The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inducts its class of 2025

Brandon Adair
A standout from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Brandon Adair was a Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater boys’ basketball selection before making history at Virginia Wesleyan University. There, he rewrote the record books for Marlins men’s basketball. Adair was named ODAC Rookie of the Year in 2004 and earned All-ODAC honors in each of his four seasons, including First Team selections from 2005 to 2007. He led the Marlins to a 102-22 overall record and was a key contributor on back-to-back Final Four teams.

In 2006, Adair led Virginia Wesleyan to the NCAA Division III National Championship and was named both ODAC and National Player of the Year. A two-time All-American (2006, 2007), he still holds school records for career points (2,100) and field goals made (871), and ranks second in rebounds (871). He also holds the ODAC Tournament record for most career field goals and was named Tournament MVP in both 2005 and 2006.

Following his collegiate career, Adair played professionally in Germany and has served as an NBA referee since 2017. In 2025, he becomes the first Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee from Virginia Wesleyan University.

Dan Bonner
A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Dan Bonner was an all-state basketball player before continuing his athletic and academic career at the University of Virginia (1971–1975). He served as co-captain of the UVA men’s basketball team, earned Academic All-ACC honors in 1975, and averaged 8.3 points per game for Hall of Fame coach Terry Holland’s first Cavaliers squad.

After coaching UVA women’s basketball for two years, Bonner began his broadcasting career, calling his first ACC games in the 1980–81 season for C.D. Chesley. Since 1986, Bonner has been a regular color commentator for the NCAA Tournament—first with NCAA Productions (1986–1990), then with CBS Sports (1991–present), including coverage of the 2000 and 2001 Final Fours.

Bonner has also worked for Raycom Sports, Jefferson Pilot Sports, ESPN, ESPN’s ACC Network, and FOX Sports Regional Networks. Beyond basketball, he’s covered ACC baseball and women’s college basketball and called baseball games for the Carolina League’s Salem Buccaneers. He also served as head girls’ basketball coach at Robert E. Lee High School from 1999–2003, earning VHSL Group AA Coach of the Year honors in 2002–2003.

Murray Cook
A Salem, VA native and Salem High School graduate, Murray Cook has influenced baseball field development around the world. He began his career in the early 1970s at Billy Sample Field and went on to pitch at NC Wesleyan. In 1991, Cook became Major League Baseball’s official field consultant, a role he continues to hold.

Cook has managed field development in more than 60 countries and overseen projects such as the London Series, the Field of Dreams game in Iowa, the Fort Bragg Game in North Carolina, and the renovation of Rickwood Field in Birmingham. He directed baseball operations at the Sydney, Athens, and Beijing Olympic Games, and is currently planning the first MLB game at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2025.

His accolades include the 1991 Sportsturf Man of the Year, 1993 Professional Field of the Year, and USA Today’s 2016 Ballpark of the Year. Cook is President of Brightview Sports and a former President of the National Sportsfield Managers Association. He was inducted into the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, and September 27th has been declared “Murray Cook Day” in Salem.

Ed George
Hailing from Lynchburg, VA, Ed George is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Virginian Award. A standout at E.C. Glass High School, George played college football at Ferrum College under Coach Hank Norton and later transferred to Wake Forest. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers but chose to begin his professional career in the CFL.

Over 11 seasons—seven in the CFL and four in the NFL—George was a five-time CFL All-Pro, named CFL Outstanding Lineman in 1974, and won two Grey Cup titles with the Montreal Alouettes. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Off the field, George has had a successful business career in finance, serving as managing director and co-owner of investment firm Manning & Napier. He has been a generous supporter of student-athletes and has received multiple honors, including the Beckham Medallion and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ferrum College. He is also a member of the E.C. Glass, Lynchburg Area, and Ferrum College Sports Halls of Fame.

Ali Krieger
From Dumfries, VA and Forest Park High School, Ali Krieger has excelled at every level of soccer. The 2003 Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year went on to star at Penn State, where she earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year, three First Team All-Big Ten honors, and was named National and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.

Krieger made 108 appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Team, playing in three FIFA World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019) and the 2016 Olympics. She helped lead the USWNT to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, anchoring a defense that set a tournament record by holding opponents scoreless for 540 consecutive minutes.

Professionally, Krieger played in Europe with FFC Frankfurt—winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League—and in the NWSL with Washington, Orlando, and Gotham FC. She capped her career by leading Gotham FC to the 2023 NWSL title as team captain. She currently works as a studio analyst for ESPN and is a proud mother of two, Sloane and Ocean.

Harry Minium
Norfolk native and Norview High School graduate Harry Minium has spent nearly 50 years delivering in-depth reporting to Hampton Roads readers. After beginning his career at The Richmond News Leader, Minium joined The Virginian-Pilot in 1979 and served as a sportswriter and columnist for 23 years.

He later covered local government before returning to sports in 2012, focusing on ODU football. In 2013, he earned first place in the Football Writers of America competition for his behind-the-scenes piece on ODU’s move to FBS. He has won more than 30 writing awards and was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

Since 2018, he has served as Senior Executive Writer for ODU Athletics. Minium has also participated in Christian mission trips to Haiti and Germany. In 2023, he completed the Berlin Marathon at age 70, running in memory of his daughter, Ginny.

Joe Smith
Norfolk native and Maury High School graduate Joe Smith was a dominant force on the basketball court. The 1993 All-Tidewater Player of the Year and Parade All-American went on to star at the University of Maryland. There, he was named ACC Rookie of the Year (1994), ACC Player of the Year (1995), and a two-time All-ACC First Team selection.

In 1995, Smith earned Consensus First-Team All-American honors and was named National Player of the Year by the AP, UPI, Adolph Rupp Trophy, and the Naismith Award. He averaged 20.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.97 blocks, and 1.45 steals over two seasons at Maryland.

Smith was selected No. 1 overall in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Over a 16-year NBA career, he scored over 11,000 points and grabbed more than 6,500 rebounds. He averaged double figures in nine seasons and was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Mike Smith
From Lee County, VA, legendary coach Mike Smith built a powerhouse football program at Hampton High School over more than five decades. After joining the staff in 1965, he became head coach in 1971 and went on to win a record 12 VHSL state championships. His 1996 and 1997 teams were crowned National Champions.

With 506 career victories, Smith ranks third all-time in high school football wins nationally. He was named State Coach of the Year 17 times and National Coach of the Year in 1996. Dozens of his former players went on to play in college and the NFL.

Smith is a four-time Peninsula Sports Club Sportsperson of the Year and the only multi-time recipient. His many honors include the Virginia High School Hall of Fame (inaugural class, 1990), Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame (2010), and the Athletic Hall of Fame of the Lower Virginia Peninsula (1992).

Lou Whitaker
One of Virginia’s greatest baseball players, Lou Whitaker hails from Martinsville and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1975 MLB Draft. He made his debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1977 and spent his entire 19-year career with the team.

Whitaker was the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year, a five-time All-Star, and won three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers at second base. He helped lead the Tigers to the 1984 World Series title and finished with a .276 average, 2,369 hits, 244 home runs, 1,084 RBIs, and 1,386 runs scored.

He played 2,390 games (third in franchise history) and ranks fourth in MLB history in games played at second base. His No. 1 jersey has been retired by the Tigers, and he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.