Athletics | Featured | NewsApril 22, 2025

UAFS Celebrates 2025 Hall of Fame Class

Written By: Ian Silvester

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith honored five new members of the Coach Louis Whorton Hall of Fame on Monday, April 21, during a ceremony celebrating excellence in athletics, academics, and leadership.

This year’s inductees include Chris Eckes, DaVaunta “Spida” Thomas, Emily Tripp, and coaches Jeremy Cox and Johnnie Harris.

“This is a great class. It has championship coaches, program builders, and student-athletes who excelled in their sport and were leaders and provided an example for others with their hard work and continuous improvement,” said Curtis Janz, UAFS athletic director.

The event also included special recognition for community leaders Jay and Talicia Richardson, who were honored as “Forever Lettermen” for their contributions, mentorship, and advocacy in the River Valley. The Richardsons joined Bill Crowder, George McGill, and Stacey Jones as recipients of the distinction.

Thomas joined 2023 inductee Seth Youngblood as the latest men’s basketball player in the Hall of Fame. From the moment he stepped onto the court, Thomas was a force, leaving UAFS with his name etched in the record books, ranking second in program history for scoring with nearly 1,680 points and among the all-time top six for rebounds, blocks, assists, and steals. He was named Heartland Conference Player of the Year, received All-Region and All-America honors, and played a key role in leading the Lions to two conference championships and three NCAA Tournaments.

Thomas, who is currently playing professional basketball in Mexico, was overcome with emotion: “UAFS gave me an opportunity,” he said. “They gave me a chance to be me and gave me love.”

Tripp’s induction was the third for volleyball and the first since Heidi Luks-Stojanovic was honored in 2019. Great teams are built on a strong defensive foundation, which Tripp brought to UAFS. Her record-setting career digs total of 2,718, including 48 in a single match, helped propel the Lions to a conference title in each of her four seasons, featuring a trip to the Final Four in 2014 and the Elite Eight in 2015. Tripp finished her time at UAFS with accolades as the Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Heartland Conference Player of the Year, a three-time All-Heartland Conference selection, and as an All-Region and All-America player.

Tripp also joined 2023 inductee Jane Sargent in the Louis Whorton Hall of Fame. Sargent was Tripp’s volleyball coach, mentor, and friend. She described the honor of “going on the wall next to her” as a special blessing.

“Those are big shoes to fill, and I’m honored to be next to her. … Being on that wall speaks to the quality and value UAFS has in their athletes and those involved in these programs,” Tripp said.

Eckes became the first golfer inducted into the Louis Whorton Hall of Fame. He enters with the third-best career scoring average of 74.04 strokes per round, achieving 23 rounds at par or better while at UAFS. The Fort Smith native earned First Team All-Heartland Conference and Division II Ping All-South-Central Region honors in 2017-2018. After graduating, Eckes continued his playing career on the Canadian pro circuit before returning to Fort Smith. 

The 2025 class also featured the hall’s two newest coaches, former men’s basketball head coach Jeremy Cox and former women’s basketball assistant coach Johnnie Harris. The two briefly overlapped during their time on the bench in the early 2000s, each contributing to their team’s success. Cox slid over one seat to become the head coach in 2003 and went on to record three consecutive 20-win seasons, including two Bi-State Conference East Division Championships, the program’s second national championship (2006), and earned District II Coach of the Year and NJCAA National Coach of the Year honors during that time. As an assistant coach, Harris worked alongside Coach Louis Whorton and was known as a tireless recruiter. She helped the Lions secure the No. 1 recruiting class, which sparked a Bi-State Conference championship and NJCAA Final Four appearance. Harris’ coaching career hasn’t slowed since leaving UAFS, with positions at North Carolina State, the University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, the University of Texas, Auburn, and currently serving as the Associate Head Coach at Baylor University.

While both coaches had brief stints at UAFS before moving on to other programs, the mark each left on UAFS is undeniable. The mark UAFS left on them is forever.

“UAFS was my start. It’s where I found my voice and confidence,” Harris explained. “I have won a lot of championships, but the champion in me was built right here.”

“After a 35-year career and being at some of the greatest institutions in college basketball, there’s never been a place more special or more validating than being here,” Cox said. “UAFS gave me confidence and opportunities and opened doors, but the biggest thing, at the end of the day, is that UAFS is the crown jewel of my career.”

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• Men's Basketball
• Hall of Fame
• Men's Golf
• Volleyball
• Athletics
• Women's Basketball