University of Richmond Athletics
Photos and More from Department of Athletics 2002 Hall of Fame Ceremony
Photo gallery from induction ceremony
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va - The University of Richmond Department of Athletics announced the 2001-02 inductees into its Athletics Hall of Fame. Director of Athletics Jim Miller announced that the Hall of Fame Committee selected Bob Bayliss, current tennis head coach at Notre Dame, Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA, Fred Hardy, legendary Track & Field coach, Richard "Dickie" Irvin, former football star, Diane Lowder, an All-American swimmer, and Carl Wood, an All-American track performer, to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a reception and ceremony at 11 a.m. on Sunday, February 10 in the Jepson Alumni Center. The six-person class will also be recognized later that afternoon at halftime of the Spiders' basketball game against Dayton that begins at 2 p.m.
Bob Bayliss Bob Bayliss is widely recognized as one of the top collegiate tennis coaches of all time. His coaching career began with a 15-year stint at the U.S. Naval Academy (1970-84), followed by three years at M.I.T. (1985-87), and the last 14 years at Notre Dame (1988-present). During that time, Bayliss has compiled a 543-215 (.716) record, the seventh best all-time mark in collegiate tennis.
Bayliss earned 1992 National Coach-of-the-Year after guiding Notre Dame to a berth in the National Championship. He has also earned four Regional Coach-of-the-Year and six Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors. In the summer of 1991, Bayliss led the United States to a gold medal at the World University Games in Sheffield, England. One of his most distinguished honors came in 1995 when he was given the Meritorious Service Award for his extraordinary contributions to collegiate tennis and his service to the collegiate tennis community.
In 15 years at Notre Dame, Bayliss has led the Fighting Irish to 11 consecutive NCAA appearances, and has coached a regionally ranked singles player and doubles tandem in each of the last 12 years. During his tenure, 14 Notre Dame players have earned All-America honors and the team earned its first-ever national ranking in 1990.
Bayliss serves on the ITA executive board and is one of seven members of both the ITA executive and budget committee and collegiate Hall of Fame committee. He is the co-chairperson of the ITA ethics and infractions committee and is the assistant chair of the men's NCAA Division I operating committee.
While at Richmond, Bayliss played No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles as a senior. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1966 and his master's degree in 1971.
Tim Finchem Just the third person ever to become Commissioner of the Professional Golfer's Association (PGA), Tim Finchem is one of the most powerful men in sports. After assuming the post on June 1, 1994, Finchem has expanded the PGA's financial and marketing influence domestically and internationally.
Known throughout the golf sphere as a tough and hard-working leader, Finchem has been instrumental in the formation of International Federation of PGA Tours and the World Golf Foundation. The World Golf Foundation's First Tee program is dedicated to growing the game for future generations.
Finchem started at the PGA as the Vice President for Business Affairs in 1987. In 1989 he began a five-year stint as the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer. Before joining the PGA, Finchem co-founded the National Strategies and Marketing Group, a Washington consulting and marketing firm, in 1984.
Finchem was the deputy adviser for economic affairs to President Jimmy Carter (1978 and 1979) and the national staff director for the Carter-Mondale presidential campaign in 1980. He is now a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness.
Finchem came to the University of Richmond on a debate scholarship and graduated in 1969 with a bachelor's degree. He earned his Law Degree from the University of Virginia in 1973.
Fred Hardy Fred Hardy coached track for 35 years at Richmond and established an elite program that succeeded on a collegiate and international level. He was known by his student-athletes as a great teacher that elevated every athlete beyond its initial potential.
During his years at Richmond, Hardy coached 45 All-Americans on the men's side and 20 All-Americans on the women's side. He also guided two Olympians and three NCAA national championships. Two of his former runners won the Richmond marathon.
Hardy guided Edwin Koech to the NCAA indoor 1,000-yard run and his two-mile relay team won the NCAA indoor event in 1983. He also guided a two-mile relay team to a world record (7:23.09) for an 11-lap track in the Milrose Games.
Hired during the summer of 1950, Hardy retired from Richmond on August 20, 1985. Before coming to Richmond, Hardy coached at John Marshall High School, where he had set the state record in the mile (4:33.3) in 1936.
Hardy received both his bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of North Carolina. He was one of the Tar Heels' top distance runners and served as team captain during the 1940 season.
Richard "Dickie" Irvin Richard "Dickie" Irvin was one of the most dominating interior defensive linemen of his era. Almost impossible to block, Irvin was the Spiders' nose guard during the 1967-69 seasons.
He earned First Team All-Conference and All-State honors in 1968 and 1969. He also earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 1967. He helped lead Richmond to back-to-back Southern Conference Championships in 1968 and 1969.
Irvin was part of the 1968 Tangerine Bowl champion, one of the most celebrated teams in Richmond athletics history. The 1968 team went 8-3 on the season, and defeated Ohio University, 49-42, on Dec. 27. The Spiders finished the season ranked No. 18 in the UPI poll and No. 20 in the AP poll.
During his senior season, Irvin earned Sports Illustrated National Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors after making 16 tackles, six for loss, in a 17-10 win against Virginia Tech on Oct. 4, 1969. Following his collegiate playing career, Irvin signed with the Montreal Allouettes, of the Canadian Football League, in 1970.
Diane Lowder Diane Lowder is one of the most decorated women's swimmers in Richmond program history. A three-year varsity letterwinner, Lowder earned All-American honors from 1980-82.
At the time of her collegiate career, Lowder set nine individual records and three relay records. Going into the 2001-02 season, Lowder still ranked among the top-10 in the 500-yard free, 1,000-yard free and the 1,650-yard free.
Following her swimming career, Lowder served as an assistant coach during the 1986-87 season. She received a Certificate of Merit from the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
Following her career at Richmond, Lowder practiced law for 10 years before returning to the University of Richmond as its Director of Planned Giving.
Carl Wood Carl Wood enjoyed a brilliant track career that garnered numerous accolades and still ranks among the best in program history. A seven-time All-American, Wood was Richmond's first First Team All-American, earning the honor in the 440-meter intermediate hurdles.
During his collegiate career, Wood set the Southern Conference record in the intermediate and high hurdles. He won the Southern Conference and NCAA Championship in the 440-meter intermediate hurdles in 1969. Wood was a four-time state and SoCon champion in the intermediate hurdles.
Wood won the 1969 U.S. Track & Field Federation hurdles title and went on to be a finalist in the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials. He climbed as high as third-ranked in the world and was ranked as high as fifth in the end-of-the-year rankings.
A Richmond, Va. native, Wood set six program records during his collegiate career. He still holds the school record in the indoor 400 and 440 and the outdoor record in the 400 intermediate hurdles and the shuttle hurdles.
Wood came to UR on a football scholarship. He was a receiver on the 1968 and 1969 teams. Wood served as track captain during the 1969 and 1971 seasons.