MOC Hall of Fame class
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 23, 2010 1:47 PM
MOC Sports Information
MOUNT OLIVE -- Kinston High School men's basketball coach Wells Gulledge, Steve Hudson and the late Brad Mitchell comprise the fifth class for enshrinement in the Mount Olive College Athletics Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony is Nov. 20 at the Murphy Center, and is part of the annual two-day Pickle Classic.
Gulledge, a 1997 alum, guided Kinston to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A state title in March. He has compiled a 168-38 record in nine seasons and earned Associated Press coach-of-the-year honors in 2008.
Two members of Kinston's state championship squad -- Josh Benoit and Dory Hines -- signed national letters-of-intent to play basketball for the Trojans this season.
Hudson claimed the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and NAIA District 6 baseball player-of-the-year awards in 1991. A two-time, All-CIAC selection, he logged a .334 career batting average and held school records in five categories -- batting average, hits, doubles, at-bats and sacrifices.
MOC reached the NAIA World Series in 1992.
Mitchell served in many capacities for the Trojans. The 1982 graduate held posts as athletics director, health/physical education instructor, head men's basketball coach and head men's golf coach. MOC competed in the NAIA ranks during his tenure.
The Trojan golf team won four consecutive Eastern Tarheel Conference championships with Mitchell. MOC was ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA Region X in 1978 and was ranked among the top four teams in the region every year.
Mitchell was largely responsible for the development of Kornegay Arena (formerly College Hall), which was completed in 1984. He passed away in 2001.
"We are thrilled to be inducting Wells Gulledge, Steve Hudson and Brad Mitchell into our Hall of Fame," said Mount Olive College Director of Athletics Jeff Eisen. "They represent different sports and eras of the athletics history of Mount Olive College, but each was a significant contributor to the college's winning tradition."
The induction ceremony is open to the public and admission is free. For more information, telephone the MOC athletics office at (919) 658-7759.