Columbus, GA -  Four former Columbus State athletes were inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday in a ceremony at the Lumpkin Center.  Former basketball player Larry Coates, baseball players Jimmy Lester and Marty Richburg, and softball player Ramona Arscott Rothell make up the 2009 class. 

Coates played point guard (1996-1998) for the men's basketball team and holds the single season assist record with 261 in the 1996-97 season. He is third in all-time assists at CSU with 413 in his two-year career. He is tied for the best free-throw (85%) in a single season and also tied with most steals in a single game with nine. He is considered by many close to the CSU program as one of the best guards to ever don a Cougar uniform.

Lester played shortstop for the Cougars in 1983 and helped lead CSU to its first-ever World Series appearance in 1984 after batting .425 with 16 home runs and 71 runs scored.  The 71 runs scored was a single season record until the 2008 season. He stills hold the record for most walks (62) in the 1983 season. He batted .355 in his two seasons with 21 doubles, 22 home runs, and only struck out 37 times in two seasons.

Richburg played shortstop for the Cougars in 1996 and 1997. He was a First-Team All-American in 1997 and the Peach Belt Player of the Year after hitting .406 with 10 home runs , 18 doubles, and 44 RBIs. He batted .371 with 21 home runs, 31 doubles, seven triples, and 92 RBIs in his two seasons at CSU. The two-time All-PBC performer holds the distinction of the last CSU player to hit .400 in a single season.

Arscott-Rothell played four seasons (1994-1997) for the Lady Cougar softball team. She made the All-PBC team in 1994-1996 and the PBC All-Tournament team all four seasons. She helped lead CSU to a 157-49 record in her four seasons. Her 21-game hitting streak in 1997 is still a CSU record. That 1997 season also saw her commit just two errors in 192 chances at second base. Arscott holds the distinction of being the first female All-American in a team sport in CSU history with that honor coming after her junior season of 1996.

Nominations for the 2010 HoF class are now open. 

To nominate a former athlete, coach, or to nominate a person as a contributor, come by the Athletic Department at the Lumpkin Center and pick up a form. You may also use the link below to print and fill out a nomination form and then either mail it to the CSU Athletic Department, drop it by in person, or fax it in. There is also an online form which users can fill out directly and submit online, making it easier than ever to nominate potential HoF members. Guidelines and rules for nomination can be found on the nomination form.

Nominate one of two ways:

• Complete the online form by clicking here
• Download the form by clicking here, print and mail.

Here is the CSU mailing address:

CSU Hall of Fame Nominations
c/o Mike Peacock
CSU Athletic Department
4225 University Avenue
Columbus, Georgia 31907-5645

Here is the fax number for nomination submissions: 706-569-2594