Athletic Hall of Fame

Upper Arlington High School is proud to be the home of 147 state championship teams.  Each of these championships represents an amazing achievement attainable only through a combination of athletic prowess, collaboration and sportsmanship.  

As such, all teams earning a state championship will be automatically entered into the Upper Arlington Athletic Hall of Champions within the Upper Arlington Hall of Fame. The state championship teams will be recognized over the next several years, beginning with the state championship teams from the 1930s through 1969.

Potential inductees include graduates who have distinguished themselves in their athletic endeavors while students at Upper Arlington High School as well as individuals who have provided outstanding support to the Upper Arlington High School athletic program, including coaches, staff members, volunteers and others as deemed appropriate by the selection committee. Athletes’ achievements after graduating from Upper Arlington High School will be taken into consideration on an individual basis.

Student Athletes

• Have graduated 10 years or more prior to nomination.
• Demonstrated excellence in one or more sports.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Upper Arlington Schools vision: serve, lead, succeed.

Coaches

• Have served as a coach in the Upper Arlington High School athletic program for a minimum of five years.

• Have been retired from coaching position for five years or more prior to nomination and cannot be a current coach of an Upper Arlington Schools team. (Athletic Director and committee have discretion over this). 

• Demonstrated commitment to the Upper Arlington Schools vision: serve, lead, succeed.

Friends of the Program

• Have provided support to the Upper Arlington High School athletic program for a minimum of five years prior to nomination.

• Have consistently gone above and beyond expectations of his/her volunteer role to provide exceptional support to student athletes.

• Demonstrated commitment to the Upper Arlington Schools vision: serve, lead, succeed.

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee is made up of twelve individuals representing various roles and decades with the Upper Arlington High School athletic program and Upper Arlington Schools. The twelve former student-athletes, community members, coaches and administrators will serve varying terms on the committee.

• Spencer Smith, Upper Arlington High School Director of Student Life/Athletic Director
• Logan Erwin, Upper Arlington High School Assistant Director of Student Life / Assistant Athletic Director
• Andrew Geistfeld, Upper Arlington Schools Treasurer/CFO
• Andrew Theado, Upper Arlington High School Principal
• 1930s-1960s: Tom Williams, former student-athlete
• 1960s-1970s: Douglas Knisley, former student-athlete
• 1960s and early 1970s: Bill Kraft, former student-athlete
• 1980s and 1990s: Matt Stout, former student-athlete and head wrestling coach
• 1980s-2000s: Christine Hayes, former teacher and head cheer coach
• 1990s and 2000s: Jay Powell, former athletic director and assistant principal
• 2000s: Kathleen Coughlin, former student-athlete
• 2010s: Adriane (Ghidotti) Palmer, former student-athlete and current teacher

The purpose of the Upper Arlington High School Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor outstanding athletes, coaches and friends of the program who have contributed to the impressive history of the school’s athletic program as well as embodied or supported the school district’s vision of uniquely accomplished students prepared to serve, lead and succeed.   

The members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee will strive to uphold Upper Arlington High School’s legacy of athletic excellence by honoring student athletes, coaches and friends of the athletic program who embody the district’s vision and contribute to success through service and leadership. 

Membership Guidelines

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee is made up of twelve individuals representing various roles and decades with the Upper Arlington High School athletic program and Upper Arlington Schools. The twelve former student athletes, community members, coaches and administrators will serve varying terms on the committee.

Four seats are designated for the Upper Arlington High School Athletic Director and Assistant Athletic Director as well as a member of the high school administrative team and a member of the Upper Arlington Schools administrative team at the discretion of the superintendent of Upper Arlington Schools.

Two seats, each with an initial term of two years, are designated for coaches in the Upper Arlington High School athletic program. The remaining six seats on the selection committee are designated for former student athletes and friends of the program representing different decades of the Upper Arlington High School athletic program. Three of these seats carry an initial term of three years, and the remaining three seats carry an initial term of two years. Committee members may serve a maximum of two terms.

Nominations and Voting Process

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee has established and will observe the following guidelines for the nominations and voting process:

• The members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee may vote either in person or absentee on the nominations.
• A three-quarters vote of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, or nine of the 12 members, in favor of a nominee will be required for induction.
• A Hall of Fame Selection Committee member is not permitted to nominate himself/herself.
• A Hall of Fame Selection Committee member is not permitted to be inducted into the Upper Arlington High School Athletic Hall of Fame while serving on the committee.
• There will be no minimum or maximum number of inductees for each of the first two years. The Hall of Fame Selection Committee will revisit this guideline in the future.
• Nominees will stay on the ballot for five years. Those who are not inducted during the five-year time frame will be removed from the ballot but can be resubmitted for consideration.
• The Hall of Fame Selection Committee will primarily consider nominees’ achievements / recognitions at Upper Arlington High School, but collegiate and career achievements will be taken into consideration on an individual basis.

Community and staff members seeking to nominate outstanding athletes, coaches, and friends of the program may submit a nomination form either online or on paper.

Please review the nomination requirements above before completing a nomination form.

• Online nomination form — To submit a nomination electronically, please fill out this online form and click "submit" when completed.
• Printable nomination form — Please submit completed nomination forms by email to ssmith@uaschools.org; or by mail to the Upper Arlington High School Student Life Department c/o Spencer Smith, 1625 Ridgeview Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221.

Nominations may be submitted at any time but must be received by September 1 to be considered for induction the following year. Nominees will stay on the ballot for five years. Those who are not inducted during the five-year time frame will be removed from the ballot but can be resubmitted for consideration.