The Magnificent Seven

Tara Chaisson – Women’s Soccer, 1996-99
Chaisson was named Southern Conference Player of the Year in 1999 and was a four-time member of the All-SoCon Team. She was SoCon Freshman of the Year in 1996 and a NSCAA All-Region second teamer in 1999. Chaisson is the Georgia Southern and SoCon career record holder for points (161) and goals (59). She assisted on 43 goals in her career, best in the program and third in the SoCon, and holds Georgia SouthernÕs single-season records for most points with 50 (1998) and most assists with 16 (1998). She was selected in 2008 to the Conference’s Women’s soccer team in recognition of the SoConÕs 25th anniversary of women’s championships.

Pat Douglas – Football, 1982, Assistant Coach
First team captain in the modern era of Georgia Southern football, Douglas was also the first player to earn a football scholarship. He led the team in interceptions with six and was fourth in tackles with 48. The leader of the “Gnat Pack,” Douglas was the Eagles’ top punt returner with 20 returns for 177 yards, wearing number 9. He later joined the coaching staff and served as the secondary coach for three years including the National Championship season of 1985.

Greg Hill – Football, 1996-1999, Assistant Coach
Hill was quarterback for the 1999 National Championship team, leading the squad to back-to-back title game appearances in 1998 and 1999. Hill has four of the top 15 single-game rushing performances of all time. He owns the mark for most seasons rushing and passing for more than 1,000 yards in a career for the 1998 and 1999 seasons and holds the Georgia Southern record for the highest average gained per play during the 1999 season with a 9.1 yard average. Hill was a Football Gazette honorable mention for All-America in 1998, a Sporting News third-team All-America selection in 1999, a two-time All-SoCon first team selection (1998, 1999) and was named 1999 SoCon Offensive Player of the Year. After graduation, he served as an assistant coach for Georgia Southern in 2002 and 2003.

Paul Johnson – Football, Assistant Coach/Head Coach
Johnson served as an assistant coach from 1983-86 under the legendary Erk Russell, starting as defensive line coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1985. He helped the offense set numerous records, posting a combined 26-4 record from 1985-86 and won the first two I-AA National Championships in program history. Johnson was named head coach in 1997, leading his team to the 1997 FCS playoffs and winning National Championships in 1999 and 2000 plus runner-up in 1998. In five years as head coach, he posted a 62-10 record (.861 winning percentage) and won five straight Southern Conference championships. Johnson was the 1998 Eddie Robinson Award winner as I-AA National Coach of the Year. He went on to be the head coach at Navy for six years, posting a 45-29 record, leading the Midshipmen to bowl games five straight years. He is currently the head coach at Georgia Tech, leading the Yellow Jackets to the ACC title and an Orange Bowl berth in his second season (2009).

Stacey Scheible – Women’s Swimming, 1989-93
Arguably the best all-around swimmer in program history, Scheible held Georgia Southern records in each of the four strokes and was beaten only three times in her career. She previously held eight Eagle records, one of which stood for 14 years. She swam a school-best 1:06.30 in the 100-yard breaststroke. Scheible was a member of the 200-yard medley relay, 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay and 800-yard freestyle relays all of which set Georgia Southern records.

Jeff Shireman – Baseball, 1985-1988
Shireman was selected to the NCAA Coaches All-Region team in 1988, the same season he earned Player of the Year honors for the Trans America Athletic Conference. He was named to All-TAAC Eastern Division squad twice (1987 and ’88) as a middle infielder. He ranks third in career runs scored with 203 and is tied for second in career doubles (61) and has the fourth-longest hitting streak (23 in ’88) in school history. Shireman also stands sixth all-time in games played (229), ninth in at-bats (852), fifth in hits (290) and third in walks (146). He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988 and was inducted into the Mason Clements Wall of Fame at Georgia Southern in 2009.

Britta Wilms – Women’s Tennis, 1995-98
A four-year letterwinner, Wilms twice earned All-Southern Conference honors in singles play (1997-98), received All-Conference honors all four years in doubles action, and helped win three SoCon regular season titles and two tournament championships. She was ranked as high as 28th nationally in doubles during the 1996 season and was three-time SoCon champion in doubles. She compiled a 62-12 career record in singles play, 56-5 in doubles action and a perfect 30-0 career Southern Conference mark in singles play and 30-0 in doubles play.