Hall of Fame

Several members of the USJ family are honored in Athletic Halls of Fame

• Bob Wood, former athletic director at University School of Jackson, was the first high school tennis coach inducted into the National Federation High School Hall of Fame. His induction was in July 2005 in San Antonio, Texas. Wood’s honor is based on his 37 years as a tennis coach at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., and his contribution to athletics in that state.

• Don Newman, a longtime tennis and cross country coach at University School of Jackson, is a member of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame. Under his coaching at USJ, Newman’s tennis players won seven boys district championships, 10 girls district championships, three boys regional championships, four girls regional championship, one boys Chattanooga Rotary championship, and two girls Chattanooga Rotary championships. In 1985, Newman began as the cross country coach at USJ. During his tenure, his teams won 57 invitational meets and 13 Best of the West meets. The girls’ teams have won four regional meets.

• Tommy Russell, Middle School history teacher and varsity boys basketball coach, is a member of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame and the Lambuth University Athletic Hall of Fame. Russell was a successful Head Men's basketball coach at Lambuth for 11 seasons before moving to USJ to coach the high school boys team.

• Dan Rudesill, husband of USJ Lower School teacher Louise Rudesill, is a member of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame. Rudesill, who taught history and coached boys and girls basketball at Old Hickory Academy from 1972-74, had a stellar high school and college basketball career.