MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The Southern Arkansas University Department of Athletics has announced that it will add eight new individual members to its Sports Hall of Fame as the 23rd class was elected by the Hall's induction committee earlier this summer.  
   
The newest class will be formally inducted during a ceremony at 6:30 PM on Friday, October 23, in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center. The class will also be publicly introduced at halftime of the October 24 Homecoming game against Ouachita Baptist.  
   
The 2026 Southern Arkansas University Sports Hall of Fame Class is comprised of eight former student-athletes representing six of the department's athletic programs, as well as adding the first Alumni Achievement inductee since the 19th class was added back in 2022. Read about the newest members of this year's Hall of Fame class below.  
 

Arthur Courtney
Golden Era | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field

A native of Dermott, Arkansas, Arthur Courtney quickly established himself as one of the premier middle-distance runners in the final years of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference during his time at Southern Arkansas University. Excelling in both track and field and cross country, Courtney became a conference champion, national qualifier, and All-American while helping elevate the Mulerider Track and Field and Cross Country programs throughout the mid-1990s. 

Courtney made an immediate impact as a freshman in 1993. Entering the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Championships as an underdog, he upset a talented field to capture the conference title in the 800-meter run. The victory earned him All-AIC honors and marked the beginning of a career that would be defined by consistency and championship performances. 

His success reached new heights in 1994. Courtney repeated as AIC Champion in the 800 meters and went undefeated against conference competition in the event throughout the season. He earned All-AIC recognition in track and field while also excelling during the cross country season. Courtney garnered All-AIC Cross Country honors, qualified for national competition, and was selected as Southern Arkansas University's Outstanding Cross Country Runner, recognizing him as the top performer on the Mulerider Men's Cross Country team. 

Courtney continued to excel during his senior season in 1995. He finished as the AIC runner-up in the 800 meters and played a pivotal role in one of the program's premier relay units. As the anchor leg of the AIC Championship 4x400-meter relay team, Courtney helped guide the Muleriders to conference gold while earning NAIA All-America honors in the 1600-meter relay. 

Across four seasons in the Blue and Gold, Courtney established himself as one of the most accomplished distance and middle-distance athletes of his era. His ability to perform at the highest level in both track and cross country made him a valuable contributor and leader for the Muleriders. 

A three-time All-AIC performer, two-time conference champion, national qualifier, and NAIA All-American, Courtney left a lasting legacy on both the Mulerider Track and Field and Cross Country programs. 
 

Cornell Williams
Golden Era | Football

Recruited out of Malvern, Arkansas by SAU Hall of Fame coach Raymond "Rip" Powell, Cornell Williams became one of the first African American student-athletes to play football at Southern State College. Arriving in 1969, the 5'9", 160-pound speedster quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic playmakers in Mulerider Football history. 

As a freshman, Williams showcased remarkable versatility by accounting for touchdowns in five different ways. In just his third collegiate game against Mississippi College, he returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and later added a 23-yard rushing score. Later that season, he hauled in an 89-yard touchdown reception, returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown against Harding, and completed a halfback pass for a touchdown against Arkansas Tech. 

Williams earned a reputation as the Muleriders' big-play threat throughout his career. He returned three punts for touchdowns, including a 72-yard score during Homecoming against Northwood as a sophomore and a 70-yard return in a victory over rival Henderson State during his junior season. 

One of the most memorable moments of his career came in the 1971 season opener against Southeast Oklahoma. Trailing 13-9 in the fourth quarter, Coach Powell inserted Williams as the punter. Instead of kicking, Williams took off down the left sideline on a fake punt and raced 67 yards for the game-winning touchdown in a 15-13 Mulerider victory. During that same junior campaign, he threw a 35-yard touchdown pass in the season finale against Arkansas-Monticello. 

Williams helped lead the Muleriders to the 1972 AIC Championship, the program's first conference title since 1952. Southern State finished 8-2 overall and 5-1 in league play. In the final game of his collegiate career, Williams delivered one of his finest performances, rushing for 177 yards on a rain-soaked Wilkins Stadium field to lead the Muleriders to a 43-0 victory over Arkansas-Monticello. 

A two-time All-AIC Honorable Mention selection, Williams finished his career with 4,757 all-purpose yards, a school record that stood for more than 50 years. Beyond football, he also competed for the Mulerider track and field team, further demonstrating the athletic ability that made him one of the most electrifying athletes of his era. 
 

Mark Johnson
Modern Era | Football

When Mark Johnson arrived at Southern Arkansas University in 2010, few could have predicted the impact that the Longview, Texas native would have on the Mulerider Football program. By the time his career ended four years later, Johnson had established himself as one of the most productive running backs in school history and one of the defining players of the Great American Conference's first decade. 

Johnson burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2010, quickly emerging as one of the top young players in the Gulf South Conference. His breakout season earned him GSC Freshman of the Year honors and the first of three all-conference selections. Combining power, vision, and durability, Johnson became the centerpiece of the Mulerider offense and a player that opposing defenses were forced to game plan around every week. 

Over the next three seasons, Johnson continued to build upon his impressive start. He earned First Team All-Great American Conference honors in both 2011 and 2012 before adding Second Team All-GAC recognition in 2013. Along the way, he collected four GAC Player of the Week awards and established himself as one of the league's most consistent offensive threats. 

Johnson's 2012 season proved to be one of the finest by a running back in program history. His outstanding play earned him Don Hansen Football Committee Honorable Mention All-America honors and a spot on the DHFC Division II All-Super Region 3 Second Team. Entering his senior season, he was recognized nationally as a CDFL Division II Preseason Honorable Mention All-American. 

Whether carrying the football, catching passes out of the backfield, or contributing on special teams, Johnson's versatility made him a constant big-play threat. He became just one of three players in program history to surpass 4,000 career all-purpose yards and remains one of only two Muleriders to record multiple games with at least 240 all-purpose yards. His 273 all-purpose yards against McMurry in 2012 still rank as one of the top single-game performances in school history. 

By the conclusion of his career, Johnson ranked first in program history in rushing yards (3,842), rushing attempts (772), rushing touchdowns (42), touchdowns scored (44), and points scored by a non-kicker (264). He also finished among the program's all-time leaders in numerous single-season categories, further highlighting his remarkable consistency and longevity. 

A three-time All-GAC selection, All-American honoree, and member of the Great American Conference All-Decade Team, Mark Johnson left Southern Arkansas University as one of the most accomplished running backs ever to wear the Blue and Gold. His place among the legends of Mulerider Football remains firmly secured through a career defined by production, durability, and excellence. 
 

Elizabeth (Lewis) Boatner
Modern Era | Volleyball

Arriving at Southern Arkansas University in 1994 from Wichita Falls, Texas, Elizabeth (Liz) Lewis established herself as one of the most dominant front-row players in program history in her upperclassmen years in the Blue and Gold. A force at the net and a leader in the classroom, Lewis helped elevate Mulerider Volleyball during a highly competitive era while cementing her place among some of the greatest players in the program's history. 

Opposing attackers routinely found themselves challenged by her presence at the net, where she developed a reputation as one of the premier blockers in the Gulf South Conference. Her ability to disrupt offenses and change the momentum of matches made her one of the most impactful players in the region. 

The 1996 season proved to be a breakout campaign for Lewis. She earned Gulf South Conference West Division Player of the Year honors after leading the Muleriders with a record-setting performance at the net. That season, she recorded 189 total blocks, establishing a single-season school record, before the rally scoring era of volleyball. Her outstanding play also earned her All-GSC West Division recognition, while her success in the classroom was recognized with selection to the GSC All-Academic Team. 

Rather than resting on her accomplishments, Lewis followed her award-winning junior season with another exceptional campaign in 1997. She once again earned First Team All-GSC West Division honors and was named to the GSC All-Academic Team, becoming one of the conference's most complete student-athletes. Her consistent excellence helped provide stability and leadership for the Muleriders while continuing to set the standard for future generations of SAU volleyball players. 

By the end of her career, Lewis had rewritten the Mulerider record book. She finished with, and still holds, two program records from the side-out scoring system era, as she collected 402 career blocks over her four seasons, along with her single-season record of 189 blocks in 1996.  

A conference division player of the year, multiple-time all-conference performer, and two-time academic all-conference selection, Liz Lewis left an enduring legacy at Southern Arkansas University. Her excellence as both a student and athlete continues to place her among the most accomplished volleyball players in Mulerider history. 
 

DaVondrick Lison
Modern Era | Football

A native of Arkansas City, Arkansas, DaVondrick Lison arrived at Southern Arkansas University with the physical tools to dominate. By the time his career concluded, he had established himself as one of the most feared defensive players in Mulerider Football history and one of the premier pass rushers in NCAA Division II. 

Lison quickly developed a reputation for disrupting opposing offenses. His combination of size, strength, and athleticism made him a nightmare for quarterbacks and offensive linemen alike. Whether rushing off the edge, chasing down ball carriers, or forcing turnovers, Lison consistently found his way into the backfield and onto the stat sheet. 

His emergence began early, as he led all of Division II in forced fumbles during the 2015 season with seven. The performance showcased his knack for creating game-changing plays and foreshadowed the dominant career that would follow. Over the next several seasons, Lison became the cornerstone of the Mulerider defense, earning three All-Great American Conference selections, including two First Team honors. 

The pinnacle of his career came in 2017 when he was named Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Year. That season, he led the team with 64 tackles, including 18.0 tackles for loss totaling 75 lost yards. He added 7.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and five quarterback hurries. Against Southwestern Oklahoma State, Lison tied the program's single-game record with three sacks, further cementing his place among the top defenders in school history. 

His success extended beyond conference recognition. Lison earned AFCA Second Team All-America honors in both 2017 and 2018, collected two D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-America selections, and was a three-time All-Region performer, highlighted by a D2CCA First Team All-Region selection in 2017. Following his senior season, he was named a finalist for the prestigious Gene Upshaw Award, presented annually to Division II's top lineman. 

By the end of his career, Lison had rewritten the Mulerider record book. He remains the program leader in tackles for loss (54.5), tackles for loss yardage (252), quarterback hurries (27), and forced fumbles (13). He was also the only player, until recently, in program history with multiple seasons of at least 7.5 sacks, and he finished his career tied with David Sanders (1989-92) for the school record with 25.0 sacks, a mark that had stood for more than 30 years. 

A member of the Great American Conference All-Decade Team and an undrafted free agent invitee to the Atlanta Falcons rookie camp, Lison left Southern Arkansas University as one of the most decorated defensive players in program history. His relentless pursuit of the football and ability to change games created a legacy that remains among the very best in Mulerider Football history. 
 

Victoria (Taylor) Todd
Modern Era | Softball

When Victoria Taylor stepped into the circle for the Mulerider Softball program in 2017, she immediately began establishing herself as one of the premier pitchers in the Great American Conference, the Central Region, and the nation. By the time her career concluded in 2021, Taylor had not only become one of the most decorated players in program history but also one of the most accomplished pitchers in NCAA Division II softball. 

Taylor's impact was evident from the beginning. Named the 2017 Mulespy Female Newcomer of the Year, she quickly became a cornerstone of the Mulerider pitching staff. Over the next five seasons, her consistency, durability, and dominance helped elevate Southern Arkansas into one of the region's top programs while making her one of the most feared pitchers in the country. 

The defining season of Taylor's career came in 2018. She put together one of the greatest pitching campaigns in program history, posting a remarkable 33-1 record while leading the Muleriders to a historic season. Her performance earned her Great American Conference Pitcher of the Year honors, unanimous First Team All-GAC recognition, D2CCA Central Region Pitcher of the Year accolades, NFCA First Team All-Central Region honors, First Team D2CCA All-America recognition, and First Team All-America plaudits. Taylor was also named a finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year award, cementing her place among the elite players in the nation. 

Rather than slowing down after her breakout season, Taylor continued her excellence throughout her career. She earned All-GAC honors three times, collected two D2CCA All-Central Region selections, and capped her career with First Team All-GAC and Second Team All-Central Region honors in 2021. That same year, she was named the Mulespys Female Athlete of the Year after helping lead the Muleriders to another successful campaign. 

By the end of her career, Taylor had rewritten the SAU record book. She remains the program's career leader in wins (81), appearances (128), starts (115), innings pitched (656.1), strikeouts (742), and strikeouts looking (221). She also ranks among the program's all-time leaders in ERA, opponent batting average, shutouts, and strikeouts per seven innings. Her 33 victories in 2018 remain the most wins ever recorded in a single season by a Mulerider pitcher. 

A member of the Great American Conference All-Decade Team and one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Southern Arkansas history, Victoria Taylor left a legacy defined by excellence, consistency, and dominance in the circle. Her name remains scattered throughout the Mulerider record book, a testament to a career that ranks among the finest ever produced by a Mulerider Softball player and is just one of two players in the program's history with 30 or more wins. 
 

Jeremy Triche
Modern Era | Baseball

Jeremy Triche's impact on the Mulerider Baseball program extended far beyond the statistics he produced on the field. A leader behind the plate and one of the premier catchers in NCAA Division II during his era, Triche helped establish the Muleriders as a force in the Gulf South Conference while earning recognition among the nation's best players. 

Triche's production at the plate and behind it quickly separated him as one of the most complete catchers in the region. In 111 career games, he hit .324 with 129 hits, 28 doubles, 25 home runs, and 124 RBI, posting a .583 slugging percentage and a .413 on-base percentage. Defensively, he was just as reliable, recording a .985 fielding percentage with 426 putouts and 49 assists while anchoring the Mulerider Baseball program during one of its most competitive stretches. 

The 2006 season proved to be the pinnacle of Triche's collegiate career. He delivered one of the most decorated seasons ever by a Mulerider catcher, earning Rawlings/ABCA Third Team All-America honors while also collecting Rawlings/ABCA and NCBWA All-South Central Region First Team selections. At the conference level, he was named First Team All-Gulf South Conference West Division, solidifying his place among the elite players in Division II baseball. 

Triche followed his All-America campaign with another strong and consistent season in 2007, once again earning First Team All-Gulf South Conference West Division honors and becoming a two-time all-conference selection. Across his career, his steady production, defensive reliability, and leadership behind the plate made him one of the most respected catchers in the league and a central figure in the Mulerider lineup. 

While his on-field résumé was defined by elite recognition, Triche also left behind a career built on consistency at the highest level. In 2006 alone, he stood out nationally and regionally as a First Team All-South Central Region selection by both the ABCA and NCBWA, underscoring his impact on both sides of the game and his value as a complete catcher. 

Beyond baseball, Triche's legacy carries an even deeper significance. Following his time at Southern Arkansas University, he returned to his hometown in south Louisiana and dedicated his life to serving his community as a law enforcement officer. In 2012, he was tragically killed in the line of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice while protecting others. 

An All-American, multiple-time All-Region selection, and two-time All-Gulf South Conference performer, Jeremy Triche left an enduring mark on the Mulerider Baseball program. His excellence on the field and selfless service off it created a legacy that continues to inspire all who knew him and all who wear the Blue and Gold.  
 

Steve Forbes
Alumni Achievement | Baseball

A native of Lone Tree, Iowa, Forbes came to Magnolia to pitch for the Muleriders and was a member of the 1987 squad that finished third at the NAIA World Series. Led by SAU Sports Hall of Fame coach Steve Goodheart, that team remains one of the most accomplished in Mulerider Baseball history and is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams ever assembled at Southern Arkansas University. 

The Muleriders earned their World Series berth after capturing the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championship with a remarkable 25-1 league record and claiming the NAIA District 17 title. The team's lasting impact was recognized in 2017 when the 1987 Mulerider Baseball team became the first team inducted into the SAU Sports Hall of Fame. 

During the 1987 season, Forbes posted a 4-2 record with a 3.89 earned run average, totaling 53.2 innings pitched and 29 strikeouts. At the NAIA World Series, he earned the victory over Grand Canyon College, helping send the Muleriders to the national semifinals. 

A 1988 graduate of Southern Arkansas University with a degree in secondary education, Forbes later served as the university's Sports Information Director before embarking on a distinguished coaching career. 

Forbes got his start at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, where he spent two years as an assistant coach before being hired as the head coach in March of 1991. Over the course of his two-year run as head coach, Forbes compiled a 36-27 record before taking the head coaching role at Barton County Community College. During his three seasons competing in the Jayhawk Conference, the Cougars produced three All-Americans and twice finished the season with a national ranking, while also earning victories over 15 nationally ranked teams and compiling a 68-28 overall record.  

Forbes then took his talents to Idaho, where he joined the Vandals staff in 1998, then being promoted to the associate head coach for the 1998-99 season. In his first season, the Vandals improved to 16-11 and signed a nationally ranked recruiting class. After his short stint in Idaho, Forbes returned to the south, where he spent three years at Louisiana Tech University from 2000-2003, helping the Bulldogs sign two nationally ranked recruiting classes. This included a top-10 class in 2003, which followed a 2002 season that the Bulldogs posted a 22-10 record and went 2-1 in the National Invitational Tournament, marking their first postseason appearance in 10 years. Forbes also did a short stint at Illinois State before being hired at Texas A&M in 2004.  

While with the Aggies, Forbes helped transform the team in just two seasons from a team that recorded a 7-21 record the previous year and hadn't received a postseason invitation in 11 years to a program that averaged more than 21 wins in his two seasons and advanced to postseason play both years. Some notables from his time in Aggieland include posting back-to-back seasons with the most Big 12 wins in school history, an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), advancing to the NCAA Tournament during the 2005-06 season for the first time since 1987 while also defeating Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and landing two top-10 ranked recruiting classes in the nation.  

In 2006, Forbes made his way to Rocky Top, taking a job at the University of Tennessee, where he helped coach the Vols to an average of 26 wins per year and advanced to four consecutive NCAA tournaments while making three Sweet Sixteen appearances and advancing to the program's first-ever Elite Eight in 2010. In 2011, Forbes went to Northwest Florida State, where he led the Raiders to a 62-6 overall record during his two-year tenure. Five of his junior college players also transferred to Division I schools after he coached them.  

Forbes then made his way back to the Division I ranks in 2013, going to Wichita State, where he helped them to two of the most successful seasons in program history. In two years, the Shockers went 65-6, including an NCAA tournament run during the 2013-14 season, where they won an NCAA record 35-straight games before losing to the eventual National Runner-up Kentucky in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The 35-1 record shattered all of WSU's and the Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) winning streak records, including Indiana State's 33-game record in 1977. In the same season, the Shockers entered the NCAA Tournament as the number one seed for the first time in program history.  

After a successful two-year run at Wichita State, Forbes found his way to East Tennessee State in 2015, where he spent five years. He finished his five-season run with the Buccaneers with 130 wins and a .748 winning percentage, finishing at 130-48 overall. In his first four seasons at ETSU, Forbes coached 10 All-Southern Conference selections, including Desonta Bradford earning Player of the Year and Bo Hodges claiming Freshman of the Year honors in 2017-18.  

Forbes then found his way back to the "Power Four" ranks in 2020, as he was named the 23rd head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Men's Basketball program on April 30th of 2020. At the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, Forbes earned his third postseason appearance with the Demon Deacons. During the course of his tenure at Wake Forest, Forbes totaled 110 wins and accounted for one Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year, one ACC Most Improved Player, four First Team All-ACC honorees, two Second Team All-ACC plaudits, and one All-ACC Honorable Mention. Forbes also tallied one CoSIDA (CSC) Academic All-American. 

Since 2000, Forbes has coached or recruited 14 players who have either been drafted to the NBA or have signed undrafted free agent contracts. The list of draft picks also includes four first-round picks and four second-round picks, with the highest being Acie Law III, who was drafted 11th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2007.