ST. LOUIS – The Saint Louis University Department of Athletics has announced a group of 10 individuals and two teams selected for induction into the Billiken Hall of Fame.
 
Induction festivities for the Billiken Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will take place in a private ceremony Friday, Feb. 2, in the Pavilion at Chaifetz Arena. A reception begins at 6 p.m., with the induction ceremony at 7 p.m. The inductees will be recognized at halftime of the Saint Louis-Fordham men's basketball game that tips off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Chaifetz Arena.
 
"It is our privilege to announce the Billiken Hall of Fame Class of 2024," SLU Director of Athletics Chris May said. "These individuals have not only reached a truly outstanding level of achievement in the classroom, in competition and in the community, but they also have been first-class ambassadors for Saint Louis University in their various endeavors. The number of different sports represented by this class is remarkable and indicative of the breadth of our department's success. We await with great anticipation the opportunity to formally welcome this group of highly accomplished Billikens into our Hall of Fame in February."
 
Here is the Billiken Hall of Fame Class of 2024:
 
Billiken Great – Contemporary
SLU student-athletes who competed in the past 30 years
 
Aspen Cervin (Women's Tennis, 2014-17) – Cervin is one of the most decorated players in Saint Louis women's tennis history. The Billiken tennis program's only four-time first-team All-Conference selection (women or men), she was selected Atlantic 10 Conference Most Outstanding Performer in 2016 and A-10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer in 2014. Cervin ranks third in program history in singles wins (84-23 record) and doubles wins (62). She helped lead the Billikens to a runner-up finish at the 2014 A-10 Championship and third-place ties at the conference tournament in 2016 and 2017. Cervin is one of only two players in SLU women's tennis history to be named to the A-10 All-Academic team three times, and she was voted to the 2016 and 2017 CoSIDA (now College Sports Communicators) Academic All-District squads. Saint Louis registered a 63-24 record during Cervin's career, including a school-record 20 wins in 2016.
 
Miller Hogan (Baseball, 2016-18) – Hogan established himself as one of the top pitchers in school history. The right-hander earned A-10 Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-Conference accolades and was selected third-team All-America by Perfect Game/Rawlings and the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2018, posting a 10-4 record (tying the school record for wins), a 2.64 earned run average and a remarkable 9.5:1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio (school-record 133 strikeouts, 14 walks in 105 2/3 innings). Hogan's performance helped power the Billikens to A-10 regular-season and tournament championships, an NCAA tournament appearance, and records of 38-20 overall and 19-4 in league play. He was a second-team All-Conference choice in 2017, producing an 8-3 record and 2.70 ERA, and an A-10 All-Rookie pick in 2016. After concluding his collegiate career second in strikeouts (270), fifth in ERA (2.83) and tied for fifth in wins (21), Hogan became the highest Major League Baseball draft choice in school history by going to Tampa Bay in the sixth round. He has reached the Triple-A level during his professional career.
 
Jenny Kehl (Women's Soccer, 1999-2002) – Kehl was the first SLU women's soccer player to earn first-team All-Conference honors three times and the first to collect College Sports Communicators Academic All-America plaudits (2002 second team). She also was a two-time second-team All-Region selection. Upon graduation, Kehl held the school record of 34 assists, was tied for first with 78 points, and was third with 22 goals; today, she remains among the program's top five in assists (third) and points (tied for fifth), and her seven career game-winning assists are tied for seventh. She is one of only four Billiken women's soccer players to register three or more 20-point seasons, including a career-high 25 in 2000. A forward/midfielder, Kehl led the team in goals and points in 2000 and in assists in 2001 and 2002; her 10 assists in 2001 and 12 helpers (equaling what was then the school record) in 2002 make her the only player in program history with two double-digit assist seasons. The Billikens were 48-24-8 during her career and won the 1999 Conference USA regular-season title.
 
Jackie Kemph (Women's Basketball, 2014-18) – A dynamic point guard, Kemph sparked Saint Louis women's basketball to some of its greatest heights. She became the Billikens' first All-American when she was named honorable mention by the Associated Press in 2015-16, the first of two consecutive seasons in which she captured A-10 Player of the Year laurels. The 2015-16 Billikens tallied a school-record 26 wins (26-8) – the first 20-win season in team history, followed by a 25-9 slate in 2016-17 – tied for their first regular-season league title and reached the third round in the first of three consecutive WNIT appearances. Kemph's inclusion on the A-10 All-Rookie team in 2014-15 was followed by three selections to the All-Conference first team, making her the only Billiken women's basketball player to land on the top unit three times. When she graduated, Kemph was one of only seven players in NCAA Division I women's basketball history to hold her school's career records for both points (1,894) and assists (899), and she also set SLU career marks for free throws made (490), games started (132) and games played (132-tied). In the Bills' single-season record book, she owns four of the top five assist totals, including a school-record 248 in 2016-17; three of the top five point totals; and three of the top eight free throws made totals. Kemph also co-owns Saint Louis single-game records of 15 free throws made, 18 free throw attempts and the best perfect game (12-of-12) from the foul line. In her final year, she was named SLU's Outstanding Female Senior Student-Athlete, was a finalist (top 10) for the Senior CLASS Award for women's basketball, garnered a second selection to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, and was a NACDA Scholar-Athlete selection. Kemph is the program's only three-time selection to the A-10 All-Academic team.
 
