Induction Ceremony — April 14, 2001
APRIL LONG | Softball (1993-1995)
She “owned” the Lady Warrior record book at the time of her departure for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and a productive two-year playing career there. Her name appeared at the top of the charts in four single-season offensive categories and seven of eight career rankings. Six years later, at the time of her Hall of Fame induction, the fleet-footed centerfielder/pitcher still held both single-season and career marks for triples – 20 and 29, respectively – and runs batted in – 90 and 138. N Named Second-Team NJCAA All-America following sophomore season in which she drove in those 90 RBIs in 58 games to rank fourth nationally.
The two-time Lady Warrior “Most Valuable Player” led her team to a 27-8 spring record and Great Rivers Athletic Conference crown as a freshman and a record 37-21 mark the next year, when she was 9-5 on the mound and hit a team-best .461. N Also earned All-Region XXIV and All-GRAC distinction both seasons and considered by many to be the best defensive outfielder to play for Lady Warriors. Single-season records were all set her second season when her 94 hits included eight home runs. Career-wise, she finished with 157 hits (348 AB, a .451 average), 105 runs scored, 25 doubles and 13 home runs, all-time bests at the time.
⭐ Slugging percentages were even more phenomenal – .750 in ’93-94, .838 in ’94-95, .802 career.
JIM “HUMMER” WAUGH | Basketball Coach (1966-1995)
Here is proof nice guys don’t always finish last. In a coaching career that covered almost every sport the college offered, the man known affectionately as “Hummer” won friends for Rend Lake College while winning 501 basketball games, including the first seven seasons in the prep ranks, 15 as coach of the Warrior men from 1966-81 and 14 with the Lady Warriors from 1981-95. As a result, he earned induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995. He also spent 17 of those years at RLC as Athletic Director.
⭐ The gym was named in his honor during ceremonies November 18, 1995. “Jim was a positive influence on every person he met,” President Mark S. Kern said, “and many former players are now involved in coaching.”
⭐ His Lady Warriors averaged 18 wins per season and made him GRAC “Coach of the Year” in 1987; they posted 22-, 26- and 25-win campaigns from 1985-88.
⭐ The men won two SICC titles and were 20-6 in 1972-73 and 21-12 in 1979-80.
⭐ Twelve softball seasons (216-150) produced a third-place Region XXIV showing in 1991-92.
⭐ He received the 1991 “Faculty Excellence Award” and was NJCAA Region XXIV Women’s Director when he retired.
⭐ The Terre Haute, IN, native played three sports at Indiana State University. He and his wife, Lila, are the parents of two daughters and have three grandsons.
Coach Waugh passed away in 2018.