Coastal Carolina University's Athletic Hall of Fame will be named in honor of former Coastal athletic director George F. "Buddy" Sasser, according to an announcement today by Coastal President Ronald R. Ingle.

"It is a fitting tribute to Buddy that his name should be permanently linked with Coastal's Athletic Hall of Fame," said Ingle. "Buddy embodies the highest qualities associated with college athletics - integrity, leadership and scholarship."

The Athletic Hall of Fame will be a significant feature of the proposed Athletic Field House scheduled to be constructed near the north end zone of Coastal's new football stadium, probably in 2005. Until that structure is built, the Hall of Fame will be temporarily located in the new stadium, now under construction and scheduled to be completed this summer. Coastal's first football season will begin this fall with an opening home game on Sept. 6 against Newberry College.

"This is a real honor," said Sasser. "Coastal has a rich tradition in athletics, and I'm proud to be a part of it. It's especially significant to me that the Hall of Fame will be housed in the new football stadium complex, which is located on a site that has sentimental associations for me. I had a part in building the first stadium there back when I was a coach at Conway High School. I'm so proud of the new stadium. The football program is going to add a lot of excitement at Coastal."

The naming of the Athletic Hall of Fame is part of a series of events leading up to Coastal's 50th Anniversary festivities in 2004.

Sasser's long athletic career included six years as Coastal's athletic director, as well as seven years as commissioner of the Big South Conference. He serves on Coastal's Football Advisory Committee and on the capital campaign steering committee for Coastal's new football stadium.

A native of Conway, Sasser served as athletic director and head football coach at Conway High School from 1963 to 1970, leading the Tigers to a 66-17-5 record. He was assistant football coach and assistant athletic director at Appalachian State University from 1972 until 1977, and was athletic director and head football coach from 1977 until 1982 at Wofford College, where he was named 1982 Kodak Coach of the Year for the college division. He joined East Tennessee State in 1982 as head football coach and was named athletic director in 1985. Sasser was Coastal's director of athletics from 1986 until 1989, when he accepted the position of commissioner of the Big South Conference. He returned to Coastal as athletic director in 1996 and retired in 1999.