JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Will Honor Seven Former Athletes

JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Will Honor Seven Former Athletes

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Seven former student-athletes have earned selection to be inducted in the Fall as the James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 announced Tuesday.

The 2026 JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Class includes: softball two-way star Jailyn Ford (2013-2016), volleyball right side hitter Janey Goodman Wellons (2013-2016), baseball shortstop David Herbek (2008-2011), men's soccer midfielder/defender Kevin Knight (1995-1998), football quarterback Vad Lee (2014-2015), football tight end Ed Perry (1992-1996) and women's soccer forward Therese Wolden Cooper (1995-1998).

Collectively, the group is comprised of five who advanced to professional competitive careers, five who achieved All-America status (including a few who were first in their sport at JMU), three who were candidates for National Player of the Year honors in their sport and several whose four-year careers comprised one of the best periods of success in their sport's history at JMU.

The group will celebrate formal induction during the 2026 Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, September 4 in JMU's Atlantic Union Bank Center. More information, including launch of event ticket sales, will be available later in the spring.

Nominations for the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame can be submitted online by any individual at any time. All candidates are considered according to the Hall of Fame selection criteria.

JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Jailyn Ford ('16) – Softball (2013-2016)

The moment Jailyn Ford stepped foot on the JMU softball diamond the trajectory of the program was forever changed. In the program's prior 11 years, the Dukes were 314-278 (.530). Ford, whose arrival coincided with Mickey Dean's as head coach, was the cornerstone in guiding JMU to a record of 185-48 (.794) in her four seasons. She was the first National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American in program history (Second Team 2014, Third Team 2015, First Team 2016) and as a senior was one of 25 finalists as the USA Softball National Player of the Year. She was four-time all-region, two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year (2015, 2016), 2014 CAA Pitcher of the Year and four-time All-State (2013 Rookie of the Year, 2013-2014 Pitcher, 2015-2016 Player). In the circle, Ford tallied a 1.51 career ERA and 82-21 record while throwing 706 1/3 career innings with 815 strikeouts and a .180 opponent batting average. At the plate, she was a .339 career hitter with a .644 slugging percentage and .457 on-base percentage while adding 39 doubles, nine triples, 46 home runs and 156 RBIs. She set nearly every career pitching record, currently ranking second in most, including: ERA, opponent average, strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, wins, appearances, starts, complete games, shutouts and innings. She holds the career walks earned record with 130. She also ranks second in home runs, third in total bases, fourth in triples, fourth in on-base percentage, fifth in slugging percentage, sixth with 158 runs, sixth with 216 hits, fifth in RBIs and fifth with 44 stolen bases. JMU had one NCAA appearance prior to Ford's arrival but advanced in all four of her seasons, including the first two at-large bids in program history in 2013 and 2015. Her freshman season was JMU's first 40-win campaign (42-17), which started a seven-year run of 40 or more wins, snapped only by the CoVID-shortened 2020 season. By her senior year, JMU posted its first 50-win ledger (50-6) and made its first appearance advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals. JMU was CAA Champion in 2014 and 2016 and won the regular season each year 2014 through 2016. Ford advanced to a lengthy professional softball career, earning the third overall selection by the Akron Racers in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft. She won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2022 World Games and also had extensive international experience, leading the Japanese Softball League in ERA in 2019 and 2020. Still active, Ford was drafted by the Oklahoma City Spark of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League in December of 2025.

Janey Goodman Wellons ('17, '18) – Volleyball (2013-2016)

Janey Goodman was a key factor in JMU volleyball's climb to a consistent, championship-contending program, thanks to her powerful left arm. The second member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 to be the first All-American in her sports history at JMU, Goodman was an Honorable Mention selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in her senior year of 2016. She was two-time AVCA All-Region, two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, four-time All-CAA, three-time All-State and two-time state Player of the Year (2015, 2016). Her 552 kills and 4.64 kills per set stood as program records until passed in 2025. She is second in JMU history with 1,716 career kills and 3.80 kills per set. She is also second with 4,452 attack attempts and seventh with 332 block assists. She played in 121 career matches (451 sets) with a .259 attack percentage, 4.31 points per set, 39 aces, 480 digs and 23 solo blocks. JMU went 73-48 in her four seasons, highlighted by 43-19 in her CAA Player of the Year campaigns as a junior and senior. Her senior squad went 21-11 and captured the CAA Championship, the first league title for the Dukes since 2000 and just the third NCAA Division I appearance in program history. Since Goodman's junior season, the Dukes have won 20 or more matches in eight of 10 full (non-CoVID) seasons.

