NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its 2025 Hall of Fame induction class on Thursday evening, featuring eight extraordinary individuals.

Williard Bailey (football/administrator), Martha Bissah (cross country/track & field), Kenneth Giles (cross country/track & field), Danielle Jones (Softball), Robert Jones (men's basketball), Ralph Tally (men's basketball), Larry Vickers (women's basketball) and Pendarvis Williams (men's basketball) make up the eight-member 2025 class.

"I am honored to congratulate the 2025 inductees of the Norfolk State University Athletic Hall of Fame," said NSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Melody Webb. "This year's class represents the very best of what it means to be a Spartan, excellence, perseverance, and pride. Each inductee has played a defining role in shaping the legacy of Norfolk State Athletics, leaving a standard of achievement that continues to inspire our student-athletes and community today. As we celebrate their remarkable journeys, we also reaffirm our commitment to preserving and advancing the rich history of Spartan Athletics. Congratulations to this outstanding class on an honor so well deserved."
The induction ceremony will be held on Friday, February 13, the evening before the Norfolk State basketball teams host Delaware State in MEAC conference play. Tickets and location details for the event will be announced at a later date.

Willard Bailey – Football Coach/Administrator
A legendary architect of success in HBCU football, Willard Bailey stands among the most influential figures in Norfolk State athletics. Serving as head coach (1984–92) and athletic director (1984–89), Bailey guided the Spartans through one of their most storied periods. In his debut season, he led NSU to a school-record 10 wins and the 1984 CIAA Championship, setting the tone for years of excellence. Over nine seasons, he posted a 52–40–1 record with five winning campaigns, ranking second all-time in program victories. Beyond Norfolk State, Bailey's leadership and mentorship shaped generations of student-athletes across HBCUs, earning him induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Martha Bissah – Track & Field / Cross Country
One of the most decorated student-athletes in Norfolk State history, Martha Bissah (2016–2021) redefined excellence in track and field and cross country. A three-time USTFCCCA All-American and three-time NSU Female Athlete of the Year, she captured 19 MEAC titles, 16 individual and three relay, and remains the only female in conference history to win three straight cross country crowns (2017–2019).

Bissah earned national acclaim with top finishes at the NCAA Championships, including 6th in the 800 meters in 2018 and 5th indoors in 2019. Her 52–record career included MEAC Outstanding Performer honors and a key role in NSU's 2021 MEAC Cross Country team title. Her legacy as a trailblazer and consistent champion continues to inspire future generations of Spartan runners.

Kenneth Giles – Track & Field / Cross Country
A cornerstone of Norfolk State athletics, Kenneth Giles has built one of the most successful track & field and cross country programs in MEAC history. Entering his 25th year as cross country coach and 21st as track & field head coach, Giles has guided the Spartans to record-breaking success, including 17 MEAC cross country titles and multiple indoor-outdoor championship sweeps.

Under his leadership, NSU athletes have earned over 100 individual MEAC titles, 400 All-MEAC honors, 100 NCAA Regional qualifications, and 23 All-America awards. His program has produced national standouts such as Martha Bissah, Kiara Grant, James Taylor, and Olympian Christopher Brown.

A former All-American in the 800m, Giles was inducted into the Hagerstown Community College Hall of Fame in 2025. A 43-time MEAC Most Outstanding Coach honoree, his enduring legacy is defined by championships, consistency, and generations of athletes shaped by his mentorship.

Danielle Jones – Softball
A standout of Norfolk State softball in the mid-1990s, Danielle Jones combined power, speed, and precision to become one of the program's most complete offensive players. The 1996 All-CIAA Rookie Team honoree hit .440 with 28 RBIs and a perfect 23-for-23 in stolen bases as a freshman, then followed with a standout 1997 season batting .453 with 75 runs, 63 hits, and 35 stolen bases—earning All-CIAA and VaSID All-State First Team honors.

Jones remains among NSU's all-time leaders in runs, hits, triples, and total bases. A catalyst at the top of the lineup, her blend of consistency and explosive athleticism helped set the standard for Spartan softball excellence.

Robert Jones – Men's Basketball Head Coach
Since taking over in 2013, Robert Jones has transformed Norfolk State men's basketball into a MEAC powerhouse and one of the nation's top HBCU programs. Entering his 13th season in 2025–26, he owns a 236–159 (.597) overall record and a dominant 135–45 (.750) MEAC mark.

Jones has led the Spartans to five MEAC regular-season titles and three tournament championships (2021, 2022, 2025), resulting in three NCAA Tournament appearances. A three-time MEAC Coach of the Year, he has produced 34 All-MEAC honorees, including three Players of the Year and multiple postseason award winners.

Now the second-winningest coach in program history, Jones continues to elevate Norfolk State's legacy through championship culture, player development, and sustained excellence.

Ralph Tally – Men's Basketball
One of the greatest players in Norfolk State basketball history, Ralph Tally (1983–87) remains the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,575 points. A three-time CIAA Player of the Year and 1987 NABC Division II National Player of the Year, Tally led NSU in scoring for three straight seasons, including a record 842 points and 27.2 points per game in 1986–87.

A complete two-way player, he also led the Spartans in assists and steals multiple times, still holding the career record for steals (314) and ranking among the top five in assists (440). Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987, Tally's excellence, competitiveness, and record-breaking career continue to define the gold standard of Spartan basketball.

Larry Vickers – Women's Basketball
Larry Vickers transformed Norfolk State women's basketball into a championship powerhouse, guiding the program to three straight MEAC Tournament titles (2023–25), four regular-season crowns, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Over his nine-year tenure, he compiled a 177–99 record, including an 83–18 mark over his final three seasons and a program-best 30 wins in 2024–25.

A two-time MEAC Coach of the Year and 2023 HBCU National Coach of the Year, Vickers developed multiple conference award winners and All-Americans while leading the most dominant era in NSU women's basketball history. A former Spartan player and longtime men's assistant, he was named head coach at Auburn University in 2025, continuing a remarkable coaching journey rooted in Spartan excellence.

Pendarvis Williams – Men's Basketball
A standout of Norfolk State's Division I era, Pendarvis Williams (2010–14) was a driving force behind one of the program's most successful stretches. A versatile scorer and leader, he finished his career with 1,646 points, ranking among NSU's all-time Division I scoring leaders, and sits second in career three-pointers made (217).

The 2013 MEAC Player of the Year and BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Year, Williams earned multiple All-America and All-District honors for his consistent two-way play. After his collegiate career, he played professionally in the NBA G League and overseas, carrying Spartan excellence to the international stage.