Eight Mountaineers Inducted to WVU Sports Hall of Fame Before Towson Game

Before the West Virginia-Towson kick-off on Saturday, eight Mountaineer greats will be inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. WVU’s Hall of Fame class for 2022 includes Donna Abbott (women’s basketball), Marie-Louise Asselin (cross country/track), Tavon Austin (football), Stedman Bailey (football), Marsha Beasley (rifle), Marilee Hohmann (rifle), Kevin Jones (men’s basketball) and Geno Smith (football).

The event is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility and is opened for the public. West Virginia released the eight inductees in late July.

Abbott was one of three players in WVU women’s basketball history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. The in-state native appeared in 108 games for the Mountaineers under legendary head coach Kittie Blakemore. Abbott helped lead the Mountaineers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1989 as well as their second in 1992. West Virginia reached the Sweet-16 in 1992, the only team to do so in program history.

Asselin ran cross-country, track & field during her time at West Virginia from 2006-10. The Canadian native earned seven All-America honors, three in cross-country and four in track and field. With a time of 20:43, Asselin finished 31st in the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Mountaineers finished sixth, marking the third year in-a-row that they finished in the top 10.

Austin also played at WVU from 2009-12, accumulating 4,446 scrimmage yards over his four years in Morgantown. Austin’s highlight tape is what he will always be remembered for during his college days. The Baltimore native was untouchable when he was in the open field. Austin scored 15 touchdowns his senior year and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the 8th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. Austin is currently still in the league playing with the Buffalo Bills.

Beasley was the head coach of the rifle team from 1990-2006. During her 16 seasons, West Virginia won eight NCAA titles with multiple top-3 finishes in the NCAA Championships. Beasley coached eight individual NCAA champions and four Olympians.

Bailey played with Smith and Austin from 2010-12, being another key piece to the 2012 Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. Bailey’s junior year featured 25 receiving touchdowns and 1,622 receiving yards. Bailey was drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Rams in 2013.

Hohmann made history at West Virginia University, becoming the first woman to compete on an athletic team back in 1961. Hohmann competed on the rifle team from 1961-62. The Fairmont native competed at West Point and made a striking impact in women’s sports before Title IV was passed in 1965.

Jones played a key role in the 2010 Final Four team, the first team to do so since 1959. The New York forward averaged 19.9 points and 10.9 rebounds on 51 percent shooting as a senior. That year Jones was named a Consensus All-American. Jones left West Virginia as one of two Mountaineers to score at least 1,800 points and pull down 1,000 rebounds during his collegiate career.

Smith played at West Virginia from 2009-12, under head coaches Bill Stewart and Dana Holgorsen, appearing in 41 games for the Mountaineers. The Miami native is the all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns leader at WVU with 11,662 yards and 98 touchdowns. Smith was a member of the 2012 Orange Bowl team. Smith has spent the last two seasons with the Seahawks, with stints with the New York Jets, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers since being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.