This Saturday, Sept. 16, Elon University will induct the four newest members of its Sports Hall of Fame. The 2017 four-person class includes women's track and field standout Jessica Clendenning '07, women's soccer star Shannon Coyle (Currin) '95 and football players Steven Ferguson '00 and Andrew Wilcox '09. This week, each member will reflect on their time at Elon here on elonphoenix.com.
 
The second soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee to share her reflection is Coyle, who was a four-year letter-winner for the Elon women's soccer program from 1991-94. A four-time first-team All-South Atlantic Conference honoree, Currin's career numbers currently rank third in program history in goals (50), second in assists (41), second in points (141) and sixth in games played (78). She also picked up All-America accolades her freshman and sophomore seasons. Currin's play helped Elon earn a share of the SAC regular-season titles in 1992 and 1993. In 1992, the maroon and gold participated in the NAIA National Tournament and concluded the year ranked 10th nationally.
 
Talk about being inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame. What was your immediate reaction once you heard the news?
"I was really surprised and truly overwhelmed to be included into such an esteemed group of athletes."
 
What has been the feedback?
"It has been truly great to hear from my teammates family and friends. They have all shown such support for me in the nomination."
 
What made you choose to compete at and attend Elon?
"My high school coach, Ms. O'Connell, made the connection to Elon and encouraged me to go visit the school. Coming from New Hampshire, I wanted to be able to play outside all year round. The campus was beautiful and I knew that we might get a chance to play (North Carolina) or NC State while I was there. They offered a great atmosphere for women athletics at Elon. I was being recruited to play at Division I schools Maine, Rhode Island and Santa Clara, but I chose to go to Elon. Coach Rob Brewer put together an outstanding recruiting class that year and it was one of the best decisions to come to Elon and play for him."
 
Outside of athletics, what was it that you enjoyed the most about being at Elon?
"My roommate my freshman year was not an athlete and we stayed together for two years. Coming from New Hampshire, I did not go home most breaks, but I was invited home by both my other roommates. I spent one week in Virginia, going to see Washington D.C. I worked at the Alamance Country Club over the summer and met some really nice people out of Greensboro, N.C., that took me in as part of their family. What I liked about Elon is the location. It allowed you to visit areas all around North Carolina during your down time."
 
What is one of your favorite memories as a student-athlete playing at Elon, both on and off the field?
"I have so many memories involving the team during our trips out of town and with my two softball roommates. On the field, it would have to be our sophomore year path to the national tournament. We were in a win or go home trip to Mississippi playing Lynn University. The fans were chanting against us in the first game, but we won them over for the second match. Our team had such individual charisma and we were so likeable. I remember walking down to the beach in Mississippi and seeing the oil platforms out in the ocean. Off the field, we made a couple of trips into UNC. We went to see Duke play UNC women's soccer when UNC was undefeated. We watched the game and then hung out together downtown at Chapel Hill.
 
How did being a student-athlete at Elon help prepare you for life after college?
"It taught me that nothing comes easy and you have to work for everything you want. It gave me a place to grow into the woman I am today and gave me the foundation to start on a good path to success."
 
What have you been doing since graduating from Elon?
"Since graduating Elon, I worked for a physical therapist. I then got a shot to become a police officer at a local police department and was the first female promoted to the position of Sergeant. I am now only a year away from retiring and moving into another career which is working on my master's as a physician assistant."
 
What do you miss most about Elon?
"I miss the time with my teammates. They were truly a great group of girls. We could get the job done and still had fun at every turn."
 
How much do you keep up with your former teammates and coaches? How much do you follow the current team?
"Thank goodness for Facebook. It has put me back in touch with teammates that I haven't seen in years. I love seeing Elon on the ESPN clicker. I am always trying to see how the women's teams are doing at Elon throughout the year."
 
How proud are you to see the program and some of the past players get Hall of Fame recognition?
"This is so great to see, our years at Elon were very important for women sports. While we were there, softball, volleyball and us all went to the national tournaments. We were part of moving the programs into the direction they are today. It is nice to see Elon recognize all the hard work we put in during those years."
 
If you could describe your time at Elon in one word what would it be?
"It can't be done. There is no word to encompass all the good things that came from Elon"

What Others are Saying
Kam Radford '96, Elon women's soccer teammate and 2016 Elon Hall of Fame Inductee
"I was so thrilled and excited to hear that Shannon was being inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame. She was such a vital part of our team's success and I could not be happier for her on this honor."