Kevin Turner, Ken Donahue and Jim Goostree Among 2017 State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

Former Alabama fullback Kevin Turner, assistant football coach Ken Donahue and trainer and administrator Jim Goostree are among the eight members of State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 2017 class of inductees, the Hall of Fame board of directors announced recently.

Turner, who passed away earlier this year after a long battle with ALS, was a fullback at Alabama from 1988-91 and was a member of the Tide’s 1989 Southeastern Conference co-championship team. Turner served as one of Alabama’s captains as a senior in 1991 and received the Spring Practice Award and the Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award during his career at the Capstone. He was a third-round choice of the New England Patriots in the 1992 NFL Draft and played three seasons with the Patriots and five with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1996, he was presented with the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award for overcoming adversity on and off the field.

Donahue served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Alabama for 21 years from 1964-85. During that time period the Alabama defense led the Southeastern Conference in total defense seven times, in rushing defense nine times and in pass defense three times. Alabama won 11 SEC titles and three national championships during his tenure. Donahue was also an assistant coach at Memphis State, Tennessee and Mississippi State during his 38-year career. He was named Working Coach of the Year in the SEC twice (1975 at Alabama and 1985 at Tennessee) and was the 1985 Football News Assistant Coach of the Year. Donahue passed away in 2001.

Goostree served as athletic trainer (1957-84), assistant athletic director (1984-87) and executive athletic director (1987-93) at Alabama and was inducted into the National Athletic Trainer’s Association Hall of Fame in 1984. He also served as head trainer for both the Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl all-star games for 15 years. As an administrator, Goostree was in charge of Alabama’s Tide Pride donor program and supervised the renovation and expansion of Bryant-Denny Stadium and Coleman Coliseum in the 1990s. Goostree passed away in 1999.

The remainder of the 2017 class includes Lee Defore (Auburn/Basketball), Jeff Herrod (Ole Miss/Football), Todd Jones (Jacksonville State/Baseball), Takeo Spikes (Auburn/Football) and Carnell Williams (Auburn/Football).

The eight newly elected inductees will bring the total of all inductees since 1969 to 344.  The 49th State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Ceremony will take place on May 13, 2017 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel.