Courtesy: Clemson Athletics
Clemson, S.C.—Nine former athletes from 11 different sports, and one coach comprise the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The announcement of the 10 inductees was made Tuesday by Bob Mahony, Executive Director of Clemson’s Block C Club. Induction ceremonies will take place the weekend of September 29, 2018, when Clemson faces Syracuse in football.
This year’s class includes Tracey Leone, who was the first women’s soccer coach in Clemson history when the program began in 1994. During the Tigers’ first year of competition, Clemson advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The former United States National Team Player (1987-1991) served as head coach of the Tigers until the 1999 season, and that year her husband, Ray, was named the Co-Head Coach
During her tenure, she coached two All-Americans and led the Tigers to six top- 15 finishes in the final polls. The Tigers also advanced to two NCAA Final Eights and three NCAA Final 16s. She had an 89-39-4 record during her Clemson career.
Jim Bundren is the only former Clemson football player in the class. The offensive tackle was a third-team All-American in 1997. He was a first team All-ACC performer in 1996 and 1997 and earned Academic All-ACC honors those same seasons. The native of Wilmington, Del. tied a Clemson career record for consecutive starts by an offensive lineman with 47. He also played in the NFL in 1998-2003 with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins.
Jeff Baker was a two-time All-American baseball player and is still tied as Clemson’s all-time career home run leader with 59, a record that was accomplished in just three seasons. He finished his Tiger career with a .334 batting average and was a mainstay on two Clemson College World Series teams. He played 11 years in the Major Leagues, and played in the 2007 World Series with the Colorado Rockies.
Cliff Hammonds, a former Tiger basketball player, was an All-ACC player in 2008 and was a three-time Academic All-ACC selection. He was the first winner of the Skip Prosser Award, which is presented each year to the top men’s basketball student-athlete in the ACC. He finished his Clemson career with 1,465 points and started 133 of 134 games.
Gary Conner played men’s soccer for former Head Coach I.M. Ibrahim in the mid 1980s. He was a 1985 All-American and was named ACC Player-of-the-Year that season. He scored 67 career goals and had 20 assists for 154 points.
Cormac Finnerty was a 1991 ACC Cross Country Individual Champion. He was named to the ACC’s 50 Year Anniversary Cross Country Team and the Indoor Track Team. He was a two-time All-American in indoor track in the 3000 meter run.
Rick Rudeen, a stalwart men’s tennis player, still holds the Clemson record for most career singles wins (172). His career victories rank as an unofficial NCAA record. He was a 1983 singles All-American, as he won 48 singles matches that season. He appeared in four NCAA Tournaments during his career and played on four top-15 teams under Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Kriese.
Marieke Ressing was a four-time All-American in track and field. She earned All-ACC honors nine times in track and field and three times in cross country. She was a member of the ACC’s 50 Year Anniversary team in cross country.
Former Clemson volleyball player Danielle Hepburn played at Clemson in 2005-08. She was a third-team All-American in 2008 and was named ACC Player of the Year that same season. Hepburn, a three-time first-team All-ACC selection, led Clemson to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2008.
Women’s swimmer, Lynda Beth Hughes was a seven-time All-American and an eight-time ACC Champion in the late 1980s. She also participated in the 1988 Olympic Trials.
Jeff Baker, Baseball (2000-02)
- Leader of two Clemson College World Series Teams
- Tied for Clemson record for career home runs with 59 in just three seasons.
- Also second in school history in RBIs (226) and seventh in slugging percentage
- Hit .334 for his career that covered 196 games, 194 as a starter
- All-ACC Tournament as a freshman in 2000
- All-Atlantic Region in 2000 and 2001
- Played for United States team at World Championships in 2000
- First-team All-American as a sophomore in 2001 according to Collegiate Baseball, he was a first-team Baseball America All-American as a junior in 2002. Two-time All-American by NCBWA.
- Played 11 years in Major Leagues, including the 2007 World Series.
