CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Delta State University Athletics announces the Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2024. The eight inductees will be enshrined in an April 5, 2024 ceremony on campus that corresponds with DSU Spring Sports Weekend April 5-7.

Representing Delta State Softball is Casey Burgoyne Charles, a standout player from 1999-2002 and later serving fourteen seasons as head coach of the Lady Statesmen program from 2009-2022. A three time All-Gulf South Conference shortstop, she scored 113 runs and was the GSC assists leader while playing in 217 games career. While leading the program as head coach, her teams appeared in nine Gulf South Conference tournaments.

The 2024 class recognizes two football standouts, one as a player and one as a coach. Dominique Davenport was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008, was selected as a two- time All-Gulf South Conference and All-American cornerback for the Football Statesmen. He was also named to the GSC All-Decade Team. During his playing seasons 2008-2011, Davenport had 14 interceptions to make him Delta State's all-time career pass interceptions leader.

Coach Ron Roberts served as Head Coach of the Delta State Football Program from 2007-2011 after serving as Defensive Coordinator for two seasons. As the Statesman Head Coach, he compiled a 47-14 record winning four GSC championships, two Regional championships, and a 2010 National Runner-up Finish. Roberts went on to become Head Coach at Southeastern Louisiana where he won two Southland Conference titles and Defensive Coordinator stops at Louisiana-Lafayette, Baylor, and Auburn University currently.

1998-2001 tennis standout Louis Steenkamp joins the stellar 2024 class with Gulf South Conference Player of the Year honors to his credit in 1998 and 1999. The South Africa native was a four time All-GSC selection for the Statesmen Tennis Program, establishing himself with single season and career records.

Delta State's Lady Statesmen Basketball program is represented by Theresa Perry Rash. A standout point guard from 1992-1995, she was a member of the 1992 National Championship team. Her standout career landed her All-Gulf South Conference honors in 1994 and 1995 and All- Region in 1995. Her career accomplishments include 1098 career points, 563 assists, and 321 steals. She holds the single game assists record with 11.

Delta State Baseball adds three inductees to the 2024 class. Craig Newton, a catcher for the Statesmen from 2002-2005 and a member of the 2004 National Championship team, was two-time All-Gulf South Conference, All-Region, and All-American. The GSC Player of the Year in 2005, he hit 40 career home runs with 3 of those in the 2004 World Series. In 224 career games played, he scored 206 runs with 243 hits and 210 runs batted in. The Ferriss Trophy finalist signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005.

Shortstop Eric Patten, also a member of the 2004 National Championship team is also a 2024 inductee. From 2002-2005, Patten totaled 274 career hits, scored 231 runs, had 599 assists and 388 total bases over 218 career games. He led all NCAA Division II with 25 hit-by-pitches in 2004. He was an All-Gulf South Conference selection in 2003, 2004, and 2005, selected as All Region in 2005 while making the 2005 Region All-Tournament team.

Completing the 2024 HOF class is Coach John Smillie. After his baseball playing career at Delta State University from 1967-1969, he dedicated his life to coaching high school baseball in Mississippi and became an innovator for changing the game into the present and popular modern-day competition. Over 25 seasons at West Tallahatchie and Corinth High Schools, Smillie accumulated 549 career wins to rank as one of the winningest coaches in Mississippi High School Baseball history. As a coach committed to having his players dedicated and prepared, his teams had 11 consecutive 20-win seasons with two 37-win seasons. Coach Smillie continues to be an advocate of Mississippi high school and college baseball and is the yearly author and publisher of The Mississippi Baseball Record Book, recently releasing the 29th edition.