The Shadow
HARRISONBURG, Va. (VR) – Seven former student-athletes were inducted into the James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2026 on Friday night at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
The 2026 JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Class includes: softball two-way star Jailyn Ford (2013-2016), volleyball right side hitter Janey Goodman Wellons (2013-2016), baseball shortstop David Herbek (2008-2011), men’s soccer midfielder/defender Kevin Knight (1995-1998), football quarterback Vad Lee (2014-2015), football tight end Ed Perry (1993-1996) and women’s soccer forward Therese Wolden Cooper (1995-1998).
Collectively, the group is comprised of five who advanced to professional competitive careers, five who achieved All-America status (including a few who were first in their sport at JMU), three who were candidates for National Player of the Year honors in their sport and several whose four-year careers comprised one of the best periods of success in their sport’s history at JMU.
Nominations for the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame can be submitted online by any individual at any time. All candidates are considered according to the Hall of Fame selection criteria. The next selection process will occur in late 2026 with the induction ceremony for the Class of 2027 scheduled for Friday, Aug. 27, 2027 at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
Jailyn Ford
The moment Jailyn Ford stepped foot on the JMU softball diamond the trajectory of the program was forever changed. In the program’s prior 11 years, the Dukes were 314-278 (.530). Ford, whose arrival coincided with Mickey Dean’s as head coach, was the cornerstone in guiding JMU to a record of 185-48 (.794) in her four seasons. She was the first National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American in program history (Second Team 2014, Third Team 2015, First Team 2016) and as a senior was one of 25 finalists as the USA Softball National Player of the Year. She was four-time all-region, two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year (2015, 2016), 2014 CAA Pitcher of the Year and four-time All-State (2013 Rookie of the Year, 2013-2014 Pitcher, 2015-2016 Player). In the circle, Ford tallied a 1.51 career ERA and 82-21 record while throwing 706 1/3 career innings with 815 strikeouts and a .180 opponent batting average. At the plate, she was a .339 career hitter with a .644 slugging percentage and .457 on-base percentage while adding 39 doubles, nine triples, 46 home runs and 156 RBIs. She set nearly every career pitching record, currently ranking second in most, including: ERA, opponent average, strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, wins, appearances, starts, complete games, shutouts and innings. She holds the career walks earned record with 130. She also ranks second in home runs, third in total bases, fourth in triples, fourth in on-base percentage, fifth in slugging percentage, sixth with 158 runs, sixth with 216 hits, fifth in RBIs and fifth with 44 stolen bases. JMU had one NCAA appearance prior to Ford’s arrival but advanced in all four of her seasons, including the first two at-large bids in program history in 2013 and 2015. Her freshman season was JMU’s first 40-win campaign (42-17), which started a seven-year run of 40 or more wins, snapped only by the CoVID-shortened 2020 season. By her senior year, JMU posted its first 50-win ledger (50-6) and made its first appearance advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals. JMU was CAA Champion in 2014 and 2016 and won the regular season each year 2014 through 2016. Ford advanced to a lengthy professional softball career, earning the third overall selection by the Akron Racers in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft. She won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2022 World Games and also had extensive international experience, leading the Japanese Softball League in ERA in 2019 and 2020. Still active, Ford was drafted by the Oklahoma City Spark of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League in December of 2025.
