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Coaches Hall of Fame


The sole criterion for induction into the Coaches Hall of Fame is competitive success attained in an ethical and collegial manner. The most recent inductee(s) convenes the group, while the full group of inductees serve as the selection committee. The selection committee must unanimously agree on any new inductee.

Justin Bernstein: University of California, Irvine

Justin Bernstein
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At the time of his induction in 2014, Justin had led three schools to national Top 10 finishes: as captain and three-time All-American for UC Berkeley’s student-run team; as a coach for NYU’s 2010 national championship; and as coach when UC Irvine twice finished #1 in AMTA’s Power Rankings and won 14 All-American Awards in six years.

Ryan Faulconer: University of Virginia

Ryan Faulconer
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Ryan Faulconer and Toby Heytens were inducted into the Hall of Fame together in 2021. At the time of their induction, the University of Virginia’s mock trial team had won three national championships (2006, 2007, 2017), finished as national runners-up in 2016, placed teams in the Top 10 at Nationals 18 times, and won 62 tournaments in total over roughly 15 years. Ryan is a former All-American competitor for the University of Kansas.

Gonzalo Freixes: University of California, Los Angeles

Gonzalo Freixes
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The year he was inducted, Gonzalo won his 3rd national championship in three final round tries. His teams have qualified for nationals in every year since 1998 and have been in the prestigious "top 10" in all but 2 of those years. From 2000 until the ORC system was created, his teams won their regional every single year, winning two different regionals in 2008.

Steve Hatting: University of St. Thomas

Steve Hatting
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Steve was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. Steve Hatting began coaching the University of St. Thomas mock trial teams in 1986, and they quickly became a national powerhouse, winning the national title in 1987 and finishing as the runner-up in 1989.

Dan Herron: Miami University (Ohio)

Dan Herron
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When inducted in 2008, Dan Herron had coached for twelve years, finishing in the nation's elite "top 10" on seven occasions and winning the national championship in 2001. Herron's Miami teams had been Regional Champions every year with only one exception.

Toby Heytens: University of Virginia

Toby Heytens
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Toby and Ryan were inducted into the Hall of Fame together in 2021. At the time of their induction, the University of Virginia’s mock trial team had won three national championships (2006, 2007, 2017), finished as national runners-up in 2016, placed teams in the Top 10 at Nationals 18 times, and won 62 tournaments in total over roughly 15 years. Toby is a former All-American competitor for Macalester College, and Ryan a former All-American competitor for the University of Kansas.

DeLois Leapheart: Northwood University

DeLois Leapheart
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Professor Leapheart was inducted into the AMTA Coaches Hall of Fame on April 15, 2016, at the 32nd National Championship Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. As coach of the Northwood mock trial program, DeLois Leapheart led the Timberwolves' meteoric rise.

Noel Myricks: University of Maryland

Noel Myricks
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When Noel was inducted in 2006, he had coached teams to four national championships, two runner-up finishes, and eleven eastern regional championships.

Marcus Pohlmann: Rhodes College

Marcus Pohlmann
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When Marcus was inducted in 2006, twenty-two Rhodes teams had placed in the nation's "top ten" and Rhodes held the record for consecutive national championship appearances. Marcus retired after 32 years of coaching, having qualified for the National Championship Tournament in each of those years, finishing in the "Top Ten" 25 times, making eight final rounds, and winning four national championships.

Felicia Stewart: Howard University

Felicia Stewart
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Dr. Felicia Stewart was inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017. At the time of induction, Dr. Stewart had coached Howard University to the 1997 National Championship, along with a second Final Round appearance in 2003. Dr. Stewart is currently a professor in the Department of English at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rob Tully: Drake University

Rob Tully
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Rob started the Drake University Mock Trial program in 1985. In five years of active coaching, Rob's teams were always highly competitive, winning national championships both times they made the national final round (1989 and 1993). Rob was inducted in 2006.

John Vile: Middle Tennessee State University

John Vile
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When inducted in 2008, John Vile had coached for 20 years, qualifying for the national championship tournament in each of those years and finishing in the nation's "top 10" eleven times. John is especially proud of the number of MTSU teams that have earned the "Spirit of AMTA Award" for good sportspersonship.

Ruth Wagoner: Bellarmine College

Ruth Wagoner
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At the time they were inducted in 2007, Ruth and Jim had coached for 22 years and made it to the national championship tournament on 21 occasions. They had eleven "top 10" finishes, 3 more at the Silver nationals, 4 appearances in the national final round, and a national championship in 1999.

Jim Wagoner: Bellarmine College

Jim Wagoner
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At the time they were inducted in 2007, Ruth and Jim had coached for 22 years and made it to the national championship tournament on 21 occasions. They had eleven "top 10" finishes, 3 more at the Silver nationals, 4 appearances in the national final round, and a national championship in 1999.

Jim Walker: Wright State University

Jim Walker
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Jim Walker's Wright State University program was truly one of the pace setters in AMTA's early days. In Jim's ten years of active coaching, Wright State won AMTA's second National Championship in 1986 and was also runner-up two years later. Jim was inducted in 2006.