UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
NOTE: Nominations for the University of Mobile Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 are officially CLOSED.
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Nominees must be graduate of University of Mobile or have played / coached at UM for two full seasons prior to beginning professional career or transferring to NCAA Division I program. Coaches, players, and support staff are eligible as long as they have shown outstanding contributions to the University of Mobile or have made significant achievements in their athletic careers. Each nominee must have shown exemplary character on and off the field / court of play and have been a Christian role model during their time on campus at the University of Mobile. Nominees who graduated from University of Mobile fewer than 10 years ago will not be considered.
Please provide as much information as possible, including contact information of nominee, for nominee to be properly considered by selection committee.
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025
- Jackie Law, Women's Soccer
- Nina Wathne, Women's Soccer
- Dencho Vassilev, Men's Soccer
- Terri McCormick, Softball
- MaryAnn Jennings, Softball
Read: Official University of Mobile Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Release
From left to right: Terri McCormick, MaryAnn Jennings, Jackie Law, Nina Wathne, and Dencho Vassilev
Jackie Law, Women's Soccer
Jackie Law came to the University of Mobile in 1997 where she was a member of the women's soccer team from 1997-2000. Jackie was a First-Team All-Conference selection during all four of her years at UM as well as a First Team All-Region selection in 1997. Additionally, she was a two time NAIA All-American selection in both 1997 and 1998.
She was a key player for the 1997 Mobile Women's Soccer team that won the NAIA National Championship, claiming the tournament mvp award as well as being named to the All-Tournament team.
Nina Wathne, Women's Soccer
Nina Wathne was a member of the University of Mobile Women's Soccer team from 1996-1997. During her time at Mobile, she was a First Team All-Conference selection in 1996, a First Team All-Region selection in 1996 and 1997, and was named the Conference Player of the Year in 1997. In both 1996 and 1997, Nina made the NAIA All Tournament Team and was named as an NAIA All-American.
In 1997, Nina capped off her time at UM with a fantastic season which resulted in her being named the NAIA Player of the Year after her contributions helped lead the Rams to the 1997 NAIA National Championship title.
Dencho Vassilev, Men's Soccer
Dencho Vassilev was a member of the University of Mobile Men's Soccer team from 1992-1994. Dencho collected numerous honors during his time at UM, having been named to the First Team All-Conference and Conference All-Academic teams each year as well as being a First Team All-Area Seven selection in 1992 and 1993. Dencho was named an NAIA All-American in 1992 and 1993, and NAIA Scholar Athlete in 1993 and 1994, and was the 1993 NAIA National Tournament MVP while also being selected to the All-Tournament team that year.
Dencho was a key player for the Mobile Men's Soccer team in it's early years as he helped them to their first ever Conference Regular Season title in 1993, a NAIA National Tournament semifinal appearance in 1993, and a runner up finish at the 1994 NAIA National Championship Tournament.
Terri McCormick, Softball
Terri McCormick was a member of the University of Mobile Softball team from 1993-1998. During that time, she was a First Team All-Conference selection in 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. In 1996 she was selected to the All-Region team and she received Conference All-Academic Team honors on multiple occasions. She was named the Conference Player of the Year in 1994 and again in 1997 while being named as an NAIA All-American in 1994, 1996, and 1997. During her time as a player at Mobile, the Rams achieved several top ten finishes in the NAIA Softball National Tournament.
MaryAnn Jennings, Softball
MaryAnn Jennings was the first head coach for the University of Mobile Softball team, holding the position from 1990-2001, working alongside Mike Jacobs to form the inagural team at Mobile. During her tenure as head coach, the team made eight NAIA National Tournament appearances while she was named the Conference Coach of the Year in 1994, 1997, 1998, and 2000. She coached eighteen All-Americans, six Academic All-Americans, one NAIA Pitcher of the Year, and two Venezuelan Olympic team players. Her record as the head coach stands at 523-194-1 which puts her as the winningest head coach in Mobile Softball history.
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024
- Dr. Bill Elder, Athletic Director / Men's Basketball
- Mrs. Charleste Vaughn McMillian, Softball
- Mr. Joe Espada, Baseball
- Mr. Tramaine Perry, Men's Basketball
- Ms. Irina Teneva, Women's Soccer
From left to right: Dr. and Mrs. Dwight Steedley (accepting for Ms. Irina Teneva), Mr. Tramaine Perry, Mrs. Charleste Vaughn McMillian, Mr. Joe Espada, and Dr. Bill Elder
Dr. Bill Elder, Athletic Director / Men's Basketball
Dr. Bill Elder played a historic part at the University of Mobile by being named the university's first Athletic Director in 1985. He helped begin the athletic department with just two sports and 14 student-athletes during that first year, while adding men's basketball the following season. While leading the athletic department as a whole, Dr. Elder added the title of head coach of the men's basketball program to his resume.
Dr. Elder eventually led the men's basketball program at the University of Mobile from 1986 to 1996, recording an overall record of 232-103. He led the program to three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Championships, while earning two GCAC Coach of the Year Awards. During the 1993-94 season, Dr. Elder guided the Rams to a perfect 16-0 record in conference play, becoming the first team in GCAC history to go undefeated. The 31-1 regular season record that year is the best in program history.
To go along with his induction to the University of Mobile Athletics Hall of Fame, Dr. Elder was inducted to the NAIA Basketball Coaches' Hall of Fame during the 1994-95 season, and is a member of the University of Montevallo (Ala.) Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions prior to his time at the University of Mobile.
Dr. Elder's goal was to begin a strong, well-balanced athletic program when he helped start the athletic department at UM. With the University of Mobile now housing 21 competitive sports in the NAIA Division with over 350 student-athletes attending each year, Dr. Elder's vision became a reality.
Mrs. Charleste Vaughn McMillian, Softball
Charleste Vaughn McMillian attended the University of Mobile from 1990 to 1993 and was a member of the inaugural University of Mobile Softball team. In each of the four seasons played, Vaughn McMillian was named an All-District / All-Conference First-Team selection in the GCAC, while eventually becoming the university's first NAIA Softball All-America selection. She finished her collegiate career with two NAIA Softball All-America honors, adding a selection to the 1993 NAIA Softball All-Tournament Team. She remains just one of four players in UM Softball history to earn multiple NAIA First-Team All-America selections.
Vaughn McMillian sits near the top in several offense categories in the UM Softball record book, ending her career with 206 total hits in four seasons. To add, she recorded 20 home runs, 152 RBIs, and 138 runs scored in her career, with the team finishing 164-76 during her four years played. Vaughn McMillian and the team won three NAIA District 30 Championships while she was a member.
Mr. Joe Espada, Baseball
Coming to the United States from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Joe Espada joined the University of Mobile Baseball program in 1994 and played three seasons with Mobile before beginning his professional baseball career in 1996. While at the university, Espada proved to be a special player under the leadership of beloved head coach Mike Jacobs, setting and still holding several records during his three-year collegiate career.
In all three seasons as a Ram, Joe Espada was named a GCAC First-Team All-Conference selection, while earning two GCAC Baseball Player of the Year Awards. Additionally, Espada was selected as an NAIA Baseball Second-Team All-American following both the 1995 and 1996 seasons. During the 1996 season for Mobile, Espada hit a program-best .468 on the year. In his career, Espada continues to lead the UM Baseball program with a .442 batting average with 212 hits, 13 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases. Following the 1996 season, Espada was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft with the 45th overall pick.
From there, Espada played 10 seasons of minor league ball across seven MLB organizations, five of those seasons being played in Triple-A. He hit .275 in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) with 130 stolen bags and 379 runs scored in his career before hanging up the cleats following the 2005 season. He then became a member of the Miami Marlins organizational coaching staff from 2006-2013 to begin his professional coaching career.
With coaching stops at the Marlins and New York Yankees prior, Espada joined the Houston Astros organization in 2018 as bench coach under legendary manager Dusty Baker, helping Baker lead the Astros to the 2022 World Series Championship victory. Following the retirement of Baker in 2023, the Houston Astros officially named Joe Espada as the club's 20th manager in history. Following Baker's retirement, all indications showed that Espada was the first choice for the Astros' front office to assume the managerial role.
Espada credits Coach Mike Jacobs and the University of Mobile for the love and leadership he has learned, calling the University of Mobile his "second home". When returning to the university in February of 2023 for the UM Baseball Alumni Weekend, Espada took time to express what the university means to him. "Embraced me over 30 years ago, and the love, relationships, and mentoring that's been going on here for so many years is something that has meant so much to me. I love this place," he said.
Mr. Tramaine Perry, Men's Basketball
Tramaine Perry's name can be found all throughout the University of Mobile Men's Basketball record book as he sits atop the all-time scoring list at UM. Perry played for Mobile from 2000 to 2005, displaying his remarkable talent during each season in a program-best 142 games played.
Perry is just one of two Rams to join the 2,000 point club at the University of Mobile, finishing his collegiate career with an astounding 2,144 career points. In addition to his scoring title, Perry leads the men's basketball program with 878 rebounds, 801 field goals made, 636 free throw attempts, and 262 steals, while sitting within the top five in several other statistical categories.
Perry earned four GCAC First-Team All-Conference selections during his collegiate career, being the only Ram to accomplish that feat, and was named the 2001 GCAC Freshman of the Year. In the NAIA Division, Perry earned NAIA Second-Team and Third-Team All-America selections, while being named a NAIA All-America Honorable Mention. During the 2004 season, Perry helped lead the University of Mobile Men's Basketball program to a Final Four appearance, which he was eventually named to the 2004 NAIA All-Tournament Team.
In February 2024, Perry and the '04 team returned to Pharr Gymnasium on the University of Mobile campus for the 20th anniversary celebration of that historic run in 2004.
Ms. Irina Teneva
The late Irina Teneva proved to be an incredible student-athlete on and off the field while at the University of Mobile from 1992 to 1995, playing for University of Mobile Hall of Fame Coach Uwe Tittl and the University of Mobile Women's Soccer program.
To this day, Teneva continues to lead the women's soccer program with 82 career goals scored, scoring a program-best 38 alone in a single season. In addition to her scoring record, Teneva leads the program with 49 assists, recording a program-record 225 points during her four-year collegiate career. In each year played, Teneva was named a GCAC First-Team All-Conference selection, while earning NAIA First-Team All-America honors in 1995. She was named a NAIA All-America Honorable Mention in the two seasons prior to the 1995 campaign.
Off the field of play, Teneva showed how dedicated and responsible she was by earning multiple conference all-academic honors for surpassing the required GPA in the classroom during the season. Additionally, the was announced as a two-time Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete across the entire NAIA Division.
Sadly, Irina Teneva tragically passed away just a few years following her graduation from the University of Mobile. Dr and Mrs. Dwight Steedley, who housed Teneva while she was in the United State from her home country of Bulgaria, accepted the Hall of Fame Award on her behalf.
INAUGURAL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023
- Dr. Sarah Thomas, Women's Basketball
- Mr. Uwe Tittl, Women's Soccer / Men's & Women's Tennis
- Mr. Peter Fuller, Men's Soccer
- Dr. Terry Hopper, Men's & Women's Golf
- Coach Mike Jacobs, Baseball
From left to right: Dr. Terry Hopper, Mrs. Joy Jacobs (Wife of Coach Mike Jacobs), Mr. Peter Fuller, Dr. Sarah Thomas, Mr. Uwe Tittl
Dr. Sarah Thomas, Women's Basketball
Dr. Sarah Thomas earned an NAIA scholarship to the University of Mobile, playing three seasons as a member of the University of Mobile Women's Basketball program in the mid 1990s, eventually earning Academic All-American status. During her time as a member of the UM Women's Basketball team, Thomas tallied 779 total points in her collegiate career, adding 411 rebounds, 108 assists, and 192 steals. She graduated from the university with a degree in communications in 1995.
Following her graduation, Thomas was not ready to close the book on her time in athletics. The Pascagoula, Mississippi native transitioned into a referee when not working as a pharmaceutical representative by day. In 1996, she began with elementary aged games before moving up into the high school ranks as an official. Trained in the Gulf Coast Football Officials Association, she was on the sideline calling her first high school game by 1999. Later in 2007, Thomas had progressed to the point of officiating a state championship game as well as an all-star contest in Mississippi.
Eventually, Thomas began officiating collegiate football for Conference USA. In 2007, she broke the barrier of becoming the first woman to officiate a major college football game, being the University of Memphis' 35-14 victory over Jacksonville State University. From there, Thomas became the first woman to officiate an FBS Bowl Game, working the Little Caesars' Pizza Bowl during the 2009 season.
After partaking in the National Football League's (NFL) development program in 2013 and 2014, Thomas received the call of a lifetime on April 8, 2015. NFL head of officiating Dean Blandino selected her to be the first permanent female official in NFL history, and made her regular season debut in Houston, Texas, officiating the hometown Houston Texans versus Kansas City Chiefs contest. Not to be outdone, she topped that accomplishment when she was is the first woman to earn an on-field assignment for an NFL playoff game which was New England Patriots' battle against the Los Angeles Chargers. Thomas reached the pinnacle of her profession when she was selected to be the down judge for Super Bowl LV - the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl in the event's history.
