TicketsCINCINNATI – Mardy Gilyard said it best on Friday night at Fifth Third Arena.
"I wanted to be mentioned with the greats so bad," the two-time football All-American told "Voice of the Bearcats" Dan Hoard.
Gilyard will be forever mentioned with the greats at the University of Cincinnati along with the rest of the seven-member 2024 Class of the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame, who were inducted in a star-studded ceremony.
He joined Olympic medalists Jordan Thompson and Annette Echikunwoke, 2,000-point soccer Sean Kilpatrick and Cincinnati soccer legend Omar Cummings on hand for the incredible honor.
Mike Woods, who was Cincinnati football's first consensus All-American in 1977, died in 2009. His daughter Pasia Woods accepted in his honor. Nicknamed "War Daddy," he was a two-time team captain and was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the second round of the 1978 Draft, playing in 48 games in his NFL career.
Vanessa Gilles, a women's soccer star from 2014 to 2017, could not attend due to her professional soccer schedule. A star defender on Canada's national team, she won a gold medal at the 2021 Olympic Games.
Gilyard led the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East Championships and BCS bowl appearances in 2008 and 2009. When he wrapped up his career, the Bunnell, Fla., native ranked first in Cincinnati history in receptions (204), receiving touchdowns (25), receiving yards (3,003), all-purpose yards (5,904), kickoff returns (93) and kickoff return TDs (4).
Kilpatrick finished with 2,145 career points from 2009 to 2014 to rank second in school history only to the legendary Oscar Robertson (2,973 points from 1958-60). The 6-4 guard collected Associated Press First Team All-America honors in 2013-14.
"The memories that shoot back when you get back on campus – it's unreal," Kilpatrick said. "My teammates and coaches made this experience tremendous. I couldn't have done it without them."
Thompson called UC "home." She won an Olympic Silver Medal in volleyball with Team USA in 2024 after capturing a Gold in 2021. Thompson was a three-time AAC Player of the Year and two-time AVCA All-American, leading the Bearcats to their first Sweet 16 in 2019.
Echikunwoke captured the Silver Medal in the hammer throw at the 2024 Olympics. She is one of the most decorated Bearcats athletes in school history. She won the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships national title in the weight throw and finished runner-up in 2018. She remains the school record holder in four of the five throwing events she competed in at UC.
"It's really huge," Echikunwoke said. "It's unexpected. I am truly honored and grateful to the University of Cincinnati for this honor. UC is a huge part of my journey."
Kelly Salchow-MacArthur was on hand to accept the award she received in 2023. She is the inaugural winner of the Kelly Salchow Award, for outstanding achievement in sport.
Walter Paul posthumously received the Bob Goin Service Award for contributions to UC Athletics. He helped recruit Oscar Robertson to Cincinnati Athletics. His son, Jeffrey Paul, was on hand to receive the honor.
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"I wanted to be mentioned with the greats so bad," the two-time football All-American told "Voice of the Bearcats" Dan Hoard.
Gilyard will be forever mentioned with the greats at the University of Cincinnati along with the rest of the seven-member 2024 Class of the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame, who were inducted in a star-studded ceremony.
He joined Olympic medalists Jordan Thompson and Annette Echikunwoke, 2,000-point soccer Sean Kilpatrick and Cincinnati soccer legend Omar Cummings on hand for the incredible honor.
Mike Woods, who was Cincinnati football's first consensus All-American in 1977, died in 2009. His daughter Pasia Woods accepted in his honor. Nicknamed "War Daddy," he was a two-time team captain and was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the second round of the 1978 Draft, playing in 48 games in his NFL career.
Vanessa Gilles, a women's soccer star from 2014 to 2017, could not attend due to her professional soccer schedule. A star defender on Canada's national team, she won a gold medal at the 2021 Olympic Games.
Gilyard led the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East Championships and BCS bowl appearances in 2008 and 2009. When he wrapped up his career, the Bunnell, Fla., native ranked first in Cincinnati history in receptions (204), receiving touchdowns (25), receiving yards (3,003), all-purpose yards (5,904), kickoff returns (93) and kickoff return TDs (4).
Kilpatrick finished with 2,145 career points from 2009 to 2014 to rank second in school history only to the legendary Oscar Robertson (2,973 points from 1958-60). The 6-4 guard collected Associated Press First Team All-America honors in 2013-14.
"The memories that shoot back when you get back on campus – it's unreal," Kilpatrick said. "My teammates and coaches made this experience tremendous. I couldn't have done it without them."
Thompson called UC "home." She won an Olympic Silver Medal in volleyball with Team USA in 2024 after capturing a Gold in 2021. Thompson was a three-time AAC Player of the Year and two-time AVCA All-American, leading the Bearcats to their first Sweet 16 in 2019.
Echikunwoke captured the Silver Medal in the hammer throw at the 2024 Olympics. She is one of the most decorated Bearcats athletes in school history. She won the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships national title in the weight throw and finished runner-up in 2018. She remains the school record holder in four of the five throwing events she competed in at UC.
"It's really huge," Echikunwoke said. "It's unexpected. I am truly honored and grateful to the University of Cincinnati for this honor. UC is a huge part of my journey."
Kelly Salchow-MacArthur was on hand to accept the award she received in 2023. She is the inaugural winner of the Kelly Salchow Award, for outstanding achievement in sport.
Walter Paul posthumously received the Bob Goin Service Award for contributions to UC Athletics. He helped recruit Oscar Robertson to Cincinnati Athletics. His son, Jeffrey Paul, was on hand to receive the honor.
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