Harry Fogleman Fogleman was Davidson’s tennis coach during one of its most successful eras, posting a record of 175 wins against only 69 defeats in 11 seasons with the Wildcats. His teams won the Southern Conference championship six of seven years from 1965-71 despite not having a single scholarship player. As a head coach at Duke, Cincinnati and Davidson, his overall record was 390 wins against just 133 losses. Fogleman starred as a player at Duke and played professionally after graduating. In 1971, he was honored by the National Tennis Education Foundation as the nation’s “outstanding teacher for making the greatest contribution to tennis in the United States.” He served on five USLTA committees and designed rackets for a sporting goods manufacturer. Fogleman also guided Davidson’s soccer teams from 1962 until 1972, posting a record of 81-33-8. He guided the Wildcats to Southern Conference championships in 1970 and ’71. Fogleman owns the distinction as the only Davidson coach to win two conference championships in the same school year (1970-71).
|
John W. Kuykendall ’59 Kuykendall is widely recognized for his achievement as president of Davidson (1984-97). His tenure was highlighted by the successful completion of ambitious capital projects, such as the $150 million Campaign for Davidson and major landmarks on campus, including the Baker Sports Complex, the Visual Arts Building and several student residence halls. Less well known is his role as a soccer player for the Wildcats in the late ’50s. Davidson went 6-5 in 1958 — his senior year — in its first winning season as a varsity sport. Although his record as a varsity athlete might seem limited, his influence on athletics achievement during his presidency was significant, and his administrative record speaks for itself. Major athletic endeavors under his watch include the completion of the Baker Sports Complex and Belk Arena, the restart of women’s basketball, start-up of several other women’s sports and hosting of three NCAA Soccer College Cups. Wildcat teams also achieved at a high level during his tenure — the 1992 soccer team advancing to the College Cup, men’s basketball posting four 20-win seasons and field hockey winning six straight
|
James D. Thacker ’55 Thacker was an absolute dynamo on the football field and was the captain of the football team in 1954. Although undersized at 5-8 and 160 pounds, he was among the best in the Southern Conference. He rushed for 1,676 yards, a school record for 26 years and still fourth all-time at Davidson. His 5.6-yard average per carry is still the Wildcat standard, and he scored 21 touchdowns for 126 points, a total which remains among the top 10 in Davidson history. No Wildcat has posted a run longer than Thacker’s 98-yard dash for a touchdown against George Washington in 1952. He was also one of the Wildcats’ top receivers, hauling in 33 passes in his career for 533 yards. As one of the team’s punters in his junior season, he averaged an astounding 42.8 yards per kick. In 1952, Thacker was named the Charlotte Observer Richmond, and after the season was named first team all-state.
|
Virginia Cooke Tysinger ’91 Gigi Cooke was a star for the field hockey team as soon as she arrived on campus in the fall of 1987. During her four-year career, the Wildcats improved from a 4-10-2 record during her freshman campaign to the program’s best mark ever in her final season. She made a lasting impression with her offensive skills, as Cooke is still the program’s career leader in points with 82. The two-time team captain led the squad in scoring her first three seasons (1987-89) and set the single-season assist record as a freshman. In her junior campaign, she scored 16 goals and accumulated 32 points, ranking second and fourth, respectively, on the single-season charts. As a senior, Cooke helped lead the Wildcats to their best record ever at 14-1-2 (.882) and their first of seven straight Deep South titles. She earned the Rebecca Stimson Award as Davidson’s top female athlete in the 1990-91 school year and still ranks second in career goals with 36. |
|
