North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Announces 2026 Induction Class for NC State Athletic Hall of Fame
12/15/2025 1:00:00 PM | Football, Pack Athletics, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Wrestling, Swimming, Cross Country
Individuals from seven different sports, a team that won back-to-back national titles, a pioneer for women's athletics, and a legendary coach comprise the 2026 induction class of the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame, McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan announced today.
The 10-member class is the eighth overall since the establishment of the Hall of Fame in 2012 and will be inducted at a gala in Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The 1979 and 1980 NC State cross country teams that repeated as AIAW national champions will be inducted, alongside 1973 ACC Football Player of the Year Willie Burden, Olympic gold medalist Kenny Carr from men's basketball, and 19-time All-American swimmer Beth Emery. Joining them will be National Champions Matt Hill (men's golf), Tyrell Taitt (men's track & field) and Scott Turner (wrestling), along with a national award winner, Marc Primanti (football).
Longtime NC State and ACC administrator Nora Lynn Finch will be honored for her contributions, alongside legendary wrestling coach Bob Guzzo, who led the Wolfpack to 13 ACC titles.
"I'm very excited about this induction class because it represents many sports, many decades, and so very many accomplishments," Corrigan said. "We look forward to recognizing their legacy and their achievements in April and congratulate them on this great honor."
Ticket sales information for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be shared at a later date.
NC STATE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Class of 2026
1979/1980 Women's Cross Country Teams
In 1979, the NC State women's cross country team captured both the ACC and AIAW titles, scoring 109 points at the national meet. Julie Shea led the Wolfpack to victory, winning the individual title in both races. A year later, NC State repeated the feat, earning another ACC championship and scoring 76 points to win the 1980 AIAW title. Shea once again swept the individual titles, becoming a back-to-back national and conference champion. Shea and Betty Springs earned All-America honors in 1979 and 1980, while Mary Shea joined them as an All-American in 1980. In addition to the Sheas and Springs, the 1979 roster included Valerie Ford, Ann Henderson, Sue Overbey, and Kimberly Sharpe. The 1980 team featured Sande Culliane, Suzanne Girard, Tricia Malischewski, Overbey, Julie Shea, Mary Shea and Springs.
Willie Burden, Football (1971-73)
The first player in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark, Willie Burden is one of just seven ACC Players of the Year in the history of the Wolfpack football program. An All-ACC performer in 1972 and 1973, the Raleigh native was the league's rushing leader in '73 and helped lead head coach Lou Holtz's squad to the '73 ACC title. He still ranks 10th in school history in career rushing yards, 50 years after his graduation. Burden went on to gain fame in the Canadian Football League and has been inducted into the CFL and North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He earned an economics degree from NC State, a master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University and a doctorate in education from Tennessee State. He served as athletic director for North Carolina A&T University from 1990 to 1999. He passed away in 2015.
Kenny Carr, Men's Basketball (1974-77)
Kenny Carr is one of the finest all-around players in NC State men's basketball history, earning first-team All-America honors in both 1976 and 1977. When his NC State career ended in 1977 after three seasons, he ranked third in program history in scoring with 1,772 career points and sixth in rebounding with 789 rebounds. Carr led the ACC in scoring as both a sophomore (26.6 ppg) and a junior (21.0 ppg), earning first-team All-ACC honors each year. His career scoring average of 20.6 points per game remains the second highest in program history, trailing only David Thompson. Carr is also one of only two players in NC State history to compete for the USA Basketball Olympic team and the only one to win a gold medal. He declared for the NBA Draft after the 1977 season and went on to enjoy a 10-year professional career after being selected sixth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Beth Emery, Women's Swimming (1980-83)
Beth Emery competed for the NC State women's swim team from 1980 to 1983, winning five ACC championships. She claimed titles in the 100 and 200 freestyle in 1982 and swept the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle events in 1983. A standout performer on the national stage, Emery was a 19-time All-American. She earned honors in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle, the 50 and 100 butterfly; and multiple relay events, including the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays as well as the 200 and 400 medley relays. Remarkably, she achieved All-American status in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle in each of her three competitive seasons. In recognition of her extraordinary collegiate career, Emery was named to the ACC's 50th anniversary Women's team, honoring the conference's top 50 athletes. She passed away peacefully in 2012 at the age of 50.
