LEXINGTON, Va. — Former Washington and Lee standouts Elizabeth Miles '89 and John Morris '90, along with longtime coach and administrator Chuck O'Connell, have been named to the 2026 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Hall of Fame class.
The three Generals are among 36 student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors selected for the second class in conference history. The ODAC Hall of Fame now includes 86 members following the induction of its inaugural 50-member class during the conference's 50th anniversary celebration in 2025-26.
"The announcement of our second Hall of Fame class is another chance to celebrate the people who have helped make the ODAC what it is today," explained ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston. "Each honoree has their own story, but they all made a lasting impact on our conference and helped set the standard for those who came after them. We're proud to recognize what they accomplished and excited to celebrate the lasting mark they've made on the ODAC."
The 2026 class features honorees from 14 institutions, including three representatives from each of the conference's eight charter members. The first two ODAC Hall of Fame classes were selected directly by the administrations of the represented institutions.
Elizabeth Miles '89 – Women's Swimming
Miles was among the first women to compete in intercollegiate athletics at Washington and Lee, beginning her swimming career in 1985 during the University's first year of coeducation. In 1999, she became the first woman inducted into the Washington and Lee Athletics Hall of Fame.
Miles made an immediate impact as a first-year, earning First Team All-ODAC honors, being named W&L's Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year and receiving Honorable Mention All-America recognition in two events at the NCAA Division III Championships.
She earned ODAC Swimmer of the Year, W&L Outstanding Female Swimmer of the Year and First Team All-ODAC honors during each of her final three seasons while also serving as team captain. Miles received the Atlantic States Outstanding Female Athlete Award during her junior and senior seasons and appeared in the annual edition of the American College Athletes Hall of Fame as a senior.
A four-time NCAA Championship qualifier, Miles recorded top-16 national finishes in the 200-, 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events during her career. She established W&L records in the 200-, 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyle events and completed her career holding all four program marks.
John Morris '90 – Men's Tennis
Morris is regarded as one of the top players in the storied history of Washington and Lee men's tennis. He lettered and competed among the Generals' top six singles and doubles positions throughout his four-year career, serving as team captain during his senior season.
A five-time All-American who earned the honor twice in singles and three times in doubles, Morris tied the NCAA record by winning three individual national championships.
As a sophomore in 1988, Morris helped lead Washington and Lee to the NCAA Division III team championship before finishing as the national runner-up in doubles alongside Chris Wiman '88. He captured the NCAA singles championship as a junior and teamed with Bobby Matthews '89 to win the doubles title. Morris concluded his career by advancing to the national singles semifinals and winning a second consecutive doubles championship with Bill Meadows '91.
Morris was named ODAC Player of the Year during his junior and senior seasons and earned All-ODAC honors in singles and doubles in each of his four years. He received the Washburn Outstanding Freshman Award in 1987, won the Memorial Tennis Cup as W&L's outstanding player during each of his final three seasons and was named the University's Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year in 1990.
Morris was inducted into the Washington and Lee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.
Chuck O'Connell – Coach and Administrator
O'Connell served Washington and Lee for more than 35 years during a distinguished career as a coach and athletics administrator. He remains involved with the University today as a volunteer coach with the Generals' men's lacrosse program.
He arrived at W&L in the fall of 1973 as an assistant professor of physical education and an assistant coach with the football and men's lacrosse programs. During 10 seasons as the Generals' top lacrosse assistant, O'Connell served as offensive coordinator and goalkeeper coach. He mentored 15 All-America offensive players, while two of his goalkeepers received the C. Markland Kelly Award as the nation's outstanding goalkeeper.
The Generals made six appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament during his tenure, advancing to the national semifinals in 1974 and 1975.
O'Connell also held several prominent leadership positions within the sport. He served as vice president of the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association from 1974-76 and as its president from 1976-78. He was also president of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and co-chair of the 1980 USILA North-South Game hosted by Washington and Lee. Additionally, he was a nationally recognized lacrosse official.
O'Connell was promoted to assistant athletic director in 1983 and continued coaching football through 1990. He served as defensive coordinator for 13 of his 18 seasons with the program, helping W&L win ODAC championships in 1981 and 1985 while coaching 16 First Team All-ODAC selections.
As an administrator, O'Connell managed the athletics department's finances before assuming additional responsibilities for facilities and operations. He became director of physical education in 1991 and was promoted to senior assistant athletic director in 2002. O'Connell served as interim athletic director during the 2006-07 academic year before becoming an athletics department adviser and its primary representative for the Wilson Field renovation in 2007-08.
Throughout his administrative career and into retirement, O'Connell continued to contribute as a volunteer goalkeeper coach with the women's lacrosse program and as a volunteer coach with the men's lacrosse program.
A two-time All-America attackman at Denison University, O'Connell is a member of the Denison Athletics Hall of Fame, the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Maryland Lacrosse Club Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Washington and Lee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
