Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame selection committee waived the organization’s rule requiring coaches and athletes to be separated from the university for five years before they are eligible for induction to select Early. “Alvy Early is not just the winningest coach in UAM history, he is one of the most successful coaches in the history of intercollegiate athletics in Arkansas,” said Chris Ratcliff, director of athletics. “The committee felt it was only appropriate that we make an exception for an exceptional coach. We feel like this year’s Hall of Fame class is outstanding.”
Before he became a coach, Early was a three-sport at what was then Arkansas A&M, earning letters in football, baseball and tennis. Early was a successful high school coach at West Fork before returning to his alma mater in 1979 to become head women’s basketball coach. In 21 seasons, his teams won 425 games and lost 211. Early was four times AIC coach of the year, NAIA district coach of the year twice, produced 11 All-Americans, won or shared four AIC titles, and led the Cotton Blossoms to the brink of an NAIA national championship, losing in the finals in 1990.
Early became UAM’s softball coach in 1997 and immediately built a powerhouse. In 2000, the Blossoms won the first of five consecutive Gulf South Conference West Division championships. They won two more division titles before UAM joined the Great American Conference in 2011. Early promptly led the Blossoms to the first GAC regular season championship and the league’s first postseason tournament title as well.
Early was the Gulf South Conference West Division Coach of the Decade (2000-10) and has produced eight All-Americans, 42 Academic All-Americans, and two players of the year, including Hall of Fame inductee Lindsey Kight.
