MOBILE. Ala.  - Many athletes dream of days where their name will forever be remembered for doing something they love.  They hope that through their passion, they will leave a mark in history that will stay long after they are gone.

For five former South Alabama athletes, this dream has come true.

Mark Hoffman, Jeff Campbell, Pete Klear, Demetric Bennett and Marei Lirette helped to shape South Alabama athletic history, and now their accomplishments have led to an induction into the USA Athletic Hall of Fame as the 2016 class.

Although the five are known for their athletic success, the accomplishments did not stop after graduation from South Alabama. Each took his or her own path and followed different dreams.


HOFFMAN USED MENTAL TOUGHNESS FROM BASEBALL AT HARVARD, CORPORATE WORLD

Hoffman knows what it takes to compete on the field, in the classroom and in the business world, and he credits some of it to his time as a pitcher at South Alabama.

As a sophomore, Hoffman helped the Jaguar program become the first in school history to reach No. 1 in the national polls.

"It was very special," Hoffman said. "1970 was a long time ago, but that was a good year.

"We were ranked for most of the season. Just a lot of great experiences, and playing for Coach (Eddie) Stanky was a great experience. My South Alabama experience was just outstanding."

Hoffman still remains one of only two South Alabama pitchers to toss a no-hitter and remains the school's all-time leader with a 2.26 earned-run average. He is among the top 15 with 193 strikeouts, as well after earning four letters from 1970-74.

After South Alabama, Hoffman decided to continue his education at Harvard Business School. He was the first USA business student to earn a master's in business administration from Harvard.

"I got my MBA there, but that was interesting because I was the first person in my class who had come straight from South Alabama undergraduate," Hoffman said.  "I was pretty well prepared for the finance faculty, with the toughness that I think you get playing for someone like Eddie Stanky. It's a pretty competitive world out there.  I went to South Alabama because it had the best baseball program in the country, I went to Harvard because it has the best graduate business school in the country."

Hoffman said that he took what he learned on the field and applied it to the business world.

"The biggest thing I took away from South Alabama was how to have an absolute commitment to be the best you can be," he said. "We had a lot of fun, but we'd go in expecting to win.

"Eddie Stanky expected us to be the best we could be and to always be mentally tough. He'd expect us to expect the most from ourselves. I was pretty well prepared for Harvard and beyond with the toughness that I think you get playing for someone like Eddie Stanky. It's a pretty competitive world out there."

That mentality and work ethic turned into success for Hoffman, even if it wasn't on the baseball field. Hoffman suffered injuries his freshman and senior year, his last injury ending his senior season right off the bat.

"I basically only pitched on opening day my senior year, and missed the whole rest of the season," Hoffman said. "That torn a rotator cuff pretty much that was the end of my career.

"My freshman year, I had torn ligaments in my elbow about halfway through the season and didn't pitch any more that year. I was pretty much healthy for my sophomore and junior years, which were my main seasons. My injuries pretty much ended my opportunities to go forward."

Hoffman said that he attempted to go professionally, including going as far as spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals. His arm, though, was not healthy enough for him to continue. 

That's when he hung up his cleats and focused on his career.

"My grandfather was in the major leagues and so I wanted too," Hoffman said. "But, that's why you get an education. He helped prepare me.  Sometimes things don't work out like you would like them, but you have that education to fall back on."

Hoffman became extremely successful. In the last ten years of his career, he was the CEO of North American operations for Corporate Express, a business-to-business supplier of essential office and computer products and services with annual revenue of nearly $5 billion.

His career also includes management positions with TRW and Lockheed Corp., and Hoffman served as president of APS Holdings.

He retired in his fifties and left the corporate world in 2007. His family still owns a real estate business, a jet charter operation and he is part of several non-profit board of directors.

Although it's been over 40 years since Hoffman was a Jaguar, he still is involved as an alumni.

