Best in Class

Legion of Excellence Gala 2022

The 21st Annual Legion of Excellence recognizes the academic achievements of current UC scholar-athletes and the UC Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.

Friday, September 23, 2022
Fifth Third Arena
2700 O’Varsity Way
Cincinnati, OH 45221

6 p.m – Reception
7 p.m. –Dinner and program

Individual Event Ticket = $125
Sponsor a Student-Athlete = $100

Get tickets now!

The Legion of Excellence annually recognizes the academic achievements of current UC scholar-athletes from each sport, new inductees to the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame and UCATS Order of the Black Blazer along with a winner of the Strubbe Distinguished Service Award and the first Bob Goin Service Award for contributions to Bearcats Athletics.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in educational programs and activities, the 2022 Class for the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame will be the first to feature all women and will include Jacqueline Keire (swimming and diving), Kathy Klump (track and field), Laura Lauder (volleyball) and Laurie Pirtle (longtime women's basketball coach).

“We are thrilled to honor these Bearcats legends,” Director of Athletics John Cunningham said. “From the track to the courts and the pool, these women proved to be the best of the best during their collegiate careers at the University of Cincinnati. They serve as shining examples for our current student-athletes of how hard work can lead to success, and what it means to be a Bearcat for life.”

Cincinnati's 2022 Hall of Fame Class

Jacqueline Keire

Swimming and diving,
2013–17
Keire was a three-time All-American for the Bearcats in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She qualified for the NCAA Championships all four years of her career and was a three-time AAC Most Outstanding Swimmer honoree. She collected 13 conference championships and still holds nearly every UC record in the events she swam. She also won a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2017 World University Games.

Kathy Klump

Track and field, 2008–12
Klump was a three-time All-American and four-time BIG EAST champion middle distance runner for the Bearcats track and field team from 2008 to 2012. She earned First Team All-America accolades in 2012 by placing fourth in the 800-meter run at the NCAA Indoor Championships and sixth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Klump was the 2012 BIG EAST Most Outstanding Indoor Track Performer and set five school records, including the indoor 500-meter (1:10.08), indoor 800-meter (2:04.57) and outdoor 800-meter (2:03.35) runs.

Laura Lauder

Volleyball, 2000–03
Lauder was a three-time all-conference setter, who finished her career 10th in NCAA history in assists per game (13.87 in the 30-point scoring format). She finished first in the UC record book in career assists (5,946) and helped the Bearcats to a pair of conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2003, she earned All-Conference USA First Team accolades, honorable mention All-America and Conference USA Setter of the Year honors. A member of the C-USA All-Decade Team, Lauder was also C-USA Co-Freshman of the Year in 2000.

Laurie Pirtle

Women’s basketball
head coach, 1986–2007
Pirtle is the winningest coach in Cincinnati women's basketball history with 310 victories over her 21 years at the helm of the Bearcats. She had seven straight winning seasons from 1996-97 to 2002-03. Pirtle guided the Bearcats to four appearances in the Women's NIT and three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, earning UC's first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 2002. Cincinnati won the Conference USA Tournament and finished with a record of 27-5 in 2002. She was a two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year and retired in 2007.

In addition to the Hall of Fame, the Legion of Excellence annually recognizes the academic achievements of current UC student-athletes from each sport, new inductees to the UCATS Order of the Black Blazer along with a winner of the Strubbe Distinguished Service Award and the Bob Goin Service Award for contributions to Cincinnati Athletics.

The James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1976 to honor and pay tribute to those individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions in the field of intercollegiate athletics and helped bring recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to the University of Cincinnati and its athletics programs through participation, support, or interest. The Hall of Fame is named in honor of Jim Kelly, Sr., who was associated with UC for over 40 years as an athlete, assistant coach, and administrator.