2025 Hall of Fame Class Announcement

Wake Forest Athletics: 2025 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Class Announced

9/18/2024 9:56:00 AM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer

The seven-member class includes a 2007 National Champion, two legendary women’s soccer alumni who set numerous program records, a trailblazer for women’s basketball, an icon of men’s basketball, a multiple-time NFL Pro Bowler and one of golf’s leaders in course design.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest University and the Winston-Salem community are proud to announce the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame 2025 induction class. 

This Hall of Fame induction class includes former men's basketball head coach and 2003 ACC Coach of the Year Skip Prosser, women's soccer icons Katie Stengel and Aubrey Bledsoe, 2007 NCAA National champion Ike Opara, perhaps the best fullback in Demon Deacons lore Ovie Mughelli, 2023 Trailblazer Award recipient Keeva Jackson-Breland and renowned golf course designer Bill Coore. 

During their Wake Forest careers, this incredible group of Demon Deacons featured 12 All-ACC selections, nine All-American selections, four NCAA College Cup appearances, men's soccer's first National Championship in 2007, a 2003 ACC Coach of the Year selection, a trailblazing path in women's basketball and multiple program and NCAA records.

"Congratulations to the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees, whose extraordinary achievements have not only defined their sports but have also set a high standard for future Demon Deacons," Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie said. "As we celebrate their incredible legacies at our next ceremony, we remember how they've shaped our University's spirit and enriched the lives of those around them. Their stories of dedication and excellence have already and continue to inspire and resonate within our community. We look forward to celebrating their incredible contributions and the lasting impact they have made on our university and community."

"It is one of my great honors as the Chair of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Committee to unveil the latest Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame induction class and I join all Demon Deacons in congratulating them on this well-earned achievement," said Dr. Peter Brubaker, Wake Forest Faculty Athletics Representative. "These seven individuals left their mark in the record books and classroom at Wake Forest while being outstanding representatives of the University. I personally want to thank the Hall of Fame selection committee for their hard work during this process and we look forward to celebrating this induction class."

Stay tuned to GoDeacs.com for more information about the official date for enshrinement for this Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame class. 