"When I came back to the area about 10 years go, that's when I became really involved at South Alabama," Hoffman said. "I became president of the alumni association, I've been recognized as a distinguished alumni, I even spoke at commencement a few years ago. I am chairman of the Mitchell-Moulton fundraising scholarship campaign, and I am chairman of the committee to build a new alumni center on campus."

Hoffman and his wife, Alane, have been married for 43 years. They have three children and four grandkids.

Hoffman said that his induction into the USA Athletic Hall of Fame is something really special, but he doesn't take the honor for just himself.

"It's such a cool honor," Hoffman said."I accept this on behalf of everyone who's ever played baseball at South Alabama. I have a lot of pride in this baseball program and it's an honor to accept this on behalf of the program. It is really an honor. The baseball program has always been special."


CAMPBELL TURNS RUNNING FROM FAMILY TRADITION TO PROFESSION

Campbell has spent a lot of his life running. He started at 6 years old and has loved it ever since.

The 45 year old will be just the fourth former cross country and track and field athlete to be inducted into the USA Athletic Hall of Fame. For Campbell, South Alabama became an unexpected family tradition.

"Both of my parents went to South Alabama and my dad (Kyle Campbell Jr.) ran for South Alabama back in the late sixties," Campbell said. "We're really close.

"Running is something we have a bond over. It's something we always did together. I never thought I'd end up at South Alabama, but I'm glad I did."

Campbell lettered for two years in cross country and three years in track and field. He became the first individual in the program to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championship, finishing 32nd and earning All-American honors.

"At the time I had no clue I was the first person to do that for South Alabama," Campbell said. "It was very unique honor."

During his collegiate career South claimed two Sun Belt Conference cross country titles and he earned all-conference honors six times. He was named to the league's 30th Anniversary All-Time Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to compete at a D-I level and feel like you knew everyone," Campbell said. "We were very close knit. South Alabama was like family – the school, the teachers, teammates. I really valued my time there."

After South Alabama, Campbell ran professionally for 12 years representing different shoe brands.

"I didn't work for 12 years," Campbell laughed. "I ran for different show brands and was in pursuit to make the Olympic team. I did run on eight national and world championship teams and competed all around the world. I didn't make the Olympic team, but I made it to world championships."

Today, Campbell is associated with running in a different way. He is now a region sales representative for ASICS America, selling to specialty sporting shops throughout the Midwest.

He married his wife, Robin, five years ago, and together they have two children, Aiden and Julien.

Twenty-five years after his collegiate career, Campbell is honored to be inducted for his accomplishments.

"It's nice to be recognized for everything I did," Campbell said. "The time and training allowed me to know my level at South Alabama and made me realize I could do this for a living.

"Taking that and being able to follow a dream and make a U.S. Team, be able to do that for 12 years and things like that. There were a lot of sacrifices, but it's just neat. My parents went there, it's so unique to be inducted into the hall of fame and I'm just honored to be recognized for reaching those goals." 


KLEAR DEDICATED OVER HALF HIS LIFE TO TENNIS INDUSTRY

When Klear was a student-athlete at South Alabama, he helped lead the Jaguars men's tennis team to the NCAA Championships as a senior. But now, at 69, he is enjoying the life of retirement.

Klear and his wife Karen have been married for 48 years. The couple had three children: Holly, Ty and Chris, who gave them six grandchildren.

"We really are blessed," Klear said of their family.

In Fort Gaines, Ga., Klear spends his time being involved in the community, wearing different hats. He's now a part of the economic development committee, part of the Christmas parade committee and even a bailiff for a grand jury for his quiet, little town. 

He also privately coaches tennis to two boys in Eufaula.

"When you're retired sometimes you're busier than when you weren't retired," Klear said.

That's hard to believe when you look at the former tennis player's journey after South Alabama.
Klear seems to have done it all after graduating with a physical education degree in 1970.

One of the first things he did out of college was officiating in multiple different sports at the high school level.

