Port St. Lucie (Special to Florida Sports Wire) — A stellar mix of athletes, coaches and support team members has been tapped for induction into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class. The eight-member class represents six different sports and includes a seven-time NBA All-Star, a Super Bowl winner, women’s World Cup champion, a 14-time NCAA Track & Field Championship Coach, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, a three-time national champion cheerleading coach and the first-ever athletic trainer. The eight will be inducted in a ceremony to be held at the Kia Center in Orlando on Oct. 16.
“We are excited to be able to recognize such a talented and accomplished class of figures who have all contributed tremendously to their respective sports,” said Ginger Kane, President and Chair of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame board. “Their contributions to their sports, their communities and impacts they’ve had on a worldwide stage make this a remarkable class. We are honored to welcome them as the newest members of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.” The announcement was made Friday as part of a reception held at the Florida Sports Hall of Fame Museum located inside the MidFlorida Event Center in Port St. Lucie, FL.
The Florida Sports Hall of Fame 2024 Class (in alphabetical order):
William Floyd – Football
A running back out of Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, FL, William Floyd led the Spartans to the only undefeated regular season in school history (1988). Two years later, he joined Florida State University’s football team and helped them win their first national championship in 1993. He was the premier fullback of the 1994 NFL Draft and was selected with the 28th pick of the first round by the San Francisco 49ers. He had an immediate impact his rookie season, becoming the first rookie to score three touchdowns in a playoff game, and scored a touchdown in the NFC title game as well as in San Francisco’s 49-26 victory in Super Bowl XXIX. His performance during his rookie year earned him the name “Bar None” — a name that graces his foundation. In 2008, Floyd returned to his FSU Seminoles as color analyst for radio broadcasts of FSU football games.
Linda Gooch – Cheerleading Coach
A four-year letter-winner as a UCF cheerleader, Gooch is her 39th season as the coach of UCF’s nationally respected cheerleading team and head coach of UCF’s spirit program — including the cheerleaders, KnightMoves dance team and UCF mascot Knightro. Since Gooch’s squads began competing in the national championships in 1994, the UCF cheerleading team has captured three national championships (2003, 2007 and 2020). The Knights finished in the top three in the country in seven straight seasons (2015-21) and have earned a top-10 finish 27 times in the last 29 years, including fifth in 2022 and fourth in 2023.
Ashlyn Harris – Soccer
Born in Cocoa Beach, Ashlyn Harris was a standout for Satellite High School before shooting to stardom as a member of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup Champion teams. In 2016, she was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year (her second nod) after making 62 saves and having a 1.33 goals-against-average in 15 games. At 16 years of age, she was the youngest starter on the 2002 FIFA U-19 team, playing every minute as the USA won the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup. Despite being plagued with injuries early in her college career, she won three NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships with the UNC Tarheels in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Mike Holloway – Track and Field Coach
Recently named National Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year (his 14th nod), head coach Mike Holloway has led the University of Florida men’s track and field teams since 2003 and the combined men’s and women’s teams since 2008. Over that time, he has transformed the Gator’s track and field program into one of the country’s most premier. The 2024 team won their third-straight NCAA Men’s Outdoor Championships, one of 14 overall under Holloway. In addition to the 14 NCAA Division I National Championships, he’s led the Gators to 17 SEC Championships, 32 Top-5 finishes at NCAAs and 94 Men’s and Women’s National Championship Event Titles. Gators currently hold nine collegiate records, all of which have been obtained under Holloway’s leadership. He’s coached 12 World Championship Gold Medal winners and athletes directly coached by him have garnered 11 Olympic medals. He was inducted into the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
Scott Hutchinson – Football
A Florida native, Scott Hutchinson was a standout lineman for Winter Park High School’s football team and shot put state champion. He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville where he was a defensive lineman for coach Doug Dickey’s Florida Gators football team from 1974 to 1977. As a senior team captain in 1977, he was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, Associated Press honorable mention All-American, two-time ABC Chevrolet MVP Player of the Game and Gator Defensive Player of the Year. He was selected in the second round (38th overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills where he played for three seasons, never missed a game and helped them become the AFC Eastern Champions (1980). Hutchinson also played a season (1981) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their run as NFC Central Champions. He finished his professional career with the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL) where he led the team in quarterback sacks.
