The 2024 Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Athletics Hall of Fame induction class will feature seven distinguished individuals and the 1973 volleyball team. The class is set to be enshrined on Saturday, September 28, at the EKU Center for the Arts. The Hall of Fame brunch and ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
The 2024 induction class includes:
- Ole Hesselbjerg (Track/Cross Country, 2011-15): A four-time Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) outdoor champion, three-time first team All-American, and two-time Olympian in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Hesselbjerg, from Charlottenlund, Denmark, won two bronze medals at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and competed in the NCAA Cross Country Championships three times.
- Danny Hope (Football, 1976-91, 2003-07, 2019, 2020-present): Hope has served in various roles at EKU, including player, head coach, assistant coach, and staff member. He was a starter on the Colonels’ first national championship team and was named OVC Coach of the Year as head coach, leading EKU to a conference title and an FCS playoff appearance. He also coached Purdue to two bowl games and currently serves in EKU’s development office.
- Jacob Korir (Track/Cross Country, 2004-08): A three-time NCAA All-American in cross country and a two-time All-American in track. Korir, from Nairobi, Kenya, placed fourth in the 10,000 meters at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships, second in the 5,000 meters at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships, and finished in the top-20 three times at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
- Sofie Levin (Women’s Golf, 2013-17): A four-time All-OVC selection and four-time OVC All-Tournament honoree. Levin, from Stockholm, Sweden, won MVP honors at the 2015 OVC Championship and led the Colonels to two conference titles. She ranks third all-time in program history in career scoring average.
- Nick Mayo (Men’s Basketball, 2015-19): EKU’s all-time leading scorer with 2,316 points. Mayo, from Oakland, Maine, was a four-time first team All-OVC selection, the 2016 OVC Freshman of the Year, and a four-time NABC All-District pick. He ranks sixth in career rebounds and has the seventh-best career free throw percentage at EKU.
- Greg Stotelmyer (Broadcaster, 1979-present): The play-by-play broadcaster for EKU athletics since 1979, Stotelmyer has called over 2,200 athletic contests. He was inducted into the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2023 and was named Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
- Corey Walden (Men’s Basketball, 2012-15): A two-time OVC Defensive Player of the Year and the 2014 conference tournament MVP. Walden, from Daytona Beach, Florida, scored 29 points in the championship game victory over Belmont and was a finalist for the 2014 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year award. He set the program record for career steals despite playing only three seasons at EKU.
- 1973 Volleyball Team: Led by Hall of Fame head coach Dr. Geri Polvino, the team compiled a 26-4 record, the best in program history. They went undefeated against state competition, won a third straight Kentucky Women’s Intercollegiate Conference crown, and were invited to the AIAW Volleyball Championship but could not compete due to budgetary constraints.
“This year’s Hall of Fame class is another exceptional group of inductees,” said EKU Vice President & Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “It features outstanding players, a record-breaking team, and a legendary broadcast partner, all of which have helped build the legacy of EKU Athletics. I look forward to their enshrinement and celebrating their unforgettable experiences and contributions as Colonels.”
