Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Thursday, October 16, 2025

6:15 PM

Yates-Gill College Union

William Jewell College is pleased to announce the Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2025, celebrating Cardinal legends Mark Capra, '80, Dan Cox, '74, Erica Ferguson, '10, Rachel Burrell, '14, and Chris Trout, '94, along with the 2007 women's basketball team.

Mark Capra, '80
Mark Capra shined for the Cardinal football team for two seasons, earning NAIA All-America Second Team honors as a quarterback in 1979. In addition, he picked up All-Heart of America Conference First Team and All-District First Team honors after leading his team to a HAAC Championship, going 9-2 overall. The season ended in the Moila Shrine Bowl where he was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player. During that year, he passed for 1,832 yards, 138 completions, and still holds the school record for passing touchdowns in a season with 23, while also rushing for eight more scores, making his 31 total touchdowns in 1979 second all-time. His final season behind center ranks among the top-15 in program history in total offense, offense per game, offense per play, rushing touchdowns, passing yards, passing attempts, completions, and touchdowns. In his first season in 1978 he led the Cardinals to a bounce back 4-6 record to earn All-District Honorable Mention honors. While at Jewell, he majored in Communication after which he spent more than 30 years in medical device sales. He is married to wife Claire and has three children.
 
Dan Cox, '74
A two-time All-American, Dan Cox starred for three seasons along the defensive line for the Cardinal football program from 1971-1973. He was part of Jewell teams that went 22-9 over three seasons, including an impressive 11-1 with a Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship in 1973, when he served as a co-captain. During his career he was a two-time NAIA All-America Honorable Mention honoree, along with earning three All-District First Team and All-HAAC First Team selections. In his final season, he made 141 tackles, tying him for fourth all-time in program history, while leading the Cardinals to a Mineral Area Water Bowl title and an appearance in the NAIA National Playoffs. He earned his degree in business administration and went on to work in commercial insurance, until his retirement in 2014. Cox married was married to wife Debby for 40 years and had three children before his passing on April 9, 2020.
 
Erica Ferguson, '10
Erica Ferguson was a star on the hardwood from the moment she stepped on campus, earning Heart of America Freshman of the Year honors in 2007. Throughout her career she went on to earn four All-HAAC awards, with First Team honors in 2009, when she was also named to the NAIA All-America Honorable Mention squad. Today she is one of only two players in program history with at least 1800 points and 800 rebounds, coming in sixth all-time with 1,818 points, fourth with 846 rebounds, and 12th with 253 assists. She led the Cardinals to a four-year record of 100-35 with two conference championships and four trips to the NAIA National Tournament, including back-to-back Sweet 16s. She was a double major in business administration and critical thought & inquiry and today is the CEO and Co-Founder of Lead Different Consulting. She is married to spouse Dr. Julie Shaw and has two children.
 
Rachel (Hayden) Burrell, '14
The first All-American in program history, Rachel Burrell (formerly Hayden), was a standout two-way player for the Jewell softball team for four seasons. She burst upon the scene in 2011, earning HAAC Freshman of the Year honors after hitting .376 with 73 hits, 48 runs, and 10 home runs while also winning 15 games in the circle with a 1.64 earned run average, a single season mark that still stands as the best in program history. She went on to earn three All-Conference honors between the Heart of America and Great Lakes Valley and in 2013 was selected as a D2SIDA All-America Honorable Mention honoree, the first ever for Jewell softball. She is the all-time leader in single season and career hit-by-pitch and ranks among the top-15 in career batting average (.352), slugging percentage (.545), on base percentage (.414), games played (200), starts (198), at bats (631), runs scored (119), hits (222), doubles (48), triples (4), home runs (22), RBI (128), walks (47), ERA (2.62), opponent batting average (.259), wins (38), saves (40, appearances (84), starts by a pitcher (61), complete games (34), innings pitched (377.1), and strikeouts (204). She boasts one of only four no-hitters in program history, coming against Southwest Baptist on March 20, 2014. She graduated with her degree in nursing and today serves as an RN in the Cardiac Cath Lab at the Olathe Hospital, part of the KU Health System. She is married to former Cardinal baseball player Devon Burrell and has one daughter.
 
Chris Trout, '94
A member of some of the most prolific teams in program history, Chris Trout is a legend for the Cardinal men's basketball program. Starting 133 games, second most all-time, he boasted a 95-44 record during his four-year career two conference championships and two appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, finishing in the Elite Eight and Final Four in back-to-back years. For his career he was a four-time All-HAAC selection, earning First Team honors in 1992 and 1993. As a junior in 1993, he led the Cardinals the semifinal of the NAIA National Tournament and earned an All-America Honorable Mention selection after shooting 58.1%. He is one of only four players all-time to surpass 2,000 career points, finishing with 2,033 for an average of 15.2 per game for his career with a blazing 60.1% clip from the floor. His 493 free throws is tops in program history while he is also among the top-25 in scoring (15.2), field goals (767), field goal percentage (60.1), free throw attempts (712), rebounds (851), rebounding average (6.4), defensive rebounds (546), offensive rebounds (305), blocks (75), games played (134), starts (133), and minutes played (3,578). He earned his degree in business administration and today works for State Farm Insurance and has three children.
 
2007 Women's Basketball
The 2006-2007 women's basketball team, coached by Jill (Cress) Slominski, finished the season 27-7 overall and 18-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and will become the fourth women's basketball team inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Cardinals were the HAAC Co-Champions and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament after defeating Cornerstone, 73-64. This team boasted four All-Conference performers, including Hillary Adams, Roxi Davitt, Jessica Stewart, and Erica Ferguson, who was named the league's Freshman of the Year. Adams also picked up All-America honors from the NAIA following the season.