Hall of Fame

Key Information

• Making a Nomination Toggle content

  Minimum requirements to be nominated for the Hall of Fame (for former athletes) include at least one of the following:

  • Conference Player of the Year
  • National Player of the Year
  • All-America First or Second Team
  • All-Conference First Team
  • All-South Independent First Team (when the University was not in a conference)
  • Team MVP
  • School Record Holder

  For those who have contributed greatly to the success of our athletics department off the field of play: Those individuals will be considered by the Hall of Fame committee on an individual basis. Our Hall of Fame committee consists of nine members, all of whom have earned a letter at the University, or have achieved Hall of Fame recognition in the past. The nine members are a cross section of sports, race, and sex, and serve on a rotating basis.

  To nominate an individual for the Hall of Fame, please give a written bio, including all honors achieved, to a member of the athletics department, the Lettermen’s Association or to:

  Shelley Leavitt
  Lettermen’s Association Coordinator
  Rice Athletics Center
  1304 Heyward Street
  Columbia, SC 29208
  (803) 777-1438
  sleavitt@mailbox.sc.edu

• Jersey Retirement Toggle content

  Former student-athletes can be nominated for jersey retirement by a recommendation being sent to the head coach and/or athletics director. Factors considered are: whether the nominee is a graduate, or at least in good academic standing, with a reasonable opportunity to graduate, and one or more of the following:

  • University record holder;
  • A consensus All-American;
  • A consensus National Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden, Heisman, Outland, Golden Spikes);
  • An Olympic medalist while a student at USC; or
  • An All SEC 1st or 2nd team for 3 years.

  Former Head Coaches. Former head coaches can be nominated for jersey retirement by a recommendation being sent to the head coach and/or athletics director. Factors considered are the overall career win record, career win record at the University, length of tenure at the University, and one or more of the following:

  • A Conference championship win(s)
  • A NCAA national championship win(s)
  • Coach for NCAA national championship record holder(s)
  • Iconic status within the South Carolina University community and with the general public

  Process:

  1. The candidate must be recommended by the head coach, in writing to and supported by the athletics director, in order to be forwarded to the selection committee.
  2. There is a FIVE year waiting period, which begins at the conclusion of the student-athlete’s final season of collegiate competition.
  3. Forwarded by the athletics director, the committee members will include:
     1. The athletics director or designee
     2. Both a male and female head coach
     3. A former recipient (if available)
     4. A member of the Lettermen’s Association
     5. Board member of Intercollegiate Activities Committee of the Board of Trustees

  The University of South Carolina will retire jerseys, but will not retire numbers. Those numbers previously retired will continue to be in a retired state. A previously retired number may only be used provided written permission is sought and approved by the retired number recipient.