University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Athletics announces 2024 Hall of Fame Class
01.18.2024 | Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Athletics News
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville Athletics Department announced its 2024 Hall of Fame Class on Thursday. The three newest members of the Athletics Hall of Fame, sponsored by TD Bank, include Pete McDaniel (Contributor), Kevin Hawkins (Baseball), and Larry Cook (Men's Soccer). The trio will be formally inducted in a ceremony on February 16. With these three enshrinees, the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame now contains 69 members.
Pete McDaniel (1971-74)
Contributor
Arden native Pete McDaniel was a dual-sport athlete at UNC Asheville, playing on both the golf and basketball teams. After graduating in 1974, Pete became one of the world's most well-known golf journalists. He began his career at the Asheville Citizen-Times and the Hendersonville Times-News before spending over 15 years in various roles, including senior writer, with Golf Digest and Golf World. He is most known for his coverage of golf great Tiger Woods. Pete co-authored a book titled Training a Tiger with the late Earl Woods, Tiger's father. In addition, he co-authored Tiger Woods' best-selling golf instruction book How I Play Golf. His work has earned him an induction into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame and the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. Pete has also been named Publisher of the Year for his work, was awarded the Denzel Washington community service award by the White Plains (NY) Boys and Girls Club, and was also the recipient of the Harlem YMCA's Black Achiever in Industry Award. Pete continues to be a freelance writer and is currently working on his memoir.
Kevin Hawkins (1986-90)
Baseball
Kevin Hawkins grew up in Shelby and was a standout athlete at Crest High School before committing to UNC Asheville. Kevin was the starting shortstop all four years in Bulldog Blue. He is one of just four Asheville baseball players to earn first-team Big South All-Conference honors twice (1989, 1990). Kevin is the school's all-time leader in stolen bases (57) and walks (155) while being second in runs scored (180) and third in hits (231). Kevin led the team in runs scored and hits in three of his four seasons, and the entire Big South in runs scored in 1989 (50). Following graduation, Kevin has gone on to have a successful career in the sales industry. Most recently, he has spent the last 13 years working at Taylor Enterprises Inc. and resides in Charlotte.
Larry Cook (1983-86)
Men's Soccer
Larry Cook was born in Germany and grew up in a military family. He attended high school outside Atlanta, Georgia, at Morrow Senior High School before making his way to UNC Asheville. While in Asheville, Larry was a four-year starter as goalkeeper for the Bulldogs. Larry is still currently on his own or tied as the school's all-time leader in shutouts (20), saves (408), minutes played (7,035), and goals against average (1.47). He also holds or is tied for the single-season records of shutouts (10), minutes played (2,012), and goals against average (0.70). Larry earned third-team All-South honors as a senior and holds the third and sixth all-time spots for saves made in a season, with 126 in 1986 and 106 in 1884. Larry was the starting goalkeeper in 1984 for Asheville's most successful men's soccer season ever, with 14 wins and a trip to the District 26 championship game. After graduation, Larry earned a tryout with Crystal City FC in the English Premier League. Larry went on to have a successful career in the insurance industry and is now retired, living in Cincinnati. Larry is still playing competitive soccer today, participating in a men's travel league for players 50 years and older.
