Rocky Mount, N.C. - Homecoming is a special event on any college campus, and for three individuals, this year's festivities were especially memorable. On Saturday night, October 29th, the North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics officially inducted former head coach Tony Guzzo and men's basketball All-Americans Jamar Jones and Chris Moody into its Athletics Hall of Fame.  The three comprised the 13th class of inductees and bring the total number of those honored since 1999 to 51 various athletes, administrators, coaches and contributors.

Tony Guzzo enjoyed tremendous success as head coach of the North Carolina Wesleyan baseball program from 1978 to 1982. In his first season at the helm, his ’79 Bishops earned a program-best 18 wins before recording Wesleyan’s first-ever winning season with a 22-19 mark the following year. That same season, Guzzo earned the first of three consecutive Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now USA South) Coach of the Year awards.

The ’81 season saw Guzzo officially establish Wesleyan as a national contender with a 33-13 overall record, as well as secure the program’s first regular season league title. Guzzo’s Bishops also made their first NCAA tournament appearance that season, earning the South Region championship en route to a fourth-place billing in the Division III World Series.

With an almost identical performance in ’82, Guzzo continued to build upon the program’s newfound success by again capturing the DIAC regular season crown, the South Region championship and a fourth-place World Series showing. The ’82 Bishops, in fact, were ranked #1 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball magazine as Guzzo was tabbed District Coach of the Year for a second straight season. A two-time finalist for Division III National Coach of the Year, he completed his Wesleyan career with 102 wins. 

As the Bishops continued to build on Guzzo’s hard work, he went on to enjoy a successful 12-year stint at Virginia Commonwealth University followed by a 10-year tenure at Old Dominion University, where he coached current Detroit Tiger ace Justin Verlander. Guzzo proceeded to join the coaching staff at North Carolina State University before taking his experience to the Major League level in 2007 as an area scout for the Boston Red Sox, earning a World Series ring in the process.

Guzzo's former player, Earl Roberson, presented him with his award. Both delivered emotional speeches that spoke to the importance that Wesleyan has played in lives of so many, and both eluded to the hard work it took to establish the Bishop baseball tradition.

"I am truly humbled to be chosen as a North Carolina Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Famer," said Guzzo. "I share this honor with all of those players who sacrificed so much for me and this program, and I will remember this day the rest of my life."

All-American teammates Jamar Jones and Chris Moody became Wesleyan’s 12th and 13th Hall of Fame inductees from the men’s basketball program. Both four-year letterwinners, the two were instrumental in the Bishops’ success of the late ‘90s that culminated in 2000 with a 20-win season and regular season conference championship.  For their efforts, the talented duo shared Co-Most Valuable Player accolades that season as the first set of basketball teammates to garner All-American honors simultaneously.

A native of Washington, D.C., Jamar Jones was a two-time All-Conference selection on the wing from 1995-2000. He finished his career with 375 assists and 1,518 points, which ranked third and fourth all-time, respectively, upon his graduation.  Despite playing the guard position, Jones also left Wesleyan as the program’s 11th all-time leading rebounder with 440 boards during his career.

In addition to his All-American, All-Conference and All-Region accolades, Jones was named to several All-Tournament teams during his Bishop career, which includes recognition on the DIAC All-Tournament team as a sophomore. He graduated from Wesleyan in 2000 with a degree in Computer Information Systems and now serves as a teacher and coach in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

He was presented by his former coach and current Director of Athletics, John Thompson, who shared stories of Jamar's Wesleyan career. Jones proceeded to thank Thompson and praise the community that took him in as a freshman.

"I am so grateful and appreciative to North Carolina Wesleyan, the Rocky Mount community and Coach Thompson for what they have meant in life," said Jones. "Coach Thompson was so much more than a coach... he was a brother, a friend and a father-figure that helped shape me into the man I am today. I am truly honored to receive this award in front of my family and peers." 

Chris Moody joined Thompson’s Bishops for a stellar career in the post from 1996-2000. Despite playing alongside the program’s all-time leading rebounder, All-American Marquis McDougald (’09 Hall of Famer), Moody managed an impressive 797 career rebounds himself, which ranked second upon his graduation. He also turned in two of the top-10 season totals for rebounds with 215 as a junior followed by a career-high 258 as a senior.

Moody’s All-American senior season saw the Roanoke Rapids native average a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards per contest. Among his numerous double-doubles that year, his most impressive performance, perhaps, came in a 19-rebound showing versus Averett University late in the season. Additionally, his 61 percent field goal accuracy consistently ranked among national leaders.

Moody finished his career as one of only two players to score over 1,000 points and grab over 700 rebounds… a feat that holds true today. Like Jones, he also garnered numerous All-Tournament nods, highlighted by Most Valuable Player Honors at the 1999 Roger Taylor Invitational.  He, too, is a 2000 graduate, having earned his degree in Physical Education.

He was introduced by his mother, Agnes, who like so many others throughout the evening, praised Wesleyan for what the College meant to her family.  She, too, showed appreciation to Thompson, noting that he would forever be a member of her family's "Hall of Fame."

Moody proceeded to close out the evening by thanking so many that helped him attain this honor.  He summed up what proved to be a wonderful ceremony with a simple statement to his fellow award-winners: "Job well done."

The Department of Athletics extends sincere congratulations to each of the 2011 inductees, whose contributions to the overall mission of the College have been exhibited in their successes and accomplishments both on and off the field.  To these inductees, the Battling Bishops offer thanks and admiration by bestowing this honor upon them.