David Herbek ('12) – Baseball (2008-2011)

David Herbek was a steady hand at the key position of shortstop across one of the best four-year stretches in program history for the Diamond Dukes, which included the program's only two league championships in its history as a freshman in 2008 and as a senior in 2011. He started 191 of his 210 career games and hit .344 with a .591 slugging percentage and .431 on-base percentage while also posting a .953 fielding percentage at shortstop. At one time, Herbek was JMU's career record holder with 55 times hit by pitch and 25 sacrifice flies. He is second in career doubles (62) and was the first player in JMU history with two 20-double seasons. He's also fourth in career RBIs (189), fourth in total bases (439), sixth in games (210), sixth in home runs (35), seventh in runs (189), sixth in defensive assists (506) and 10^th in at bats (745). Herbek paired with Hall of Fame catcher Jake Lowery for the best statistical one-two punch in program history in 2011. Protecting Lowery batting third behind him in the lineup, Herbek earned All-America selection from four different organizations, including First Team from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of Association. He hit .368 in that senior campaign with 20 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 76 RBIs and a JMU season record 10 sacrifice flies. The 76 RBIs were second most in program history, trailing only Lowery's 91 the same 2011 season. He was twice named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award as the nation's best shortstop and was one of 36 semifinalists as a senior for the Dick Howser Trophy for national player of the year. JMU went 141-85 in Herbek's four seasons with CAA Championships in 2008 and 2011 along with a regular season title in 2010. NCAA appearances in 2008 and 2011 included JMU earning a runner-up finish in the Chapel Hill Regional in 2011. Herbek was a 15^th-round selection (471 overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox, reaching as high as Double A in three pro seasons with a .253 average, 44 doubles and 12 home runs.

Kevin Knight ('99) – Men's Soccer (1995-1998)

Kevin Knight was a key midfield presence for JMU men's soccer as a four-year starter under Hall of Fame Head Coach Dr. Tom Martin. He was a two-time All-Region selection (First Team in 1998) and four-time All-Conference in the Colonial Athletic Association (First Team 1997 & 1998, Second Team 1995 & 1996. The CAA placed Knight on its Silver Anniversary Team, marking him as one of the league's top 25 players in its first 25 years of operation. Knight was also a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar-Athlete All-America selection (1996, 1997) and a two-time All-State honoree (1997, 1998). His 80 career starts ranks third in program history while his 22 career assists place him in a tie for ninth all time. Overall, Knight started all 80 matches he appeared in with 48 points on 13 goals and 22 assists. He had two game-winning goals. As a team, JMU went 56-21-7 in Knight's four seasons. In 1995 as a freshman, Knight and the Dukes captured the CAA regular season championship and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA championship, advancing to the national quarterfinals. The 1996 squad was CAA runner up and also claimed a NCAA bid. JMU was ranked top 10 in national polls at some point of each of his first three seasons as well as top 15 in his final year in 1998. After JMU, Knight was selected in the Second Round (No. 16 overall) of the 1999 MLS Draft by the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls. He logged 732 minutes with eight starts as a defender in one MLS season. He continued his pro career with the Richmond Kickers in the United Soccer League (USL) for 10 seasons (2000-2009).

