BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Five individuals have been elected to the Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame Class of 2025, in both the Student-Athlete and Administrator category. The honorees were determined by the Conference's Hall of Fame Selection Committee and after receiving nominations from current and former member institutions.
The Class of 2025 included two adminstrators—Valdosta State tennis coach John Hansen and West Alabama athletic trainer R.T. Floyd—as well as three student-athletes—West Georgia football's Alex Armah, Alabama Huntsville volleyball's Ellen LaFiore, and Montevallo men's soccer's Jonathan Maloney.
“The careers and accomplishments of this year’s class is nothing short of awe-inducing,” said GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson. “Their contributions to their respective institutions and Gulf South Conference are well documented and their inclusion to GSC Hall of Fame is well deserved. Congratulations to this year’s members.”
This is the conference’s 11th Hall of Fame class, as membership, including the new elected class, now stands at 61, since its inception in 2014.
The 2025 GSC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 29 as part of the conference’s annual award ceremony at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Hotel in Pensacola, Fla. Information regarding tickets or how to watch will be released at a later date, both on gscsports.org and on the GSC social media platforms.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CLASS OF 2025
ALEX ARMAH
School: West Georgia | Sport: Football
Category: Student-Athlete (2012-16)
2015 USA College Football All-American … Four-time All-GSC selection, earning first team honors in 2025 and 2016 … Named All-GSC on both sides of the ball in 2016 (First Team Defensive Lineman, Second Team Tight End) … First Team defensive lineman selection for the 2010-19 GSC All-Decade Team … Among GSC career leaders in sacks (10th/17.5) and tackles for loss (9th/41.5) … Helped UWG win 2015 GSC title and led it to back-to-back NCAA national semifinal appearances in 2014 and 2015 … Selected in 2017 NFL Draft (192nd overall) … Appeared in 68 NFL games as a fullback, playing for Carolina, New Orleans, and Washington … Inducted into UWG Hall of Fame in 2022 … Graduated in 2016 with bachelor’s in management.
R.T. FLOYD
School: West Alabama | Sport: Athletic Training
Category: Administrator (1974-Present)
Spent nearly five decades providing athletic training services to UWA student-athletes … Served as UWA Head Athletic Trainer from 1974-1998 … Named the university’s Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center Program Director in 1986, and tabbed as Chair of School of Health Sciences and Human Performance in 2017 … Authored Manual of Structural Kinesiology, a textbook that is used in college classrooms across the country … Former member of National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Board of Directors … Became the first NATA member elected to serve simultaneously on NATA and NATA Research and Education Foundation Board of Directors … Served as NATA Foundation President from 2014-18 … Inducted into NATA Hall of Fame in 2013 and presented NATA Lifetime Contribution Award in 2018 … Graduated from UWA with bachelors (1980) and masters (1982), and received his doctorate in 1995.
JOHN HANSEN
School: Valdosta State | Sport: Tennis
Category: Administrator (1972-Present)
Has coached tennis at Valdosta State for more than half a century, leading the men’s program since 1972 and the women’s team since 1976 … Helped the Blazers to three NCAA Division II Men’s Tennis National Champion titles (2006, 2011, 2024) … Has led VSU to a combined 42 appearances in the NCAA postseason—28 times with the men and 14 times with the women … Named GSC Coach of the Year a combined 19 times between both genders—14 for men, 5 for women … Has 16 GSC men’s titles, the most of any coach in conference-history … Twice named ITA Division II Coach of the Year (2000, 2010) with eight combined regional honors between both genders … Has served as a member and as Chair of NCAA Tennis sub-committee and ITA Ranking Committee … Represented GSC and VSU on NCAA Coaches Connection Committee …
ELLEN LAFIORE
School: Alabama Huntsville | Sport: Volleyball
Category: Student-Athlete (1998-2001)
Four-time First Team All-GSC selection … Four-time GSC Championship All-Tournament member … 1998 GSC East Division Freshman of the Year … 1999 GSC East Division Player of the Year … GSC First Team All-Decade (2000-09) … Three-time AVCA All-Region honoree … Three-Time All-GSC Academic Team honoree … Twice named to GSC Top Ten … Among GSC career leaders in kills (2nd/2528), hitting percentage (3rd/.406) and service aces (9th/222) … GSC single-match leader for kills (42) … Helped the Chargers to their first NCAA appearance in 1998 and led the squad to return trips in 1999 and 2001 … As a member of the team, UAH was a combined 111-35 overall with a GSC record of 45-11 … UAH Hall of Fame inductee in 2022 … Graduated from UAH in 2001 with bachelors.
JONATHAN MALONEY
School: Montevallo | Sport: Men’s Soccer
Category: Student-Athlete (2005-08)
Two-time NSCAA All-American, earning First Team honors in 2008 … Two-time D2CCA All-American (2007, ’08) … Three-time GSC Player of the Year (2006, ’07, ’08) … Three-time First Team All-GSC selection 2006, ’07, ’08) … GSC All-Time Team member (1996-2009) and All-Time Player honoree … Three-time member of GSC Championship All-Tournament Team (2006, ’07, ’08) … Two-time D2CCA Region Player of the Year (2007, ’08) … 2008 All-GSC Academic Team honoree … Led Montevallo to a combined 57-20-3 overall record, lifting the 2008 GSC regular season title … Helped the Falcons to three consecutive NCAA appearances highlighted by a trip to the national semifinals in 2007 … Graduated in 2008 with degree in kinesiology.