Two legendary Yellow Jackets each added a new honor to their already long respective lists this week, being selected for the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame.
Former Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton and late head basketball coach John “Whack” Hyder have been added to the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, it was announced on Friday.
Hamilton, already a member of the College Football Hall of Fame (2014) and Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (2009), has been selected to the most recent class of the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame.
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Hyder, who is also a member of the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (1956) and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (1980), will posthumously be inducted, having died in 2003.
With over 10 thousand yards in total offense, Joe Hamilton (1996-99) is still the school’s all-time leader in that category, a record that has stood nearly two decades. A 1999 Heisman Trophy runner up and Davey O’Brien Award winner, Hamilton is widely accepted as the greatest quarterback in Georgia Tech history.
As coach of the Yellow Jackets for 22 years (1952-1973), John Hyder finished his career with a record of 292-271. His 1960 team made Georgia Tech’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. His 1955 squad ended Adolph Rupp’s 129-game home win streak, beating Kentucky on the road.
Prior to his time coaching Georgia Tech Basketball, Hyder was a standout athlete on the Flats, lettering in multiple sports. Likewise, since his outstanding career at Georgia Tech, Hamilton has held multiple positions as a coach and recruiter with the Jackets as well as at nearby Georgia State University.
The pair of Yellow Jackets join Braves legends Andruw Jones and Leo Mazzone, along with former Falcons running back Gerald Riggs in the 2018 hall of fame class.
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The official induction ceremony will take place during the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame’s 14th annual awards on Friday, February 16 at the Emory Conference Center Hotel. The event is set to begin at 6 p.m.