"I really enjoyed officiating," Klear said. "I started my career in Mobile. That tied into the coaching. I really think all coaches should officiate before coaching, it helps you see all sides."

The coaching door was opened for the former tennis player by a connection he made at South Alabama.

"Early in my career, I coached at the high school level," Klear said. "I had a passion for sports. What's unique was a math professor from South Alabama, (James) Mickey Tucker, was the principal and that's how I was contacted about coaching over there, so I ended up coaching  in Phenix City, Ala., at Glenwood High School."

Although Klear loved the different sports he coached and officiated, he would soon return to a sports industry that he loved: tennis.

"I spent over 45 years in the tennis industry," Klear said. "The majority of that was working Penn Racquet Sports for 20-plus years and worked for Wilson Racquet Sports for seven years.

"I've covered every state in the southeast except for North Carolina, so I did a little traveling. I did a lot of different things in a lot of different ways. I was an officer, an official and of course a salesman; it was a ride for sure."

Klear said he still remembers walking onto South Alabama's campus in 1966 and "falling in love" with the university. He wanted to play tennis, and South Alabama gave him the opportunity.

"We weren't very good to start off with, but we got better every year." Klear recalled.

His senior year would lead to South Alabama history and accomplishments that gave Klear a spot in the USA Athletic Hall of Fame.

"It was a unique team and we were a close-knit group," Klear recalled.  "The best way I can describe it we were overachievers and we thought we'd be pretty good."

Not only were the Jaguars good, they became one of the best men's teams in the nation. In 1970, South posted a 21-2 team record with wins ver Auburn, Southern Mississippi, Tulane and, for the first time in school history, Alabama.

"I guess the stars just aligned," Klear said. "After beating teams throughout that year, we became the best team in Alabama."

South Alabama then qualified for the NCAA Championship. Klear advanced to the third round of the tournament, where he ended his South Alabama career, and the Jaguars came in 20th place.

"Those matches were the last I played for South Alabama," Klear said. "That's not a bad way to end your career, playing in the biggest collegiate tournament in the NCAA.

"It was a good year and a good finish. Little did I know I'd spend 45 years more years in the tennis industry. I guess you can say it's been good to me."

Klear will be just the fifth former Jaguar men's tennis player inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Frantisek Babej, Ahmed El Mehelmy, Jan Hermannson and Peter Kuhn.

"I don't know if I'm worthy of this or not," Klear laughed. "As a kid this is the kind of stuff you dream about. So, I guess fairytales and dreams do come true. I'm thrilled to death and so honored to be going into the hall of fame."


BENNETT HAS PROFESSIONAL STINT OVERSEAS, STILL PROUD OF JAGUAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Bennett, the youngest 2016 inductee, was a two-time first-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection who still holds multiple top-10 spots in the South Alabama basketball program's record books.

Bennett, an Albany, Ga., native, now lives in Atlanta with his wife Courtney, whom he married in 2013. They have two children together, Demetric Jr, 4, and one-month-old Caylee.

He now owns a telecommunications company that installs antennas for various phone companies.

After Bennett graduated from South Alabama in 2008, the Atlanta Hawks gave him a call. The Hawks soon offered him a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, but Bennett decided that wasn't the path he wanted.

"My agent and I declined that offer," Bennett said. "So, I went to Europe to play professionally."

Bennett played in Poland, Italy and France. In 2010 and 2011, he played for Elan Béarnaise Pau-Orthez out of Pau, France, in the LBN Pro A league – the top league in French basketball.

Although he played a stint across the world, Bennett is still most proud of his time at USA. For him, his induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame is something truly special that he can share with his family.

"It means a lot to me personally," Bennett said. "I was very excited to hear about it.

"I transferred in as a sophomore and all three years I was there we did well. I always brag about the school, I loved playing there. My kids will be there.

"My wife never got to see me play in college, and I always talk about my time at South Alabama and how it was. I'm so glad they will be there for that."