Nora Lynn Finch, Special Contributor
Nora Lynn Finch, an assistant coach on Kay Yow's staff from 1977-1984, was a trailblazing administrator at NC State and in the Atlantic Coast Conference for four decades. She was the Assistant Director of Athletics, the first in the ACC to hold that title, as well as the first woman at an ACC school to serve as the primary administrator for men's sports (soccer, track and field and swimming). In seven years as an assistant for the women's basketball team, the Wolfpack won three ACC Regular Season Championships (1978, '80 and '83), including a sweep for the ACC Regular and Tournament titles in 1980. That ACC tournament title in 1980 was a first in program history. Finch served as the inaugural chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee from 1981-88 and negotiated the first women's basketball tournament television contract with CBS. In 2008, she was named Senior Associate Commissioner/Women's Basketball for the ACC and retired in 2019 after her historic career promoting women's sports.
Matt Hill, Men's Golf (2008-10)
Matt Hill delivered one of the greatest seasons in collegiate golf history in 2009, culminating with his victory at the NCAA Individual Championship. That year, Hill captured eight titles—becoming only the second player ever to win that many tournaments in a single season. He also became just the second golfer in NCAA history to win his conference championship, an NCAA Regional, and the NCAA Championship in the same year. The only other player to achieve those feats was Stanford's Tiger Woods in 1996. Hill capped his remarkable season by winning the Haskins Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate golfer, and by being named the 2009 ACC Male Athlete of the Year. Over his NC State career, Hill won 10 tournaments, and his 70.10 stroke average during the 2008–09 season remains the best single-season mark in program history.
Marc Primanti, Football (1992-96)
Marc Primanti became just the second player in school history to win a national award when he brought home the Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award in 1996. He is one of 11 consensus All-Americans in school history as well, earning first-team mention by the Associated Press, The Sporting News, the Football Writers Association, and Football News in 1996. That season, the Coatesville, Pennsylvania, native connected on all 20 of his field goal attempts and was 24-for-24 on extra points. In his two seasons as a starter, he only missed two field goals, making a school-record 27 straight at one point. His .939 career field goal percentage still stands as the best mark in school history.
Tyrell Taitt, Men's Track & Field (1991-94)
Tyrell Haitt was a standout member of the NC State Track & Field team from 1990 to 1994 and one of the most dominant triple jumpers in program history. He captured five ACC individual titles in the event, three indoors (1991, 1992, and 1993) and two outdoors (1993 and 1994), and earned All-ACC honors six times between the indoor and outdoor seasons. Taitt was named ACC MVP for his triple jump performance in both 1993 and 1994. He finished his remarkable 1993 campaign with a national title in the men's outdoor triple jump, becoming the Wolfpack's first and only individual NCAA Track & Field Champion. A three-time All-American in the triple jump, he earned those honors with a first-place outdoor finish and a runner-up indoor finish in 1993, followed by a third-place outdoor finish in 1994. Taitt still holds the program record in the indoor triple jump (54'6.5", set in 1992).
Scott Turner, Wrestling (1984-1988)
During his highly successful Wolfpack career, Scott Turner helped lay the foundation for the success that NC State Wrestling still enjoys today. The third national champion in program history, Turner allowed only one point scored on him in the NCAA Tournament, cementing him as the 1988 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler, an award that only one other from NC State has claimed. At the conference level, he won the individual ACC Championship crown three times, as well as the 1984 ACC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler award as a freshman. He is just one of 13 in program history to earn an individual ACC Championship at least three times. At the national level, Turner was a two-time All-American, earning the honors in 1986 and 1988.
Bob Guzzo, Special Contributor/Wrestling (1974-2004)
A pillar of the NC State wrestling program, Bob Guzzo was named the eighth head coach in program history in 1974 and led the team for the next 30 seasons. A six-time ACC Coach of the Year ('88, '89, '91, '96, '01, '02), he led NC State to 13 league titles, a mark that still ranks second for a head coach in ACC history. Four of his athletes were national champions in three different weight classes and those under his direction earned 24 All-America honors. In his three decades at NC State, he amassed an impressive team record of 356-183-7 with a 117-53 mark in ACC competition, mentoring 86 individual ACC Champions and his athletes won ACC Wrestler of the Year honors three times. His athletes also excelled academically, as 11 were named NWCA Scholar-Athlete All-Americans.
