WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2000

Written by Shelly Poe

Joe Okhakhu was a three-time, honorable mention All-American in soccer and earned four varsity letters from West Virginia from 1971-74, guiding the Mountaineers to a 34-12-1 record and three straight NCAA tournament bids for Coach John C. McGrath.

Arguably the best defensive player in school history, Okhakhu anchored the Mountaineer defense from the sweeper position and led the Mountaineers to 25 shutouts during his four-year career. Okhakhu was a three-time honorable mention All-American and earned first team all-South honors in 1971, 1972 and 1974.

In 1975, Okhakhu was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as a placekicker. Okhakhu, a native of Auchi, Nigeria, was named to the all-South squad from 1972-74. He was the athletic and physical education director at the University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria, and lived in Salt Lake City until his death in 2001.