Darin Wilson ’96 served as Union’s athletic director from 2003 to 2011 and led one of the most successful periods in the university’s athletics history. During his tenure, Union captured numerous conference championships, advanced teams to national tournament play, and completed significant athletic facility enhancements. Wilson received multiple conference, regional and national honors for his leadership in collegiate athletics.
Union Announces 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees
Maisie Nelson • February 16, 2026
Union Commonwealth University has announced the 2026 class of honorees for The Mackies, the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame and annual athletics awards ceremony. The event will be held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Robsion Arena.
The Mackies recognize former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, teams and community partners whose achievements and service have had a lasting impact on Union Commonwealth University Athletics.
Hall of Fame Inductees
Alice Foster Hursh ’02 distinguished herself as a standout competitor in women’s golf, earning multiple All-Conference honors and posting some of the strongest individual finishes in program history at the NAIA National Championships.
Camila Mendes ’05 is recognized as one of the most accomplished players in Union women’s soccer history. A multiple-time All-Conference selection, NAIA Honorable Mention All-American and Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Mendes remains among the program’s all-time leaders in career scoring and assists.
Josh Ehringer ’09 is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Union baseball history. A record-setting performer, Ehringer earned multiple conference and national honors while helping lead the Bulldogs to historic postseason success, including an appearance in the NAIA World Series.
Dr. Larry Inkster Distinguished Athletic Service Award
Dr. Richard Carter ’89 is being honored for decades of dedicated service to Union Commonwealth University Athletics. Through his work with Access Family Health, Dr. Carter has provided ongoing medical care and support to Union student-athletes, helping ensure their health, safety and success.
UCU Athletic Legacy Award
Debbie D’Anna is being recognized for more than 20 years of service to Union Commonwealth University in athletics and student leadership. A former women’s basketball coach and dean of students, D’Anna played a key role in developing lasting campus traditions and advocating for student-athlete success.
Team of Distinction
The 2008 football team, coached by Tommy Reid, produced a historic season that included the program’s first appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The team earned national rankings, set program records and produced multiple All-Americans, finishing the season ranked among the top teams in the NAIA.
Community Team of Excellence
The 2025 Bell County Football Team is being recognized for a standout season marked by championship success and postseason achievement. Led by head coach Dudley Hilton, the team earned district and regional titles, advanced deep into the state playoffs, and produced multiple individual award winners.
The Mackies Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony is one of Union Commonwealth University’s signature events, celebrating excellence, leadership and service within Bulldog Athletics.
Tickets for the ceremony will be available in the coming weeks at www.unionky.edu/mackies.
Scientific curiosity and dark comedy take center stage in Union Commonwealth University (UCU) Theatre’s production of Kate Douglas’ “The Apiary,” a play that explores scientific progress, human connection, and what people are willing to sacrifice to protect something they love.
Union announced Tuesday that eligible graduates of Clay County High School will have the opportunity to attend Union tuition-free beginning in fall 2027, expanding the university’s initiative to a third county in just over a year.
Union Commonwealth University will celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of one of its most distinguished alumni during Homecoming Weekend with a special screening of Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution on Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m.
Union Commonwealth University alumna Terra Childers ’04 is taking on an expanded role focused exclusively on alumni relations, helping the university strengthen relationships with graduates and create new ways for alumni to remain connected to their alma mater.
Following the success of its Tuition-Free Pathway in Knox County, Union Commonwealth University is expanding the initiative to Bell County, creating a new tuition-free pathway to Union for eligible graduates of the three Bell County high schools.
Union Commonwealth University (UCU) has welcomed the second cohort of its Presidential Fellows Program, the leadership initiative designed to prepare students for success through mentorship, career development, and hands-on professional experience.
Building on the success of the Tuition-Free Pathway launched in Knox County last year, Union Commonwealth University is extending the initiative to the Class of 2027.
On Family Day, students from around our region have parents and grandparents in the bleachers. However, our international students’ parents aren’t always able to make that trip. That's especially true of our men's and women's soccer rosters, where most players are from across the globe, and the games fall at the end of
Union Commonwealth University is preparing to welcome what is anticipated to be the largest freshman class in the institution's history as students return to campus for the Fall 2026 semester.
Union Commonwealth University mourns the passing of former president, Rev. Dr. Jack Carter Phillips, who died on June 30, 2026, at the age of 91 in Brentwood, Tennessee.
