ATHLETICS

Class of Five Inducted Into MU Hall of Fame

Five former standout student-athletes were selected for induction into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. They represent the 13th induction class since the inception of the Hall in 1990.

As called for in the Hall of Fame bylaws, former student-athletes are not eligible for consideration until five years after they complete their competitive career at Missouri. Coaches and staff members must have spent at least five years working at Mizzou, and also have a five-year waiting period.

The Hall's constitution and bylaws express its purpose – " . . . to recognize and honor those individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of the University of Missouri in the field of athletics, and who have continued to demonstrate in their lives, the values imparted by intercollegiate athletics."
The current class increases the membership to 132 individuals and two national championship teams in the Hall of Fame, which was made possible by the 1989 bequest of $100,000 from the estate of the late A.C. (Ace) and Mary Stotler. Displays honoring each of the inductees are located on the northwest side of the main concourse at Hearnes Center.

Nominations are accepted year-round by sending support material to: Chad Moller, Director of Athletic Media Relations, Mizzou Athletics, P.O. Box 677, Hearnes Center, Columbia, Mo. 65205.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Ron Coleman
A standout shooting guard who was one of Coach Norm Stewart's top scorers of all-time . . . Led Missouri in scoring in 1966 (21.3 points per game) and 1967 (20.4 ppg), and is one of only four Tigers to ever average 20 or more points in two seasons, joining legends Derrick Chievous, John Brown and Willie Smith in that distinction . . . His career scoring average of 17.8 points per game ranks as 6th best in the Tiger record books, and his 1,295 career points ranks 19th . . . Was the Big Eight Conference's top scorer in 1966, and was voted a team captain as a senior in 1967 . . . Went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with San Diego, after being selected in the 9th round of the 1967 NBA Draft . . . Went into coaching after his playing days, and won the 1971 Missouri state title as head coach at Vashon High School . . . Went on to serve as head coach at Saint Louis University prior to a long tenure as head coach and athletic director at Lincoln University (1980-91) . . . An outstanding all-around athlete who also lettered in baseball in 1966 . . . Daughter, Candace, attended MU and was a member of the Golden Girls' national championship team in the early 1990s . . . Currently resides in Lohman, Mo.

Chris Garlich
The consummate student-athlete who starred both on the field and in the classroom . . . A three-year starter at middle linebacker on Tiger teams that became known as giant killers, upsetting the likes of national powerhouses as Alabama, USC, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Nebraska . . . Led MU in tackles (108) and interceptions (4) as a senior, and twice won Big Eight Conference Defensive Player of the week award when he made a game-saving fourth down goal line tackle to preserve a 3-0 win at Notre Dame, and later had 21 tackles and an interception to beat 2nd-ranked Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. . . . Was also named Sports Illustrated National Defensive Player of the Week in 1977 after helping lead MU to an upset win at Ohio State . . . A three-time academic All-Big Eight pick (1976-77-78) who was named an academic All-American in 1976 and a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete in 1978 . . . Went on to earn the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 1979, and is just one of six MU football players to ever earn the award . . . A standout prep athlete from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., where he was an all-state performer in both football and track . . . Currently resides in St. Louis, Mo.

Erick McMillan
A Silver Spring, Md., native who came to Mizzou as a defensive end, but left as one of the top defensive backs in school history
. . . An honorable mention All-American and first-team All-Big Eight pick in 1987 who had five pass interceptions for 119 yards in returns . . . Tied an NCAA season record by returning three of his interceptions for touchdowns that year . . . Ended his Tiger career with 323 tackles, which ranks 7th on the school career list . . . Is also ranked 6th on the MU career sacks list, with 12 . . . Was voted to the MU All-Century Team in 1990 . . . Closed his collegiate career by playing in the Blue-Gray Game, the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl . . . Was drafted by the NFL's New York Jets, and went on to earn the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1988 . . . Was a two-time Pro Bowl pick (1988-89), and later played with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos . . . His father, Ernie McMillan, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame . . . Currently resides in Fayetteville, Ga., where he is a financial planner and is active in charity work.

Harry Smith
A longtime coaching figure at Mizzou who helped guide the football squad through some of its most successful periods ever . . . Worked as an assistant for 15 years at Missouri under legendary coaches Don Faurot and Dan Devine, and helped the Tigers to five bowl games, including the 1942 Sugar Bowl, which marked just the second bowl appearance in MU history . . . Missouri went 97-63-10 during his tenure, and won conference titles in 1941 and 1960 . . . The 1960 team became the first MU squad to be ranked No. 1 in the nation, and ended the season ranked 4th . . . They went on to a 21-14 win in the 1961 Orange Bowl over Navy, marking Mizzou's first-ever bowl victory . . . A two-time All-American lineman at USC who played on two Rose Bowl teams and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 for his playing exploits . . . A native of Russellville, Mo., who currently resides in Columbia, where he is retired and regularly attends Mizzou practices and functions.

Barb Wright
The first-ever first-team softball All-American in Mizzou history who is arguably the Tigers' best-ever all-around player . . . Was a standout as both a pitcher and hitter for MU . . . Named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year and earned 1st-team All-American honors as a senior in 1997 after leading MU to a 47-16 record and Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament titles . . . Had a record of 31-9 on the mound in 1997 with an earned run average of 1.04 and added 203 strikeouts . . . Also hit .333 on the year with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 38 runs batted in
. . . Was also named the Big 12 Tournament Most Valuable Player in 1997, and is the only Tiger softball player to win league player of the year and conference tournament MVP honors . . . A two-time All-Midwest Regional Team selection (1996 & 1997), she played on MU teams that went to NCAA regionals three times (1994, 1996 & 1997) . . . The 1994 squad reached the College World Series, finishing in 7th place . . . Ranks in virtually every MU career pitching and offensive top-10 category, including: home runs (2nd - 24); RBI (2nd - 139); slugging percentage (2nd - .559); wins (3rd - 78); games pitched (3rd - 143); complete games (4th - 80); innings pitched (4th -747); strikeouts (5th - 476); hits (5th - 184); doubles (5th - 34) win-loss percentage (6th - .690); triples (6th -13); shutouts (7th - 17); and batting average (8th - .329) . . . Was also a three-time academic all-conference selection . . . A native of Palmerston, Ontario, who was an alternate for the 1996 Canadian Olympic Team . . . Currently resides in Columbia, Mo., where she is the head softball coach at Hickman High School.

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Last Update: November 19, 2007