The Coastal Carolina Department of Athletics announced Monday the nine members that will make up the George F. “Buddy” Sasser Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
Seven of the nine inductees are former Chanticleer student-athletes, including Brittany Henderson (women’s golf), Jose Iglesias (baseball), Chelsy Kimes (volleyball), Erica Peake (women’s track and field), Sebastian Soderberg (men’s golf), Mike Tolbert (football) and Cody Wheeler (baseball). Also being inducted as honorary members are retired women’s basketball coach, Alan LeForce, and retired University photographer, Bill Edmonds.
The nine will be officially inducted as the Hall’s 28th class on the morning of Nov. 10, prior to the Coastal Carolina football game versus Arkansas State. The Class of 2018 will also be publicly honored at halftime of during the football game.
* Brittany Henderson, Women’s Golf (2009-13): Henderson finished her Coastal career ranked third in program history in career scoring average (75.94), a mark that currently ranks seventh. She led Coastal to a pair of Big South championships in 2011 and 2013, and she was the back-to-back Individual Medalist at the 2012-13 Big South Championships. Henderson is one of two Coastal women’s golfers to compete in an NCAA Regional in each of her four years, and she also advanced to the 2011 NCAA Championship. She was voted the 2013 Big South Golfer and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
* Jose Iglesias, Baseball (2008-10): Iglesias was an integral part of Coastal baseball teams that reached NCAA Super Regionals in the 2008 and ’10 seasons, and won three consecutive Big South Regular Season and Tournament championships from 2008-10. Iglesias played 160 career games behind the plate, hitting 29 home runs and recording 141 RBI to rank ninth and 13th in Coastal history, respectively. He was one of three finalists for the National Player of the Year award in 2010, and also nabbed All-American, All-Region and All-Big South honors that season.
* Chelsy Kimes, Volleyball (2007-11): Kimes held Coastal Carolina all-time records in kills, points and points per set from 2010-17, and is now currently second in program history in all three categories. She was voted first team All-Big South as a sophomore, junior and senior, and made the conference’s All-Freshman team in 2007. In 2010, Kimes was named CosIDA Academic All-District and was voted the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
* Erica Peake, Track & Field (2011-13): Peake holds Coastal Carolina records in six different events, including the 400m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay and 4x400m relay in outdoor track, and the 60m and 200m in indoor track. As a senior in 2013 Peake qualified for the NCAA Championships in both indoor and outdoor track, and ended both seasons with All-American honors in each, including two All-American nods in the outdoor championship. Peake was a three time Big South Track Athlete of the Years.
* Sebastian Soderberg, Men’s Golf (2009-13): Soderberg ended his Coastal career in 2013 with the program’s third-best scoring average (73.45). Additionally, he is tied for third in wins, rounds of par or better, birdies and eagles among Coastal’s all-time leaders. As a senior in 2013, Soderberg was named All-American, Big South Golfer of the Year and a Big South All-Championship Team member. He led Coastal to Big South championships and NCAA Regional appearances in both 2010 and ’13.
* Mike Tolbert, Football (2004-07): Tolbert helped lead the Chanticleers to three straight Big South championships from 2004-06. As a senior in 2007, Tolbert was named an All-American and was voted first team All-Big South as he rushed for 748 yards and nine TDs. He closed his Chanticleer career as the program’s third-highest rusher. Following his time at Coastal, Tolbert has had a successful career in the NFL that has spanned a decade. He was signed as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers in 2008, and later played for the Carolina Panthers (2012-16) before landing with the Buffalo Bills (2017-pres.). Tolbert is a three-time NFL Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro.
* Cody Wheeler, Baseball (2008-10): Wheeler was an important member of the Chanticleer baseball teams that advanced to NCAA Super Regionals in both the 2008 and ’10 seasons, and won three straight Big South Regular Season and Tournament championships from 2008-10. The pitcher was a two-time All-American and two-time first team All-Big South selection, both coming in his sophomore (2009) and junior (2010) seasons.
* Alan LeForce, Women’s Basketball Head Coach (1997-2013): LeForce is the winningest head coach in the history of Coastal Carolina women’s basketball, amassing 228 wins over his 16-year career. His best season came in 1999-2000 when he led the Chants to a 20-10 overall record, which included a career-best nine wins in Big South Conference play. Coastal reached the Big South championship game that season, one of three appearances in the Big South championship while LeForce was on the bench.
* William D. “Bill” Edmonds, CCU Photographer (1977-2017): Edmonds was instrumental in establishing the photography department at Coastal Carolina, and served as the University’s official photographer from 1977-2017. Edmonds supported Coastal Carolina with dedication and professionalism for 40 years, creating a priceless photographic archive of the history of the University and the Athletic Department.