As a senior, he led the squad to a school-record 26 wins, an at-large berth to the 2008 NCAA Tournament and the SBC Division Championship, a year after helping the program earn a berth in the National Invitation Tournament.

During his sophomore season, South Alabama earned their first berth into the NCAA tournament since 1998. The former Jag still holds a top-10 record in four categories, including three-point field goals, which he still ranks second with 208.

"Now it made me wish I had played four years at South Alabama," Bennett said, reflecting on his accomplishments in Mobile. "We had a lot of great guys on the team.

"South really taught me to always believe in yourself. At South Alabama, no one believed we would go to the NCAA tournament when I transferred there. People think that South is at the bottom of the totem pole of Division-I sports, but if you believe in yourself you can achieve anything.

"We had support from everyone – staff, fans, the band. People were really nice. I enjoyed my time in Mobile."


LIRETTE ACCEPTS CHALLENGES IN ALL FACETS OF LIFE

Lirette, the only player in school history to be named Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Player of the Year, still resides in Mobile.

Before even graduating from South Alabama, Lirette began working with UPS between her junior and senior year.

"I enjoyed it and they asked me to come back," Lirette said. "But of course, I said I couldn't do that because I was playing on scholarship for volleyball. Once I graduated I went straight to work there in 1989. I've been with them 27 years."

As a supervisor at UPS, Lirette said she enjoys the challenges her jobs brings on a day-to-day basis.

"I started as a part-time loader and then was a driver for five years," Lirette said. "I found myself wanting more challenges and moving up into management. Now I am able to train and teach drivers methods and safety."

Lirette isn't a stranger to challenges and adversity. She said that the reason she transferred from LSU to South Alabama was a coaching change that took place.

"The coach that came in wanted everyone on the team to be 5'10 or taller," Lirette said. "I was 5'7 and not going to grow anymore.

"There were three of us. Two went to Tulane and I went to South Alabama. My goal was to play at the Division I level and compete competitively."

At South Alabama, Lirette didn't come up short on the court. She lettered two seasons for the Jaguars, recording 410 kills and 554 digs in her first season.

Lirette still remains one of only seven in program history to record 300-plus kills and digs in one season.

Another challenge for Lirette came off the court. When she transferred to South Alabama she had a 1.8 GPA, worrying her parents.

That's when she changed her mindset.

"I decided that there weren't going to be changes in my life unless I put forth the effort," she said. "I realized it took what I had to do in volleyball.

"It took dedication, time and studying when I wasn't practicing. That's what made me successful, applying what I did on the court off the court. I came to South with a 1.8 GPA and ended with a 3.8.

"That by far was the biggest accomplishment for me. I thoroughly enjoyed playing volleyball. It was a life goal to play sports and get an education, and the end result is that I got an education and I was proud of that, and my parents were too."

Lirette graduated with a therapeutic recreation degree and officiated multiple sports while working part-time at UPS right out of college before moving up. In the near future, Lirette looks to retire and possibly return to the court in a different way.

"I want to return to something I truly love to do," Lirette said.

She said she thought about coaching volleyball early on, but one thing held her back.

"I really think it was the ankle injury (my freshman year)," Lirette said. "A lot of people wonder why I didn't coach.

"It was very traumatic, it was a 90-degree inverted dislocation. It was pretty horrible. I wish now that I would have gone into coaching, but I knew that it wasn't in my heart then. Maybe I'll get into some fundamental, younger-aged coaching."

When Lirette received the news that she would be inducted into the USA Athletic Hall of Fame, she admitted it didn't really hit her what that meant at first.

"I was honestly taken back when I got the call from (Director of Athletics) Joel (Erdmann)," Lirette said. "When the university turned 50, I was named one of the top 50 athletes.

"In some way, shape or form, I thought the induction was for that. I had no idea there was something beyond that. To receive credit for what I was able to accomplish in my two years is really special to me." 

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).


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