Utah Athletics Announces Largest, Most Accomplished Inductees For 2020 Hall Of Fame

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah announced 8 athletes that will be inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame.

It’s the largest class in school history along with one of the most accomplished.

Two of the eight athletes went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in their league’s draft.

Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan released a statement about the Hall of Fame Class.

“This is a great class, in quantity and absolutely in quality. Their accomplishments as University of Utah student-athletes are well-document and just phenomenal, but they are also such good people who went on to do great things after they left our campus and brought great distinction to Utah Athletics. I appreciate the great work of our selection committee to stay focused on this important priority to bring forward a terrific class so we can celebrate these outstanding individuals as we do annually.”

The class is scheduled to be honored on Friday, September 11 as a part of Utah football’s weekend when they host Montana State.

Our newest Hall of Fame inductee list is packed with accomplished athletes and it’s also the largest class in school history! 🙌 #goutes https://t.co/x556QpgW8U

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) April 29, 2020

Alex Smith, Football

After being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Smith has remained in the league for 16 seasons with the 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and is now with the Washington Redskins.

While at Utah, Smith led a high-powered offense to an undefeated season in 2004 which included a Fiesta Bowl victory over Pittsburgh as the Utes became the first “BCS Buster” in the BCS era. Smith was named first team All-American and was a Heisman Trophy finalist after throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and set a school record with 42 total touchdowns.

Andrew Bogut, Basketball

Bogut was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft to the Milwaukee Bucks. During his NBA career, Bogut has played with five times including the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. Bogut won an NBA title in 2015 with the Warriors.

In college, Bogut was the Consensus National Player of the Year. In his final season at Utah, he led the nation with 26 double-doubles while averaging 20.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and shooting 62 percent from the field. He became the third Utah player in school history to score 1,000 points in two seasons. The Utes held a 29-6 record with Bogut and appeared in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Bogut has also played in three Olympics with Australia.

Amy Timmel Hogue, Softball

As a player, Amy Hogue was a second team All-American in 1994 after helping the Utes win a school record 51 games. As a second basemen, she set school records that season with a .455 batting average and scored 55 runs which led to being named WAC Player of the Year. Hogue led Utah to a pair of conference titles and appearances in the College World Series in 1991 and 1994.

Hogue is now the head coach of Utah Softball and has been for the past 13 seasons. She has coached the Utes to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Lori Baird, Volleyball

Baird was an AVCA third team All-American, All-West Region selection and the 2008 Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year. The Utes won the Mountain West Title while appearing in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament that season.

She ranked 16th in the country in blocks per set with 1.39 and fourth in the conference in kills per set with 3.05. After her successful career at Utah, she finished with 1,236 kills and 561 blocks.

Anthony Brown, Football

Brown played on the offensive line for the Utes where he earned third team Associated Press All-America and first team All-WAC honors in 1994. With Brown leading the charge on the offensive line, Utah averaged 36.4 points per game. The Utes had a 10-2 record in 1994 and finished in the top 10 of the national polls for the first time in school history. Brown entered the NFL as a free agent where he played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Casey Child, Baseball

Child was an outfielder and designated hitter for the Utes in the late 1990’s where he earned first team ABCA All-American. He set single-season school records with 104 hits, 31 home runs, 97 RBI’s, 227 total bases and .890 slugging percentage. All of those records still stand today.

He led the Utes to 36 wins and the WAC North Division title. Child was selected in the 16th round of the MLB Draft by the Anaheim Angels.

Eddie Johnson, Football

Johnson was Utah’s all-time rushing leader with 3,219 yards and 35 touchdowns before Zack Moss broke those records during the 2019 season. Johnson was a first team All-WAC selection as a freshman in 1984 and then again in 1986. In Utah school history, 18 seasons have had the running back rush over 1,000 yards in a season. Johnson had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Through his career at Utah, Johnson had 12 100-yard rushing games with half of those coming in 1986.

Leilani Mitchell, Basketball

Mitchell was a third team All-America and Mountain West Conference Player of the Year during the 2007-08 season. She was one of three finalists for the Lieberman Award which is awarded to the top point guard in NCAA Division I. Mitchell averaged 7.5 assists which was good for fourth in the nation.

Mitchell also averaged 16.8 points per game as the Utes won the Mountain West Conference regular season title and reached the NCAA Tournament.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.