This Hall of Fame induction class includes former men’s basketball head coach and 2003 ACC Coach of the Year Skip Prosser, women’s soccer icon Aubrey Bledsoe, 2007 NCAA National Champion Ike Opara, perhaps the best fullback in Demon Deacons lore Ovie Mughelli, 2023 Trailblazer Award recipient Keeva Jackson-Breland, renowned golf course designer Bill Coore, legendary men’s basketball alum Ish Smith and 2011 ACC Women’s Golf Individual Champion Cheyenne Woods.
During their Wake Forest careers, this incredible group of Demon Deacons featured 12 All-ACC
selections, eight All-American selections, four NCAA College Cup appearances, men’s soccer’s
first National Championship in 2007, a 2003 ACC Coach of the Year selection, a trailblazing path in women’s basketball and multiple program and NCAA records.
This class will officially be inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.
Additionally, Wake Forest will honor longtime administrator Lynne Heflin as the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
2024-25 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Lynne Heflin (Men’s Basketball, Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award)
Served as the administrative assistant to the head coach for 35 years, becoming the heartbeat of Wake Forest basketball.
Honored as the 2025 Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient for her dedication and impact on Wake Forest Athletics.
Began her career at Wake Forest in 1985, hired by then-Athletic Director Gene Hooks, whom she saw as a father figure.
Worked under six head coaches: Bob Staak, Dave Odom, Skip Prosser, Dino Gaudio, Jeff Bzdelik, and Danny Manning.
Managed schedules, budgets, and day-to-day operations of the basketball program.
Played a key role in fostering relationships within the program, serving as the glue that held it together.
Organized ticket lists, handled autographed basketball requests, and supported players both on and off the court.
Maintained lifelong connections with student-athletes, ensuring they always felt part of the Wake Forest family.
Bill Coore (Men’s Golf)
1968 graduate of Wake Forest University, has made his mark on the golf world serving as a world-renowned golf course architect for over 50 years.
Began professional design and construction career in 1972 with the firm of Pete Dye and Associates.
Was involved in the design, construction and maintenance of golf courses in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Canada, and Texas.
Played much of his early golf at the Donald Ross courses of Pinehurst and the Perry Maxwell designed Old Town Club in Winston-Salem.
Considers Old Town as a cornerstone for his first understanding of golf’s compelling design.
Has achieved prominence in golf through his course designs along with partner Ben Crenshaw. Coore and Crenshaw joined forces as a design team in 1985.
The duo have created some of America’s most talked-about courses, not to mention layouts in Europe, Asia and Australia.
In 2012, Coore and Crenshaw completed perhaps their most notable project, restoring the revered No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort, a golfing mecca in the North Carolina Sandhills.
Designed by legendary Scottish architect Donald Ross and opened in 1907, Pinehurst No. 2 has hosted major tournaments throughout its history, including U.S. Opens in 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024.
Donald Ross Award recipient, given by The American Society of Golf Course Architects to those making the most significant contributions to the game. Other winners include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and President George Bush.
The Old Town course has jumped 45 places in the Golf Digest rankings since it debuted in 2019.
In the 2023-24 GOLF Magazine course rankings, Old Town Club received No. 38 in Top 100 Courses in the U.S. and No. 84 in Top 100 Courses in the World.
Skip Prosser (Men’s Basketball)
Wake Forest men’s basketball head coach, 2001-07.
In six years at Wake Forest, compiled a record of 126-68.
Coached Wake Forest to four NCAA Tournament berths including the Sweet 16 in 2004.
Spent seven years as the head coach at Xavier (1995-2001) and compiled a record of 125-60.
Career record of 291-146 in 14 seasons.
Coached one year at Loyola (MD) and compiled a 17-13 record.
The only NCAA Division I coach to take three teams to the NCAA Tournament in his first year as head coach.
Led Wake Forest to 2003 ACC regular season championship for the first time in 40 years.
2003 ACC Coach of the Year as well as NABC and USBWA District Coach of the Year.
Won 100 games faster than all but two ACC coaches in the 55-year history of the conference.
Coached Wake Forest to a No. 1 national ranking during the 2004-05 season.