The 10-member class is the eighth overall since the establishment of the Hall of Fame in 2012 and will be inducted at a gala in Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The 1979 and 1980 NC State cross country teams that repeated as AIAW national champions will be inducted, alongside 1973 ACC Football Player of the Year Willie Burden, Olympic gold medalist Kenny Carr from men's basketball, and 19-time All-American swimmer Beth Emery. Joining them will be National Champions Matt Hill (men's golf), Tyrell Taitt (men's track & field) and Scott Turner (wrestling), along with a national award winner, Marc Primanti (football).
Longtime NC State and ACC administrator Nora Lynn Finch will be honored for her contributions, alongside legendary wrestling coach Bob Guzzo, who led the Wolfpack to 13 ACC titles.
"I'm very excited about this induction class because it represents many sports, many decades, and so very many accomplishments," Corrigan said. "We look forward to recognizing their legacy and their achievements in April and congratulate them on this great honor."
Ticket sales information for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be shared at a later date.
NC STATE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Class of 2026
1979/1980 Women's Cross Country Teams
In 1979, the NC State women's cross country team captured both the ACC and AIAW titles, scoring 109 points at the national meet. Julie Shea led the Wolfpack to victory, winning the individual title in both races. A year later, NC State repeated the feat, earning another ACC championship and scoring 76 points to win the 1980 AIAW title. Shea once again swept the individual titles, becoming a back-to-back national and conference champion. Shea and Betty Springs earned All-America honors in 1979 and 1980, while Mary Shea joined them as an All-American in 1980. In addition to the Sheas and Springs, the 1979 roster included Valerie Ford, Ann Henderson, Sue Overbey, and Kimberly Sharpe. The 1980 team featured Sande Culliane, Suzanne Girard, Tricia Malischewski, Overbey, Julie Shea, Mary Shea and Springs.
Willie Burden, Football (1971-73)
The first player in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark, Willie Burden is one of just seven ACC Players of the Year in the history of the Wolfpack football program. An All-ACC performer in 1972 and 1973, the Raleigh native was the league's rushing leader in '73 and helped lead head coach Lou Holtz's squad to the '73 ACC title. He still ranks 10th in school history in career rushing yards, 50 years after his graduation. Burden went on to gain fame in the Canadian Football League and has been inducted into the CFL and North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He earned an economics degree from NC State, a master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University and a doctorate in education from Tennessee State. He served as athletic director for North Carolina A&T University from 1990 to 1999. He passed away in 2015.
Kenny Carr, Men's Basketball (1974-77)
Kenny Carr is one of the finest all-around players in NC State men's basketball history, earning first-team All-America honors in both 1976 and 1977. When his NC State career ended in 1977 after three seasons, he ranked third in program history in scoring with 1,772 career points and sixth in rebounding with 789 rebounds. Carr led the ACC in scoring as both a sophomore (26.6 ppg) and a junior (21.0 ppg), earning first-team All-ACC honors each year. His career scoring average of 20.6 points per game remains the second highest in program history, trailing only David Thompson. Carr is also one of only two players in NC State history to compete for the USA Basketball Olympic team and the only one to win a gold medal. He declared for the NBA Draft after the 1977 season and went on to enjoy a 10-year professional career after being selected sixth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Beth Emery, Women's Swimming (1980-83)
Beth Emery competed for the NC State women's swim team from 1980 to 1983, winning five ACC championships. She claimed titles in the 100 and 200 freestyle in 1982 and swept the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle events in 1983. A standout performer on the national stage, Emery was a 19-time All-American. She earned honors in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle, the 50 and 100 butterfly; and multiple relay events, including the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays as well as the 200 and 400 medley relays. Remarkably, she achieved All-American status in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle in each of her three competitive seasons. In recognition of her extraordinary collegiate career, Emery was named to the ACC's 50th anniversary Women's team, honoring the conference's top 50 athletes. She passed away peacefully in 2012 at the age of 50.
