Hall Of Fame
Chad Tracy, Clyde Simms, Jack McCann, Carol Johnson and the late Dr. Jimmie Grimsley to be enshrined
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The East Carolina University Department of Athletics has announced the names of five new members who will be enshrined into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony on Friday, Sept. 25 inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
The newest members of the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame are Chad Tracy (baseball), Clyde Simms (soccer), Jack McCann (swimming), Carol Shacklett Johnson (swimming) and the late Dr. Jimmie Grimsley (supporter).
The class will be introduced publically at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium during halftime of the Sept. 26 football game against Virginia Tech. Since it was established in 1974, 153 former student-athletes, coaches and administrators have been elected to the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Tracy was a member of three Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship teams that received consecutive number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament from 1999 to 2001. Twice he was named to the all- regional team and selected as the 2001 NCAA Wilson Regional Most Outstanding Player. He earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior in 2001, leading the Pirates into their first-ever NCAA Super Regional before forgoing his senior season to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tracy was selected CAA Rookie-of-the- Year in 1999 and was named to the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America Team, setting ECU rookie records for batting average (.349) and hits (83). He finished his three-year career at ECU ranked among the school’s all-time top 10 in batting average (.339), hits (249), RBIs (154), doubles (48) and total bases (373).
Simms is the first men’s soccer player to be elected to the ECU Athletic Hall of Fame. As a freshman in 1992, Simms was named Second-Team All-CAA and later received Third-Team All-Conference USA honors as a junior in 2002 and as a senior in 2003. A four-year letterman, he donned the purple and gold in 73 games. Following his collegiate career, Simms played professionally for 10 years, including nine seasons in Major League Soccer for D.C. United (2005-11) and the New England Revolution (2012-13). In 2005, he participated in the U.S. National Team camp in preparation for a World Cup qualifier match. Earlier this year, Simms became the first ECU player inducted to the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame.
Johnson, a six-time All-American, is the third member of the ECU women’s swimming and diving program to be elected to the Athletics Hall of Fame. As a freshman in 1980, Johnson earned All-America honors in three individual events and four relays, setting a pair of school freshmen records. The following season, she collected All-America accolades in the 50-yard backstroke and the 100-yard IM in addition to the 200-yard freestyle and medley relays. Johnson completed her eligibility in 1983 as the owner of varsity records in the 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard butterfly and 100-yard IM. She was also a member of four varsity record relay teams during her ECU tenure, cumulating in eight total school marks.
McCann was also a six-time All-American and is the fifth member of the Pirates’ 1959 NAIA National Championship swimming and diving team elected into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame, joining Thomas Carroll, Glen Dyer, Ted Gartman and Robert Sawyer along with coach Ray Martinez. McCann collected individual All- America accolades three times, earning the recognition in the 200-yard breaststroke in 1959 and ’60. He also achieved All-America status in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1960. In addition, he was part of three All-America relay teams and set numerous pool and meet records. McCann received his bachelor’s degree in 1961. Prior to enrolling at East Carolina College in 1957, McCann served in the United States Marine Corps. He is recognized for his long lasting contribution to the sport by perfecting the “whip kick,” which is still used today.
Grimsley will be inducted posthumously, following his unexpected passing earlier this year. An ECU graduate, his service and contributions to Pirate athletics began in 1967 as a faculty member before spending his entire career here. For more than four decades, Grimsley served as the clock operator for ECU football and men’s and women’s basketball, working more than 1,300 games. He also served as the head coach of both the men’s soccer and tennis teams from 1967-69. Grimsley also acted as a liaison with the athletic department’s student development area in advising student-athletes and assisted with on-campus recruiting of prospective student-athletes. He was instrumental in bringing the NCHSAA Eastern Regional Basketball Tournament to Greenville and served as the director of the event. He is widely recognized by the university and community for his contributions to intercollegiate and high school sports.
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