Tracy McGrady – Basketball
Regarded as one of the greatest scorers and shooting guards in NBA history, Tracy McGrady is a seven-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, two-time NBA scoring champion, and winner of the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2001. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017.
Born in Bartow, FL, McGrady entered the NBA straight out of high school and was selected as the ninth overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 draft. Beginning his career as a low-minute player, he gradually improved his role with the team, eventually forming a duo with his cousin Vince Carter. In 2000, he joined the Orlando Magic, where he became one of the league’s most prolific scorers and a candidate for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. His offensive performance with the Magic includes a franchise record 62 points in a game and a thrilling 13 points in the final 35 seconds in a comeback victory against the San Antonio Spurs. He led the league in scoring for two straight seasons while also amassing and incredible 5,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. In 2004, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he paired with center Yao Ming to help the Rockets become a perennial playoff team.
John Christopher (Chris) Patrick – Athletic Trainer
Chris Patrick is a highly esteemed Athletic Trainer who provided care for thousands of student-athletes at the University of Florida over his 40 year career there that began in 1970. During that time, he oversaw the expansion of healthcare services from seven original male sports to the current group of 21 male and female sports. With the implementation of Title IX and women’s sports, he hired the first female Athletic Trainer and helped develop the women’s athletic training support/program and facilities. Known as CP, Patrick is a legendary figure at UF, outlasting many Athletic Directors (4), Head Football Coaches (6) and numerous others in a variety of sports. The Athletic Training Facility at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is named in his honor. Also while at UF, he worked with Dr. Robert Cade, the inventor of Gatorade, to further refine its flavors, packaging and other creative product development. The SEC established the Chris Patrick Award, an honor given annually to the outstanding athletic trainer in the SEC as chosen by the director of sports medicine at each league’s school. He adds to the recognition of his service as also a member of three other Hall of Fames; the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (1989), the Florida Athletic Trainer’s Association (1995), and the University of Florida Athletic.
Jan Stephenson – Golf
Born in Australia, Jan Stephenson has called Florida home for more than 20 years. After winning the Wills Australian Ladies Open in 1973, she joined the LPGA Tour and was named LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1974. She won three major championship events and 16 LPGA Tour Events and famously became the face of the LPGA. She also claims 10 wins in the LPGA Legends Tour – the official Seniors Tour of the LPGA which she helped found. Her most recent win on the Tour was in 2021. She was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2019. Stephenson’s resume off the course is impressive as well. She is one of only a few women golf course designers, designing Indian River Preserve located just north of Titusville in Mims, FL. Her foundation, Jan Stephenson’s Crossroads Foundation for Wounded Warriors, purchased Tarpon Woods Golf Club in Palm Harbor, FL. The Foundation provides opportunities for disabled veterans and first responders to enjoy golf.
About the Florida Sports Hall of Fame
Started by the Florida Sports Writers and Sportscasters Association, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to recognize and honor the state’s greatest and most significant sports figures. Since then, the organization has inducted close to 300 members, sharing their inspiring stories of struggles, perseverance and achievement as part of its mission to make a difference in the lives of the youth of our state. Along with our campaign to promote fitness and combat childhood obesity/childhood diabetes, our mission also speaks to the promotion and qualities of discipline and honor among our state’s young athletes. It is our goal to use the life-stories and lessons learned by our Hall of Fame members to encourage and support today’s competitors. Memorabilia from Hall of Fame members is on display at the MidFlorida Events Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place, Port St.Lucie, FL 34952. The center is free and open to the public Wednesday – Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. To learn more, visit https://flasportshof.org/.