Nora Lynn Finch, Special Contributor
Nora Lynn Finch, an assistant coach on Kay Yow's staff from 1977-1984, was a trailblazing administrator at NC State and in the Atlantic Coast Conference for four decades. She was the Assistant Director of Athletics, the first in the ACC to hold that title, as well as the first woman at an ACC school to serve as the primary administrator for men's sports (soccer, track and field and swimming). In seven years as an assistant for the women's basketball team, the Wolfpack won three ACC Regular Season Championships (1978, '80 and '83), including a sweep for the ACC Regular and Tournament titles in 1980. That ACC tournament title in 1980 was a first in program history. Finch served as the inaugural chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee from 1981-88 and negotiated the first women's basketball tournament television contract with CBS. In 2008, she was named Senior Associate Commissioner/Women's Basketball for the ACC and retired in 2019 after her historic career promoting women's sports.
Matt Hill, Men's Golf (2008-10)
Matt Hill delivered one of the greatest seasons in collegiate golf history in 2009, culminating with his victory at the NCAA Individual Championship. That year, Hill captured eight titles—becoming only the second player ever to win that many tournaments in a single season. He also became just the second golfer in NCAA history to win his conference championship, an NCAA Regional, and the NCAA Championship in the same year. The only other player to achieve those feats was Stanford's Tiger Woods in 1996. Hill capped his remarkable season by winning the Haskins Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate golfer, and by being named the 2009 ACC Male Athlete of the Year. Over his NC State career, Hill won 10 tournaments, and his 70.10 stroke average during the 2008–09 season remains the best single-season mark in program history.
Marc Primanti, Football (1992-96)
Marc Primanti became just the second player in school history to win a national award when he brought home the Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award in 1996. He is one of 11 consensus All-Americans in school history as well, earning first-team mention by the Associated Press, The Sporting News, the Football Writers Association, and Football News in 1996. That season, the Coatesville, Pennsylvania, native connected on all 20 of his field goal attempts and was 24-for-24 on extra points. In his two seasons as a starter, he only missed two field goals, making a school-record 27 straight at one point. His .939 career field goal percentage still stands as the best mark in school history.
Tyrell Taitt, Men's Track & Field (1991-94)
Tyrell Haitt was a standout member of the NC State Track & Field team from 1990 to 1994 and one of the most dominant triple jumpers in program history. He captured five ACC individual titles in the event, three indoors (1991, 1992, and 1993) and two outdoors (1993 and 1994), and earned All-ACC honors six times between the indoor and outdoor seasons. Taitt was named ACC MVP for his triple jump performance in both 1993 and 1994. He finished his remarkable 1993 campaign with a national title in the men's outdoor triple jump, becoming the Wolfpack's first and only individual NCAA Track & Field Champion. A three-time All-American in the triple jump, he earned those honors with a first-place outdoor finish and a runner-up indoor finish in 1993, followed by a third-place outdoor finish in 1994. Taitt still holds the program record in the indoor triple jump (54'6.5", set in 1992).
Scott Turner, Wrestling (1984-1988)
During his highly successful Wolfpack career, Scott Turner helped lay the foundation for the success that NC State Wrestling still enjoys today. The third national champion in program history, Turner allowed only one point scored on him in the NCAA Tournament, cementing him as the 1988 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler, an award that only one other from NC State has claimed. At the conference level, he won the individual ACC Championship crown three times, as well as the 1984 ACC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler award as a freshman. He is just one of 13 in program history to earn an individual ACC Championship at least three times. At the national level, Turner was a two-time All-American, earning the honors in 1986 and 1988.
Bob Guzzo, Special Contributor/Wrestling (1974-2004)
A pillar of the NC State wrestling program, Bob Guzzo was named the eighth head coach in program history in 1974 and led the team for the next 30 seasons. A six-time ACC Coach of the Year ('88, '89, '91, '96, '01, '02), he led NC State to 13 league titles, a mark that still ranks second for a head coach in ACC history. Four of his athletes were national champions in three different weight classes and those under his direction earned 24 All-America honors. In his three decades at NC State, he amassed an impressive team record of 356-183-7 with a 117-53 mark in ACC competition, mentoring 86 individual ACC Champions and his athletes won ACC Wrestler of the Year honors three times. His athletes also excelled academically, as 11 were named NWCA Scholar-Athlete All-Americans.
Coach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24