KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Seven individuals with ties to the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee sports were inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night as part of the organization’s newest class, recognizing distinguished careers in coaching, athletics and community leadership.
Among those being honored are legendary Tennessee football coach John Chavis, national championship-winning Vol receiver Jeremaine Copeland, longtime Lady Vol softball leaders Karen and Ralph Weekly, All-American distance runner Brenda Webb, former Vol basketball standout Clarence Swearengen and tennis standout Michelle DePalmer-Williams.
Since 1982, the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony has celebrated Knoxville sports with some of the area’s finest sports achievers. Each year, local individuals are inducted into the Hall of Fame for their achievements in athletics, coaching, sports administration, media and officiating.
GREATER KNOXVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES WITH UT TIES
John Chavis
- Former Tennessee walk-on who played for the Volunteers from 1976-78.
- Spent 20 seasons on Tennessee’s coaching staff from 1989-2008, serving as defensive coordinator from 1995-2008.
- Helped lead the Vols to the 1998 national championship and four SEC titles (1989, 1990, 1997 and 1998).
- Named the SEC’s top linebackers coach in 1998 and AFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006.
- Guided Tennessee defenses that ranked among the SEC’s best throughout his tenure, including leading the conference in total defense in 1996.
- Won the 2011 Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach while serving as defensive coordinator at LSU.
- Later coordinated defenses at Texas A&M and Arkansas before helping the Birmingham Stallions win three consecutive spring football championships from 2022-24.
Jeremaine Copeland
- Harriman native who starred for Tennessee from 1995-98 as both a running back and wide receiver.
- Recorded 131 career receptions and helped the Volunteers capture the 1998 national championship.
- Posted 58 catches for 732 yards and nine touchdowns during the 1997 season.
- Led NFL Europe’s Barcelona Dragons with 74 receptions for 821 yards and six touchdowns.
- Enjoyed an 11-year professional career highlighted by success in the Canadian Football League.
- Finished his CFL career with 623 receptions for 10,031 yards and 75 touchdowns.
- Recorded a career-best 99 catches for 1,757 yards in 2003 and earned CFL All-Star recognition.
- Ended his professional career with 764 receptions for 11,607 yards and 86 touchdowns across multiple leagues.
Michelle DePalmer-Williams
- Reached the No. 1 world junior ranking in the 15-18 age division at age 15.
- Won prestigious junior tournaments, including the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
- Defeated future professional stars, including Renée Richards and Andrea Jaeger, during her competitive career.
- Achieved a career-high ranking of No. 90 on the WTA Tour.
- Earned All-America honors at Tennessee in 1981 and was a two-time All-SEC selection.
- Has won 12 USTA Gold Balls in husband-and-wife doubles competition alongside husband Bob Williams.
- Captured additional national titles in mother-daughter and mother-son competition.
- Named the 2025 Slew Hester Adult Player of the Year for the Southern District.
Clarence Swearengen
- Two-year starting guard for Tennessee after transferring from Connors State Junior College.
- Earned All-SEC honors during the 1988-89 season.
- Finished his Tennessee career averaging 9.9 points, 4.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game.
- Played professionally in Europe for 10 seasons.
- Held coaching positions at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels, including work with Tennessee and Memphis.
- Served more than 14 years as an administrator with Knox County Schools.
- Founded Real Talk Mentoring Inc., which serves more than 300 students across 10 schools.
Brenda Webb
- Four-time cross country All-American and eight-time track & field All-American during her collegiate career.
- Competed at Wright State before transferring to Tennessee.
- Won AIAW national championships in the 5,000 meters in 1977 and the 1,500 and 3,000 meters in 1979.
- Placed in the top 10 at the AIAW Cross Country National Championships in all four collegiate seasons.
- Claimed four USA Track & Field national championships between 1975 and 1988.
- Represented Team USA on 15 national teams from 1974-91.
- Won a silver medal in the 3,000 meters at the 1983 Pan American Games.
- Set an American record in the 8K and a world record in the indoor 5,000 meters in 1988.
- Later served as a coach and assistant coach for Team USA in multiple international competitions.
- Completed her 25th season leading Tennessee softball in 2026 and will enter year No. 26 in 2027
- Owns over 1,400 career victories and ranks among the winningest coaches in Division I softball history.
- Has guided Tennessee to 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, 15 Super Regionals and 10 Women’s College World Series berths.
- Led the Lady Vols to six SEC championships, including back-to-back regular-season titles in 2023 and 2024.
- Helped produce 47 All-America selections and more than 100 All-SEC honorees.
- Is Tennessee Athletics’ all-time wins leader with 1,181 victories.
- Inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Previously guided Chattanooga to five Southern Conference regular-season championships and four SoCon Tournament titles.
Ralph Weekly
- Served as Tennessee’s co-head softball coach from 2002-21.
- Helped build Tennessee into one of the nation’s premier softball programs.
- Guided the Lady Vols to multiple SEC championships, NCAA Regional titles and Women’s College World Series appearances.
- Previously served as head coach at Pacific Lutheran University, winning multiple NAIA national championships.
- Also coached at Chattanooga before arriving at Tennessee.
- Held leadership positions with the USA Women’s Softball National Team during the 1990s and early 2000s.
- Inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2011.
- Retired following the 2021 season after helping establish Tennessee as a perennial national contender.
