A new decade begins with the induction of the Class of 2000 into the Methodist Athletics Hall of Fame.

The star-studded class includes a pair of coach/administrators that made an indelible mark in the history books -- Rita Wiggs and Joe Pereira -- as well as a quartet of student-athletes (Robin Baxley-Long, Earl Bunn, Greg Jones, Elton Stanley) toting numerous Methodist, conference and national awards into their induction ceremony.

Rita Wiggs served Methodist as both a coach and as an administrator, and went on to become the first full-time commissioner of the USA South Athletic Conference for which she served in that capacity for 16 years. Wiggs was the Monarch women's golf coach in 1987 and the head women's basketball coach from 1986-1997. Awarded the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (pre-cursor to the USA South) Coach of the Year in 1989, Wiggs then took over the reins as Director of Athletics at Methodist where she was instrumental in starting the Monarch Booster Club, annual Hall of Fame Golf Tournament, and the Methodist Athletic Hall of Fame. The conference honored Wiggs in 2006 by re-branding its annual Don Scalf Woman of the Year award as the Rita Wiggs Woman of the Year Award, then 10 years later included Wiggs in the USA South Hall of Fame's Class of 2016.

Joe Pereira was the pioneer of the Methodist women's soccer program. Under his 11-year leadership, the Monarchs captured eight out of 10 DIAC crowns, seven NCAA Division III tournament bids, and made three Final Four appearances while amassing a 144-59-13 overall record (.697). Seven players that were mentored by Pereira would go on to also be inducted into the Monarch Hall of Fame, and the 1990 squad would enter the Hall as a Team of Distinction following an amazing four-year run (67-14-4, three conference titles and four NCAA appearances). Pereira would eventually move on to Old Dominion University where he led the women's soccer program for 19 years (1995-2013).

Robin Baxley-Long was a four-sport letter-winner for the Monarchs (1971-1975) in volleyball, soccer, softball, and basketball and earned 13 letters as a Methodist College student-athlete. Baxley-Long's overall athleticism led to her selection as Most Valuable Player in three sports (volleyball, basketball, and softball). Baxley-Long was a long-time coach at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, N.C.

Earl Bunn played baseball for the Monarchs from 1974-1977 and was the first Methodist baseball player to be selected NCAA Division III All-American, an honor which he received twice. Bunn, whose jersey was retired in 1997, still holds Methodist career records for wins (43) and starts (56), and single-season records for wins (15), shutouts (5), complete games (14) and starts (20). In fact, Bunn holds the top three spots in starts, notching 17 in 1976 and then 19 in 1977.

Greg Jones was a basketball player for the Monarchs from 1971-1975. Jones, whose jersey was retired in 1995, was the first All-American in the history of Methodist (NAIA Honorable Mention 1974). He also was the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year (1974), a three-time All-DIAC selection, and a three-time school and conference leader in rebounding and scoring. In addition, Jones teamed with fellow Methodist Hall of Famer Elton Stanley in leading the Monarchs to DIAC championships in 1972, 1974 and 1975. Jones and Stanley entered the Hall together and were the first men's basketball players to be inducted.

Elton Stanley was a basketball player for the Monarchs from 1971-1975. Stanley, named an NAIA All-American in 1975, was a four-year starter for a Monarch squad that claimed three DIAC championships. Stanley teamed with fellow Methodist Hall of Famer Greg Jones in leading the Monarchs to DIAC championships in 1972, 1974 and 1975. Jones and Stanley entered the Hall together and were the first men's basketball players to be inducted. Stanley was named to the All-Tournament team all four years.