The sole criterion for induction into the Coaches Hall of Fame is competitive success attained in an ethical and collegial manner. The most recent inductee(s) convenes the group, while the full group of inductees serve as the selection committee. The selection committee must unanimously agree on any new inductee.
Justin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014 at the National Championship Tournament in Orlando, Florida. At the time of his induction, Justin had led three schools to national Top 10 finishes: as captain and three-time All-American for UC Berkeley’s student-run team; as a coach for NYU’s 2010 national championship; and as coach when UC Irvine twice finished #1 in AMTA’s Power Rankings and won 14 All-American Awards in six years. Justin served as President of AMTA from 2014 through 2016.
Ryan Faulconer and Toby Heytens were inducted into the Hall of Fame together in 2021. At the time of their induction, the University of Virginia’s mock trial team had won three national championships (2006, 2007, 2017), finished as national runners-up in 2016, placed teams in the Top 10 at Nationals 18 times, and won 62 tournaments in total over roughly 15 years. Ryan is a former All-American competitor for the University of Kansas.
The year he was inducted, Gonzalo won his 3rd national championship in three final round tries. His teams have qualified for nationals in every year since 1998 and have been in the prestigious “top 10” in all but 2 of those years. From 2000 until the ORC system was created, his teams won their regional every single year, winning two different regionals in 2008.
Professor Hatting was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015, at the National Championship Tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio. Steve Hatting began coaching the University of St. Thomas mock trial teams in 1986, and they quickly became a national powerhouse, winning the national title in 1987, and finishing as the runner-up in 1989. By the time he was finished coaching the small, St. Paul, Minnesota school, after 19 years, his teams earned nine prestigious “top 10” finishes.
Steve’s St. Thomas teams set the standard for witness characterization, and costuming that still exists to this day. He was truly a pioneer of collegiate mock trial
When inducted in 2008, Dan Herron had coached for twelve years, finishing in the nation’s elite “top 10” on seven occasions and winning the national championship in 2001. Herron’s Miami teams had been Regional Champions every year with only one exception.
Toby Heytens and Ryan Faulconer were inducted into the Hall of Fame together in 2021. At the time of their induction, the University of Virginia’s mock trial team had won three national championships (2006, 2007, 2017), finished as national runners-up in 2016, placed teams in the Top 10 at Nationals 18 times, and won 62 tournaments in total over roughly 15 years. Toby is a former All-American competitor for Macalester College, and Ryan a former All-American competitor for the University of Kansas.
Inducted: April 15, 2016 at the 32nd National Championship Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina
As coach of the Northwood mock trial program, DeLois Leapheart led the Timberwolves’ meteoric rise. After founding the mock trial team in the 2004-05 season, Professor Leapheart coached the team to the National Championship Tournament in just its second season, to a second place finish at Nationals in just its fourth season, and to a National Championship title in just its fifth season. As of 2016, Northwood had since earned two other top ten Nationals finishes.
When Noel was inducted in 2006, he had coached teams to four national championships, two runner-up finishes, and eleven eastern regional championships.
When Marcus was inducted in 2006, twenty-two Rhodes teams had placed in the nation’s “top ten” and Rhodes held the record for consecutive national championship appearances. Marcus retired after 32 years of coaching, having qualified for the National Championship Tournament in each of those years, finishing in the “Top Ten” 25 times, making eight final rounds, and winning four national championships.
Dr. Felicia Stewart was inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017. At the time of induction, Dr. Stewart had coached Howard University to the 1997 National Championship, along with a second Final Round appearance in 2003. Dr. Stewart is currently a professor in the Department of English at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rob started the Drake University Mock Trial program in 1985. In five years of active coaching, Rob’s teams were always highly competitive, winning national championships both times they made the national final round (1989 and 1993). Rob was inducted in 2006.
When inducted in 2008, John Vile had coached for 20 years, qualifying for the national championship tournament in each of those years and finishing in the nation’s “top 10” eleven times. John is especially proud of the number of MTSU teams that have earned the “Spirit of AMTA Award” for good sportspersonship.
At the time they were inducted in 2007, Ruth and Jim had coached for 22 years and made it to the national championship tournament on 21 occasions. They had eleven “top 10” finishes, 3 more at the Silver nationals, 4 appearances in the national final round, and a national championship in 1999.
At the time they were inducted in 2007, Ruth and Jim had coached for 22 years and made it to the national championship tournament on 21 occasions. They had eleven “top 10” finishes, 3 more at the Silver nationals, 4 appearances in the national final round, and a national championship in 1999.
Jim Walker’s Wright State University program was truly one of the pace setters in AMTA’s early days. In Jim’s ten years of active coaching, Wright State won AMTA’s second National Championship in 1986 and was also runner-up two years later. Jim was inducted in 2006.