Cumberland Today-Summer 01 - University of the Cumberlands

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame
2001 Inductees
Three graduates and a distinguished coach were inducted
into the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame during half time
of the Men’s Basketball game against Cumberland
University on February 24, 2001. The Athletic Hall of
Fame was established to recognize Cumberland College alumni,
teams, coaches, or other individuals who have made a significant contribution
to the Cumberland College athletic program. This year the
Alumni Association recognized the achievements of Henry Garrison,
Jim Rollins, Barbara Spratling, and Randy Vernon.
Henry “Skyler” Garrison
Henry “Skyler”
Garrison
Garrison, a 1957 graduate,
came to Cumberland College in
1955, following a successful basketball
career at Clay County High
School. He was a member of the
team that won the first three
regional championships for Clay
County High School and was
named to the All-District and All-
Regional teams each year. He was
named to the All-State team in
1955. Garrison was a 2-year starter for Cumberland College during
its junior college days and averaged approximately 20 points per game
each year. He was voted as Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 1956
and 1957. Upon completing his studies at Cumberland, he received
a scholarship to attend the University of Tennessee and graduated
with a BS in teaching in 1959. Garrison returned to teach at Clay
County High School from 1959 until 1969. During this time, he
served three years as an Assistant Basketball Coach and seven years as
head basketball coach, leading the team to win two regional championships.
He was self-employed from 1969 until 1990, when he again
returned to the Clay County School System to serve as the transportation
director until 1998. “Skyler” Garrison is currently serving
as the maintenance supervisor for the Clay County Board of
Education and he resides in Manchester, KY.
Jim Rollins
Rollins arrived on the
Cumberland College campus in the
fall of 1964 and immediately began
his career as a dual sport athlete. He
became a starter on the basketball
squad during his second semester
and averaged 17.1 points per game.
Jim continued to excel on the basketball
court setting a school record
for free throws at 87.3% during his
sophomore year and being named
to the ALL-KIAC Conference team
Jim Rollins
during both his sophomore and junior years. He was also selected as
runner-up to Player of the Year as a junior. He was an All-American
candidate during his senior year until he injured his knee and ended
his college basketball career. During his days at Cumberland, Jim also
made his mark as a member of the golf team. He posted an undefeated
record of 12-0-1 during his freshman season, with an overall
career record of 55-10-1. Jim placed in the top four in the KIAC
Tournament during each of his four seasons on the golf team and he
participated in two NAIA National Tournaments. He scored a career
average below 76.0. Following his graduation from Cumberland,
Rollins accepted a position at Bethel-Tate High School in Bethel,
OH, where he coached Basketball and Golf. He was once recognized
as Basketball Coach of the Year, and received 16 Coach of the Year
awards as a Golf Coach. He was inducted into the Ohio State Golf
Coaches Hall of Fame in 1986. Rollins is Past-President of the
Greater Cincinnati Golf Coaches Association and is a Class A member
of the Professional Golfers Association of America. He currently
resides in Highland Heights, KY.
Barbara Spratling
Barbara Spratling
Spratling, a 1990 graduate,
attended the University of Alabama
at Huntsville before transferring to
Cumberland in 1986 where she
played in 54 games, scoring a total
of 989 points, and handed out 135
assists. In her two seasons at
Cumberland, the team compiled a
47-16 record, won two NAIA
District 32 Championships and
one KIAC Championship. The
team also compiled a 19-1 KIAC
regular season record and played in two NAIA Championships.
Barbara has the second highest career scoring record in women’s basketball
history, with 18.3 points per game. Her 21.1 single season
scoring average for the 1986-87 season is still the highest in the history
of the team. She scored 25 or more points 11 times and set a
career high of 31 against Alice Lloyd College. Barbara was twice
named an All-KIAC and All-NAIA District 32 player and was
named as Honorable Mention NAIA All-American in 1988.
Following her graduation from Cumberland, Barbara spent a year
with Athletes in Action before returning to Oak Ridge, TN. For the
last 11 years she has served as a Facility Monitor and Recreation
Coordinator for the City of Oak Ridge, where she is currently serving
as the Acting Recreation Specialist.
Randy Vernon
Vernon became the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Cumberland
College in 1979. In his 21 years as head coach, he established
Cumberland basketball’s place as a nationally recognized and respected
program. Vernon compiled a career record of 529 wins and 183
16