Chatman, Cuda, Jackson Selected for 2024 Eckerd Athletics Hall of Fame

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Eckerd Athletics is proud to announce Rodney Chatman, Joe Cuda, and Kelly Jackson as the three members chosen to the 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame class.

Rodney Chatman

Rodney Chatman was a guard for the men's basketball team from 1991-1995. He helped guide Eckerd to two NCAA Tournament appearances in 1993-94 and 1994-95. He also helped the Tritons to the program's first Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship in 1994 and Eckerd's first regular-season SSC Championship in 1994-95, where Eckerd produced a 22-10 record. The mark also set a then-record for wins in a season. 

During his time in a Triton uniform, Chatman was a three-time all-conference honoree. He was selected to the honorable mention team in 1992-93 before being named to the second team in his junior year and garnering first-team accolades in his final campaign. 

He was a two-time selection to the SSC All-Tournament team, taking home MVP honors in 1994 when Eckerd won the tournament championship. 

Chatman ended his career appearing in 114 games while logging 1,616 points and 521 rebounds. 

In Tritons' career history, he ranks third in made free throws (412), fourth in points (1,616), fifth in field goals made (577), eighth in games player (114), 12th in points per game (14.2), and 16th in both rebounds (521) and steals (110). 

Additionally, he holds four top-10 rankings in Eckerd single-season records: ranking fourth in points (588, 1993-94), eighth in points (529, 1994-95), sixth in free throws made (147, 1993-94), and seventh in field goals made (215, 1993-94). He also produced a 38-point game versus Florida Southern in 1993-94, the third most points in a game in program history. 

Joe Cuda

Joe Cuda was a starting pitcher for the Tritons from 2008-12. He was the 2012 Male James R. Harley Award winner, annually presented to the top senior male and female student-athlete who has demonstrated leadership and excellence in the classroom, on the field of competition, and in their community.

Cuda produced his best season in 2011 and was tabbed the Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year, the first Triton to do so. That season, he posted a 1.66 ERA. He was also selected to the Daktronics All-South Region First Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team that season. 

He also received numerous accolades in the 2012 campaign, including All-SSC Second Team, ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-South, ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region Gold Glove Team, Daktronics All-South Region Second Team, and a semifinalist for Tino Martinez Division II Player of the Year Award. He was also a Preseason ABCA/Rawlings All-American selection and three-time NCBWA South Region Pitcher of the Week. 

At the time of graduation, Cuda set the career record for strikeouts with 386 and starts with 51. He currently ranks second in both categories. He also ranks third in career innings pitched (355.2), 10th in wins (20), and 10th in games pitched (59). 

In Eckerd's single-season records, he ranks third (114, 2012), fifth (110, 2011), and ninth (91, 2010) in strikeouts while ranking sixth in ERA (1.66, 2011). 

In 2012, Cuda was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 27th round of the MLB Draft. He spent three years in the minor leagues, reaching the High A league. He posted a 24-13 record with 234 strikeouts with the Cardinals organization. 

Kelly Jackson

Kelly Jackson was a two-sport athlete, playing volleyball and softball for the Tritons from 1999 to 2003. Her senior year, she was the female recipient of the James R. Harley Award. 

She produced a .305 career batting average with 153 hits and 70 RBIs in softball, and 3,930 assists and 137 aces in volleyball. 

Jackson was a third baseman for the Tritons' softball team, where she was a three-time all-conference selection. She garnered second-team honors in 2001 and 2002 before collecting first-team accolades her senior year. 

In Eckerd's career records, she ranks eighth in total bases (210), ninth in homeruns (9), ninth in doubles (28), 10th in hits (153), 10th in singles (115), 11th in RBIs (70), 11th in slugging percentage (.424), and 14th batting average (.305). 

In the single-season records, Jackson ranks seventh in batting average (.383; 2002), eighth in doubles (12; 2002), 12th in slugging percentage (.541; 2002), and 16th in hits (51; 2002, 2003).  

As a setter on the volleyball team, Jackson was selected to the All-SSC Freshman Team in 1999. 

Jackson is the program record holder in career assists at 3,930 while ranking seventh in hitting percentage (.282) and ninth in aces (137). 

She also ranks in the top 10 in four single-season records, ranking second (11.58; 2001) and fourth (10.67; 2002) in assists per set, fourth (1,123; 1999) and sixth (1,099; 2002) in assists.  

The 2024 Hall of Fame Class will be inducted during the annual ECSPYs on Thursday, May 9.