XENIA, Ohio – The Central State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics welcomed six individuals and two teams into the Marauder Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday.

This year's Hall of Fame class includes:

• Jon Bradford | Football | | Full Back | Class of 1975 
• Edward "Bee" Bryant | Basketball | Forward | Class of 1967 
• Marvin Coleman  | Football | Cornerback & Kick Returner
• Larry Kelly | Football | Running Back | Class of 1983
• Marvin Pope | Football  | Linebacker/Defensive End
• Charles Walker | Football | Lineman | Class of 1961
• 1993 Women's Track & Field Team | NAIA Indoor & Outdoor National Champions | Head Coach: Joshua Culbreath
• 1993 Men's Track & Field Team | NAIA Indoor & Outdoor National Champions | Head Coach: Joshua Culbreath

The Central State athletic department also recognized CSU's 1968 men's basketball team. Led by head coach Bill Lucas, the '68 Marauders finished the season with a 29-4 overall record while claiming the program's second NAIA National Championships with a dramatic 51-48 win over Fairmount State in the championship game. 

Legendary radio personality, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Tom Joyner, who served as the event's keynote speaker, was honored by the university for his dedication and advocacy for HBCUs across the nation.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a longtime supporter of Central State, also addressed the audience. In front of the sold out reception room at the Country Club of the North, Johnson announced his plans to donate $1 million dollars to the university while encouraging others to invest and support students. 

Photos from the event are available on the CSU Athletic Department Facebook page. 
 
 
INDUCTEE INFORMATION
 

Jon Bradford I Football I Class of 1975

A versatile player out of the CSU backfield, Jon Bradford put together historic statistics during the 1974 football season.

Bradford rushed for 1046 yards and 19 touchdowns and was second in the nation in points scored by a single player. The 6-1, 210 pound runner was named to the Pittsburg Courier All-American First Team, NAIA All-American Team, and the NAIA All-District Team. Throughout his record setting season, Bradford caught the winning pass in CSU's upset victory over the University of Dayton and accounted for 32 points in a game against Lane College.

After graduating from CSU with a degree in physical education, Bradford was selected by the New York Jets in the 1975 NFL Draft. Bradford is considered to be one of the first players raised in Harlem to be drafted by an NFL team. He also experienced short stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns.

After his playing days concluded, Bradford worked as a youth counselor, bus driver, trackman for New York City Transit and a union organizer for Transport Workers Union International. Bradford currently serves as the president of TWU Local 226, a position he has held since 1998.

Bradford resides in Englewood, New Jersey with his wife of 42 years, Collete. The Bradford's have three daughters Kim, Shannon and Jonelle; and two grandsons, John and Lincoln.

 

Edward "Bee" Bryant I Basketball I Class of 1967

Edward "Bee" Bryant solidified himself as one of the most prolific scorers in school history.

A graduate of Sandusky High School in Sandusky, Ohio, Bryant accepted a full scholarship to play forward for CSU Hall of Fame coach William C. Lucas. Arriving to campus for the 1963-64 season, Bryant immediately earned a starting spot as a freshman, averaging 7.7 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game while helping CSU to an overall record of 24-3.

Bryant upped his numbers as a sophomore with 10.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg as the Marauders marched to the 1965 NAIA National Championship and finished with a perfect 30-0 mark.
In the 1965-66 season, Bryant took his offensive game to a new level averaging 15.9 ppg and 9.1 rpg while his team finished 24-6.

Bryant's most memorable moment of his collegiate career came during his senior season when he poured in a school record 50 points in a win over Fisk University. Bryant finished the year averaging 21.4 ppg and 9.4 rpg.

Throughout his collegiate career, Bryant scored over 1500 points and 800 rebounds while his teams finished with a cumulative record of 80-21.

Bryant graduated from CSU with a bachelor's degree in education and began a career in teaching at Massillon High School before beginning a corporate career in Denver, Colorado.

Bryant retired in 2009. He currently resides in El Paso, Texas with his wife Mario.
 

 
 
Marvin Coleman I Football

A tremendous athlete from Wildwood High School in Ocala, Florida, Marvin Coleman made an immediate impact as a freshman in all three phases of the game as a kick returner, defensive back and receiver.

Standing at 5'9 and weighing in at 170 pounds, Coleman's speed and agility set him apart from other players. In the opening game of the 1990 NAIA Div. I Playoffs, Coleman led CSU to a 48-10 over Fort Hays State. Coleman earned both the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Game – an accomplishment he considers to be his most memorable moment.

