Oct. 10, 2001
Eleven new members will be inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame this evening Friday, October 12. An invitation-only induction dinner will be held in the new Hall of Fame, located at the east end of the J.D. Morgan Intercollegiate Athletics Center. The new inductees will also be introduced during halftime of Saturday's football game versus Washington at the Rose Bowl.
The UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame was dedicated in 1984 with 25 charter members. The Class of 2001 brings the total membership to 166.
The 2001 inductees are Jill Andrews, gymnastics, Sharron Backus, softball, Jim Brown, football, Charles Cheshire, football, Gary Cunningham, basketball, Terry Donahue, football, Warren Edmonson, track and field, John Green, basketball, John Lee, football, Lisa Longaker, softball, and Ozzie Volstad, volleyball.
Following are biographies on the 2001 UCLA Hall of Fame inductees:
JILL ANDREWS - UCLA gymnast who competed for the Bruins 1987-88-89-90 and won the prestigious Honda Award in 1990 as the top collegiate athlete in the sport of gymnastics. Andrews was a two-time Pac-10 Gymnast-of-the-Year winning a total of five Pac-10 championships. At the 1990 West Regional, Andrews won the all-around title as well as the beam, vault and floor titles. Jill also excelled at the NCAA Championships winning individual national titles in the vault (1988) an on beam (1989) and finishing 2nd in all-around in 1988. Andrews finished her career at UCLA setting eight Bruin career records while earning eight All-American honors in four years. She was selected the 1990 UCLA All-University Athlete and was the only UCLA gymnast ever to compete in all four events (all-around) in every meet all four years of her career. Andrews also excelled in the classroom twice being named Academic All-American. She was received an NCAA Post-Graduate scholarship in 1990 and, in 1991, Andrews was selected as a Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award winner. Andrews is still honored annually with the "Jill Andrews Award" which goes to the UCLA gymnast who epitomizes the word "Integrity".
SHARRON BACKUS - Considered by many a softball icon, Backus was architect of the UCLA softball dynasty. The winningest Division 1 softball coach in NCAA history, Backus coached 21 seasons at UCLA (1976-96), posting a lifetime record of 847-167-3 (.835). Backus and the Bruins brought eight national championship trophies to Westwood (seven NCAA and one AIAW) including an unprecedented three in a row (1988, '89, '90). The Backus Era's trophy case also includes four second-place trophies and three third-place awards. Her UCLA teams played in the College World Series 16 times. Backus coached a total of 53 All-Americans including Player of the Decade (1980's) Dot Richardson and Lisa Fernandez, the first softball player to ever win the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup as the top female collegiate athlete in 1993. Backus was inducted into the Women's Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in 1993, the National Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Hall of Fame in 1985. As a player, the Cal State Fullerton graduate had a legendary ASA career. A star shortstop, Backus was instrumental in seven ASA championships (1961,'65 and '71-75) and two international championships (1972 and '74) as well as three professional World Championships ('76-78). She is currently the Director of Player Personnel for the Women's Pro Softball League.
JAMES D. "JIM" BROWN - Two-year football letterman at guard in 1954-55 when the Bruins went 18-2, won two Pacific Coast Conference Championships, made one Rose Bowl appearance and the won the 1954 National Championship. Jim was selected to the 1955 All-Coast team and was named a consensus All-American. He was selected to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Jim also competed on the UCLA rugby team and was considered to be one of the very best athletes on both teams. Coach Red Sanders commended Brown by stating that he was one of the best and most mistake-free players he ever coached. Jim was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in March of 1956. However, the U.S. Army intervened, and Jim was activated as a Second Lieutenant that summer. Following his military service, he embarked on a successful insurance and financial business career and since has continued to be active in UCLA activities and Bruin athletic affairs.
CHARLES CHESHIRE - Cheshire starred at halfback for three seasons (1933-34-35) for the UCLA football team under Coach William Spaulding. Over that period, the Bruins had a record of 21-9-1. Cheshire was twice named All-Coast ('34, 35) and he received All-American recognition for his senior season when he led the Bruins to a share of their first PCC title. Cheshire still holds the Bruin all-time record for the longest run from scrimmage with a 93-yard scamper in 1934 against Montana. Cheshire had a three-year career average of 5.08 yards per carry and accumulated 1,657 total yards during his Bruin career. After his senior season, Cheshire played in the 1936 East-West Shrine game and then he became the first Bruin ever picked in the NFL draft by being selected in the second round by the Detroit Lions. Cheshire, a great all-around athlete, also lettered for the Bruin baseball and track and field teams.
GARY CUNNINGHAM - 1960-61-62 basketball forward, and '62 co-captain of the team that came within seconds of a chance at the NCAA championship. An excellent outside shooter, he was a three-year starter, 1962 winner of the Ducky Drake Award for best spirit, inspiration and team contribution and three-time winner of the Ace Calkins Award as Bruin free-throw champion. In 1960 he made 28 out of 28 free throws in league play. Cunningham was the coach of Lew Alcindor's freshman team that defeated John Wooden's defending NCAA championship team in the opening scrimmage of the 1965-66 season. Cunningham then served as an assistant coach to Coach Wooden from 1969-75 and was a part of six National Championship teams. In 1976 and '77, Cunningham served as executive director of the UCLA Alumni Association before returning to the hardwood. Gary followed Gene Bartow as head coach during the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons when the Bruins went 50-8, won two Pac-10 championships and two NCAA berths before resigning to enter the field of athletic administration. He is currently athletic director at UC Santa Barbara, but he still has close ties to UCLA.
