The West Virginia University Athletic Hall of Fame was instituted in 1991 to recognize those athletes that have helped pioneer WVU athletics into one of the most respected programs in the nation. The initial group of inductees were selected from six different time periods; former athletes, coaches and administrators are eligible for selection 10 years following their association with WVU.

Since that initial induction class in 1991, more than 150 West Virginia University athletes and administrators have been enshrined.

Selection Criteria

CATEGORIES:
Athletics
Coaching
Administration
Related miscellaneous areas

CRITERIA:
Candidates will be eligible for induction into the Sports Hall of Fame ten (10) years following the completion of his/her career at the University.

A coach or administrator who retires from the University with twenty (20) years of service to the athletic department shall immediately be eligible for nomination.

Candidates must have demonstrated a nationally-recognized or regionally-recognized athletic playing, coaching and/or administrative ability which brought a degree of fame to himself/herself and to the University, e.g. All-America honors, national championship competition, recommended by peers for distinguished performance at the national level.
Candidates must have attended the University for at least two (2) years or have been a member of the staff for at least four (4) years.

Candidates must receive 75 percent committee votes for selection.

Candidates are given full consideration for a maximum of ten (10) years. If a candidate receives zero (0) votes at any time in the process for ten consecutive years, that nominee’s candidacy is suspended and moved to the Archived Pool for review in perpetuity.

NOMINATIONS:
Any person may nominate a former West Virginia University student-athlete, coach or administrator who meets the established criteria for selection into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame.

Members of the athletic staff and coaches may submit names of recently eligible candidates as nominations.

Members of the Selection Committee may request names of eligible candidates to be included on the list of nominations.

Every nomination for an eligible candidate received will be researched by the sports communications office and information forwarded to the Selection Committee.
Candidates nominated for the WVU Sports Hall of Fame remain on the active list of nominations until their selection.

SELECTION COMMITTEE:
The Selection Committee is comprised of twelve (12) members appointed by the Director of Athletics. The membership includes a cross-section of individuals associated with intercollegiate athletics at West Virginia University, including past WVU Sports Hall of Fame inductees, members of the media, former coaches and current staff members.
The President of the WVU Varsity Club is automatically appointed as one of the twelve (12) members of the Selection Committee.

No current coaches or former student-athletes who may be considered for the WVU Sports Hall of Fame are permitted to become a member of the Selection Committee.

SELECTION PROCESS:
Senior Candidates -
To assure that older student-athletes will be considered with modern-era candidates, a Seniors Committee, made up of five (5) veteran members of the overall Selection Committee, is established to consider nominees whose active career has been completed by 1970 for men and 1990 for women.

Members of the Seniors Committee are provided a preliminary list of eligible nominees for consideration. The Seniors Committee will meet to select four (4) eligible candidates who are added to carry-over nominations from the previous year’s senior finalists.

The Seniors Committee will meet again in person prior to the Final Selection meeting of the overall Selection Committee for discussion and a paper vote to select the top three (3) candidates. The top three candidates are presented to the Selection Committee for consideration at the Final Selection meeting but their election to the WVU Sports Hall of Fame is not automatic. The senior nominees must receive the same 75 percent vote (yes or no) of the Selection Committee.

Coaches/Administrators/Other Candidates -
To assure that former coaches, administrators and other individuals who have made a significant contribution to intercollegiate athletics at WVU will be considered, a Non- Athlete Committee, made up of three (3) members of the overall Selection Committee,
is established to consider nominees.

Members of the Non-Athlete Committee are provided a preliminary list of eligible nominees for consideration. The Non-Athlete Committee will meet to select two (2) eligible candidate who is added to carry-over nominations from the previous year’s non- athlete finalists.

The Non-Athlete Committee will meet again in person prior to the Final Selection meeting of the overall Selection Committee for discussion and a paper vote to select the top candidate. The candidate is presented to the Selection Committee for consideration at the Final Selection meeting but their election to the WVU Sports Hall of Fame is not automatic. The non-athlete nominee must receive the same 75 percent vote (yes or no) of the Selection Committee.

Preliminary List -
A list of all past and recent nominees which includes both modern-era and seniors candidates is provided to the Selection Committee by May 1. The list is provided so that the Selection Committee can study the nominees and then request the addition of any other candidates that may have been overlooked. Included is a list of finalists from previous year’s voting who were not yet selected for membership. Biographies of each nominee are posted on the WVU Sports Hall of Fame committee secure web page.

First Vote -
A ballot with the names of all nominated candidates is provided to the Selection Committee by June 1. The list will include any additional names requested by a member of the Selection Committee who meet the qualifications of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. By electronic mail, the Selection Committee is asked to vote for twenty-five (25) semifinalists. The top twenty-five (25) candidates receiving votes will be forwarded to the Selection Committee for further consideration.

Committee Meeting –
Early June, the Selection Committee will meet in person to discuss the twenty-five (25) semifinalists.

Second Vote -
A ballot with the names of the twenty-five (25) candidates selected from the first vote is
distributed to the Selection Committee by June 15 for the purposes of a vote. The Selection Committee will be asked to vote for fifteen (15) finalists. The top fifteen (15) candidates receiving votes will be forwarded to the Selection Committee for further consideration.

Committee Meeting/Final Selection -
The Selection Committee shall meet in person by August 1. At the annual meeting, each of the nominees is thoroughly discussed by the Selection Committee before a series of elimination votes are taken.

1. The three senior candidates are discussed and a paper vote (yes or no) is taken on for election. A candidate must receive 75 percent affirmation vote for election.

2. The one coach/administrator/other candidate is discussed and a paper vote is taken (yes or no) on for election. A candidate must receive 75 percent affirmation vote for election.

3. A paper vote is taken to reduce the 15 finalists. A candidate receiving 75 percent vote of the committee will be considered elected. The Selection Committee will be asked to vote for 10. This process will be repeated until a minimum of six (6) candidates are elected from the finalist pool.

4. Once the pool of nominees is confirmed by the committee, the slate will be forwarded to the Director of Athletics for final approval and notification.