Vad Lee ('15) – Football (2014-2015)

One decade after its 2004 national title (and multiple other playoff appearances), JMU football was seeking a jolt to elevate its program further to a consistent higher echelon of college football. That spark came in the form of quarterback Vad Lee, a starter at Georgia Tech whose arrival with JMU football ignited a rise to national relevance that continues to present day. With Lee at the helm, JMU went 18-7 in two seasons while putting up prolific offensive numbers not seen previously in program history. A dual-threat talent, Lee was 446-705 passing for 5,652 yards and 51 touchdowns while also rushing 292 times for 1,640 yards and another 17 touchdowns. An All-American in both JMU campaigns, Lee finished fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award as national offensive player of the year as a junior. He was Third Team All-American by both the Associated Press and Sports Network. As a senior, he was CAA Offensive Player of the Year and a College Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American. He became the first player ever to repeat as winner of the Bill Dudley Award as best Division I football player in Virginia. Lee posted perhaps the best single-game performance in JMU history when the FCS Dukes defeated FBS SMU on the road in 2015 with Lee compiling 276 yards on the ground and 289 through the air. He became the first player in Division I history to surpass 275 yards rushing and passing in the same game and earned a feature profile from ESPN's Big Man on Campus segment. The 276 yards rushing were a JMU record by any player, not just a quarterback. The achievement and JMU's overall offensive fireworks earned ESPN's attention as the Dukes were selected to host the program's first appearance on ESPN's College GameDay on Oct. 24, 2015. Lee owns four of the top seven marks for total offense in a game in school history and set the JMU record for season total offense with 4,288 in 2014. He may have topped his own record in 2015 if not for an injury suffered during the College GameDay matchup that kept him from four games but didn't prevent him from still earning the CAA's top offensive honor. While playing just two JMU seasons, including one injury-impacted, he ranks third in career passing touchdowns, third in total yards of offense (7,292), sixth in passing yards and sixth in pass completions. Lee and the Dukes made the playoffs each season in 2014 and 2015, starting a streak that still stands through 2025 of either making the FCS playoffs or earning an FBS bowl appearance in every season eligible. Lee's professional pursuits included stints with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in 2016, the DC Defenders of XFL in 2020 and the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League in 2022. He has continued his involvement in college football as a broadcast analyst, a touring speaker and a leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Ed Perry ('97) – Football (1992-1996)

Ed Perry was a three-time All-American for JMU football as a tight end before then continuing to a nine-year NFL career as a long snapper. Prior to the 2004 national title, Perry's JMU football career from 1993 to 1996 stood as the best four-year record for the Dukes at 31-16 with playoff appearances in 1994 and 1995. The 1994 team was the first to post 10 wins as Perry logged a career-high 533 yards on 39 receptions with three touchdowns. In an era in which tight ends were not as often featured offensively as the modern era, Perry accumulated 1,283 career yards receiving on 113 receptions with six touchdowns while averaging 11.4 yards per catch. He was a First Team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation in both 1995 and 1996 while also earning Third Team All-America accolades from Sports Network in 1994 and 1995. He was First Team All-Conference in the Yankee Conference all three seasons and First Team All-State all three years by both the Roanoke Times and Virginia Sports Information Directors. Perry was drafted in the sixth round (No. 177 overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He played eight seasons with the Dolphins followed by the 2005 campaign with the Kansas City Chiefs. While he played primarily as a long snapper in 109 career NFL games, he also logged 39 receptions for 308 yards as a tight end with two career touchdowns.

Therese Wolden Cooper ('99) – Women's Soccer (1995-1998)

Therese Wolden Cooper was a top offensive weapon for the Dukes during one of the best four-year stretches in program history. Nearly 30 years later, she still ranks third in career goals with 39, tied for third in career points (101) and ninth in career assists (23). She was a two-time All-Region selection (1997, 1998) and a three-time All-CAA honoree, including First Team in 1996 and 1998. Wolden's highest point total came as a senior with 32 points on 11 goals and a career-best 10 assists. She also posted 11 goals as a sophomore to go with five assists. As a junior, she tallied nine goals and four assists in a career-best 22 matches. She emerged as freshman with eight goals and four assists. Ultimately, she participated in 82 career matches and recorded seven game-winning goals. As a team, under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Dave Lombardo, the Dukes went 56-29-6 overall in four seasons, including 20-8-3 in CAA games. Her freshman squad won the program's first Colonial Athletic Association title and earned the program's first NCAA bid. That began a streak of five straight NCAA appearances, encompassing all four of Wolden's JMU seasons. The Dukes reached the national round of 16 in both 1995 and 1996 as well as the round of 32 in 1997 and 1998. JMU shared the CAA regular season title in 1996 and was nationally ranked in each of Wolden's four seasons, including the program's best final rank of 14^th in 1996.

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