UT Athletic Hall of Fame Selection and Nomination Rules

Eligibility Requirements

Student-Athletes

  • A player candidate must have earned at least one University of Tampa Athletics varsity letters.
  • The athlete must complete his or her intercollegiate athletic eligibility at UT and graduate from UT.
  • A period of 8 years must pass from the completion of athletic eligibility.
  • The players will be judged on leadership, character, scholastic standing, athletic accomplishments and other accomplishments since leaving The University of Tampa.
  • Continued support of the University of Tampa and the player's program should be considered.

Contributors

  • Contributors may be active, and may be selected at any time.
  • Contributor nominees can be anyone who provided gifts, time, or an influential spirit to UT Athletic programs on an extraordinary or grand scale.
  • Coaches and staff are included in the contributor category and must have completed one full year, and can be current or former, with distinguished success at UT.
  • Success outside or beyond the University of Tampa Athletics that enhances UT’s reputation can be considered in any individual category.
  • A candidate may be chosen posthumously.

Special Category

  • Special category honorees may include national championship teams or other teams that reached a pinnacle of success.
  • Unique entities (including facilities or objects) that deserve a significant mention in UT history.
  • Each induction class may also vote to add a special category selection for a sub-team events, such as relays, doubles, pairs, duos, etc..

Good Citizenship Requirement

  • An individual will be eligible for selection if they possess, and have possessed, such qualities as sportsmanship, character and integrity.
  • Any individual who has been convicted of, or pled guilty to a felony, or had conduct unbecoming to the University, will not be eligible for the UT Hall of Fame.

Selection Committee

  • Committee members must be available to attend the selection meeting and participate in the discussion.

Voting Committee

  • Chairman; a current UT Athletic Director or athletic administrator appointed by the current athletic director with no term limit.
  • Current Spartan Athletic Director.
  • Up to three athletic department administrators.
  • Up to nine Spartan Hall of Fame inductees, appointed by the Chairman, each serving no more than two consecutive selections (2 years), eligible for reappointment after being absent from one selection. 
  • Two Spartan head coaches; rotate every selection year.
  • All former Spartan Athletic Directors and chairmen.
  • The committee membership should represent as many different sports and decades, both current and previous, as reasonably possible, within the requirement of being present at the selection meeting.

Nominations

Nomination Process

Each “Selection Committee Member” is allowed to nominate up to the following numbers. All selections must earn at least 50% of the committee vote to advance.

  • Two student athletes.
  • One contributor.
  • One special category.
  • One special category sub-group, if agreed upon by the committee.

Public Nominations

  • Public nominations are accepted at any time up to May 30 of each calendar year.
  • Nominations may be submitted by any interested person who has information on UT Athletics.
  • Must be submitted to the Hall of Fame Chairman for consideration for the June/July decision meeting by the induction committee, for that year’s induction.
  • Candidates not inducted may be nominated again for any number of years.
  • The nominator should provide a written letter of credentials for each nomination.

Selections

Selection Details

  • The Committee will select up to, but no more than 5 of the following, for the UT Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class.
  • Should circumstances dictate, one or two additional student-athletes may be substituted for contributors.
  • The special category does not have to be selected, and may include a sub-group as well.
  • The Sam Bailey Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a recipient who continues to excel or contribute with great success following his or her original induction.
    • In the event that the selection is not a Hall of Fame member, the committee shall unanimously agree in order to honor the recipient as a member of the Hall of Fame Class (in addition to award).

Number of Selections

  • Five (5) student-athletes.
  • Two (2) contributors.
  • One (1) special category.
  • One (1) special category sub-group.
  • One (1) Sam Bailey Award.

Additional Details

  • The selections will include the years of 1933 through up to 8 years prior to the last date of competition for student-athletes.
  • Final selection to the Athletic Hall of Fame will be done by secret ballot, live, and only by those present at the selection committee meeting.
  • The awards, recognition, and induction will be performed at the Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet in the fall of every year.
  • All revenues from the induction dinner, donations, or any related events go to the UT Athletics Department.