Led Wake Forest to a school record 27 wins in 2005.
During his 14-year career, won four conference regular season championships and two tournament titles.
Had nine 20-win seasons in 14 years.
A lasting impact from his legacy continues in the Wake Forest community through The Skip Prosser Literacy Program. This initiative is a collaboration between Wake Forest’s Department of Education, Wake Forest Athletics, Wake Forest Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, WFU Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and BookmarksNC.
Ike Opara (Men’s Soccer)
An impact player from the start for the Demon Deacons, set program freshman records for starts (23) and appearances (26) while earning Soccer America first-team All-American honors as Wake Forest would win the 2007 NCAA National Championship.
As a sophomore, his leadership helped lead Wake Forest to a third-straight College Cup. appearance while being named the second ACC Defensive Player of the Year in program history, earning All-ACC honors and first-team All-American honors from TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News.
Set career-highs in points (10), goals (five), and game-winning goals (two) during the season.
Completed Wake Forest career in 2009, once again guiding the Deacs to the College Cup, while starting all 17 of his appearances and being selected as an All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, Soccer America, College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.
Claimed ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and was named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.
Finished decorated Demon Deacon career appearing in 65 matches with 62 starts before being selected with the No. 3-overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes.
As a professional, appeared in 180 matches between the 2010-21 seasons, earning appearances with the Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United.
Earned MLS Defender of the Year honors twice (2017 and 2019), MLS Best XI selections twice (2017 and 2019), two US Open Cup titles (2015 and 2017) and the MLS Cup in 2013.
Earned a United States Men’s National Team call-up in 2018 and played the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Keeva Jackson-Breland (Women’s Basketball)
Playing for the Demon Deacons in the 1980s, was one of the first two African-American women’s student-athletes to receive scholarships at Wake Forest.
A standout on the hardwood for the Demon Deacons women’s basketball program and their leadership as individuals of color played a monumental role in the integration of athletics at Wake Forest.
Jackson-Breland, along with teammate Sonya Henderson, was recognized for her contributions to Wake Forest Athletics with the 2023 Trailblazer Award, celebrating Wake Forest student-athletes, alumni, staff and community members who have blazed trails in the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity and other important social issues that better the lives of others in the Pro Humanitate tradition that is the central spirit of Wake Forest University.
Earned honorable mention All-America honors during her time at Wake Forest. Through three seasons, she led her teams in scoring twice, rebounding three times, and steals twice.
As a sophomore, Jackson-Breland averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game as a sophomore, adding 82 steals and 19 blocked shots.
Aubrey Bledsoe Kingsbury (Women’s Soccer)
One of only three Demon Deacons to be named an All-American three times, earning third team honors from the NSCAA in 2011 and 2012 and second team honors in 2013.
Was Wake Forest’s first Capital One Academic All-American, earning the honors in 2012 and 2013. She was named the ACC Tournament MVP in the 2010 after stopping three penalty kicks in the final against Maryland to help lead the Demon Deacons to their first ACC Championship.
Also a three-time All-ACC selection, twice making the first team.
Wake Forest career record holder for shutouts (33), goals against average (0.91), games played and started (94) and minutes played in goal (8,692).
Finished career second in NCAA Division I history and first in ACC history in minutes played by a goalkeeper and seventh on the ACC career shutout chart.
Started every game that Wake Forest played during her four seasons.
Since graduating from Wake Forest, has been a phenomenal pro player, spending the last six years with the Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
Won the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award twice in 2019 and 2021 in addition to winning the NWSL Championship in 2021.
Has made two international appearances for the United States Women’s National Team, earning her first call up in 2019.
Ovie Mughelli (Football)
Played in 43 games during his career with the Demon Deacons, rushing 137 times for 530 yards.
As a senior, broke out as one of the nation’s top fullbacks scoring 12 times as Wake Forest went 7-6 and to the Seattle Bowl.
During senior year, earned first team All-ACC honors.
Was also rated the No. 1 fullback by USA Today in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Selected with the 134th overall pick (fourth round) of the 2003 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Was just the second fullback selected in Baltimore’s franchise history. Additionally, was also the first ever Wake Forest player selected by the Ravens.