2025 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Inductees 
Skip Prosser, Men's Basketball
  • Wake Forest men's basketball head coach, 2001-07
  • In six years at Wake Forest, compiled a record of 126-68
  • Coached Wake Forest to four NCAA Tournament berths including the Sweet 16 in 2004
  • Spent seven years as the head coach at Xavier (1995-2001) and compiled a record of 125-60
  • Career record of 291-146 in 14 seasons
  • Coached one year at Loyola (MD) and compiled a 17-13 record
  • The only NCAA Division I coach to take three teams to the NCAA Tournament in his first year as head coach
  • Led Wake Forest to 2003 ACC regular season championship for the first time in 40 years
  • 2003 ACC Coach of the Year as well as NABC and USBWA District Coach of the Year
  • Won 100 games faster than all but two ACC coaches in the 55-year history of the conference
  • Coached Wake Forest to a No. 1 national ranking during the 2004-05 season
  • Led Wake Forest to a school record 27 wins in 2005
  • During his 14-year career, won four conference regular season championships and two tournament titles
  • Had nine 20-win seasons in 14 years
  • A lasting impact from his legacy continues in the Wake Forest community through The Skip Prosser Literacy Program. This initiative is a collaboration between Wake Forest's Department of Education, Wake Forest Athletics, Wake Forest Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, WFU Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and BookmarksNC.
Katie Stengel, Women's Soccer 
  • Three-time NSCAA All-America selection and became the first Demon Deacon to earn All-America First Team honors in 2011
  • Joined Emily Taggart as the only four-time All-ACC selections in program history, making the first team three times
  • Named the 2011 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Demon Deacon to earn player of the year honors
  • In her four-year career, scored a school record 50 goals and 125 points in only 75 games
  • Posted the two highest-scoring seasons in program history, totaling 19 goals and 46 points in 2011, and 16 goals and 37 points as a freshman in 2010
  • Led the ACC in goal-scoring in back-to-back seasons in 2010 and 2011, becoming the first player to do so since Mia Hamm and the first ever to do it as a freshman and sophomore.
  • Semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2010 and 2011
  • While at Wake Forest, helped lead the United States to the 2012 FIFA Under-20 World Cup championship in Japan and became the first Demon Deacon player, current or former, to be called up to the U-20s
  • As a professional, has had a decorated career across the globe, including stints with Bayern Munich, Liverpool and her current side Gotham FC. She led Bayern with nine goals in 2014-15 and led the team to the Bundesliga title
Keeva Jackson-Breland, Women's Basketball
  • Playing for the Demon Deacons in the 1980s, was one of the first two African-American women's student-athletes to receive scholarships at Wake Forest
  • A standout on the hardwood for the Demon Deacons women's basketball program and their leadership as individuals of color played a monumental role in the integration of athletics at Wake Forest
  • Jackson-Breland, along with teammate Sonya Henderson, was recognized for her contributions to Wake Forest Athletics with the 2023 Trailblazer Award, celebrating Wake Forest student-athletes, alumni, staff and community members who have blazed trails in the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity and other important social issues that better the lives of others in the Pro Humanitate tradition that is the central spirit of Wake Forest University
  • Earned honorable mention All-America honors during her time at Wake Forest. Through three seasons, she led her teams in scoring twice, rebounding three times, and steals twice
  • As a sophomore, Jackson-Breland averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game as a sophomore, adding 82 steals and 19 blocked shots  
Ike Opara, Men's Soccer 
  • An impact player from the start for the Demon Deacons, set program freshman records for starts (23) and appearances (26) while earning Soccer America first-team All-American honors as Wake Forest would win the 2007 NCAA National Championship
  • As a sophomore, his leadership helped lead Wake Forest to a third-straight College Cup appearance while being named the second ACC Defensive Player of the Year in program history, earning All-ACC honors and first-team All-American honors from TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News 
  • Set career-highs in points (10), goals (five), and game-winning goals (two) during the season
  • Completed Wake Forest career in 2009, once again guiding the Deacs to the College Cup, while starting all 17 of his appearances and being selected as an All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, Soccer America, College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer
  • Claimed ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and was named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy
  • Finished decorated Demon Deacon career appearing in 65 matches with 62 starts before being selected with the No. 3-overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes
  • As a professional, appeared in 180 matches between the 2010-21 seasons, earning appearances with the Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United
  • Earned MLS Defender of the Year honors twice (2017 and 2019), MLS Best XI selections twice (2017 and 2019), two US Open Cup titles (2015 and 2017) and the MLS Cup in 2013
  • Earned a United States Men's National Team call-up in 2018 and played the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
Aubrey Bledsoe, Women's Soccer 
  • One of only three Demon Deacons to be named an All-American three times, earning third team honors from the NSCAA in 2011 and 2012 and second team honors in 2013
  • Was Wake Forest's first Capital One Academic All-American, earning the honors in 2012 and 2013. She was named the ACC Tournament MVP in the 2010 after stopping three penalty kicks in the final against Maryland to help lead the Demon Deacons to their first ACC Championship
  • Also a three-time All-ACC selection, twice making the first team
  • Wake Forest career record holder for shutouts (33), goals against average (0.91), games played and started (94) and minutes played in goal (8,692)
  • Finished career second in NCAA Division I history and first in ACC history in minutes played by a goalkeeper and seventh on the ACC career shutout chart
  • Started every game that Wake Forest played during her four seasons
  • Since graduating from Wake Forest, has been a phenomenal pro player, spending the last six years with the Washington Spirit in the NWSL
  • Won the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award twice in 2019 and 2021 in addition to winning the NWSL Championship in 2021
  • Has made two international appearances for the United States Women's National Team, earning her first call up in 2019
Ovie Mughelli, Football
  • Played in 43 games during his career with the Demon Deacons, rushing 137 times for 530 yards. 
  • As a senior, broke out as one of the nation's top fullbacks scoring 12 times as Wake Forest went 7-6 and to the Seattle Bowl 
  • During senior year, earned first team All-ACC honors
  • Was also rated the No. 1 fullback by USA Today in the 2003 NFL Draft
  • Selected with the 134th overall pick (fourth round) of the 2003 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens
  • Was just the second fullback selected in Baltimore's franchise history. Additionally, was also the first ever Wake Forest player selected by the Ravens
  • During his 10 year career in the NFL, played for the Ravens (2003-06), Falcons (2007-11) and Rams (2012)
  • Was selected to the Pro Bowl twice in 2006 and 2010 and also earned All-Pro honors in 2010
  • Perfected the blocking part of his game as well as becoming sure-handed out of the backfield
  • In rookie season, was the lead blocker for Jamal Lewis who went on to have one of just eight 2,000-yard rushing seasons in NFL history that season.
  • Over career, was also one of the best receiving fullbacks in the league, pulling in 62 receptions and 490 receiving yards in his career.
  • Found the endzone seven times
Bill Coore, Golf
  • 1968 graduate of Wake Forest University, has made his mark on the golf world serving as a world-renowned golf course architect for over 50 years  
  • Began professional design and construction career in 1972 with the firm of Pete Dye and Associates. 
  • Was involved in the design, construction and maintenance of golf courses in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Canada, and Texas 
  • Played much of his early golf at the Donald Ross courses of Pinehurst and the Perry Maxwell designed Old Town Club in Winston-Salem 
  • Considers Old Town as a cornerstone for his first understanding of golf's compelling design
  • Has achieved prominence in golf through his course designs along with partner Ben Crenshaw.  Coore and Crenshaw joined forces as a design team in 1985
  • The duo have created some of America's most talked-about courses, not to mention layouts in Europe, Asia and Australia
  • In 2012, Coore and Crenshaw completed perhaps their most notable project, restoring the revered No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort, a golfing mecca in the North Carolina Sandhills
  • Designed by legendary Scottish architect Donald Ross and opened in 1907, Pinehurst No. 2 has hosted major tournaments throughout its history, including U.S. Opens in 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024
  • Donald Ross Award recipient, given by The American Society of Golf Course Architects to those making the most significant contributions to the game. Other winners include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and President George Bush. 
  • The Old Town course has jumped 45 places in the Golf Digest rankings since it debuted in 2019
  • In the 2023-24 GOLF Magazine course rankings, Old Town Club received No. 38 in Top 100 Courses in the U.S. and No. 84 in Top 100 Courses in the World 
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