ELON – Six standout Phoenix who made exceptional and lasting impacts on Elon Athletics have been elected to Elon Sports Hall of Fame.
 
The Class of 2025-26 features: Chase Austin (baseball; 2007-09), Caitlin Beeler (cross country, track & field; 2006-10), Nicole Dennion (women's soccer; 2012-13), Clint Irwin (men's soccer; 2007-10), Jordan Johnston (women's tennis; 2010-14) and Mike Kennedy (baseball; 1988-90 as a student-athlete and 1996-present as a head coach).
 
The 2025-26 class will be recognized and honored during Elon's second annual Hall of Fame and Champions Weekend, scheduled for Jan. 30-31, 2026. The induction ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. ET on Jan. 31, in Alumni Gym, and is free and open to the public, though registration is requested. More information regarding registration will be announced at a later date.
 
"This year's Hall of Fame class represents the very best of Elon Athletics," said Director of Athletics Jennifer Strawley. "Their dedication has left a lasting legacy, not only through their achievements in competition, but through their leadership, competitive spirit, and impact on the broader Elon community. We're honored to welcome them home to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments during our Hall of Fame and Champions Weekend."
 
CHASE AUSTIN '09 – Baseball (2007-09)
The 2009 Southern Conference Player of the Year and an ABCA Third Team All-American, Austin graduated from Elon holding several records, including single-season marks for hits (92), home runs (23), RBIs (82) and total bases (178).
 
The Charlotte native was a three-year starter for the Maroon and Gold, making an immediate impact as a freshman by setting the program's first-year batting average record at .337. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he was named to the SoCon All-Tournament Team, becoming one of just two players in program history to earn All-Tournament honors twice.
 
In 2008, Austin helped the Phoenix post a 44-18 record and achieve a top-25 national ranking. The following season, he was named the SoCon Coaches Player of the Year and helped Elon earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. He became the highest-drafted position player in program history when he was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins.
 
CAITLIN BEELER '10 – Cross Country, Track & Field (2006-10)
Elon's only three-time First Team All-Southern Conference women's cross country runner, Beeler left her mark across the Phoenix cross country and track & field record books during her career.
 
The Cary native was a four-time All-SoCon Track & Field honoree from 2007 to 2010 and was named the SoCon Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year in 2006. She competed in the SoCon Championship meet all four years, serving as Elon's top finisher in three of them. Beeler won the conference title in the 10,000 meters in 2010 and finished as the runner-up in the SoCon indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter races as well as the indoor 3,000.
 
She briefly held school records in the 3,000-meter run indoors (10:13.24) and outdoors (10:14.14) along with the 5,000-meter run indoors (17:43.11) and outdoors (17:23.12). Beeler was a cross country regional qualifier in 2008 and led the Maroon and Gold to a runner-up team finish at the 2009 Southern Conference Championship, falling just one point shy of the team title.
 
NICOLE DENNION '16 – Women's Soccer (2012-13)
One of the most dominant players ever to wear an Elon women's soccer jersey, Dennion was an inspiration to the Elon community both on and off the field.
 
As a sophomore in 2013, Dennion was named the Southern Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Year after leading the league with 15 goals and helping the Phoenix reach the SoCon Tournament finals. She went on to earn NSCAA All-Southeast Region honors and was named to the SoCon All-Academic Team. Later that year, she received Elon's Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete Award, the university's highest athletics honor.
 
Dennion was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare childhood bone cancer, shortly after her sophomore season. Despite her diagnosis, she completed cancer treatments while maintaining a full course load. The National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics selected Dennion as the recipient of the Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award, and the CAA recognized her with the 2016 John H. Randolph Inspiration Award.
 
Dennion graduated from Elon with a degree in exercise science in 2016 and after her courageous battle with cancer, she passed away on Nov. 5, 2016, at the age of 22.
 
CLINT IRWIN '11 – Men's Soccer (2007-10)
After a standout four-year career in which he earned all-conference honors each season, Irwin becomes the second Phoenix men's soccer player to be inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame.
 
Irwin set Elon's then-career record of 22 shutouts, including a single-season mark of 10 clean sheets in 2009 while leading the Southern Conference in shutouts and goals-against average. That same year, he was a finalist for the prestigious Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which honors the nation's top senior men's soccer player for achievements in community, classroom, character and competition. In 2009, Irwin helped Elon reach its first SoCon championship match and was named to the league's All-Tournament Team. He was also instrumental in helping the Phoenix capture the 2007 SoCon regular season championship with an undefeated 7-0 record.
 
Following his collegiate career, Irwin embarked on a long professional career in Major League Soccer, playing for the Colorado Rapids, Toronto FC and Minnesota United. While with Toronto FC, he helped the club reach the MLS Cup twice, capturing the league championship in 2017. He formally retired from his professional playing career earlier this month.
 
JORDAN JOHNSTON '14 – Women's Tennis (2010-14)
A four-time First Team All-Southern Conference selection in singles and a two-time First Team All-SoCon pick in doubles, Johnston established herself as one of the top players ever to don the Maroon and Gold.
 
She made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2011, earning SoCon Freshman of the Year honors after compiling a 13-6 record, including an 11-5 mark at No. 1 singles. Johnston also secured spots on both the SoCon All-Freshman Team and the All-Conference First Team that season. The following year, she and teammate Frida Jansaker became the first doubles pair in program history to earn a national ranking, reaching No. 43, while posting a 20-2 record together.
 
The Snellville, Georgia, native ranks second all-time at Elon with 62 career doubles wins and holds the program's single-season record for doubles victories with 22 in 2013. She also ranks fourth in career doubles winning percentage (.697) and sixth in career singles victories (53). Johnston helped lead the Phoenix to the SoCon title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2014, as well as an appearance in the SoCon tournament final in 2013. She later earned ITA Scholar-Athlete and SoCon All-Academic honors in 2014.
 
MIKE KENNEDY '89 – Baseball (1988-90, student-athlete; 1996-present, head coach)
A fixture in Elon Athletics for more than 35 years, Kennedy enters the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments both as a player and coach at his alma mater. The Fayetteville native was a two-time honorable mention All-America catcher for the Phoenix from 1988 to 1990. Elon recorded 102 victories during his playing career, including a .756 winning percentage over his final two seasons. A career .311 hitter, Kennedy batted .321 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs during the 1990 NAIA District 26 championship campaign. He earned first-team All-South Atlantic Conference, first-team all-district and honorable mention All-America honors in each of his final two seasons.
 
Now entering his 30th season as the Phoenix's head coach in the spring of 2026, Kennedy has guided Elon baseball to 20 winning records and 18 campaigns with 30 or more victories. His teams have captured four Southern Conference regular-season championships, two SoCon tournament titles and one Colonial Athletic Association regular-season crown. He continues to add to his all-time program record of 882 career victories and counting.
 
Kennedy has coached 75 all-conference honorees, including 36 first-team selections; 24 conference all-tournament picks; three league players of the year; three league pitchers of the year; five league freshmen of the year; seven freshman All-Americans; and two academic All-Americans. He has also coached 54 Phoenix players who have become MLB Draft selections.
 
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