TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics announced the 2022 Class for the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in educational programs and activities, the 2022 Class will be the first to feature all women and will include Jacqueline Keire (swimming and diving), Kathy Klump (track and field), Laura Lauder (volleyball) and Laurie Pirtle (longtime women's basketball coach).
The 2022 Class will officially be inducted at the 21st Annual Legion of Excellence Gala on Friday, Sept. 23 at Fifth Third Arena.
"We are thrilled to honor these Bearcats legends," Director of Athletics John Cunningham said. "From the track to the courts and the pool, these women proved to be the best of the best during their collegiate careers at the University of Cincinnati. They serve as shining examples for our current student-athletes of how hard work can lead to success, and what it means to be a Bearcat for life."
The James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1976 to honor and pay tribute to those individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions in the field of intercollegiate athletics and helped bring recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to the University of Cincinnati and its athletics programs through participation, support, or interest. The Hall of Fame is named in honor of Jim Kelly, Sr., who was associated with UC for over 40 years as an athlete, assistant coach, and administrator.
In addition to the Hall of Fame, the Legion of Excellence annually recognizes the academic achievements of current UC student-athletes from each sport, new inductees to the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer along with a winner of the Strubbe Distinguished Service Award and the Bob Goin Service Award for contributions to Cincinnati Athletics.
Cincinnati's 2022 Hall of Fame Class
Jacqueline Keire (swimming and diving, 2013-17)
Keire was a three-time All-American for the Bearcats in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She qualified for the NCAA Championships all four years of her career and was a three-time AAC Most Outstanding Swimmer honoree. She collected 13 conference championships and still holds nearly every UC record in the events she swam. She also won a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2017 World University Games.
Kathy Klump (track and field, 2008-12)
Klump was a three-time All-American and four-time BIG EAST champion middle distance runner for the Bearcats track and field team from 2008 to 2012. She earned First Team All-America accolades in 2012 by placing fourth in the 800-meter run at the NCAA Indoor Championships and sixth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Klump was the 2012 BIG EAST Most Outstanding Indoor Track Performer and set five school records, including the indoor 500-meter (1:10.08), indoor 800-meter (2:04.57) and outdoor 800-meter (2:03.35) runs.
Laura Lauder (volleyball, 2000-03)
Lauder was a three-time all-conference setter, who finished her career 10th in NCAA history in assists per game (13.87 in the 30-point scoring format). She finished first in the UC record book in career assists (5,946) and helped the Bearcats to a pair of conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2003, she earned All-Conference USA First Team accolades, honorable mention All-America and Conference USA Setter of the Year honors. A member of the C-USA All-Decade Team, Lauder was also C-USA Co-Freshman of the Year in 2000.
Laurie Pirtle (women's basketball head coach, 1986-2007)
Pirtle is the winningest coach in Cincinnati women's basketball history with 310 victories over her 21 years at the helm of the Bearcats. She had seven straight winning seasons from 1996-97 to 2002-03. Pirtle guided the Bearcats to four appearances in the Women's NIT and three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, earning UC's first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 2002. Cincinnati won the Conference USA Tournament and finished with a record of 27-5 in 2002. She was a two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year and retired in 2007.
ABOUT CINCINNATI ATHLETICS
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
UC student-athletes collectively posted a 3.387 overall GPA in the fall of 2021 with 78 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
For more information visit gobearcats.com.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in educational programs and activities, the 2022 Class will be the first to feature all women and will include Jacqueline Keire (swimming and diving), Kathy Klump (track and field), Laura Lauder (volleyball) and Laurie Pirtle (longtime women's basketball coach).
The 2022 Class will officially be inducted at the 21st Annual Legion of Excellence Gala on Friday, Sept. 23 at Fifth Third Arena.
"We are thrilled to honor these Bearcats legends," Director of Athletics John Cunningham said. "From the track to the courts and the pool, these women proved to be the best of the best during their collegiate careers at the University of Cincinnati. They serve as shining examples for our current student-athletes of how hard work can lead to success, and what it means to be a Bearcat for life."
The James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1976 to honor and pay tribute to those individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions in the field of intercollegiate athletics and helped bring recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to the University of Cincinnati and its athletics programs through participation, support, or interest. The Hall of Fame is named in honor of Jim Kelly, Sr., who was associated with UC for over 40 years as an athlete, assistant coach, and administrator.
In addition to the Hall of Fame, the Legion of Excellence annually recognizes the academic achievements of current UC student-athletes from each sport, new inductees to the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer along with a winner of the Strubbe Distinguished Service Award and the Bob Goin Service Award for contributions to Cincinnati Athletics.
Cincinnati's 2022 Hall of Fame Class
Jacqueline Keire (swimming and diving, 2013-17)
Keire was a three-time All-American for the Bearcats in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She qualified for the NCAA Championships all four years of her career and was a three-time AAC Most Outstanding Swimmer honoree. She collected 13 conference championships and still holds nearly every UC record in the events she swam. She also won a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2017 World University Games.
Kathy Klump (track and field, 2008-12)
Klump was a three-time All-American and four-time BIG EAST champion middle distance runner for the Bearcats track and field team from 2008 to 2012. She earned First Team All-America accolades in 2012 by placing fourth in the 800-meter run at the NCAA Indoor Championships and sixth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Klump was the 2012 BIG EAST Most Outstanding Indoor Track Performer and set five school records, including the indoor 500-meter (1:10.08), indoor 800-meter (2:04.57) and outdoor 800-meter (2:03.35) runs.
Laura Lauder (volleyball, 2000-03)
Lauder was a three-time all-conference setter, who finished her career 10th in NCAA history in assists per game (13.87 in the 30-point scoring format). She finished first in the UC record book in career assists (5,946) and helped the Bearcats to a pair of conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2003, she earned All-Conference USA First Team accolades, honorable mention All-America and Conference USA Setter of the Year honors. A member of the C-USA All-Decade Team, Lauder was also C-USA Co-Freshman of the Year in 2000.
Laurie Pirtle (women's basketball head coach, 1986-2007)
Pirtle is the winningest coach in Cincinnati women's basketball history with 310 victories over her 21 years at the helm of the Bearcats. She had seven straight winning seasons from 1996-97 to 2002-03. Pirtle guided the Bearcats to four appearances in the Women's NIT and three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, earning UC's first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 2002. Cincinnati won the Conference USA Tournament and finished with a record of 27-5 in 2002. She was a two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year and retired in 2007.
ABOUT CINCINNATI ATHLETICS
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
UC student-athletes collectively posted a 3.387 overall GPA in the fall of 2021 with 78 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
For more information visit gobearcats.com.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.