Ohio State announces 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

On Thursday, the Ohio State athletic department announced the 2019 class to be inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame. The former coaches and players will be inducted on Friday, Sept. 6 at the Ohio Union, and recognized at the Buckeye football game against Cincinnati on Sept. 7.

Leading the class are two former football standouts and a pair of iconic basketball coaches. The honorees will include players A.J. Hawk (football, 2002-05), Mike Nugent (football, 2001-04), Boyd Cherry (football, 1912-14), Justin Fry (baseball, 1996-99), Stan Lyons (men’s track and field, 1956-58), Andrew Pierce (men’s track and field, 1998-01), Natalie Spooner (women’s ice hockey, 2009-12), and R.J. Umberger (men’s hockey, 2001-03).

The two coaches included in the class are the school’s all-time winningest men’s basketball coach, Thad Matta, and Jim Foster, who has the highest winning percentage (.772) of any women’s basketball coach in Ohio State history.

With Boyd, Hawk and Nugent joining the school’s hall of fame, they will bring the football program’s total up to 126 members. Matta will be 40th member of the men’s basketball team to be enshrined.

Congratulations to all 10 members of the 2019 class!