Charlotte names five new inductees to 49ers Athletics Hall of Fame

The Charlotte 49ers third class elected to its Athletics Hall of Fame includes the first inductees for the baseball and women’s soccer programs, a 2000-point scorer who led the 49ers to three NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments, Charlotte’s all-time winningest men’s basketball coach and the largest individual donor to the athletics program.

“This is a remarkable class of Hall of Fame inductees representing the very best of Niners athletes, coaches and philanthropists,” said 49ers Director of Athletics Mike Hill. “We look forward to celebrating these Charlotte icons at the induction ceremony this fall.”

Charlotte philanthropist Ike Belk, who died in 2018, was one of the most influential individuals in the development of the University and its athletics program. He provided lead gifts for the Irwin Belk Track and Field Center and the Miltimore-Wallis Athletic Training and Academic Center. He also commissioned the bronze statues that adorn each of the 49ers playing facilities.

Men’s basketball standout DeMarco Johnson, a three-time team MVP who earned All-America honors in three different seasons, keyed three NCAA Tournament trips, including two that advanced to the second round.

Head coach Bobby Lutz, who guided Charlotte to five NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments, won a school-record 218 games in his 12-year coaching career from 1998-2010.

Women’s soccer star Lindsey Ozimek, who enjoyed a long run with the US Women’s National program, led Charlotte to the 2007 NCAA Tournament and Atlantic 10 Championship as the league’s Midfielder of the Year and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Power hitter Bo Robinson, who owns the 49ers career record for runs batted in, earned First Team All-America honors in 1998 after leading the 49ers to an at-large berth in the NCAA Baseball Tournament with a single-season school-record 100 RBI.

The 2023 Hall of Fame class will be inducted in a ceremony, Friday, Sept. 15. Read more on the Charlotte 49ers website.