Varsity K Hall of Fame Home
Hall of Fame Members | Team of Distinction | Honorary Varsity K Members | Distinguished Athletic Alumni | Rudy Bachna Award | Varsity K Person of the Year
Varsity K Awards and Hall of Fame Criteria
Varsity K Person of the Year:
This honor is awarded to an individual who has made significant and longstanding contributions of time, effort and talent to the improvement and continual success of Kent State Athletics. Also, the honoree has demonstrated a commitment to athletic success and leadership, as well as the University community.
Selection: Decision made by the Kent State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Advancement Team)
Presented: At the annual Hall of Fame Induction ceremony; recognized at halftime of the football game
Awarded: A trophy
Distinguished Athletic Alumni:
This award was established to recognize former Kent State University athletes who have distinguished themselves in their chosen professional field.
Qualifications: Nominees must have been a member of a recognized varsity team and have graduated from Kent State University at least 10 years prior to selection.
Nomination: Any Varsity K member or anyone affiliated with the Kent State Intercollegiate Athletic Department may nominate a person to be honored. Letters of nomination can be sent to Director, Kent State Athletic Communications, PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242.
Selection: Highest vote getter as voted on by the Hall of Fame Screening Committee
Presented: At the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; recognized at halftime of the football game
Awarded: A plaque
Honorary Varsity K:
A person who over a considerable length of time has made significant personal contributions of time and effort to the student-athletes and the Intercollegiate Athletic program of Kent State University.
Examples: Trainer, Coach, Equipment Manager, SID, Team Physician, Friend of Kent State Athletics, Faculty Athletic Representative
Nomination Process: Any Varsity K member or anyone affiliated with the Kent State Intercollegiate Athletic Department may nominate a person to be honored. Letters of nomination can be sent to Director, Kent State Athletic Communications, PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242.
Selection: Highest vote getter as voted on by the Hall of Fame Screening Committee
Presented: At the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; recognized at halftime of the football game
Awarded: A framed K
Team of Distinction:
This award was established in 2012 to recognize a collective team who received distinct honors, awards or accomplishments at Kent State University. A team can be nominated to receive Team of Distinction honors by Kent State employees, fans or community members. Each year, one team will be recognized and honored at the Hall of Fame banquet. Only under special circumstances, and at the unanimous discretion of the Hall of Fame Screening Committee, can there be two separate teams recognized in one calendar year for this award.
Selection: Highest vote getter as voted on by the Hall of Fame Screening Committee. A running list of nominees compiled by the Director of KSU Athletic Communications is presented each year to this committee.
Presented: At the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; recognized at halftime of the football game
Awarded: A trophy
Logistics: The entire roster will be invited; including coaches, managers, etc. A representative from the team will be asked to make a brief speech at the banquet.
Hall of Fame Athlete Inductee:
To pay tribute to former athletes and coaches who, through the years, have brought recognition to Kent State University Athletics, and who continued to demonstrate in their daily lives core values learned in intercollegiate athletics.
Eligibility:
- An athlete must earn at least two varsity letters in one sport or a single letter in multiple sports or have brought great recognition to Kent State University through their athletic accomplishments in order to be considered.
- A student-athlete must be at least a First Team All-Conference and/or All-District/All-Region selection. Conference player of the year award winners are also included in this group. Unique circumstances that may arise will be left to the discretion of the Screening Committee.
- A student-athlete is eligible to be considered for induction following a minimum of seven years (changing to eight years in 2023) from the student-athlete’s last date of enrollment.
- All eligible athletes are considered for ten years before they are removed from the list. The only exceptions to the ten year consideration are Associated Press All-Americans who remain on the list indefinitely. Indefinite status will be at the discretion of the Director of Athletic Communications for individuals named to sport-specific All-American teams.
- No more than eight athletes and one coach or athletic administrator may be selected to the Hall of Fame in a single year. No more than two athletes from the same sport may be inducted in the same year. The number of inductees per year is at the discretion of the Voting Committee.
- Any member serving on the Hall of Fame Screening or Voting Committees cannot be considered eligible for induction during his/her term.
- The final induction class must represent the diversity and inclusive values of Kent State University.
