Big South Inducts 2004 Hall of Fame Class

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HILTON HEAD, S.C.-The Big South Conference inducted three former student-athletes and one former head coach into its second Hall of Fame class Thursday night. The induction took place at The Westin Resort – Hilton Head Island during the League’s annual awards dinner. There are now 15 members of the Big South Hall of Fame following the 2003 class, which consisted of 11 former student-athletes and administrators.

The Hall of Fame was created as part of the League’s 20th Anniversary celebration. The League’s second class consists of Coastal Carolina’s Holly Bottar (women’s basketball), Luis Lopez (baseball), John Vrooman (baseball-Head Coach) and Campbell’s Joe Spinks (men’s basketball).

Bottar earned All-Conference honors in four consecutive seasons, while Lopez set seven school records in games played and started, hits, at bats, walks, total bases and RBI. Vrooman was a two-time Big South Coach of the Year and is the League’s winningest baseball coach. Spinks also garnered four All-Conference citations with the Camels and was named Big South Rookie of the Year in 1991 and Player of the Year in 1994.

“We are extremely proud of these individuals,” said Big South Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. “Not only were they outstanding contributors to their institutions and the Big South Conference, but, as witnessed in their lives since leaving their institutions, they are truly wonderful individuals as well.”

2004 Big South Hall Of Fame Inductees

Holly Bottar, Coastal Carolina Women’s Basketball Player (1988-1991)
Four-time Big South Conference first team...1989 Big South Conference All-Tournament Team...Second in CCU history in scoring with 1,545 points...First in CCU history with 500 career assists...First in CCU history with 246 career steals...Seventh in CCU history with 640 career rebounds

Luis Lopez, Coastal Carolina Baseball Player (1991-1994)
Set seven school career records: Games played (230), Hits (264), At Bats (789), Walks (128), Total Bases (390), RBI (167), and Games started (228)...Led Coastal Carolina to 67 Big South wins from '91-'94, three Big South regular season titles, and two Big South Tourney titles...Played in 1991 NCAA Regionals...Selected to 1992 All-Big South Conference team...Led Big South in RBI (60) in 1992...Owns Big South Conference Record for games played (230)...Graduated from Coastal Carolina with B.A., Business Admin., 1994...Made Major League Baseball debut on April 29, 2001 with the Toronto Blue Jays becoming one of only 14 Big South alumni to reach the major leagues (among current conference membership)...Also earned major league service with the Oakland Athletics...Named South Atlantic League Player of the Year during minor league career...Still active through the 2003 season, Lopez has amassed a 9-year professional baseball career

Joe Spinks, Campbell Men’s Basketball Player (1990-1994)
Set school (Division I era) records for career scoring (1,711) and rebounding (954)...Finished third on Big South career scoring list after graduating in 1994...Was the third player in Big South history to earn four All-Conference awards (three first-team) in men's basketball...Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 1994 and Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year in 1991 (Big South)...Led team to 1992 Big South Tournament Championship and the school's first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament (played No. 1 Duke)...Led team to 1994 Big South Final...Led Campbell to program's first-ever wins over an Atlantic Coast Conference (NC State) and Southeastern Conference (South Carolina) member during '93-94)...Recorded 33 double-doubles (points-rebounds in a game) during his career...Set Big South rebounding record (954 from 1990-94)...Led Conference in rebounding as a freshman, sophomore and senior...Named Campbell University's Outstanding Male Athlete for 1993-94...Has played professional basketball in Europe since graduation

John Vrooman, Coastal Carolina Baseball Coach (1975-77, 1987-95)
Winningest baseball coach in Big South league history with 124 regular season conference wins...2-time Big South Conference coach of the year...Led Chanticleers to two Big South Tournament championships...Coached 37 All-Big South Conference selections, 2 tourney MVPs, and 1 Player of the Year...Winningest coach in Coastal Carolina history with 325 wins (as of 2004 season)...Led Coastal Carolina to first NCAA Regional appearance in 1991, just the second all-time Big South NCAA baseball appearance...His teams led the Big South in batting four times; HRs four times; Runs scored four times; Stolen Bases four times; ERA twice; Complete Games five times; and fielding six times...After and during coaching, Vrooman served the Coastal Carolina academic community in various significant roles including Dean of the History department and instructor...In March of 2004, the playing field at Coastal Carolina's Watson Stadium will be named for Coach Vrooman.