After being honored professionally, Thomas recently returned to the University of Mobile and was given the opportunity to give the commencement address at her alma mater on May 8, 2021.
Uwe Tittl, Women's Soccer
From 1992-2006, Uwe Tittl served as the inaugural head coach for the University of Mobile Women's Soccer program, building the program into a national powerhouse in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). During his time at the helm of the program, Tittl led the Rams to a 196-90-9 record, while earning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Coach of the Year honor six times. Additionally, Tittl led the team to the program's first NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship victory during the 1997 season, sporting a perfect 24-0-0 record. He was later named the NAIA Women's Soccer Coach of the Year that same season.
Tittl coached 32 NAIA All-American selections during his tenure with the women's soccer program, while coaching over 50 all-conference selections. Since 2003, Tittl has led the University of Mobile Women's Tennis program and has managed a 183-101 overall record. Additionally, Tittl has led the UM Men's Tennis program since 2009 with a 100-74 overall record, and has reached the NAIA Tennis National Championship Tournament 29 total times across both men's and women's tennis.
Peter Fuller, Men's Soccer
Peter Fuller took over head coaching responsibilities for the University of Mobile Men's Soccer program in 1995 and led the program through the 2010 season, sporting a 221-97-21 record. Fuller rapidly grew the program into national prominence in taking the Rams to a whopping 12 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship appearances.
In 2002, Fuller led UM to its first NAIA Men's Soccer National Title victory, finishing the season with an 18-4-1 record. In 1999, the Rams finished as the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Runner-Up under Fuller. Following both seasons, Fuller was named the NAIA Men's Soccer Coach of the Year, while earning three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Coach of the Year honors during his tenure. He coached 35 NAIA All-American selections and over 50 all-conference selections.
Currently, Fuller is the head coach and sporting director for the Syracuse Pulse Professional Soccer Club, a professional team based out of Syracuse, New York, and has served on coaching staffs for Major League Soccer teams New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union during his career.
Dr. Terry Hopper, Men's & Women's Golf
Dr. Terry Hopper joined the University of Mobile in 1970, nine years after the opening of what was then known as Mobile College. Hopper taught in the Physical Education Department, while heading intramural sports. In 1984, he was named the head coach of the University of Mobile Athletic program’s first sanctioned sport, men’s golf. Eventually, Hopper led the men’s golf team to an NAIA Men's Golf National Championship win in 1997, while later leading the women’s golf program to a NAIA Women's Golf National Championship victory in 1998. Hopper was named the NAIA Men's Golf Coach of the Year following the 1997 season, and earned the NAIA Women's Golf Coach of the Year in 1998.
Throughout his career, Hopper was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Coach of the Year 18 total times and was later inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Additionally, he was named to the NAIA's Hall of Fame in 2006. Hopper retired from teaching full-time in 2006, but continued coaching golf at the University of Mobile until 2012.
Mike Jacobs, Baseball
Coach Mike Jacobs founded the University of Mobile Baseball program in the year 1990, eventually coaching 30 seasons up until his tragic and unexpected passing in 2019. Jacobs earned 993 total wins in 30 seasons while leading the University of Mobile Rams baseball program, reaching the 30-win plateau in 17 of his 30 seasons as head coach. In addition, he led the Rams to seven conference championships and a berth to the 2001 NAIA World Series.
Jacobs won Conference Coach of the Year three times in his career; in 1998, 2001 and 2008. He coached 20 total NAIA All-Americans, 88 First-Team All-Conference performers, 10 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 13 conference Gold Glove winners, and 102 conference All-Academic performers, while seeing 35 players go on to sign professional contracts. Eventually, the baseball field at the University of Mobile was named Jacobs Field in 2011 after Coach Jacobs compiled 700 career wins. Jacobs was later inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018. In July of 2019, he was named athletic director at the University of Mobile, leading one of the NAIA's largest athletic programs.
The University of Mobile's beloved athletic director and head baseball coach passed away suddenly Dec. 3, 2019, after suffering a heart attack at the baseball field on campus that bears his name. He left a legacy as a man of faith and integrity who invested his life in the young men he coached, in his family, and in service to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Jacobs Field Archway at the entrance to Jacobs Field was dedicated in 2021 to honor his memory.