Jim Bundren, Football (1994-97)
- Third-team All-American in 1997 according to The Football News, Sporting News and Associated Press
- First-team All-ACC, 1996 and 1997
- Academic All-ACC in 1996 and 1997
- Started 47 consecutive games at left tackle, tying a Clemson career record for consecutive starts by an offensive lineman
- Started in three Bowl games for the Tigers covering the 1995-96-97 seasons
- ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week four times
- Inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2007
1998 Clemson graduate - Played in the NFL from 1998-2003 with New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins
Gary Connor, Soccer (1983-86)
- 1985 All-American
- First-team All-ACC in 1985 and 1986
- ACC Player-of-the-Year in 1985
- Second on Clemson’s career list for most points with 154
- Second on Clemson career list for most goals scored with 67
- Tied for 10th on Clemson career list for most assists with 20
- Led team in goal scoring in 1984 (19), 1985 (21) and 1986 (16)
- Led the ACC in goal scoring in 1985 with 21 and tied for the lead in 1986 with 16
- ACC leader in 1985 with 48 point
Cormac Finnerty, Track and Field (1989-92)
- 1991 ACC Cross Country Individual Champion
- 1992 Runner Up at ACC Cross Country Championships
- Member of 1991 and 1992 NCAA All District Teams
- 2-Time All-American indoors in the 3000 meters
- 2-time ACC Champion in the 3000 meters
- ACC Champion in the indoor mile run
- Academic All-American in 1991
- Named to ACC 50-Year Anniversary Cross Country Team
- Named to ACC 50-Year Anniversary Indoor Track Team
Cliff Hammonds, Basketball (2004-08)
- Member of Clemson’s 100th Anniversary Team
- First winner of the ACC’s Skip Prosser Award
- 2008 Third-Team All-ACC
- 2008 Team MVP
- 12th for most points scored in a Clemson career 1,465
- First on the Clemson career list for most games played (134)
- Second on the Clemson career list for most games started (133)
- Fifth on the school’s career list for most assists (473)
- Three-Time Academic All-ACC
Danielle Hepburn, Volleyball (2005-08)
- 2008 ACC Player of the Year
- 2008 AVCA third-team All-American
- Three-time first-team All-ACC
- Eight-time ACC Player of the Week
- Three-time AVCA All-Region
- Holds school records for hitting percentage, blocks per set, total blocks, and block assists
- Led Tigers to ACC Championship and ACC record 21-1 record in 2007
- Led Tigers to NCAA Tournament in 2007, 2008
Lynda Beth Hughes, Women’s Swimming (1985-88)
- 7 All-America selections and 4 Honorable Mention All-America selections
- 6-time ACC Champion
- 2-time ACC Champion, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay
- ACC Champion, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay
- 1988 Olympic Trial Qualifier, 100 butterfly
- Currently 8th in Clemson history in 100 butterfly
- 3-time All-ACC selection
Tracey Leone, Women’s Soccer Coach (1994-1999)
- First Coach of the Clemson women’s soccer team
- Played on the United States Women’s National Team 1987-1991
- Head Coach of the Tigers in 1994-1999 (Co Head Coach with Ray Leone in 1999)
- Coached Two All-Americans
- Six Top 15 Finishes in the final polls
- Two NCAA Final Eights
- Three NCAA Final 16s
- 89-39-4 Overall Record at Clemson
Marieke Ressing, Women’s Track & Field (1991-95)
- Four-time All-American, including one All-America award for cross country
- Placed third in the 3000m indoors at the 1994 national championships
- Won the 3000m at the ACC indoor and outdoor meets in 1993
- Member of the distance medley relay team that won the ACC Championship in 1994
- Earned all-ACC honors nine times for track and field and three times for cross country
- Two-time all-District selection for cross country
- Member of the distance medley relay team that holds the Clemson record indoors
- Named to ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in cross country
Rick Rudeen, Tennis (1981-84)
- Set Clemson record for career wins-his 172 victories rank as an unofficial NCAA record
- Also won 123 doubles matches, giving him 295 career wins
All-American in singles in 1983 when he won 48 singles matches and 39 doubles matches - Won ACC singles title in 1981 and 1982, he was doubles champion in 1984
- Appeared in four NCAA tourneys and played on four top 15 teams
- Had a career record of 64-9 against region II teams and 36-7 in ACC play
- Named to ACC 50-Year Anniversary Team
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