MARYVILLE – Maryville Athletics is welcoming eight new members to its Wall of Fame. The Class of 2024 honorees graduated from Maryville College during the 1960s all the way through the 2010s, representing the sports of football, basketball, soccer, softball, baseball and golf.
This year's class is being inducted next month during Homecoming Week, with the ceremony set for Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. inside the Clayton Center for the Arts. The class also is being recognized at halftime of the Oct. 26 Homecoming football game against Methodist. Kickoff that afternoon is 1 p.m.
"This was an easy class to select because they all are so deserving," Maryville Assistant Athletics Director John Painter said. "We can't wait to host them for Homecoming and hear the amazing stories about what made them the special talents they are and the memorable moments they still recall from their days on campus."
Admission to the induction ceremony is free, and alumni can sign up through their Homecoming registration.
Missy Barker Johnson '90
Softball
1986-1990
Missy Barker Johnson was a four-year member of the Maryville softball team, playing second base and pitching for head coaches Wes Moore and Shannon O'Brian. During her junior and senior years, she led the Scots to back-to-back 20-win seasons. She was named Team Defensive Player of the Year as a junior before earning Team MVP honors as a senior. In a 1990 tournament in Columbus, Georgia, she pitched five games in one day and led MC to two victories over Division I Georgia Tech.
Barker Johnson was a Business Management major who went on to obtain another degree in Interior Design Management. While working full-time, she started a 5013C grass-roots Non-Profit Organization called Kingdom Design Ministries. KDM is now celebrating its 16th year serving children who have experienced tragedy. For her work with KDM, Barker Johnson received the MC Alumni Citation Award, the highest honor bestowed on an alum, for the work her group has done in demonstrating leadership, service in their community, church, or profession and which benefits humankind and honors the College.
Jeremy Cason '11
Men's Golf
2010-2011
Jeremy Cason was a two-year member of the men's golf team at Maryville. He ranks third all-time among Scots with a scoring average of 76.26. He was a member and key contributor on the squad's 2011 Regional Conference Championship team. For his career, Cason won two individual championships, which is tied for third in program history.
Cason majored in Business and Organizational Management and is now the Head Golf Professional at the Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, North Carolina.
Jack Llewellyn '68
Basketball/Baseball
1964-1967
Dr. Jack Llewellyn was a two-sport athlete at Maryville College, playing basketball and baseball for legendary coach Boydson Baird. He was a captain on the basketball team.
A world-renowned sports psychologist, speaker and corporate coach, Llewellyn is the founder and president of the Atlanta-based Center for Winning Performance. He has authored 12 books and has published numerous research articles over his career. He was the Atlanta Braves sports psychologist for 16 years, helping them to a World Series win and 14 division titles during his tenure. He also advised U.S. athletes in the 1996 Olympics. Llewelyn is credited as the first sports psychologist to work in baseball and has started sports psychology courses at three universities (Old Dominion University, Mankato State University and Florida International University).
Tony Ierulli '80
Football & Baseball
1976-1980
Tony Ierulli was the second-ever J.D. Davis Award recipient in 1980. The two-sport star helped lead Maryville football to its most successful four-year era. As a linebacker, Ierulli anchored the Scots defense and led the squad to a 28-7 record during his time at MC. He was named a team captain for his senior season in 1979. As a catcher on the baseball team, he led the Scots in hitting in three straight seasons and was a key contributor on the 1977 NCAA Division III Tournament team.
Ierulli graduated from Maryville in 1980 with a degree in Physical Education and a minor in History. Following graduation, Ierulli spent 45 years as a collegiate football coach, including an eight-year stint at his alma mater, where he served as the head football coach and Assistant Athletic Director. He is the third-winningest football coach in Maryville College history, with 39 victories during his tenure.
Jay Malone '91
Football
1987-1991
Jay Malone was a J.D. Davis Award recipient in 1991. He was a four-year letterman and three-year starter for the Scots. He earned D3 South Region Recognition for his performance as a senior. Maryville improved each year Malone was a member of the squad, going from 1-9 his freshman year, before finishing 5-5 as a senior. As an assist coach in 1991, MC finished with a record of 7-3.
Following his graduation from Maryville College, Malone has been a physical education teacher and head football/boys and girls track & field coach at Maryville Junior High School for 33 years. His football teams have posted an .830 winning percentage and have won 12 East Tennessee Middle School Football Conference championships. He has coached his squad to five undefeated seasons and has been named Conference Coach of the Year five times. As a track & field coach, he has coached 16 state champions.
Kiera Payne '13
Women's Basketball
2009-2013
Kiera Payne was a four-year member of the women's basketball team and a two-time Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Champion. The women's basketball team produced a record of 86-23 during her time at Maryville. Payne scored over 900 points and recorded over 500 rebounds.
Following her graduation from Maryville, Payne earned a master's degree in special education from Ball State University. She now works as a Special Education Teacher.
Beverly Stepp Meyer '93
Women's Soccer
1989-1992
Beverly Stepp was a four-year member of the women's soccer team at Maryville College from 1989-1992. Her freshman season was the second season of the women's soccer program, and the first to record a winning record (11-6-0). She played her first two seasons under head coach Jerry Litton before she was a member of current Maryville head coach
Pepe Fernandez's first two squads in 1991 and 1992.
In her career, Stepp recorded 25 goals and 17 assists for 67 points and helped lead the Scots to a 51-17-1 record.
Brent Watts '01
Men's Basketball
1997-2001
Brent Watts played four years at Maryville College for legendary head coach Randy Lambert. During his tenure at MC, Watts eclipsed over 1,300 career points and helped lead the Scots to an 85-23 record, losing just four home games in that stretch. Maryville made the NCAA tournament three of his four years on the squad, including a Sweet 16 run his junior year. In 2000-01, his senior season, Watts was named the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Player of the Year as well as NABC All-South Second Team.
Following his graduation from Maryville in 2001 with a degree in International Business, Watts earned his MBA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and now owns Red Heritage Medical, the largest Native American-owned medical supplier to the federal government.