Rick Majerus (Men's Basketball, 2007-12) – Majerus lifted Saint Louis men's basketball to national prominence during his five-year tenure as head coach, guiding the Billikens to 95 victories including two 20-win seasons. In his final campaign, he led SLU to a 26-8 record and the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 1998, a 61-54 triumph over Memphis; the Billikens nearly upset top-seeded Michigan State in the next round, falling 65-61. That set the stage for an NCAA appearance in each of the next two seasons following Majerus' passing on Dec. 1, 2012. Also in 2011-12, Saint Louis earned a national ranking for the first time since the 1993-94 season. The 2009-10 Billikens reached postseason play under Majerus as well, placing second in the College Basketball Invitational and finishing with a 23-13 record.
 
Ryan McCoy (Men's Swimming, 2014-18) – McCoy won an astonishing 20 medals (five individual gold, four relay gold, five individual silver, three relay silver, three relay bronze) in A-10 Championships competition. He showed remarkable versatility at the conference meet in his senior year, capturing gold in the 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 800 freestyle relay. Among the 11 (eight individual, three relay) Saint Louis records McCoy owns are school marks in the 100 freestyle (44.03), 200 freestyle (1:35.99), 500 freestyle (4:22.77) and 100 butterfly (46.96). He also ranks third all-time at SLU in the 200 butterfly (1:48.77, which was once the school record) and seventh in the 1000 freestyle (9:41.77). A 2016 Olympic Trials participant, McCoy swam NCAA "B" qualifying times on 11 occasions encompassing four different events. He was the men's Rookie of the Meet at the 2015 A-10 Championships – the first SLU swimmer to earn the award – a four-time Billiken Most Valuable Performer and recipient of 10 A-10 weekly awards.
 
Alex Nickel (Softball, 2014-17) – Nickel holds the distinction of being the only player in Saint Louis softball history to be named to an All-Region first team (2015), and she added a third-team nod in 2017. She garnered first-team All-Conference accolades in 2017, was a second-team choice in 2015, and made the A-10 All-Rookie team and the A-10 Championship All-Tournament team in 2014. A shortstop who started 201 of the Bills' 206 games during her career, Nickel still owns SLU career records for walks (131) and assists (529), ranks among the top five in seven additional categories, and ranks among the top 10 in five others. In addition to the walks and assists records, she held school career marks in batting average (.347), on-base percentage (.460), home runs (30), total bases (349) and runs (168) upon graduation. Nickel was selected to the 2017 A-10 All-Academic team, and she helped lead the Billikens to second place in the 2014 A-10 Championship and a school-record 36 wins in 2015.
 
Tim Ream (Men's Soccer, 2006-09) – Ream, a defender who played in all but one game during his time in Midtown, earned several individual awards while helping lead Saint Louis to four NCAA Championship appearances. His collegiate career culminated with a selection to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (now United Soccer Coaches) All-America third team and A-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2009, a season in which he recorded a career-high 17 points (six goals, five assists). A three-time All-Region (first team twice) and All-Conference (first team once) choice, Ream helped lead SLU to A-10 regular-season crowns in 2006 and 2007 and the 2009 A-10 Championship tournament title. Saint Louis was 52-19-12 overall and 29-6-1 in conference play and posted a 0.93 goals against average during his time as a Billiken. Ream's long and successful professional career began with two seasons as a member of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls. He played four seasons with Bolton, earning the English club's Player of the Year award twice, and is now in his ninth campaign with Fulham of the English Premier League, serving as vice-captain. He was Fulham's 2017-18 Player of the Year. Among Ream's 55 appearances with the U.S. Men's National Team were starting assignments in all four of the team's 2022 FIFA World Cup matches.
 
Distinguished Alumni Award
Student-athletes during their undergraduate days who have made major contributions to the University's athletics program through personal time, effort and interest and through many years of service, and/or have distinguished themselves as exceptional in their chosen field of endeavor. 
 
