NASHVILLE – Trevecca Nazarene University is inducting the largest class in the history of its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 7, when 10 former student-athletes, coaches and university leaders are honored during Homecoming weekend.
The induction ceremony begins at 9 AM CT in the Boone Convocation Center, located inside the Boone Business Building on the Trevecca campus. Admission is free, and the ceremony is open to everyone. No invitation or ticket is required.
Trevecca invites former teammates, coaches, alumni, current student-athletes, faculty, staff, families, friends and the Nashville community to join the celebration.
The Class of 2026 includes Gary Van Atta, Ben Tyree, Ernie Reynolds, Sam Harris, Steve Harris, Bob Amity, Crissie Cunha Lima, Calvin da Cunha, Chris Lowe and Byron Sanford.
The 10 inductees represent national tournament appearances, All-America recognition, conference championships, records and decades of service. Their induction also coincides with Trevecca's 125th anniversary, connecting generations of Trojans who helped build the university's athletic tradition.
MEET THE CLASS OF 2026
GARY VAN ATTA | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH | 2005-16
The winningest coach in Trevecca women's basketball history with 216 victories, Van Atta led the Trojans to seven NAIA National Tournament appearances and three Elite Eight finishes. His 2008 team advanced to the NAIA National Championship game, the only national championship game appearance in Trevecca Athletics history.
BEN TYREE | SOFTBALL COACH | 2009-PRESENT
Trevecca softball's all-time winningest and longest-tenured head coach, Tyree is the first active head coach elected to the Trevecca Athletic Hall of Fame. His teams have won multiple conference championships and captured the 2024 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional title, advancing the Trojans to the final 16 teams in the nation.
ERNIE REYNOLDS | SOFTBALL COACH | 2005-08
Reynolds compiled a 196-44 record and led Trevecca to four consecutive TranSouth regular-season championships during one of the most successful coaching runs in department history. His teams reached three straight NAIA National Tournaments, all finishing in the Final Eight, and produced the only two 50-win seasons in program history.
SAM HARRIS | MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH | 25 SEASONS
Harris completed 25 seasons as Trevecca's all-time winningest men's basketball coach with 376 victories. His teams made four NAIA National Tournament appearances and one NCCAA National Championship appearance, while his players earned multiple All-America and conference honors.
STEVE HARRIS | MERITORIOUS SERVICE | 39 YEARS
Harris served Trevecca for 39 years as a university administrator and coach, including oversight of the athletic program as Associate Provost and Dean of Student Development. He helped guide Trevecca Athletics through its move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and membership in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
BOB AMITY | BASEBALL | 1982 NAIA ALL-AMERICAN
Amity earned NAIA All-America Honorable Mention honors in 1982 and finished his Trevecca career with a .382 batting average, the highest in program history at the time. A two-time all-conference selection, he established himself among the program's leading hitters with 115 hits, 13 home runs and 84 RBI.
CRISSIE CUNHA LIMA | VOLLEYBALL | 2002-03
Cunha Lima earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention and Academic All-American honors while setting Trevecca single-season records for kills and service aces. Her teams combined for 65 wins in two seasons, including a then-program-record 34 victories in 2003.
CALVIN da CUNHA | MEN'S SOCCER | 2005-08
Da Cunha earned NAIA All-American and multiple all-conference honors while helping the Trojans record their first winning men's soccer season in 2008. His service continued beyond his playing career through coaching and athletic department roles, including recognition as Trevecca Athletics Assistant of the Year in 2017.
CHRIS LOWE | BASEBALL | 2006-09
A four-year all-conference selection, Lowe batted .376 with 326 hits, 215 runs and 186 RBI during his Trevecca career. He earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention and Rawlings TranSouth Gold Glove honors in 2009, adding national recognition to his accomplishments at the plate and in the field.
BYRON SANFORD | MEN'S BASKETBALL | 2016 GREAT MIDWEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sanford was named the 2016 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and finished his Trevecca career with 1,379 points, 550 rebounds and 330 assists. He became the conference's all-time assists leader while ranking among its top players in scoring and rebounding at the time of his graduation.
A HOMECOMING CELEBRATION OPEN TO EVERYONE
During the ceremony, each inductee will be introduced by a person of their choosing and will have an opportunity to share personal reflections on their Trevecca experience. Each will receive a commemorative Hall of Fame plaque, with a matching plaque placed on the Hall of Fame wall in Trojan Fieldhouse.
The ceremony provides an opportunity for former teammates, coaches, classmates, colleagues and families to reconnect and celebrate the individuals who helped shape Trevecca Athletics. Guests do not need to know an inductee to attend.
CEREMONY INFORMATION
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 | 9 AM CT
Boone Convocation Center | Boone Business Building
Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, Tenn.
FREE ADMISSION | EVERYONE INVITED | NO TICKET REQUIRED
Trevecca encourages the entire Trojan community to attend and help welcome the historic 10-member Class of 2026 into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
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