By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN versatile athlete/coach Larikah Russell will be enshrined into the Southern Nazarene University Athletics’ 2025 Hall of Fame Class.

The Grand Bahamian native will be among five individuals whose legacies have shaped SNU Athletics’ history. 

This year’s inductees span multiple sports and generations, representing excellence in performance, leadership and character.

Russell, who goes in the 2025 class for her performance as a tennis player, will be joined by men’s basketball legend Jim Dimick (1964-1968), volleyball standout Delia Febres (1981-1983), national title-winning coach and university leader Dr. Loren Gresham (1979-1986) and softball All-American Amy Madden (2010-2013).

The fourth class to be inducted - following the classes of 2011, 2014 and 2023 - will be officially honoured during a special induction ceremony this fall. Now residing in Nassau where she serves as a tennis coach and still performing as one of the top female softball players in the New Providence Softball Association, she said it’s an honour she will cherish for the rest of her life. 

“Honestly, it’s an incredibly humbling and emotional moment for me. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame at Southern Nazarene University where my collegiate journey began is a full-circle blessing,” she said.

“I’m deeply grateful to God, to my family, and to all those who supported me then and now. It’s a reminder that the sacrifices, hard work and love poured into the sport truly mattered.”

During her tenure from 2002-2006), Russell dominated the national small college tennis scene during her four-year career at SNU. A four-year starter at No. 1 singles and doubles, she won four Intercollegiate Tennis Association Small College National Championships — three in singles and one in doubles — and earned three invitations to the NCAA Division I Indoor National Championships.

“Definitely, my experience at Southern was life-shaping in every sense. It was more than just about competing at a high level,  it was a time of growth, learning and building lifelong relationships. The campus felt like home, and the support I received—from my teammates to my professors to Coach Phil White—was something truly special,” she reflected. “He saw potential in me from the very beginning and always made me feel like I belonged. My time there challenged me to step up as a leader and grounded me in values I still carry with me today—faith, humility, resilience, and excellence.”

White described her as “one of the best all-around athletes to ever attend SNU” and highlighted her Final Four leadership run in the NAIA national championship. He also praised her humility and faith, adding, “She was always looking to build up teammates and demonstrated Christlike character in everything she did.” 

Russell, 40, said she can’t wait to walk those halls again at Southern Nazarene to see the familiar faces, and to share this special moment with her loved ones. 

“Being able to return not just as a former student-athlete, but now as a Hall of Famer—it’s surreal, and I’m honored,” she reflected 

Following graduation, Russell represented the Bahamas in international tennis and softball competitions and is now a top coach in the Bahamas, where she continues to inspire future generations.

At present, Russell is Partner and Tennis Professional at Impact Tennis Academy in Nassau where she works with athletes of all ages and skill levels—helping them develop not just strong tennis fundamentals, but also confidence, character, and a growth mindset. 

She also travels with the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s junior and senior national teams and is passionate about using sport as a tool for empowerment and community-building.

And she now plays softball for the Ballers Elite ladies softball team in the New Providence Softball Association after splitting up with the perennial champions Sunshine Auto Wildcats.