Park University's former Director of Athletics and Head Basketball Coach, Claude English is a name of prominence in the framing of what Park Athletics is today, and now his name will also have Missouri Sports Hall of Famer attached to it.

The announcement of English's entry into this set apart 2023 class of inductees was on Thursday, March 2. The MSHOF will hold an enshrinement ceremony on Sunday, April 23 at 1pm at the LEX at Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.

See the full list of this year's class and the MSHOF release here.

English when asked what this achievement means to him, one of his first comments was "that over the last 29 years he has worked with some incredible people at Park University". He went on to add that "this is a team award because no AD can do this alone. You have to have some wonderful people you are working with".

He also pointed out that none of this would be possible without the coaches, administrative staff, athletic staff, and the student-athletes that he has had the pleasure of working with over his career.

When considering those in the 2023 induction class and those that have gone before him in the MSHOF, English said, "to be recognized at all with the kind of people that are in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the people who are being inducted into the class of '23 is just phenomenal".

"Coach", as he is referred to by former students and staff during his 29-year career at Park, began his time with the Pirates in 1992, serving as the men's basketball head coach through the end of the 2004-05 season. He is second all-time at Park in wins with 182 and set a school record mark of a 27-8 record in 1997-98. In that season, his team made a run to the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal round. While on site, he was awarded the Charles A. Krigel Award for outstanding sportsmanship and his team came away with the Dr. James Naismith-Emil S. Liston Sportsmanship Award, recognizing them as the most sportsmanlike at the event.

The two-time American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1995-96 and 1997-98, began his tenure as athletics director in January of 1996. He split the duties as the athletic director and head men's basketball coach through the 2004-05 season, at which point he exclusively was Park's athletic director.

In 2016-17, he was selected for an AMC Director of Athletics of the Year award. Under his guidance, Park Athletics flourished in 25 seasons, experiencing 17 NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution awards, 79 conference championships, 170 All-Americans, 428 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 5 NAIA men's volleyball invitational tournament championships, six NAIA individual national championships in track and field, and two NAIA women's volleyball national championships.

Gaining entry into one sports hall of fame, like the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, is no small feat, but English is now represented in five separate organizations' hall of fames. In 2010, English was inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame, in his hometown of Phenix City, Ala. Months prior on June 23, 2010, he entered into the McLendon Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame in Anaheim, Calif. as well.

In 2015, he was inducted into the Park University Athletics Wall of Honor, as a member of the inaugural class.

Finally in 2020, English earned the Legends Hall of Fame enshrinement for the Mother Mary Mission Inc. in Phenix City, Alabama for his Leadership-Service and Commitment to Excellence.

Following his retirement, English remains an advocate for Park Athletics and was honored in two major ways. First, with the dedication of Breckon Sports Center's basketball court after him. English was cemented in Park Athletics history with the official naming of Claude English Court on November 15, 2021. Secondly, English was paid ultimate respect as a Park University Torchlighter Award recipient on September 30, 2022. The Torchlighter Award is given to honor individuals who have made significant, long-standing contributions and commitment to Park University, whether alumni, faculty, or friend.