Nomination: All former letter winners that meet the eligibility requirements are considered. Nominations are not accepted, but information sent on an eligible athlete’s behalf will be presented to the Screening Committee. Materials can be sent to the Director, Kent State Athletic Communications, PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242.
Procedure:
- The Screening Committee shall consist of seven members whose duty shall be to prepare and present a ballot to the Voting Committee listing in alphabetical order eligible candidates who have been identified as a top-25 nomination by any four of the seven members of the Screening Committee. Once the ballot has been determined, the Screening Committee assumes the responsibility of investigating that each athlete has been a responsible citizen according to the high ideals of intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, this committee shall elect the Coach/Administrator inductee, Distinguished Athletic Alumnus and Honorary Varsity K member by a majority vote.
- Screening Committee Members (7):
- Director of Athletics
- Senior Women’s Administrator
- Director, Athletic Communications
- Athletic Department Historian or Emeritus Member of the Athletic Department
- Longest tenured member of the Athletic Department’s Senior Staff, excluding the AD and SWA
- Faculty Athletic representative
- KSU Alumni Association representative
- Each Screening Committee member shall identify their top-25 choices of the athletes presented in the Hall of Fame Nominee booklet based upon:
- The athlete’s participation while attending KSU
- His/her contributions to the team and sportsmanship
- Accomplishments after leaving the University
- Voting shall be on merit only and never of a political nature
- Veterans Clause: In order to fairly consider all athletes the ballot must include at least five (5) individuals who lettered at least 3 decades or before prior to the current induction year (i.e. 2016 induction ballot should include at least 5 veterans that lettered in 1986 or before). If this representation is not achieved in the top-25 vote getters, the Screening Committee is responsible for choosing the 5 “veterans” that will be included on the ballot. (Revised March 2016)
- Voting Committee Members (12 total, 12 voting members):
- President of Kent State University or a named representative
- Director of Athletics
- Senior Woman Administrator
- Director, Athletic Communications (oversees the process)
- Local Sports Journalist (2-year term)
- An Honorary Varsity K Member (2-year term)
- Three Varsity K members - coaches or athletes (4-year term)
- Two current KSU coaches (1-year term)
- Two KSU Alumni Association Representatives
- Each Voting Committee member shall cast a vote for their top eight choices of the athletes presented on the ballot based upon:
- The athlete’s participation while attending KSU
- His/her contributions to the team and sportsmanship
- Accomplishments after leaving the University
- Voting shall be on merit only and never of a political nature
- The highest vote getters will comprise the induction class
Veterans Clause: In order to fairly consider all athletes at least one (1) individual elected for induction must have lettered at least 3 decades or before prior to the current induction year (i.e. 2016 induction ballot should include at least 1 veteran that lettered in 1986 or before). If a “veteran” is not elected for induction through the initial vote, the Voting Committee is responsible for choosing the “veteran” that will be inducted. (Revised March 2016)- All future replacements to the Screening and Voting Committees will be nominated by the Director of Athletic Communications and appointed by the Atheltic Director.
- All changes to the Hall of Fame procedure must be approved by the Screening Committee.
Time of Election: The Screening Committee meets in April and ballots are mailed to Voting Committee members by May 15. The Voting Committee will meet in May to determine the final class.
Announcement of Class: The results of the selection will be released to the general public once all inductees and honorees are notified.
Presentation: The class (athletes & coach/administrator) will be honored at the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, also, recognized at halftime of the football game.
Awarded: A Hall of Fame acrylic trophy and a medallion.
Hall of Fame Coach / Administrator Inductee:
Established to recognize Kent State coaches / administrators who have made noteworthy contributions of time, effort and successes to Kent State Athletics; or former intercollegiate student-athletes of Kent State University who have created careers and successes at other universities or in other entities and made a significant impact which has brought recognition to Kent State Athletics through these accomplishments. Active Kent State coaches are not eligible for induction. A former student-athlete can be inducted as a player AND a coach in separate inductions. This person IS inducted.
Selection: Majority vote of the Hall of Fame Screening Committee if applicable. Committee can opt to re-vote dropping the lowest vote getter to reach a majority. It is not required to have this person in the Hall of Fame each year.
Presented: At the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, recognized at halftime of the football game
Awarded: A Hall of Fame acrylic trophy and a medallion