TERRY DONAHUE - Terry Donahue concluded his successful 20-season career as head coach at his alma mater in 1995 with a career record of 151-74-8 (.665) having led the Bruins to 13 post-season bowl games, including four Rose Bowls and five Pac-10 championships. In addition, his teams finished in the Top 20 twelve times and Top 10 five times and enjoyed three 10-win seasons. During his career, Donahue won 98 Pac-10 games, setting a record for most league victories as a head coach. He was one of just two coaches in college football history to win eight consecutive bowl appearances and was the first coach in history to win a bowl game in seven consecutive seasons. Up until his retirement, Donahue had a hand in all 10 of UCLA's bowl victories (one as a player, one as an assistant coach and eight as head coach). He was the first coach of the UCLA-USC series to record five straight victories and the only coach to defeat the Trojans in three consecutive years twice. During his 20 years, Donahue developed 34 first team All-American selections as well as the only three-time consensus All-Americans in Pac-10 history - linebacker Jerry Robinson and safety Kenny Easley. Donahue first became associated with UCLA in the mid-60's when he played for Tommy Prothro's first two UCLA squads (1965-66). He came to UCLA as a "walk-on" and after redshirting in 1964, he earned a starting spot at defensive tackle and held it for two years. During those two seasons, Donahue started all 21 games and the Bruins compiled a record of 17-3-1, including a memorable upset of unbeaten Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl. Following graduation, Donahue was an assistant coach at Kansas under Pepper Rodgers before returning to UCLA in 1970 as the offensive line coach. He remained in that capacity until 1976 when he became UCLA's 13th head coach.
WARREN EDMONSON - Edmonson transferred to UCLA as a junior and was a sprinter on the Bruin track team for two seasons (1971, 1972). In 1971, Edmonson helped key UCLA team victories in the PAC-8 and NCAA championships. At the Pac-8 meet, he placed 2nd in 100, 3rd in 200, and 1st in both the 400 and the mile relays. He followed that up with a 5th place showing at the NCAA's in the 100m and was a member of the victorious mile relay team. In 1972, Edmonson won the Pac-8 100-yard sprint in a meet record 9.3 seconds. At the NCAA Championships, he helped the Bruins repeat as team champions as he became the first Bruin sprinter to win the 100 meters with a time of 10.1 seconds. Unfortunately, Edmonson injured himself while leading the 200m at the NCAA's and this cost him a berth in the 1972 Olympics. At the time he was the number one sprinter in the world and would have been a favorite to win the 100m, 200m and 400m relay at the Munich Olympics. After graduating, he broke the world indoor record in 100m in 1973 before going to Australia to compete professionally. In Australia, he was a three-time world sprint champion was voted into the Australian Hall of Fame in 1996. A 20-year LAPD officer, he also serves as the girls track coach at St. Bernard's High School.
JOHN GREEN - Green was a three-year starting guard for Coach John Wooden from 1960-62 and a consensus first-team All-American and All-Conference selection his senior season as he led the Bruins to their first Final Four appearance in history. His senior year, Green led the Bruins in scoring with a 19.3 scoring average and his season total 559 points ranked second at the time on the all-time UCLA list. He received the 1962 Bruin Bench award presented to the player who showed the most improvement in all-around play and mental attitude. Previously, Green was selected as the 1960 Irv Pohlmeyer Award as the teams' outstanding first-year player after he led the team in scoring with a 10.2 average including a 38-point effort against Washington which remains on the Bruin record books. Green's UCLA career averages were 14.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. He was a third-round pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1962 NBA draft.
JOHN LEE - Perhaps the most prolific place-kicker in NCAA history, Lee was twice selected first-team All-American ('84, '85) while setting numerous UCLA and NCAA records during his four years as UCLA's place kicker (1982-85). Lee holds school records for field goals made in a game (6), season (32), and career (85) and field goals attempted in a season (36) and a career (100), points in a season (117) and a career (390) and kick points in a game (18). Lee holds or held the following NCAA records: most field goals in a season (29 in 1984) and in a two-year period (50 in 1984-85), field goals made per game for a season (2.64 in 1984) and a career (1.84,1982-85), highest career percentage (85.9%), highest career percentage on field goals of 40 yards or more (69.4%), highest career percentage of field goals of under 40 yards (96.4%), and most career games of four or more field goals (8). He was chosen in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
LISA LONGAKER - One of the all-time great Bruin softball pitchers (1987-90), Longaker was twice selected as the winner of the prestigious Honda/Broderick Award recognizing her as the nation's top collegiate athlete in the sport of softball. Longaker was a three-time All-American and was also selected as Pac-10 Player of the Year on three occasions. In her senior season in 1990, Longaker led the Bruins to an unprecedented third consecutive NCAA title. Longaker concluded her illustrious UCLA career owning numerous individual and career records including career wins (89), season victories (31), most games (113), innings pitched in a season (259.1) and no-hitters in a season (3). In 1991, she was selected to the NCAA All-Decade team for the 1980's.
ASBJORN "OZZIE" VOLSTAD - Volstad was a four-year starter and a three-time 1st team All-American on the UCLA volleyball team (1984-87). As a freshman, Volstad helped UCLA to the NCAA championship and was named to the All-Tournament team. As a senior captain in 1987, Volstad was selected the collegiate Player of the Year and capped an outstanding career by leading the Bruins to another national championship. He also was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. At the time of his graduation, Volstad held the Bruin volleyball career record for kills, blocks and digs. Volstad also shined in the classroom and was selected as an academic All-American three times and earned an NCAA Post-graduate Scholarship in 1987. Volstad is currently an assistant coach of the Norwegian National Team.