MCSHF General Program Criteria and Process

Anyone may nominate a person for the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame. Nominees are selected for the Hall of Fame each year by the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors. All candidates must be connected to Montgomery County to warrant recognition in the Hall of Fame. See below for criteria that may be considered by the Board.

Athletes | Teams

Coaches | Officials

  • a native of Montgomery County
  • a resident of Montgomery County for at least five (5) years
  • attended high school in Montgomery County 
  • a resident of Montgomery County for at least five (5) years
  • have attended high school in Montgomery County

  • for high school/college achievements, the candidate must have graduated from high school/college at least one (1) year prior to nomination;
  • be a retired professional athlete (eligible for nomination immediately upon retiring or ending competitive participation), see exception below;
  • have coached in Montgomery County for at least seven (7) years,
  • have officiated in Montgomery County for at least seven (7) years,
  • have been an Administrator in Montgomery County for at least seven (7) years

  • A team shall become eligible for nomination five (5) years after the competition. The induction of a team shall not prohibit the separate induction of individual team members.
  • be retired from coaching at least one (1) year prior to nomination;
  • be retired from officiating at least one (1) year prior to nomination.
Note: Active athletes, coaches, and officials are not eligible for nomination, with the following exception.

A nominee will receive automatic qualification if he/she meets the following criteria:

  • Olympic Medalist
  • World Record Holder (sanctioned association)
  • Inductees in recognized International or National Hall of Fame
  • Professional Athletes who have been members of a world championship team

 Residency: Must meet general criteria for Montgomery County.

Note: Active MCSHF Board Members and members of their immediate family (Parent, Grandparent, Spouse, Child, Grandchild, and Siblings) are NOT eligible for nomination but may be inducted if nominated prior to beginning of service on the Board.

The nominator is required to complete the nomination form and provide all necessary paperwork. All applicants will be screened thoroughly. Statistics, record books, video, news print, etc., will be considered when possible. Although athletic achievements will be of prime importance and consideration, his or her current and post-athletic record will be weighted. A person must also have made proven contributions by carrying the ideals of athletics forward into his or her occupational endeavors and community service.

All candidates will be judged on their significant and/or long term contributions to athletics or sports in general. Longevity, without significant or unusual accomplishments, does not constitute appropriate credentials for Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame consideration. Candidates must have excelled in his or her field of sport, whether athlete, coach, or other nomination categories recognized by Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, and who through such achievements have gained renowned recognition.

Athletes will be considered for their achievements in amateur or professional athletics on a county, state, national, or international level. Excellence above the ordinary in their field of endeavor is required. Coaches will be considered  based on their coaching achievements at the Montgomery County intramural level, public or private school, collegiate, state, national, or international levels. All other categories are for individuals who have contributed to the excellence of sports in some other capacity, including but not limited to such areas as sports administration, sports medicine, sports media, and sponsorship of athletic sports program. (Individual sponsorship does not meet award recognition criteria.) All candidates must be connected to Montgomery County to warrant recognition in the Hall of Fame.

Once candidates are selected and awarded hall of fame distinction, inductees are recognized as members of the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame. No individual inductee will be formally inducted without his/her approval or the approval of his/her family.

Although there is a significant number of well qualified athletes that have contributed to the great sports heritage of Montgomery County, it should never be taken for granted that someone will be included in the Hall of Fame. Because of the number of well qualified athletes nominated in Montgomery County, some nominations will not be selected and others may take a longer period of time to be selected. Nominations that have successfully gone through the screening process will be considered for each year for a total of three (3) years. If a nominee is not selected in that time, the candidate may be re-submitted for nomination consideration during a subsequent selection period.

Nominees who compete with distinction at the world, international level and do not earn a medal can be nominated based on leadership (i.e. Captain of a world or Olympic team).