Tim Wallace

SMC Hall of Fame baseball coach Tim Wallace announces retirement 

Adapted from information courtesy of Spartanburg Methodist College

For more than three decades, one man has ruled the diamond at Spartanburg Methodist College. One voice has been developing players on the field and good young men off it. SMC Head Baseball Coach Tim Wallace has been a coach, mentor, leader, and teacher to thousands of baseball players over the years. Wallace recently announced that he has decided to hang up his whistle and fungo bat and retire from coaching at the end of this year. 

“It’s truly been a privilege to lead this program for so long. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to coach so many great players and young men over the course of my career,” Wallace said. 

Wallace achieved nearly every accolade available to a coach at his level, including induction into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014 and accumulating 1,351 wins, fourth most for a college  baseball coach as of the end of the 2024 season, according to the Society for American Baseball Research. 

“There is not much you can say about Tim that hasn’t already been said over the years,” said Athletic Director Megan Aiello. “He has built an incredible baseball program here at SMC and laid the foundation for success long into the future. His legacy will forever be stamped on SMC.” 

In Wallace’s 34 years at SMC, he led the program to the heights of success amassing 12 NJCAA Region 10 titles and seven trips to the Division 1 JUCO World Series, including three in a row from 2012 – 2014. He was named Region 10 Coach of the Year eight times, Eastern District Coach of the Year six times, and American Baseball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year numerous times. He was also a part of the inaugural group of recipients for the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Awards. He also provided a number of other coaches with their start in the sport. 

"Coach Wallace gave me my start in baseball, and I've never forgotten the things he taught me. Over the years, I've coached many of his players as they moved from SMC to other colleges and all of them loved their experience playing for him because of the type of man he is,” said Monte Lee, associate head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina. “He's made a tremendous impact on the young men who have played for him and the coaches who have worked for him, and I consider him a lifelong friend." 

Austin Alexander, owner of Diamond Prospects, a baseball recruiting service in South Carolina, played for Wallace during SMC’s 1995 and 1996 seasons before transferring to the College of Charleston. In 1999, he returned to SMC as an assistant coach under Wallace. He says his three years coaching for Wallace laid a foundation for more than twenty-five years of success. 

 "Outside of my parents, Coach Wallace is the most influential person in my life. He gave me a shot first as a player and trusted me in big games; later as his assistant coach, he entrusted me with real responsibility – recruiting, developing players, and behind-the-scenes details that assist me to this day,” Alexander said. “Coach allowed me to learn on the job. He taught me the importance of delegation, how to lead without micromanaging, and also that quality people attract quality people – wisdom I didn’t fully grasp as a young man but carry with me now. His impact shaped not only my career, but the careers of so many accomplished coaches and players across the country. His coaching tree will continue to bear fruit because it was rooted by an individual that we respect and revere so much. His records are long, and the accolades are many, but the man, the Coach Wallace that mentored me – he was exactly who and what I needed to be the person I am today.” 

For Wallace, it was all about the players. He said his most important achievement has been the quality of young men who have come through the program and his opportunity to help shape them on and off the field. Wallace mentored 18 NJCAA All-Americans, hundreds who have gone on to NCAA Division I programs, and more than 150 who signed professional contracts, most notably four-time Major League Baseball All-Star and three-time gold glove winner Orlando Hudson, who played for Wallace in 1997 and 1998. 

"Tim Wallace, what an Impressive mind this man has along with being a great coach. He will make a man out of you quick, and if you couldn't take it, take your uniform off!! He was what my uncles were to me – hard-nosed, took no nonsense, and straight to the point,” said Hudson, the special assistant to the general manager and farm director for the Arizona Diamondbacks. “The game of baseball needs more guys like him from the MLB level all the way down to T-ball. I miss the days of him driving down to Darlington to hunt with me and my dad. Love this man, a true inspiration to my career!" 

Quincy Foster, former outfielder for the Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins), praised Wallace for his mentorship and leadership. 

"To me, Tim Wallace is the best coach-motivator-leader-father figure that a young man could ever have played for. Coach Wallace made me the man that I am today, the coach that I am today, and the father I am today. I am so happy and blessed to have had him in my life," Foster said. 

In addition to his accolades as a coach, Wallace was also an accomplished player. He started his college career at Baptist College (now Charleston Southern) before moving on to Wofford for his final three years. He was drafted in the second round of the MLB draft and played seven years of professional baseball. He is also a member of the SMC Hall of Honor and the Wofford College Athletic Hall of Fame.  

For the past year, Wallace has been serving as a special assistant to the president at SMC to help guide the college’s transition to NAIA sports, a position he will continue. A search for Wallace’s replacement will begin immediately. 

Jenn Bell

Jenn Bell to serve as Conference Carolinas Representative 

Information courtesy of Converse University

The NCAA Division II Governance Board ratified the election of Converse University Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Jenn Bell to the Division II Management Council, serving as the Conference Carolinas representative.

Bell said, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent Converse University and serve Conference Carolinas and the NCAA DII membership. It is truly an honor to be selected, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues, as we navigate the future of NCAA Division II athletics.”

The Management Council reports directly to the President’s Council and is charged with recommending administrative policy and regulations that govern the division. The Management Council reviews and acts on recommendations from the Division II committee structure and from Division II representatives to committees with Association-wide functions.