During his 10 year career in the NFL, played for the Ravens (2003-06), Falcons (2007-11) and Rams (2012).
Was selected to the Pro Bowl twice in 2006 and 2010 and also earned All-Pro honors in 2010.
Perfected the blocking part of his game as well as becoming sure-handed out of the backfield.
In rookie season, was the lead blocker for Jamal Lewis who went on to have one of just eight 2,000-yard rushing seasons in NFL history that season.
Over career, was also one of the best receiving fullbacks in the league, pulling in 62 receptions and 490 receiving yards in his career.
Found the endzone seven times.
Ish Smith (Men’s Basketball)
Regarded as one of the top all-around players in Wake Forest men’s basketball history.
Began his Wake Forest career in 2006 and became just the fifth freshman in ACC history to lead the league in assists.
Broke Wake Forest’s all-time assist record, surpassing Chris Paul.
Helped lead the Demon Deacons to three winning ACC seasons and one NCAA tournament berth.
Only player in Wake Forest history with 1,000 points and 600 assists.
Ranks sixth in Wake Forest history with 3,667 career points.
First Demon Deacon with 1,000 points, 500 assists, and 400 rebounds in his career.
Three-year team captain, showing leadership and resilience despite an injury in his junior year.
Graduated with a degree in religion before beginning his NBA career as an undrafted free agent with the Toronto Raptors.
Played for 13 NBA teams, the most in league history, including two stints with the Charlotte Hornets.
In the 2022-2023 season, won an NBA Championship with the Denver Nuggets.
Over his 14-year NBA career, averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 19.2 minutes per game.
Currently serves as a professional scout for the Washington Wizards.
Alphonso Smith (Football)
Began his Wake Forest career in 2005 as a freshman.
Named to multiple Freshman All-American teams, including:
First-team by CollegeFootballNews.com, ESPN.com, and Scout.com.
Second-team by The Sporting News and Rivals.com.
Sporting News ACC All-Freshman Team.
Helped Wake Forest win the 2006 ACC Championship.
2007 Season (Junior Year):
Recorded a 100-yard interception return vs. Maryland, the longest in school history, sparking a 24-3 comeback win.
Finished the season with eight interceptions, setting a Wake Forest single-season record and leading both the nation and ACC.
Named to First-team All-ACC and received multiple All-America honors:
Second-team by Walter Camp.
Third-team by Associated Press.
Honorable mention by Sports Illustrated.
2008 Season (Senior Year):
Recorded seven interceptions.
Named First-team All-ACC for the second consecutive year.
Earned First-team All-America honors from:
Associated Press, AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp, and CBS Sports.
Earned Second-team All-America honors from:
The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Phil Steele, and Rivals.
Finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player.
Holds the ACC record for career interceptions (21), which still stands today.
Ranks second in Wake Forest history with 61 career passes defended.
NFL Career:
Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2009 (Round 2, Pick No. 37).
Played for the Detroit Lions (2010-2012).
Cheyenne Woods (Women’s Golf)
Wake Forest Class of 2012 graduate.
Competed in all 38 events of her collegiate career, totaling 125 competitive rounds.
14 career top-10 finishes and 20 additional top-20 finishes.
Held the lowest single-season (73.47) and career scoring averages (74.31) in program history at the time of her graduation.
Two-time All-American and three-time All-ACC honoree.
Won the ACC individual title in 2011, becoming the third consecutive Demon Deacon to do so.
Won the Bryan National Collegiate during her sophomore season in 2010.
Turned professional in 2012 after graduating with a degree in Communications.
Qualified for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open as co-medalist at her qualifier and made her professional debut at the 2012 LPGA Championship.
Earned her first professional win on the SunCoast Ladies Series in August 2012.
Joined the Ladies European Tour in 2013, finishing 78th on the Order of Merit.
Won the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in 2014, her first victory on a major tour.
Finished T-11th in the 2014 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, earning Category 12 LPGA membership.
Earned her LPGA Tour card for 2016 after finishing T-13th in the 2015 Final Qualifying Tournament.
Became the sixth African American to play on the LPGA Tour.
Currently an on-course broadcaster for the Golf Channel.
