University of Memphis Athletics
Seven Tigers Honored at Memphis Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony
Oct 11, 2023 | General
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Sports Hall of Fame celebrated their annual induction ceremony on Tuesday night at Autozone Park. Among the honorees included seven Memphis Tiger greats: Elma Roane, Tamika Whitmore, Sharon Watson, Allie Prescott III, Richard Mulrooney, Phil Clark and Jack Eaton.
Elma Roane, the first Women's Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator for the University of Memphis, has been revered as the backbone of Tiger women's sports. Serving as the head coach for the Memphis Tiger women's basketball team from 1955-70, as well as volleyball and badminton, Roane held her administration position in the Memphis Athletic Department for more than 50 years before retiring in 1984 after serving on numerous committees, earning awards and Hall of Fame inductions.
Tamika Whitmore, a women's basketball student-athlete from 1995-99, finished her career with 2,488 points, ranking second in the program's history, and 952 rebounds, ranking her fourth in Tiger women's basketball history. A two-time Conference USA Player of the Year and three-time All-American was drafted to the WNBA's New York Liberty following her career in Memphis and played 11 seasons in New York, Indiana and Connecticut while simultaneously competing internationally in Spain, France, Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic.
Sharon Watson, a Tiger volleyball standout during the 1971 and 1972 seasons, led the team to a 35-14 record over the two seasons while picking up notable wins over Tennessee, Houston and Ole Miss. Watson would go on coach at Briarcrest Christian School for 22 years where she held a 554-178 record. With the Lady Saints, Watson and crew made 13 trips to the TSSAA State Tournament and were crowned champions four times. The Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1987, Watson served as the Principal at Briarcrest Middle School for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2016.
Allie Prescott III, a four-year standout pitcher and first baseman for the Tiger baseball team, was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team in 1968 after compiling a 4-2 pitching record while boasting a .318 batting average. In his career, Prescott hit .309 and helped the Tigers to an overall 71-44-2 record. Prescott would graduate from the University of Memphis in 1969 and received his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1972.
Richard Mulrooney, head men's soccer coach and Memphis native, has served at the helm of the Tigers since 2014 after a successful 12-year career in Major League Soccer and with the United State Men's National Team from 2001-04 where he made 14 appearances in the squad's 2002 Gold Cup win. Mulrooney would lead the Tiger's to a historic 2022 season when they earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament – their first trip to the 'Big Dance' since the 2004 season. In his tenure at Memphis, Mulrooney has coached 26 All-Conference selections and five All-Region honorees.
Phil Clark, a stellar catcher for the Tiger baseball team, would lead Memphis to one of its best seasons in program history in 1978. Clark carried a .328 batting average and worked directly with the pitching staff that got the team to a 40-9 record and a berth to the NCAA South Regional championship Clark would go on to coach at Germantown High School where he won the 1995 National Championship and was named as the USA Today National Coach of the Year.
Jack Eaton, the legendary voice of Tiger football and basketball for more than 28 years, came to Memphis in 1956 to work for WMC-TV & Radio as its Sports Director before retiring in June 1991. Eaton, a 2011 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame honoree, Eaton is still known to this day as the Voice of the Tigers after being courtside for every Tigers basketball game, including Larry Finch and company's 1973 National Championship game.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Athletics, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the department's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Elma Roane, the first Women's Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator for the University of Memphis, has been revered as the backbone of Tiger women's sports. Serving as the head coach for the Memphis Tiger women's basketball team from 1955-70, as well as volleyball and badminton, Roane held her administration position in the Memphis Athletic Department for more than 50 years before retiring in 1984 after serving on numerous committees, earning awards and Hall of Fame inductions.
Tamika Whitmore, a women's basketball student-athlete from 1995-99, finished her career with 2,488 points, ranking second in the program's history, and 952 rebounds, ranking her fourth in Tiger women's basketball history. A two-time Conference USA Player of the Year and three-time All-American was drafted to the WNBA's New York Liberty following her career in Memphis and played 11 seasons in New York, Indiana and Connecticut while simultaneously competing internationally in Spain, France, Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic.
Sharon Watson, a Tiger volleyball standout during the 1971 and 1972 seasons, led the team to a 35-14 record over the two seasons while picking up notable wins over Tennessee, Houston and Ole Miss. Watson would go on coach at Briarcrest Christian School for 22 years where she held a 554-178 record. With the Lady Saints, Watson and crew made 13 trips to the TSSAA State Tournament and were crowned champions four times. The Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1987, Watson served as the Principal at Briarcrest Middle School for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2016.
Allie Prescott III, a four-year standout pitcher and first baseman for the Tiger baseball team, was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team in 1968 after compiling a 4-2 pitching record while boasting a .318 batting average. In his career, Prescott hit .309 and helped the Tigers to an overall 71-44-2 record. Prescott would graduate from the University of Memphis in 1969 and received his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1972.
Richard Mulrooney, head men's soccer coach and Memphis native, has served at the helm of the Tigers since 2014 after a successful 12-year career in Major League Soccer and with the United State Men's National Team from 2001-04 where he made 14 appearances in the squad's 2002 Gold Cup win. Mulrooney would lead the Tiger's to a historic 2022 season when they earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament – their first trip to the 'Big Dance' since the 2004 season. In his tenure at Memphis, Mulrooney has coached 26 All-Conference selections and five All-Region honorees.
Phil Clark, a stellar catcher for the Tiger baseball team, would lead Memphis to one of its best seasons in program history in 1978. Clark carried a .328 batting average and worked directly with the pitching staff that got the team to a 40-9 record and a berth to the NCAA South Regional championship Clark would go on to coach at Germantown High School where he won the 1995 National Championship and was named as the USA Today National Coach of the Year.
Jack Eaton, the legendary voice of Tiger football and basketball for more than 28 years, came to Memphis in 1956 to work for WMC-TV & Radio as its Sports Director before retiring in June 1991. Eaton, a 2011 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame honoree, Eaton is still known to this day as the Voice of the Tigers after being courtside for every Tigers basketball game, including Larry Finch and company's 1973 National Championship game.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Athletics, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the department's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Memphis Athletics: 2025 Hoops For St Jude Press Conference-September 2, 2025
Tuesday, September 02
NIL Summit 2025
Friday, March 07
Soccer Stadium Fly Through
Monday, January 27
Memphis Athletics: One on One with Dr. Ed Scott- July 1, 2024
Monday, July 01