Troy University Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain and the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Committee announced Wednesday the members of the eighth induction class into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. The six new inductees will be enshrined in a special ceremony on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

The class consists of John Faircloth (Football), Tamra Howren (Softball), Brock Nutter (Football), Mitzi McLendon Hasty (Softball), Garrick Pimienta (Football) and Darryl Thomas (Men’s Basketball).

Seats for the ceremony in Trojan Arena can be purchased for $100 each and tables can be purchased for $800. Sponsorships are also available for the evening. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Helen Shirey at 334-670-3482.

John Faircloth (Football)

A trailblazer in the history of Troy football, John Faircloth was a prominent fixture on the offensive line and as a linebacker during his tenure as he started every game of his career. The true definition of iron-man football, Faircloth averaged 56 minutes of playing time per game. The Brundidge, Ala., native, earned All-Alabama Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior in addition to earning honorable mention Little All-America honors as a senior in 1961. His success in the game of football did not end following his career at Troy as Faircloth went on to have a prosperous career coaching at the high school level. He led South Montgomery County Academy to a district title before moving on to serve as the executive director of the Alabama Independent Schools Association for 27 years. Faircloth was inducted in AISA Hall of Fame as a member of the inaugural class and earned multiple coach of the year honors during his career.

 Tamra Howren (Softball)

A powerful hitter for the Trojans from 2002-05, Tamra Howren produced one of the most productive careers in Troy history. Howren finished her career in the top 10 of 11 offensive categories and still holds five records – slugging percentage (.637), hits (273), doubles (67), home runs (52) and runs batted in (202). A catcher from White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, Howren is one of 35 players to be a three-time All-Atlantic Sun selection. A member of Troy’s 2005 A-Sun regular season championship team, Howren hit 23 home runs and drove in 65 runs, single-season records that still stand. Howren was named A-Sun Player of the Week six times over her career, tied for the most of any player over that span. Following her Trojan playing career in 2005, Howren was selected as an alternate on the Canadian National Team that competed at the Pan American Championship in Guatemala City, Guatemala and the World Cup of Softball.

 Mitzi McLendon Hasty (Softball)

One of the most prolific hitters in Troy softball history, Mitzi McLendon Hasty’s name is scattered throughout the Troy record book. Hasty terrorized opposing pitching for the Trojans from 1994 until 1997 and finished her career with 256 career hits, a record that stood until 2005 and currently stands second all-time. Hasty was a three-time All-Mid Continent Conference First Team selection and led Troy to the 1996 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament title and the program’s first-ever berth into the NCAA Division I Tournament. Hasty holds the school career record with 160 runs scores and 25 triples, she also posted a .344 career batting average, a mark that ranks third all-time. The Ashford, Ala., native finished her career third all-time with 72 stolen bases.

Brock Nutter (Football)

A leader both on and off the field, Brock Nutter started 48 straight games for the Trojans and made history as Troy’s first quarterback at the NCAA Division IA level. He ranks third all-time in Troy history with 7,687 career passing yards and 581 completions while checking in fourth all-time with 49 career touchdown passes – Nutter was the school record holder in passing yards and completions at the time of his graduation. A two-time All-Southland Conference selection and the 1998 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, Nutter led the Trojans to a pair of conference titles and three trips to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Additionally, Nutter was named to the Dan Hansen All-America Team following his junior season after throwing for 1,999 yards and guiding the Trojans to an 11-2 record and quarterfinal berth in the NCAA FCS Playoffs. He threw for 390 yards in Troy’s victory at Middle Tennessee in 1999 which ranked as the second-most yards in a game in school history at the time and stands as the 13^th most currently. In Troy’s inaugural season at the FBS level, Nutter guided the Trojans to a 7-4 overall record including a stunning 21-9 win at Mississippi State. Troy combined for 36 wins over his four-year career and never lost a game to in-state rival Jacksonville State (4-0). Nutter is active in his community volunteering with the Hoover Service Club and Junior Achievement of Alabama among several others organizations.

 Garrick Pimienta (Football)

Troy’s all-time leading tackler, Garrick Pimienta was a three-time All-Gulf South selection and was a key member of the Trojans’ 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship team. A native of Brandon, Fla., Pimienta finished his Troy career with 563 career tackles, 98 more than anyone else in school history. Known as a big hitter on the Troy defense, Pimienta also holds the school’s career record for unassisted tackles (307) and assisted tackles (256). A four-year starter for the Trojans, Pimienta’s 198 tackles during Troy’s national title season still hold true as the single-season record – 43 more than any other player – and his 102 unassisted tackles and 96 assisted tackles that season are also school records. The Trojans won 32 games over his four seasons as a starter including a pair of Gulf South Conference titles and a berth in the NCAA Division II Semifinals in 1986. His junior season also stood the test of time with his 131 tackles that season ranking as the eighth most in Troy history. Following graduation, Pimienta went into teaching with a desire to help inner-city youth. He was three times named Teacher of the Year for his work at Re-Birth Academy and is now a public school teacher.

 Darryl Thomas (Men’s Basketball)

One of the most exciting players to ever grace the floor of Sartain Hall, Darryl Thomas wowed Trojan fans from 1987-89. A two-time junior college All-American, Thomas was third in the nation in scoring with 30.7 points per game coming out of DeKalb Junior College. As a Trojan, Thomas continued to frustrate opposing defenses averaging 23.2 points per game while being named an All-American and Gulf South Conference Player of the Year in 1989. Thomas scored 1,415 points in his two seasons at Troy and finished his career in the top 10 in points, scoring average (23.2), field goals attempted (1,157), free throws made (298) and free throws attempted (391). Thomas still holds the program’s single-season record with 815 points and 320 field goals made in 1987-88. The Atlanta, Ga., native was named MVP of the South Atlantic Regional which Troy won to advance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. In the regional tournament championship game, Thomas hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime, then knocked down a reverse layup with three seconds left in overtime to lift Troy to a 66-65 win over North Carolina Central. Thomas went on to score 25 points against Cannon (Pa.) and 34 points in the consolation game against Florida Southern to earn all-tournament honors. For his career, Thomas broke the 30-point plateau six times.