The Old Dominion Athletic Conference is celebrating its 50th year of operation in 2025-26 with the announcement of its first-ever class of the newly minted ODAC Hall of Fame.
Fifty of the conference’s all-time great student-athletes, coaches and administrators comprise the inaugural 2025 class. All inductees were directly selected by conference member schools, save for three that fall under an ODAC-wide banner. That trio includes founding commissioner Dan Wooldridge as well as Marjorie Berkley and Harry G. “Doc” Jopson, the namesake of the ODAC’s top-two individual honors, the Berkley and Jopson Awards recognizing the top senior women’s and men’s sports student-athletes in the conference, respectively.
“This inaugural Hall of Fame class embodies the heart and soul of the ODAC,” explained ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston. “They are champions, leaders, and trailblazers whose influence reaches far beyond wins and championships. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are proud to honor individuals whose dedication and spirit have left an indelible mark on the conference and inspired all who have been part of our story.”
The first class features honorees from all eight original charter members from 1976 – Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite College (now University), Emory & Henry College (now University), Hampden-Sydney College, Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg), Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, and Washington and Lee University. Each of those schools selected four members for inclusion.
The inaugural members from Roanoke College include men’s basketball standout Gerald Holmes from the class of 1993, Men’s soccer and basketball standout Dustin Fonder ’94, softball’s Amy Layman Bayse from the class of 2001 and Robin Yerkes St. Cyr, a women’s track and field standout from the class of 2010.
In addition, three honorees each from Guilford College, Hollins College (now University), Randolph-Macon Women’s College (now Randolph College), Sweet Briar College, and Virginia Wesleyan College (now University) are featured in this class.
The process for the second class in 2026-27 will be much the same with member schools selecting individuals for induction. That includes the first honorees from Shenandoah University. Starting in year three, ODAC Hall of Fame classes will be determined via a nomination and voting process to the ODAC Hall of Fame Committee composed of representation from league members.
