Bluefield, WV — Bluefield State University Athletics is proud to announce its 2026 Hall of Fame induction class, honoring seven extraordinary individuals who have left an indelible mark on the university through athletic excellence, visionary leadership, and decades of dedicated service. This year's class represents the very best of Big Blue tradition, celebrating championship-caliber student-athletes, transformative coaches, and administrative leaders whose contributions continue to shape the future of Bluefield State.
Leading the class of inductees is Jordan Hinds, one of the most prolific scorers in modern Big Blue basketball history. Anchoring the men's basketball team from 2021 to 2025, Hinds amassed an astonishing 1,888 career points over 106 games while averaging 17.8 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and nearly two steals per contest. His collegiate career reached its peak during a stellar senior campaign where he averaged 20.3 points per game, earning him 2025 CIAA Player of the Year, 2025 Atlantic Region Player of the Year, and HBCU D2 First Team honors. Today, Hinds continues his basketball journey at the professional level.
Joining Hinds in the court general legacy is Avery Holliday, a standout guard and pillar in the community who embodied the true spirit of the NCAA Division II student-athlete from 2012 to 2016. A four-year contributor, Holliday logged over 2,400 minutes, compiling 768 points, 433 rebounds, and 123 three-pointers while earning two Ergie Smith Coaches Awards and two President's Awards. Off the court, his impact was unmatched as he served as SGA Vice President, SAAC President, and was crowned BSU's Homecoming King and Mr. BSC. Honored as the 2016 BSU Student-Athlete of the Year and recipient of the William "Action" Jackson Leadership Award, Holliday left a lasting mark through extensive campus leadership and local community service. Following his playing career, Avery joined the men's basketball coaching staff, where his leadership proved invaluable as he played a pivotal role in guiding and healing the Bluefield State community following the tragic loss of a fellow student-athlete.
On the tennis courts, Jacob Carey stands as one of the most decorated student-athletes in Bluefield State history. Competing at the top singles and doubles positions from 2012 to 2016, Carey led BSU through four consecutive unbeaten regional regular seasons, four Atlantic Regional Championships, and four straight NCAA National Championship appearances, culminating in the program's first-ever win at the National Championships to reach the Elite Eight. Carey achieved national rankings as high as #21 in singles and #16 in doubles, was named the 2016 ITA Atlantic Region Senior Player of the Year, and became the first student-athlete in school history to earn the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award. A two-time BSU Athlete of the Year, Carey was also named the 2016 Co-Valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In administration and coaching, Derrick Price transformed the landscape of Big Blue Athletics during his eight years of service from 2016 to 2024 as Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Head Men's Basketball Coach. Price spearheaded BSU's historic return to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference in 2022 after nearly a decade as an independent program. Under his visionary leadership, Bluefield State expanded its athletic offerings by adding 10 new varsity sports—highlighted by the return of Big Blue Football after a 40-year hiatus—and constructed a state-of-the-art weight room facility. On the sidelines, Price guided men's basketball to three USCAA tournament appearances, finishing as the national runner-up in 2019.
Spanning four decades from 1982 to 2021, Coach Geoff Hunter served as a mentor, educator, and leader at Bluefield State. As head baseball coach for 34 seasons from 1985 to 2019, Hunter compiled 244 NCAA victories despite routinely navigating grueling 50-game schedules where the majority of games were played on the road due to facility constraints. Named the BSU Coach of the Year in 2017, he developed numerous All-ICAA and Black College Nines All-American selections, sending multiple players to independent and MLB minor league affiliate teams. Parallel to his coaching career, Hunter served as an Associate Professor of Business at the W. Paul Cole School of Business, where he was recognized as the 2010 BSU Faculty of the Year.
Marking a rich gridiron legacy, Seward Bush was a dominant force for Bluefield State Football from 1970 to 1974. A Northfork High School standout who earned All-State Honorable Mention and MVP honors, Bush brought that same intensity to Big Blue as a powerhouse tackle and nose guard. His exceptional toughness and technical skill earned him WVIAC All-Conference Defensive Team accolades in 1973, Special Honorable Mention All-American honors in 1973, and Team Most Valuable Player honors for the 1973–1974 season. Off the field, Bush built a lasting family legacy alongside his wife of 52 years, Marilyn Gay Bush, their son Seward M. Bush, and foster son Marton Horton.
Rounding out the individual inductees is the late Mark O'Dell "Joe" Page, a native of Algoma, West Virginia, and a 1974 honor graduate of Northfork High School who left an enduring legacy on the court and in the classroom. After excelling as an All-State player, Page attended Bluefield State on a basketball scholarship, earned his bachelor's degree, and joined Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He dedicated his life to education in McDowell and Mercer counties, coaching his alma mater Northfork High School to a West Virginia State Championship in 1985 before retiring as Principal of Montcalm High School in 2014. Page, who was inducted into the McDowell County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, is remembered as an inspirational leader who impacted thousands of young lives.
In addition to the individual inductees, Bluefield State proudly inducts the dominant 1992–1993 Women's Basketball Team, led by Head Coach Tom Jessee. Finishing with a remarkable 25–4 overall record, the team completed a historic sweep of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) by claiming both the regular-season crown and the WVIAC Tournament Championship with a convincing 66–48 victory over Wheeling Jesuit. Their title run punched a ticket to the NAIA Division I National Tournament, where they battled #2 Union (Tennessee) in the opening round. The championship squad was driven by star player Lola Jones, who earned WVIAC Player of the Year and NAIA All-American honors, cementing the 1992–1993 team's status as one of the finest in school history.
The 2026 Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted on Friday, October 2nd, at 2:30 p.m. in the Student Center. Tickets for the ceremony can be purchased here.
