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A legendary West Virginia University rifle team coach and pioneering sports psychologist who dedicated his career to supporting the well-being of student-athletes and two former campus leaders who spent decades championing student success and elevating the college experience will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the university.
The WVU Division of Student Life will recognize Ed Etzel as the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award and induct Corey Farris and Pam Hagedorn into the 2026 Hall of Fame during an awards dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Monday, October 5, in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
The RSVP deadline for the awards dinner was September 28.
A former WVU rifle team coach, Olympic gold medalist and professor emeritus of sport and exercise psychology, Etzel is a licensed psychologist who spent nearly 40 years at the Carruth Center, serving as the liaison to WVU Athletics before retiring in 2022.
A pioneer in student-athlete mental health care, he integrated mindfulness into his practice to help athletes navigate challenges such as substance use, injury recovery and stress management. Through his work, he championed professional ethics and peak performance.
As a faculty member, Etzel devoted more than three decades to shaping what was then the sport and exercise psychology doctoral program — laying the groundwork for the premier sport, exercise and performance psychology program in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences.
Originally from New Haven, Connecticut, he honed his shooting skills through the Boy Scouts of America, later turning his lifelong passion into a legendary career at WVU. As head rifle coach from 1976 to 1989, he led the program to its first NCAA National Championship win in 1983 and ultimately brought home four national titles.
An elite marksman, he won an Olympic gold medal in the 50-meter rifle prone event at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, earning him inductions into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the U.S. International Shooting Hall of Fame.
Etzel earned a master’s degree in physical education in 1979 and a doctoral degree in counseling psychology in 1989 from WVU. He also served as an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps during the Vietnam War era, later retiring from the Army Reserves as a captain.
Today, he spends his retirement playing guitar, watercolor painting, gardening and enjoying time with his wife, Dr. Anne Cather. He also volunteers his time as a retro rock and blues DJ for WWVU-FM.
Guided by a career-long commitment to student success, Farris joined the university in 1991. Over the next three decades, he served in several key leadership roles, consistently promoting student growth and development across the university.
In 2013, he was appointed dean of students by then-Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray, who praised him for his exceptional dedication to student advocacy. As part of a division restructuring in 2015, his oversight expanded to include Campus and Community Life, Student Legal Services, Student Media, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Student Government Association and several other core campus services.
Known for a hands-on approach, Farris routinely met with students, using their insights to enrich the college experience while maintaining a safe, supportive campus environment. He tirelessly served as a vital liaison between students, administrators and the Morgantown community — and students were always his top priority.
His early work included vital housing roles as director of Housing and University Apartments and assistant dean of students for Residential Education, where he spearheaded the transition to a digital housing application and room selection process.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from WVU in 1981 and a master’s degree in student personnel from The Ohio State University in 1984.
Farris remains active in the community by volunteering his time to Empty Bowls Monongalia to address food insecurity, while also supporting other organizations that contribute to the betterment of Morgantown.
After 45 years of dedicated service, Hagedorn retired in 2019 from her role as the interim assistant director of Campus Recreation.
Her career began in 1974 in the Department of Statistics and Computer Science, followed by a move to the Energy Extension Office in the Agricultural Sciences Department in 1988.
However, she found her true calling in 1996 when she joined Student Life as a program assistant for Student Activities — now known as Student Engagement and Leadership. There, she discovered her passion for helping students build meaningful connections outside the classroom.
A visionary for campus community, she served on the Steering, Planning and Development Committee for the Student Recreation Center. She then joined the newly opened facility in 2001 as an administrative assistant senior in Campus Recreation — a role she held until her promotion to interim assistant director in 2017.
Widely described as the “glue” that held things together, Hagedorn supported thousands of students and built lasting relationships across campus. Known for her warm smile, approachable leadership and endless supply of stories, her career is defined by her deep devotion to enhancing the student experience at WVU.
Today, she stays active as a SilverSneakers instructor, volunteers at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s and enjoys spending time with her dog, Maverick.
Find more information about the WVU Student Life Hall of Fame.
