On Monday, June 17, 2024, the Georgia Southern Department of Athletics announced its Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024, a group of eight that left a lasting mark on Eagle Athletics and will be bestowed the highest honor later this fall.
The 2024 class of inductees includes:
- Leonard Bevill, a past Athletic Foundation Chair and a generous supporter of Georgia Southern Athletics; and
- Caroline Bevillard, record-setting swimmer who also earned Academic All-America honors; and
- Matt Easterday, an All-American who still stands as one of the best-hitting baseball players in program history; and
- Darryl Hopkins, a versatile slotback who played a large role in Georgia Southern's championship football seasons; and
- Andreas Koth, a key tennis player at Georgia Southern and national-champion coach at Armstrong State; and
- Jerick McKinnon, a do-it-all athlete on the football field who has won two Super Bowl rings with the Kansas City Chiefs; and
- Kellie Mitchell John, one of the best track runners in SoCon history; and
- Mike Sanders, a passionate supporter of Georgia Southern Athletics who served as a member and chair of various boards and committees on campus and for athletics.
The 2024 class will be inducted at a Hall of Fame banquet during the Marshall football weekend, Oct. 11 and 12. The eight additions bring the total number of former coaches, student-athletes, supporters and administrators in the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame to 176.
2024 Hall of Fame Class Bios (in alphabetical order):
LEONARD BEVILL (Supporter)
A proud Double Eagle (1990, 1993), Leonard served as the Athletic Foundation Chair from 2021-23 … During his time, Eagle Athletics saw unprecedented success on and off the field, producing its largest two-year fundraising total in school history … Leonard has been generous with his time and resources, as he is an Oak Circle member—the highest level of the Athletic Foundation Giving Societies— as well is a Cornerstone Donor for the Anthony P. Tippins Family Training Facility and a member of the Transition 20 … He is recognized on the wall of the football team tunnel for his contributions to the Ted Smith Family Football Center … Also spearheaded the Eagle Nation N.I.L. Collective … Was the original GUS, as well.
CAROLINE BEVILLARD (Swimming & Diving, 2007-2011)
Caroline Bevillard came to Georgia Southern as a walk-on from Athens, Georgia, and became one of the most versatile swimmers in Georgia Southern swimming history … In 2011 she became only the second Women's At-Large Academic All-American in Georgia Southern's history, the only swimmer to earn the recognition for Georgia Southern … She became Georgia Southern's first NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient to earn the scholarship and was a two-time COSIDA Academic All-District honoree … As a swimmer, she set five school records and was a four-time all-conference selection … Bevillard was a two-time Georgia Southern Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was an eight-time Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) All-Academic Team … She has gone on to establish herself as an executive in college athletics who currently serves as the Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at East Carolina University.
MATT EASTERDAY (Baseball, 1997-2000)
The Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2000 … The 2000 SoCon Tournament MVP … Member of the SoCon first team that year … Drafted by Florida and signed after his junior season … Played both infield and outfield for the Eagles … Batted .371 for his career (ranks sixth in the Eagle record book) … Hit .440 in his final season (ranks third on the single-season list) … Holds the Georgia Southern record for longest hitting streak at 28 games … His 107 total hits during the 2000 season ranks second all-time … Tied for seventh on the Eagles' career list with eight triples … Played four seasons in the minor leagues … Named to the Louisville Slugger All-America team as a second baseman in 2000 … Baseball Coaches Association All-Region selection that same season … College Sports Southeast All-Region pick as a designated hitter.
DARRYL HOPKINS (Football, 1987-1991)
A four-year letterman of the Eagle football program who helped lead Georgia Southern to an overall record of 55-14 (.797), four playoff appearances, three title game showings and two NCAA I-AA National Championships (1989, '90) … Rushed for 868 yards (8.4 ypc) on 103 carries and scored nine TDs … Caught 41 passes out of his slotback position for 519 yards (12.7 ypr) and three scores … Top season was a 422-yard rushing effort as a junior in 1990 … Played key role in recording college football's first perfect 15-0 season ('89) … Played in a total of 55 games, starting every contest in 1990 … Key part of GSU's win over Nevada-Reno in 1990 title game (5-86, 2 TDs) … Also served as a member of the Eagle coaching staff for three seasons (1993-95) … Member of the Eagle Football Alumni Association since 2003 and served as president.
ANDREAS KOTH (Men's Tennis, 1976-77, 1979-80)
Compiled an overall 110-38 record in combined singles and doubles for the Eagles … Played at Georgia Southern from 1976-77 and again from 1979-80 … Posted a 19-2 record in singles play during the 1979 season with a .905 winning percentage … Currently sits in seventh place in the overall doubles win chart for the Eagles with 57, while his overall 57-16 record (.780) is third-best … Compiled a 53-22 overall singles record, including a dominating 26-5 mark at No. 4 singles position … Served as head coach of the Armstrong men's and women's tennis teams from 1992-99 … Led the Pirates to a 1996 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis National Championship and runner-up finishes in 1997, 1998 and 1999 … Directed the men's team to a NCAA Division II national semifinals finish in 1999 … Overall head career coaching record at Armstrong: 129-25 (.838) with the women's team and 110-62 (.640) with the men's team.
JERICK McKINNON (Football, 2010-2013)
Played in Georgia Southern's triple-option attack from the quarterbacking position through his junior season but was utilized more often as a tailback during his senior season … A four-year letterwinner, he finished his career third all-time on the Georgia Southern list with 3,899 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns (4,138 all-purpose), behind only Adrian Peterson, who had 6,559 yards and Jermaine Austin, who posted 5,411 … Also caught 10 passes for 165 yards and a score and completed 32 passes for 929 yards and 12 touchdowns … Scored the go-ahead touchdown in the Eagles' win over Florida in The Swamp … Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft … Played in three Super Bowls … A member of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII and LVIII championship teams.
KELLIE MITCHELL JOHN (Track and Field, 2001-2004)
Earned All-Southern Conference honors 16 times (top-3 finishers) … Five-time SoCon champion and part of three league records … SoCon and school indoor pentathlon and school outdoor heptathlon records still stand today … Still in the top 10 of school records in the indoor long jump, indoor high jump, indoor 4x400 relay, outdoor high jump, outdoor long jump, outdoor javelin, outdoor heptathlon and outdoor 4x400 relay … Named Most Valuable Field Event Performer at 2004 SoCon Indoor Championships … Georgia Southern's first athlete to meet the national meet qualifying standard … Cornerstone of the track and field program's rise through the SoCon ranks … Was part of the second recruiting class for the new program.
MIKE SANDERS (Supporter)
No one was a more passionate supporter of his alma mater, Georgia Southern University, than Mike Sanders … His remarkable generosity, enthusiastic involvement and dedicated leadership roles in the university community created an indelible legacy that will continue to influence the university's future for years to come … In 2015, Mike was honored with the Alumnus of the Year Award for his contributions … He served as a member and chair of various boards and committees, including the Georgia Southern Foundation Board of Trustees, culminating in his role as chair … Was instrumental in the formation of the Atlanta Chapter of Southern Boosters as well as the planning and fundraising of several large-scale projects over the years, including the Ted Smith Family Football Operations Center … He and his family endowed a scholarship at the university for students in the Honors Program, just one of his many efforts to help young people find their own path to success, as Mike did after his foundational years at Georgia Southern … Mike passed away suddenly in January of 2024.