Tom Strunk (Men's Soccer) – As Chief Financial Officer of St. Louis-based World Wide Technology, Inc., Strunk is responsible for ensuring WWT has the working capital financing and operating structure in place to support its ambitious goals and mission. His leadership and vision are widely recognized as key components to the company's transformational growth from a small startup in the 1990s into a global technology solutions provider with more than $17 billion in revenue. Strunk's growth mentality and investment mindset have helped shape the identity of the company today – working diligently to help WWT capitalize on major investments such as the Advanced Technology Center, supply chain integration centers, the company's global expansion into more than 130 countries, and broadening of its go-to market strategy. He also leads WWT's Facilities, Legal and Environmental, Social and Governance teams, and he works closely with fellow executive team members and others in WWT's Integrated Management and Leadership program, which underpins the company's award-winning culture and ability to make a positive impact on its people, communities and customers. Strunk routinely delivers company-wide development sessions that center around WWT core values such as trust, coaching and having difficult conversations. He also is the executive sponsor of WWT ABLE, an internal employee resource group that strives to create a culture of awareness and inclusion in the workforce for people with disabilities and their families. A former SLU soccer teammate of WWT CEO Jim Kavanaugh and company president Joe Koenig, Strunk played for the Billikens from 1985-88 and was a member of three NCAA Tournament teams. He has an ownership stake in St. Louis CITY SC and was instrumental in developing the plan to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to St. Louis. Strunk also is a board member of the St. Louis Scott Gallagher soccer club, the St. Louis Sports Commission and Edward Jones YMCA.
 
Bauman Sportsmanship Award
Individuals, not necessarily former student-athletes or alumni, who have made outstanding contributions to Billiken Athletics through the demonstration of the highest principles of integrity, honesty and fair play without consideration for self-gain. 
 
Joe Conran – Saint Louis University Board of Trustees Chair Joe Conran has been a Board member since 2012. A 1967 (B.A.) and 1970 (J.D.) SLU graduate, he was managing editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal. Conran was a U.S. Air Force captain and judge advocate before entering private practice, serving as chief prosecuting attorney for Travis Air Force Base in California, one of the world's busiest court-martial jurisdictions. A former Executive Board member and former co-chair of the law firm Husch Blackwell LLC, and now serving in an Of Counsel capacity with the firm, he has been lauded for his work on numerous occasions, most recently as a 2023 Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer. Conran is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, a Center for Public Resources Distinguished Neutral and a Benchmark Litigation Local Litigation Star. He has earned recognition from The Best Lawyers in America® and Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers and has received the Cardinal Joseph Ritter Award and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Award of Merit. Conran was an organizer of the Trial Practice Institute, an annual three-day seminar that trains young lawyers in development of a comprehensive, well-organized approach to litigation. In addition to his service on the SLU Board of Trustees, Conran is a member of SLU's School of Law Dean's Advisory Council and Arena Campaign Committee. He also serves on the boards of Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School, Grand Center Inc., Logos School, March of Dimes St. Louis Division, and Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation, and he is a former member of the St. Louis Ambassadors Board of Directors.
 
Bob Burnes Award
Billiken teams that have brought recognition and prominence to the University and themselves by athletic accomplishment.
 
2006 Women's Soccer Team – The 2006 Billikens, led by head coach Tim Champion, captured the A-10 Championship title and played in the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive season. SLU compiled a 15-4-2 record, defeating Rhode Island and Fordham in the conference tournament and Drake in the NCAA Championship opener before falling to Illinois in the second round. Team members – Katie Allgaier, Lauren Bozesky, Julia Bradenberg, Katy Brooks, Molly Burke, Heather Crawford, Jessica DeStefano, Maggie Farrell, Liz Fox, Susan Frederickson, Abby Goellner, Mary Green, Tara Gresco, Dee Guempel, Molly Hartmann, Ashley Hayes, Kim Hemmig, Maureen Hughes, Courtney Hulcer, Hannah Koesterer, Katie Mansell, Katie Monterosso, Erin O'Brien, Lauren Olson, Kristen Sapienza, Sally Sinclair, Jacqui Smith, Allison Sole, Caroline Sweeney, Alex Twellman, Kelly Waeckerle, Cassi Winchell, Megan Yossi, Amber Zdanovec, head coach Tim Champion, assistant coach Kelly Young, assistant coach Brian Korbesmeyer and assistant coach Rob LaMear.
 
2011-12 Men's Basketball Team – The 2011-12 Billikens finished 26-8 and made the first of three consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, earning an at-large bid. SLU defeated Memphis in its NCAA opener, then pushed top-seeded Michigan State to the brink before the Spartans prevailed 65-61. Team members – Jake Barnett, Kyle Cassity, Brian Conklin, Brian Daly, Cody Ellis, Dwayne Evans, Grant Gehlen, Grandy Glaze, Jordair Jett, Rob Loe, John Manning, Mike McCall Jr., Kwamain Mitchell, Cory Remekun, Jimmy Remke, Emmanuel Tselentakis, head coach Rick Majerus, assistant coach Jim Crews, assistant coach Jim Whitesell, assistant coach Chris Harriman, director of operations Tony Young and senior graduate manager Tanner Bronson.