BOULDER, Colo. — The University of Colorado has been planning the recognition of nine Golden Buffaloes who stand out through remarkable performances and achievements that have not only benefited their respective sports disciplines but also CU Athletics in general.
On September 9, the school revealed the lists of the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame & Athletic Hall of Honor inductees and announced that seven athletes plus the winner of the Legacy Wing award will be honored in the Athletic Hall of Fame whereas two other former athletes will receive honors at the Athletic Hall of Honor.
The eight different sporting activities and seven different decades through which CU sports has grown are represented by the current inductees who have excelled in the sports of football, basketball, skiing, cross country and track, golf and track and field.
Six Athletes Inducted into CU Athletic Hall of Fame
- Cory Higgins — Basketball (2007–11)
- Matt Miller — Football (1974–78)
- Rune Oedegaard — Skiing (2012–15)
- Steve Slattery — Cross Country & Track (1999–03)
- Emily Talley Hoye — Golf (2008–12)
- Annette Tannander Bank — Track & Field (1979–83)
Emily Talley Hoye will make history not only as she is one of the first members of a women’s sport being recognized in the CU Athletic Hall of Fame but also of a golf women’s event.
From mid-1960s to the last middle of this decade, they all represent different sporting fields and their achievements have laid a strong foundation for Colorados sports heritage.
Kile Morgan Enters the Legacy Wing
Kile Morgan (’68) will share with the other 6 athletes this distinction and is going to be the only member selected for the Hall of Fame’s Legacy Wing section.
The Legacy Wing currently has nine members; Morgan will be the 10th person recognized for his lifelong and not only active commitment to CU sports through his contributions beyond the playing fields.
According to reports from CU Athletics, not only has Morgan helped support athletics through donations to CU athletics, but he has met the qualifications of the Legacy Wing program launched five years ago.
Two Others Join the Athletic Hall of Honor
- Erin McEachren — Alpine Skiing (2001–04)
- Raegan Scott Pebley — Basketball (1993–97)
The program of the Athletic Hall of Honor that was suspended for a long time from 1989 to 2022 was restarted in that year. After the current year’s honors are added, the number of its members will reach up to 77.
CU Athletics to Celebrate Hall of Fame Weekend
The new class will officially be celebrated during CU Athletic Hall of Fame Weekend, October 29–31, 2026.
- Thursday, October 29: Official enshrinement ceremony
- Friday, October 30: Honorees featured during the Pearl Street Stampede
- Saturday, October 31: The inductees will be introduced during halftime of the CU-Kansas State football game
The events allow CU fans and the university community to celebrate the accomplishments of the nine honored individuals and to remember those who have contributed a lasting legacy to the organization.
A Developing Storyline of CU Athletics
Honoring the 2026 CU Athletics class will have the CU Hall of Fame’s number of members reaching 184 aside from the 1959 ski team, recognized as a group because CU never had a champion at the national level in any sport before that team.
The Hall of Fame has been in operation for the past ten plus years, and this year’s class will be the 21st group of those who will be inducted. Notably, all of the incoming honorees have been nominated by other athletes or the selection committee members. Interestingly, there were some among the nominees who were new names to the list that were suggested over the last two years.
Lovo, who is CU’s Athletics Director, informed each candidate separately, thus preserving a longstanding custom regarding the school’s most distinguished athletic honor.
