BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Athletics will induct four individuals into the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.
The 2026 Hall of Fame Class includes Angie Bradley (Track & Field), Brandon Doughty (Football), Jack Doyle (Football) and Matt Rice (Baseball).
"In the more than 100-year history of WKU Athletics, only 176 individuals can call themselves Hall of Famers," WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart said. "The Hall of Fame is not for the very good, it is for the very great, and congratulations to these four individuals on joining a very special and select group. We look forward to celebrating with them at Homecoming on November 14."
The induction of the 2026 class will bring the number of former WKU athletes and coaches to earn berths in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame to 180 since its founding in 1991.
The 2026 class will be inducted in a ceremony highlighting the annual W-Club Homecoming Brunch, set for 9:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 14, on the main court in E.A. Diddle Arena.
Tickets for the event, which is open to the general public, are $50 each and can be purchased and/or reserved:
- Online at https://alumni.wku.edu/s/808/24/interior.aspx?sid=808&gid=1&pgid=7654&cid=13114&ecid=13114
- By calling the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation (HAF) office at 270-745-5321.
Each active W-Club member who has paid his/her 2026-27 dues (or is a Lifetime Member) may purchase up to two seats at the member discounted rate of $25 each (additional seats will be at the general public rate – $50 each). However, seating is limited and reservations must be made – either online or by phone with the HAF – to ensure seating is available. The event is open to the public, but seats must be purchased. WKU letterwinners who have not yet paid their 2026-27 dues may do so online with a credit card (at alumni.wku.edu/joinwclub) or at the door (exact cash or check only) with a prior reservation for the event.
The inductees will also be honored in ceremonies on Jimmy Feix Field at halftime of the annual Homecoming football game, set to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. The Hilltoppers will face off against Conference USA foe Jax State at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Tickets for the game are available HERE or by calling the WKU Ticket Office at 1-800-5-BIGRED. W-Club members who have paid their 2026-27 membership dues (or are Lifetime Members) may purchase game tickets at a discounted rate at the W-Club Window at Gate 5 prior to the game.
Four legendary teams have already been announced as part of the 35th class in the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame – 1974 Men's Track and Field team, the 1992-93 Men's Basketball team, the 2015 Softball team and the 2015 Football team. A recognition ceremony for the 2015 WKU Football team will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11:30 a.m. CT in the Tim and Sarah Ford Fieldhouse. Hall of Fame Team Members can receive four complimentary tickets, and additional tickets can be purchased for $25. For more information or to register for the event, click HERE. Information on individuals chosen for the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and other recognition ceremonies will be released at a later date.
Here is a look at the individuals in the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
Angie Bradley // Track & Field // 4 letters (1977-80): Bradley earned national AUAW Women's All-America honors in the long jump as a senior in 1980. She set WKU indoor (19-9) and outdoor (20-4) records in the long jump that season. She qualified for the national championships in the long jump all four of her years on The Hill. Bradley graduated with school records in six outdoor events – three individual (long jump, 100m and 200m) and three on relay teams (4x100m, 4x400m and 3,200-m). She was inducted into the WKU Track & Field Hall of Legends in 1987. She returned to compete in USATF Masters, Kentucky Senior and National Senior events, finishing among the best in the nation in her age group in the long jump, 100 and 50 sprints events. She earned USATF Masters Female Field Event Athlete of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
Brandon Doughty // Football // 3 letters (2013-15): Doughty is WKU's first and only football player in the CUSA Hall of Fame (2025) after his record-setting career ushered in a new era of success for Hilltopper Football. A native of Davie, Florida, Doughty redefined offensive expectations during his time on The Hill and remains one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of college football. He finished his career as WKU's all-time leader in nearly every major passing category, including 12,855 passing yards and 111 touchdown passes. He also finished his career as the leader in single-season passing yards (5,055 in 2015), single-season touchdown passes (49 in 2014) and single-game passing yards (593 against Middle Tennessee in 2014), the latter of which remains the Conference USA record. His 2014 season earned national acclaim, as he led the FBS in both passing touchdowns and passing yards, becoming the first player in WKU history to win the Sammy Baugh Award, given to the nation's top collegiate passer. That same year, he was named Conference USA Most Valuable Player – an honor he would claim again in 2015 after an equally dominant encore performance. He finished his career ranked in the top 10 all-time in FBS completion percentage (67.1%) and among the top 15 in career passing yards and touchdowns. Beyond the stat sheet, Doughty's impact on WKU Football was transformational as he guided the Hilltoppers to their first-ever FBS conference championship in 2015 and led the program to back-to-back bowl victories – earning MVP honors in the 2014 Bahamas Bowl and the 2015 Miami Beach Bowl. WKU also earned its first national ranking under his leadership, finishing the 2015 season ranked No. 24 in the country. Over his final two seasons, Doughty led WKU to an 18–1 record in conference play and established the Hilltoppers as one of the most explosive and efficient offenses in the nation. He ended his career with 27 wins as a starter and helped solidify the program's reputation during its transition into CUSA and FBS competition.
Jack Doyle // Football // 4 letters (2009-12): A four-year starter at tight end, Doyle was selected as a member of the WKU Football All-Century Team in 2018. He earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a senior and played in the Senior Bowl, after setting school tight end records for both career (162) and season (53 as a senior) receptions and career (1,769) and season (614) receiving yards. He also broke the record for catches by a freshman tight end (37). His career catches total (162) was second on the list for all receivers at the conclusion of his college career. Following his time on The Hill, Doyle signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans. He was cut prior to the season, but soon signed with his hometown Indianapolis Colts, where he played nine seasons. During his NFL career, Doyle recorded 295 catches for 2,729 yards and 24 touchdowns. He made two appearances in the NFL Pro Bowl (2017 and 2019).
Matt Rice // Baseball // 4 letters (2008-11): A member of the WKU Baseball All-Century Team (2019), Rice was a 3rd team ABCA All-America catcher in 2010 and a 3-time All-South Region pick. He was a 1st team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2010 and 2011, and he was a member of the SBC All-Tournament Team in 2011. Rice set 7 school records – career marks for hits (309) and RBIs (223), which both still stand; single season standards for hits (101 in 2009) and hitting streak (31 games), which also still stand; and the single game record for hits (5). Overall, Rice still ranks among the top 10 in 10 WKU stat categories. Rice earned a spot on the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team in 2009, when he led the club in batting average (.399), hits (101) and at bats (253). As a junior, he paced the club in batting average (.369), hits (89), home runs (10), RBIs (65) and walks (31). Finally, as a senior, he led the team in batting average (.360), home runs (9), RBIs (59) and walks (35). He was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award in both 2010 and 2011. He also excelled in the classroom earning CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in 2011 after earning a berth on Academic All-America Teams in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He was selected in the 9th round of the MLB Draft by Tampa Bay and played two years of Minor League ball.
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