-2018)
Bob Huggins, Cincinnati - Men's Basketball (1995-2004)
ADMINISTRATORS
Gene Bartow, UAB Men's Basketball Coach/Athletics Director
Mike Slive, C-USA Commissioner (1995-2002)
UAB Softball | The Quick Cut: Memphis Series
Thursday, April 09
UAB vs ECU Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, March 08
UAB vs North Texas Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, March 01
UAB MBB vs Tulane Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, February 15