One of few players in school history to be a four-time NAIA All-American, Coleman still holds the NAIA single season record for touchdowns scored off of punt returns (5). Coleman also set the NAIA career mark with 13 touchdowns off of punt returns. Coleman was a leader on CSU's 1990 and 1992 NAIA national championship teams.

Coleman went to success in the Canadian Football League. In a professional career spanning from 1994 to 2003 with the Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and San Francisco Demons, Coleman intercepted 28 passes, set a CFL record with an 108-yard kickoff return, selected to the CFL All-Star Team seven times and helped the Stampeders win Grey Cup Championship in 1998.

After retiring from professional football, Coleman returned to his hometown and currently coaches at Wildwood High School as well as on the Pop Warner level. In addition, Coleman takes great pride in spending time with his children Demtrice, Mar'Nitka, Kaya and Terrell.
 


Larry Kelly I Football I Class of 1983

A standout athlete at Simeon Academy in Chicago, Illinois, Larry Kelly exemplified toughness and persistence at the running back position.

A two-time NAIA All-American, Kelly broke the 1000+ rushing yard mark in 1979 and 1980 seasons. In '79, Kelly ran for 1020 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 102.0 yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry. In a game against Ashland, Kelly showed his stamina with a record 45 carries.

Kelly continued to punish opponents in the 1980 campaign. Kelly set a career-high with 1098 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 122 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry.

Kelly graduated from CSU in 1983. He went on to a long and disguised career in real-estate. He also established the California Realty Brokerage Business (1994) and the Realty Investment Corporation (2016). He also serves on the Board of Directors in Bond Hill and Roselawn communities in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Kelly currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife Hayley. Together, they have two sons TheMoor and Michael Cipollone. Kelly continues to show his unwavering support of Central State University as a Gold Member of the Marauder Athletic Booster Club.
 
 

Marvin Pope I Football

A native of Gainesville, Florida and an All-State player at Eastside High School, Pope developed himself into a versatile, 6'1, 240-pound linebacker.

After being named Florida High School Athlete of the Year in 1988, Pope choose to play for Hall of Fame coach Billy Joe due to the programs reputation for sending players to the professional level.

"He was phenomenal," Joe said. "He had the biggest guns — the biggest biceps — I ever saw on a linebacker. I remember a game in Minnesota, there had to be a 10-degree-below-zero wind chill — and he came out for warm-ups in just a t-shirt. He wanted the other team to see those guns and they did. They always did."

Pope solidified himself as one of the best and most consistent defensive players in CSU history. In 52 games in a CSU uniform, Pope accumulated 363 tackles. He was named an NAIA All-American and Black College Football All-American in the 1989 and 1990 seasons.

Pope led a CSU defense which dominated in the 1990 NAIA playoffs, holding opponents to 13.2 ppg. Pope won NAIA Defensive Most Valuable Player honors with 13 tackles in the 38-16 championship win over Colorado-Mesa State.

After CSU, Pope signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and helped lead the team to the Grey Cup in his first season. He appeared in five consecutive Western Conference Championship games and was a two-time CFL All Star in 1993 and 1994.

Following his six-year CFL Career, Pope began his coaching career at Calgary's Springbank High School, helping them win the 1999 City Championship. He then joined the coaching staff at Calgary's Henry Wisewood High School in 2000 and led them to both a City and Provincial Championship.

Pope joined the Calgary Stampeders staff as an assistant defensive line and linebackers coach in 2010 and returned to high school coaching in 2013, where he won a City Championship at Robert Thirsk High.
 
Pope has made charitable contributions to the community as a member of the Stampeders Alumni, Alberta Big Brothers, and Sisters, Minor Football, Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.
 
 

Charles Walker I Football I Class of 1961

A multi-sport athlete from Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana, Charles Walker was recruited to Central State University by Hall of Fame coach James J. Walker.

At 6'0, 195 pounds, Walker showed his versatility on both sides of the ball. In 1959, Walker was named to the First Team Little College All-American Team as a linebacker. Considered to be undersized to play the center position, Walker proved the doubters wrong by earning a First Team All-Midwest Conference selection at the position. He repeated the same feat in 1960 while serving as CSU's team captain.

After graduation, he spent seven years in the United States Army serving as an officer. In 1970, he was hired to work for the Dow Corning Corporation in Midland, Michigan as a personnel supervisor. He spent the next 32 years working at Dow Corning while holding positions as a regional sales manager and director of marketing and sales until retiring in 1999.

Walker holds a bachelor's degree in social work from CSU and a master's degree in business management from Baldwin Wallace University. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

He currently resides outside of Sarasota, Florida with his wife Sue, a fellow '63 graduate of CSU. The Walkers have been married for over 50 years.



1993 Women's Track & Field Team I NAIA National Champions

The Central State University women's track & field team won the NAIA Indoor Championships in March of 1993. A few months later, the Lady Marauders claimed their third straight NAIA Outdoor Championship.

After finishing in second place at the 1992 Indoor Championships, the CSU women arrived to the Kansas City Municipal Auditorium motivated to capture their first indoor title.

CSU was dominant finishing the championships with winners in six of 16 events. CSU finished with a total of 97 points, 32 ahead of second-place Wayland Baptist.

Sherdon Smith won the 800 meter run with a pace of 2:13.80. Smith later won the 1000 meter run, crossing the finish line at 2:35.75.

Carolin Sterling ran a record setting pace of 7.75 to win the 55-meter hurdles. Her mark still holds as the fastest time in NAIA history. She also won the long jump for the third time in her career with a leap of 20 feet, 1 inch.

Layphane Carnagie ran a time of 6.82 to win the 55-meter dash while Audrea Sterling took first place in the 600-yard run for the third year in a row with a pace of 1:25.23.

CSU went on to win its third straight NAIA Outdoor Championship at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

CSU accumulated 132 total points to top host Simon Fraser's 116 points.

Deon Hemmings ran the fastest 400-meter hurdles time in the world at the event, crossing the finish line in 55.14. It was the third time Hemmings had won the event as she broke her own record which was set during the 1993 NAIA preliminaries. Hemmings went on to lead CSU's winning teams in the 4x100 and 4 x400 meter relays. For her efforts, Hemmings was named the meet's Most Outstanding Female Performer.

Two CSU women won multiple individual events. Carnagie won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.62 and the 200-meter dash in 23.78. She also was part of the winning 800-meter relay team with Smith, Sandra Kidd, and Bridgette Edwards.

Carolin Sterling, who was the meet's MVP in 1991 and 1992, won the long jump with an effort of 20 feet, 3.5 inches. She came in first place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.57.

The Lady Marauders swept the relay events. They ran a 1:40.04 in the 800-meter medley, a 45.46 in the 4x100, and 3:38.24 in the 400-meter relay.

Head coach Joshua Culbreath, a former Olympian and CSU Hall of Fame member, was named NAIA Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year.


 
1993 Men's Track & Field Team I NAIA National Champions

For the Central State men's track and field team, the 1993 season was the first time the program claimed a NAIA national title.

With back-to-back second-place finishes in the 1991 and 1992 NAIA Outdoor Championships and third and fourth place finishes at the Indoor Championships, the CSU men were poised to make the '93 season their year to come out on top.

At the indoor championship, they finished with a team score of 77 points, edgeing second-place finisher Lubbock Christian by winning the mile relay in the final event. Hugh Powell, Neil DeSilva, Anthony Pryce, and Wayne Lawrence won the event with a time of 3:21.46.

DeSilva also won the 600-yard run with a pace of 1:12.34. Floyd Howell followed DeSilva in second-place and Pryce came in third.

Michael Dwyer took the top spot in the triple jump with a mark of 51 feet, 11 inches. CSU also earned valuable points in the 880-yard dash with a second-place finish from Lawrence. Howell record a second-place finish in the 440-yard dash. Lawrence Lenin added to the point totals with a fourth-place finish in the 1000-yard run.

A few months later, DeSilva set the standard for the CSU men at the  NAIAOutdoor Championships. DeSilva finished with two individual victories. He ran 21.0 in the 200-meter dash and a 46.05 in the 400-meter dash. He later teamed up with Pryce, Adrian McDaniel and Howard Rhoden to win the 4x100 meter relay with a pace of 40.58.

Behind DeSilva, CSU swept the 400-meter dash as Hugh Powell finished in second at 46.6. Pryce came in third at 47.03. Howell also added to the CSU point total with a fifth-place finish at 47.48.

Dean Richards posted a winning mark of 50 feet, 6.5 inches in the triple jump. Lenin won the 800-meter run with a time of 1:49.32.

Other Marauders who participated included James Rollins (8^th in 110-meter hurdles) and Lucian Scott (13^th in shot putt) to help CSU earn 99 total team points to beat 70 points from second-place finisher Prairie View A&M.