Hall of Fame

Blades led Southern Miss to back-toback Women's College World Series appearances in 1999 and 2000, earning the Honda Award given to the top player in college softball in 2000. She graduated as Division I's all-time leader in strikeouts, and became the first Division I pitcher to ever strike out more than 600 batters in one season. In the 2000 Women's College World Series, Blades threw a perfect game, which at the time was the fourth in WCWS history.

A three-time Olympic medalist, Bowie starred as a long and triple jumper at Southern Miss from 2009-12. She won two NCAA championships in the long jump and was twice named the Conference USA track and field athlete of the year. In her post-collegiate career, Bowie won a gold medal in the 4x100 relay at the Rio Olympics in 2016, as well as a silver medal in the 100-meter dash and a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash. She won an individual gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the 2017 world championships in London, running the race in 10.85 seconds.

Blades and Bowie are the only inductees from their respective sports. Bower is one of three coaches inducted, but the only football coach.

Here's a complete look at the inaugural Conference USA Hall of Fame class:

❚ Courtney Blades: Southern Miss (softball, 99-00)

❚ Arnau Brugues: Tulsa (men's tennis, 06-09)

❚ Torie Bowie: Southern Miss (track and field, 09-12)

❚ Jon Busch: Charlotte (men's soccer, 94-96)

❚ Chris Douglas-roberts: Memphis (men's basketball, 05-08)

❚ Jarrett Dillard: Rice (football, 0508)

❚ Jake Gautreau: Tulane (baseball, 98-01)

❚ Tyler Henderson: Tulsa (volleyball, 09-12)

❚ Deanna Jackson: UAB (women's basketball, 98-02)

❚ Chandi Jones: Houston (women's basketball, 00-04)

❚ Case Keenum: Houston (football, 07-11)

❚ Michael Kogan: Tulane (men's tennis, 00-04)

❚ Kenyon Martin: Cincinnati (men's basketball, 97-00)

❚ Graeme Mcdowell: UAB (men's golf, 99-02)

❚ Yulia Pakhalina: Houston (swimming and diving, 01-03)

❚ Anthony Rendon: Rice (baseball, 08-11)

❚ Brooke Tull: TCU (women's golf, 02-04)

❚ Dwyane Wade: Marquette (men's basketball, 01-03)

❚ Deangelo Williams: Memphis (football, 02-05)

❚ Kevin Youkilis: Cincinnati (baseball, 98-01)

❚ Jeff Bower: Southern Miss (football coach, 90-07)

❚ Wayne Graham: Rice (baseball coach, 92-18)

❚ Bob Huggins: Cincinnati (men's basketball coach, 89-05)

❚ Gene Bartow: UAB (athletics director, 77-00)

❚ Mike Slive: Conference USA commissioner (95-02)

Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.