BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference announced six inductees in the Class of 2023 for the GSC Hall of Fame, which comprised of Alabama Huntsville's Lennie Acuff, West Florida's Dr. Judy Bense, Jacksonville State's Bill Burgess, Valdosta State's Courtney Albritton Carter and Kenny Moore II, as well as GSC Coordinator of Basketball Officials John Caldwell.

GSC HALL OF FAME

"For more than 50 years, the Gulf South Conference has cultivated a tradition of excellence not just on the field or courts, but also in the classroom and community as well," said GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson. "This blockbuster Hall of Fame class is a strong portrayal of what our conference stands for and is a great representation of our motto—Compete. Graduate. Impact." 

This is the conference's ninth class enshrined since the Hall of Fame's inception in 2014. Honorees will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 31 at 5:30 pm CT at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Hotel in Pensacola, Fla. Information regarding tickets will be released prior the event. The ceremony will also be live streamed through GSC's Facebook Page. 

THE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023
Lennie Acuff • Alabama Huntsville • Basketball, Coach
Acuff served as the head men's basketball coach at Alabama Huntsville from 1997-2019, establishing it as a premier program. During his 22-year tenure, he led the Chargers to eight Gulf South Conference regular season titles and three GSC tournament crowns. He also steered UAH to 11 NCAA tournament appearances and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2011 and 2012. Individually, Acuff was an eight-time GSC Coach of the Year, four-time NABC South Coach of the Year, GSC Coach of the Decade for the 2010s and at the time of his induction had a conference-best 436 career wins. 

Dr. Judy Bense • West Florida • University President
Dr. Bense has been a key contributor to West Florida, serving the campus in various roles, including an eight-year tenure as University President. After a two-year stint as Interim President, she accepted the position full-time in 2008 and became the institution's first female President. Under her leadership, UWF saw an enrollment grow from 10,000 to 13,000 students, nearly doubled in-state funding, and helped to provide out-of-state tuition waivers for scholarships. Athletically during her presidency, West Florida added women's swimming & diving and football, captured four NCAA national titles, and hosted eight NCAA Regional and National Championship events. Dr. Bense also participated in several GSC and NCAA committees, including NCAA Division II President's Council, chairing the group 2014-15, and was the GSC President from 2013-15 helping lead the conference through expansion and a leadership change at the Commissioner level.

Bill Burgess • Jacksonville State • Football, Coach
Burgess's reputation is synonymous with the tradition of Jacksonville State football, after serving as the program's head coach from 1985-96, the first eight of which were as members of the Gulf South Conference. Under his direction, Burgess led Jax State to four GSC championships (1988, '89, '91, '92), five NCAA tournament appearances and three trips to the title game prior to program's transition to Division I. The 1992 campaign was one of the best JSU's Division II history as the Gamecocks posted a 12-1-1 overall record before capturing its only national title. A three-time GSC Coach of the Year, Burgess also garnered national Division II coaching accolades in 1992. He finished his GSC career with a 69-22 overall record, ranking eighth among GSC leaders in career wins and was sixth in winning percentage (.747) at the time of his induction.

Courtney Albritton Carter • Valdosta State • Softball
Albritton Carter put together one of the most storied careers by any student-athlete to ever compete in the Gulf South Conference. A four-year letterwinner for Valdosta State from 2012-15, she helped the softball program to a 200-42 record and captured three-consecutive GSC tournament titles and two GSC regular season crowns, while making four NCAA tournament appearances that yielded three region titles, an NCAA national title in 2012 and a national runner-up finish in 2014. The four-time NFCA All-American, also earned the distinct honor of being the just the second softball player in league-history to be named Freshman and Player of the Year honors in same season (2012) and is a two-time GSC Commissioner Trophy winner (2014-15). She also garnered accolades for her prowess in the classroom including three GSC All-Academic Team selections, a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America nod in 2015, and the prestigious NCAA Elite 89 Award in 2014. At the time of her induction, Albritton was the conference's career leader in runs scored (268), hits (318), home runs (75), slugging percentage (.824) and total bases (615). She was also the all-time leader in Division II in total bases and fourth nationally in career home runs. 

John Caldwell • Gulf South Conference • Official, Basketball
For nearly five decades, Caldwell worked with Gulf South Conference basketball in a variety of roles. He began working with the conference in the early 1970s and served as an on-court official until 1986. Over the next 30-plus years he took on more administrative roles within the conference serving as a referee evaluator, assignor, before elevating to Coordinator of Officials. A renowned and well-respected among colleagues in the basketball official community, Caldwell began his officiating career at the high school ranks in 1965 in his home state of Tennessee. In 2011, he was inducted into the Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, before being enshrined by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) in 2018.

Kenny Moore II • Valdosta State • Football
Moore was a four-year letterwinner with Valdosta State football from 2013-16, during which he helped the program post a 33-13 overall record, while making three NCAA playoff appearances highlighted by national quarterfinal berth in 2014. Statistically, Moore appeared in 46 games recorded 171 total tackles, 117 solo stops, 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also ended his collegiate career with 11 interceptions, fifth-most in school-history, and two touchdowns. A two-time All-GSC selection, Moore also garnered AFCA and USA Today All-America honors and was a First Team nod for the conference's All-Decade Team for 2010-19. Moore parlayed his talents on the gridiron into a NFL career, signing as undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots before breaking through with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. In 2021, he was named to the NFL Pro Bowl roster while also being recognized for his work in the community as he was named the Colts' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.