Alabama A&M University will honor nine former student-athletes and coaches this fall as the school’s 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame class, recognizing Bulldogs whose accomplishments span five sports and more than three decades of athletic history.
According to Alabama A&M Athletics, the class includes standouts from volleyball, swimming, men’s basketball, football and track and field. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Ernest Knight Center, with the honorees also recognized during Alabama A&M’s home football game against Bowie State on Sept. 19.
The class includes three volleyball inductees, two swimmers, two men’s basketball standouts, one track and field athlete and one football player.
Three members of Alabama A&M’s volleyball program headline the class — former players Alexandria Brazelton Boyd and Princess Dixson-Mitchell and former head coach Nedra Taylor Brown.
Boyd helped lead Alabama A&M to four consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and later returned as a graduate assistant from 2008-09, helping the Bulldogs win two additional SWAC championships.
Dixson-Mitchell was the NCAA Division I leader in service aces in 2001, earned SWAC Player of the Year honors in 2003 and finished her career as the school’s all-time assists leader.
Brown guided the Bulldogs to four consecutive SWAC championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and earned four conference Coach of the Year awards during her tenure.
“This Hall of Fame class represents excellence, leadership, and lasting impact across multiple generations of Bulldog Athletics,” Hall of Fame Committee co-chairs Sandra Lyles-Jackson and Georgia Harrison said in a joint statement.
“Each inductee helped shape the tradition and culture of AAMU Athletics through their competitive success, leadership, and commitment to their teammates and programs.”
The Hall of Fame class also recognizes two swimmers who helped establish Alabama A&M as one of the nation’s top HBCU swimming programs.
Tania Carlton Evans was part of four consecutive National Collegiate Swimming and Diving Championships for HBCUs while also earning academic honors and graduating summa cum laude.
Lorie Reid Fuller became one of the program’s most decorated swimmers, setting multiple pool and national records while earning Black Nationals All-American honors and qualifying for the NCAA National Swim Meet three consecutive years.
Men’s basketball inductees include LaDarius Tabb and Terrance Vanlier.
Tabb earned SWAC Newcomer of the Year honors, led the conference in scoring during the 2015-16 season and became the fastest player in school history to reach 1,000 career points before playing professionally overseas.
Vanlier helped Alabama A&M establish itself during its first years in the Southwestern Athletic Conference after moving to Division I, earning First Team All-SWAC honors in 2000 while becoming one of the Bulldogs’ first standout players in the conference era.
Ryan Alan Shea is being recognized for his accomplishments in track and field after becoming the first male SWAC champion in school history and setting school records in the pentathlon and decathlon.
His collegiate career also included conference honors, academic recognition and community service.
Rounding out the class is former football standout Barry Wagner, one of the most prolific receivers in Alabama A&M history.
Wagner earned Division II All-America honors, was named Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and later enjoyed a successful Arena Football League career that included seven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Alabama A&M said additional information about the Hall of Fame ceremony and ticket availability will be announced at a later date.
Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.
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