Over the past few years, Bell has been selected as the NACDA Cushman & Wakefield Athletic Director of the Year of NCAA Division II (2023), Selected as the Division II Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in Sports (2023), Became Chair of the Conference Carolinas Athletic Director Commit-tee (2024). Later this summer, Bell will become the 1st Vice President for the D2 Athletic Directors Association.

Bell is concluding her seventh year as the Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at Converse University. Under Bell’s leadership, Converse Athletics has developed a winning culture – in the classroom, in the sports venue, and in the community.

Throughout the institution’s model change in 2020, Bell led the department through a successful transition from a single-gender athletics program to a coed program by adding six male sports, esports, and a spirit squad to the list of athletic programs offered at Converse University. With these eight additions, Converse Athletics now offers 21 athletics programs.

A $75 million gift from Peter and Bonnie McCausland and The McCausland Foundation will fund one of the nation’s top career development programs for liberal arts and sciences. University of South Carolina photo 

USC’s College of Arts and Sciences renamed following $75 million transformational gift 

Adapted from information provided by the University of South Carolina

Columbia — The University of South Carolina has officially renamed its largest and oldest academic unit as the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, recognizing a historic $75 million gift from alumni Peter and Bonnie McCausland and The McCausland Foundation.

The new name was unveiled during a ceremony on the university’s iconic Horseshoe, celebrating the McCauslands’ commitment to student success, faculty excellence, and research innovation. Their gift will fund one of the nation’s top career development programs for liberal arts and sciences students, expand neuroscience research and education, and support the recruitment and retention of world-class faculty.

“This gift from Peter and Bonnie and The McCausland Foundation marks a new beginning for our university’s oldest and largest college,” said USC President Michael Amiridis. “It strengthens the foundation of arts, humanities, and sciences education at USC and creates transformative opportunities for our students and faculty, with impact that will ripple across South Carolina and beyond for generations.”

Peter McCausland, a 1971 USC history graduate and founder of Airgas Inc., said his time in the College of Arts and Sciences played a crucial role in his personal and professional development.

“Through this gift, I hope to continue the legacy of excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences while helping students leave USC with the curiosity and critical-thinking skills they need to pursue their dreams,” McCausland said.

Empowering Students, Advancing ResearchThe McCauslands’ investment will significantly boost career preparation for liberal arts and sciences students by providing stipends for up to 150 paid internships annually. 

These stipends remove financial barriers and allow students to explore career pathways while gaining valuable experience — positioning USC among the nation's best in career development for liberal arts fields.The gift also advances research and teaching in neuroscience — USC’s fastest-growing major — by funding student and faculty research and bolstering the work of the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging. Since its founding in 2006 through a previous McCausland gift, the center has secured nearly $50 million in research grants and remains a cornerstone of USC’s brain health initiatives.In addition, the gift expands the McCausland Faculty Fellowship, which has supported outstanding early and mid-career faculty since 2014. This continued investment will enhance faculty excellence and ensure USC remains competitive in attracting top academic talent.“This extraordinary gift positions the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences to lead the way in preparing students for meaningful careers while deepening our impact through research and teaching,” said Dean Joel H. Samuels. “The liberal arts and sciences are essential to higher education, and this support allows us to better serve our students and our state.”Samuels added that the McCauslands' legacy is not just financial, but inspirational. “Peter McCausland’s journey from a USC history major to a successful entrepreneur is a testament to the power of a liberal arts education. This gift empowers us to provide that same transformative experience to even more students.”

With the renaming, the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences joins other distinguished named colleges at USC, including the Darla Moore School of Business, Arnold School of Public Health, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, and the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing.

Duke Energy and GE Vernova announce significant arrangement for gas turbines and associated equipment

CHARLOTTE, N.C. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Duke Energy and GE Vernova announced a significant partnership for natural gas turbines and other associated equipment to meet the growing needs of advanced manufacturing, data centers and population growth.

The arrangement between the companies includes a plan to advance specific projects for up to 11 7HA gas turbines consistent with Duke Energy’s integrated resource plans. This will help the company meet its business strategy to provide reliable energy and keep customer costs as low as possible, as well as meeting even the most robust growth scenarios in the future. This is in addition to the eight recently secured 7HA gas turbines.

“As we continue to experience unprecedented growth in our service territories, securing the necessary materials to build critical infrastructure and meet the energy demand is integral to delivering value for our customers and other stakeholders,” said Duke Energy President and CEO Harry Sideris. “We value our collaboration with forward-thinking partners who assist us in advancing our energy modernization strategy.”

The agreement is made possible because of the previously announced expansion of GE Vernova’s Greenville facility to accommodate historic demand for gas turbines from new and existing customers. The expansion, which is part of a nearly $600 million investment in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, includes a nearly $300 million investment in its Gas Power business in the U.S. These investments will replace legacy manufacturing processes with lean manufacturing lines, supporting increases in supplier capacity, creating more than 1,500 new jobs in the country and other enhancements.

“This arrangement with Duke Energy and the significant expansion of our U.S. manufacturing facilities illustrate our ability and commitment to developing innovative solutions that our customers require to meet today and tomorrow’s energy demands,” said Scott Strazik, CEO, GE Vernova. “We are proud to be able to supply these Greenville, S.C., manufactured gas turbines to a leading U.S. energy company and service to its consumers.”

Locating these new assets at Duke Energy facilities enables them to utilize existing infrastructure, including transmission capabilities, significantly reducing cost and speeding time to market.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. 

GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses.