KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Five with ties to University of Tennessee Athletics are being enshrined as part of the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame 2024 induction class, and three more will be recognized for their achievements on Thursday night at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Former Vol football standouts Heath Shuler and David Martin and former defensive line coach Dan Brooks will be immortalized, as will LVFL basketball star Michelle Marciniak and former Vol track & field standout Russ Johnson. Additionally, former Lady Vol basketball star Gwen Jackson will receive the Pat Summitt Ignite Greatness Award, VFL and San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings will accept the Chad Pennington Professional Athlete of the Year distinction and current Tennessee Athletics Director of Equipment & Apparel Roger Frazier will be saluted with a special recognition.
Since 1982, the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony has celebrated Knoxville sports with some of the area’s finest sports achievers. Each year, ten local individuals are inducted into the Hall of Fame for their achievements in athletics, coaching, sports administration or officiating.
The event was founded in 1982 by Emmet P. “Buck” Vaughn, Jr., and is among the most prestigious sports recognition ceremonies in the nation as well as one of the most highly attended sports hall of fame banquets in the country. This year’s guest speakers are Rick Neuheisel and Adam Zucker, with a special appearance by Houston Nutt.
2024 GREATER KNOXVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES WITH UT TIES
Dan Brooks
- Directed the defensive line at Tennessee from 1994-2008, earning a reputation as a skilled developer of top-notch players.
- Member of UT coaching staff when Vols won the 1998 BCS national championship.
- Tennessee also won SEC titles in 1997 and 1998 during his tenure in Knoxville.
- He mentored 30 NFL draft picks, including seven first-round choices, and three All-Americans.
- Coached in 27 bowl games and 412 total contests during a 33-year career.
Russ Johnson
- Three-time All-American pole vaulter during his days on Rocky Top and a qualifier for the USATF Championships.
- Won the 1998 indoor title at the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
- He still ranks third in program history at 18 feet, 6.5 inches.
- Went on to coach at his alma mater as a volunteer assistant for 13 seasons.
- Unanimously named the 2015 National Collegiate Coach of the Year by the USA Track and Field Pole Vault High Performance and Development Committee.
Michelle Marciniak
- Point guard who led Tennessee women’s basketball to the 1996 NCAA national championship after a runner-up finish in 1995.
- Named NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player during that victorious run.
- Starred for the Lady Vols from 1993-96, helping the squad win SEC titles in 1994 and 1995, and SEC Tournament crowns in 1994 and 1996.
- Still ranks third for single season assists at Tennessee with 204 and is ninth in career dimes with 449.
- Her career assists-per-game average of 4.32 stands fifth, as does her 1994-95 season average of 5.7 apg.
David Martin
- Key member of Tennessee football from 1997-2000 as a wide receiver, helping the Vols win the BCS national championship in 1998.
- Martin was selected in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, who moved him to tight end.
- His 11-year NFL career also included stops with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.
- Martin accumulated 1,562 receiving yards on 159 receptions during his professional career, averaging 9.8 yards per catch and scoring 15 touchdowns.
- He currently coaches tight ends in the football program at nearby Maryville College.
Heath Shuler
- Starred at quarterback for the Volunteers, lettering from 1991-93.
- Selected as SEC Player of the Year and finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1993.
- Shuler remains ninth in the UT record book for passing touchdowns in a season (25) and No. 8 for career passing touchdowns (36), and he is No. 12 all-time in career total yards (4,472).
- Scored a school record 11 rushing touchdowns in 1992, which still ranks No. 2 in program history.
- Was the third overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft by Washington, playing four seasons before an injury forced him into retirement.
ADDITIONAL GKSHOF HONOREES WITH UT TIES
Roger Frazier
- Has begun his 46th year as a member of the equipment staff at the University of Tennessee.
- Serves as the director of equipment and apparel for UT’s football program and is responsible for all football equipment issues and maintenance, in addition to handling the purchasing and inventory control of all football game and practice gear.
- Also oversees equipment operations for all Olympic sports.
- Serves as president emeritus of the SEC Equipment Managers Association and was a charter member of the organization.
- Assists in new product development with Nike.
Gwen Jackson
- Currently serves as girls basketball coach at Austin-East High School.
- Starred for Tennessee women’s basketball from 1999-03.
- Earned Coaches All-SEC First Team accolades in 2000-01 and 2002-03
- Led UT to three NCAA Final Four appearances.
- Helped Lady Vols win four SEC regular season titles and one tournament crown.
Jauan Jennings
- Wide receiver who plays professionally for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
- Caught 19 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown during the 2023 season.
- In Super Bowl LVIII, Jennings caught four passes for 42 yards and one touchdown, in addition to throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass.
- He became just the second player in NFL history to register a touchdown reception and a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl and the first wide receiver to throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl since the 2005 season.
- Starred for the Vol football team from 2015-19 and famously out-leaped defenders to snare a game-winning Hail Mary pass from quarterback Josh Dobbs to defeat Georgia, 34-31, in Athens on Oct. 1, 2016.
