Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2025 on Saturday, August 15, at Embassy Suites in Cary, N.C. This year’s inductees are a tremendous group of leaders who have left their mark on their communities and the state of North Carolina.
Russell Woodward of Greensboro was one of the distinguished inductees. He “was a coach, athletic director, and principal in his 45-year career. His track teams at Grimsley High School won five State Championships between 1981 and 1988. He served as Athletic Director at Ben L. Smith High School from 1988-1996 and then as an Assistant Principal from 1997-2007 at Smith, Northwest Guilford, and Ragsdale. He was a Principal in the Guilford County School System from 2007 until his retirement in 2022.”
Other NCHSAA Hall of Fame inductees were:
Brad Allen of Lumberton, N.C. Allen was a member of the Southeast Athletic Officials Association since 1991 and has served two terms as the president.
Thomas “Tommy” Cole of Burlington, N.C. Cole was a basketball and golf coach at Graham and Williams High Schools.
Jerry Hunter of Beulaville, N.C. enters the Hall of Fame posthumously. He was a teacher, coach, and athletic director at East Duplin High School from 1975 to 2011.
Tim Kelly of Trinity, N.C. Kelly began coaching in 1981 and started coaching basketball at Trinity High School in 1989. He also coached football and cross country for different stretches.
Richard Prince of Denver, N.C. was a teacher and coach at Western Carolina University, Independence, Myers Park, Piedmont, and East Mecklenburg from 1970-2009, spending most of that time at Myers Park.
Steve Spivey of Raleigh began his tennis coaching career in 1977 and compiled more than 1000 wins. He led teams at Cary, Broughton, Myrtle Beach, Apex, and Enloe over his 50-plus-year career.
Doyle Whitfield of Dudley, N.C. was a baseball coach, teacher, and athletic director at Southern Wayne High School.
