Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club to Induct Six into the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame
7/15/2021 4:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Soccer, Men's Track & Field, General, E-Club
Ceremony will be held Friday, Sept. 24, in a location to still be determined
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, the official varsity athletic letterwinners club, has announced the addition of six new members into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The Class of 2021 will be honored at the Hall of Fame ceremony Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
The Class of 2021 includes: Carl "CJ" Johnson (Men's Track and Field), Jason Jones (Football), Amanda Kulikowski (Soccer), Carl E. Thomas (Men's Basketball), Charles E. Thomas II (Men's Basketball), and LaTonya M. Watson (Women's Basketball).
This year's class will mark the 45th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame with a ceremony at 7 p.m. The Class of 2021 will then be recognized during the EMU football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, against Texas State University.
With increased vaccination numbers and recent announcements by the federal government and the State of Michigan that ease restrictions on large gatherings, the University will announce details at a future date on purchasing tickets to attend the ceremony.
For questions, please contact Janina Pollatz at 734.487.8684 or via e-mail at jpollatz@emich.edu.
The biographies for the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2021 inductees follow below...
CARL "CJ" JOHNSON
Men's Track and Field: Graduated from EMU in 1996...Holds the third-fastest time at EMU in the 400-meter hurdles (outdoor) at 50.76 in 1987...Only EMU track athlete to double in the open 400m and 400-meter hurdles at the Mid-American Outdoor Conference in 1987 and 1988...Ran 46.32 in the 400m and 50.76 400-meter hurdles in 1987 and 46.28 in the 400m and 51.11 in the 400-meter hurdles in 1988...Owns the fifth-best time in EMU history in the 200-meter hurdles (indoor) at 24.40 in 1985...Notched the fifth-best time in the 600-yard (indoors) at 1:09.75 during the 1986 campaign...Ranks seventh in EMU's record book with a time of 46.28 set in 1998 in the 400-meter (outdoor)...Holds the varsity record of 1:01.52 for 500 meters - Qualified for the NCAA in this event, which is no longer run, placing in the top 10...Won the Mid-American Conference 400m hurdles in 1987 and 1988 outdoors, and the 500m indoors in 1987...Placed second twice outdoors in the 400 and was on two indoor (1985 and 1988) and one outdoor (1986) 4x400M MAC champion relay teams...Anchored the 4x400 team indoors, which ran 3:08.64, still the varsity record, and also the outdoor team which ran 3:04.73, also still the varsity record...Placed fourth in the NCAA meet.
JASON DUANE JONES
Football: Attended Eastern Michigan University from 2004-07...Was a football student-athlete who began his career as a tight end (2004) before moving to the defensive line (2005)...Completed his four-year EMU career with an outstanding senior season (2007) when he led the Mid-American Conference in tackles-for-loss with 1.63 per game en route to being named First Team All-MAC...Ranks second in EMU history with 50.0 TFLs and seventh in sacks with 14.0...Notched five tackles-for-loss against Northwestern, Sept. 16, 2006, the second-most in a single-game in school-history...Also had four TFLs at Vanderbilt during the 2007 season...Ranked fifth in EMU history in quarterback hurries (18)...Selected in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, as the 54th overall player...Professional career included defensive line play for the Titans (2008-2011), Seattle Seahawks (2012), Detroit Lions (2013-15), and Miami Dolphins (2016)...During his NFL career, recorded 212 tackles, 31.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 26 pass deflections...Has continued to give back to EMU as a member of the Champions Advisory Board.
AMANDA KULIKOWSKI
Women's Soccer: Graduated from EMU in 2002...One of the top women's soccer players in school history...Starter for four seasons (1998, 99, 00, 01)...Helped lead the team to its first-ever MAC regular-season and MAC Tournament titles and the first NCAA post-season tournament appearance...Three-time first-team All-MAC pick (1998, 99, 00) and a second-team selection in 2001...Named the MAC Newcomer of the Year in 1998...Named Academic All-MAC in 2000 and 2001...Her 12 assists in 1999 is still No. 1 in the EMU record book...EMU career leader in assists (31) and is second in goals scored (35) and points (121)...Has three top 10 single-season efforts in points...Named a College Scholar Central Region third-team pick and was a Verizon Academic All-American University Division second-team selection in 2001 and a Verizon Academic All-American District IV selection in 2001.
CARL E. THOMAS
Men's Basketball: Graduated from EMU in 2000...Four-year letterman in men's basketball (1987-88 through 1990-91) and a key member of two NCAA Tournament and Mid-American Conference championship team...Helped the team record an 84-40 record in his four years...Played in 113 games with 66 starts...Finished his career with 1,179 points and 452 rebounds and set the career record for three-point field goals with 185 when he finished his career in 1991...Also in top 20 in career assists with 249...Scored a career-best 27 points against North Carolina in the NCAA Sweet 16 game in 1991...Named to the All-East Region Team of the NCAA Tournament in 1991...His NCAA career tournament total of 62 points ties teammate Markus Kennedy for the most in EMU history...Played in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Orlando Magic...Currently an assistant men's basketball coach under Head Coach Keith Dambrot, a former EMU assistant coach, at Duquesne.
CHARLES E. THOMAS II
Men's Basketball: Graduated from EMU in 2000...Four-year letterman in men's basketball (1987-88 through 1990-91) and a key member of two NCAA Tournament and Mid-American Conference championship teams...Finished his career with 710 points, 347 rebounds and third in career three-point field goals with 116 and finished in top 20 in assists (241)...Played in 109 career games with 42 starts...Helped EMU record an 84-40 record in his four-year career...Started in the NCAA Tournament in 1990-91 and scored nine vs. Mississippi State, 11 versus Penn State and eight against North Carolina...Was awarded EMU's Most Improved and Defensive Player after the 1990-91 season...Played one season in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons...Currently an assistant men's basketball coach under Head Coach Keith Dambrot, a former EMU assistant coach, at Duquesne
LaTONYA M. WATSON
Women's Basketball: Graduated from EMU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics...Earned four varsity basketball letters from 1988-92...Led the team in assists in her final three seasons...Currently ranks fourth in career assists (446), fifth in steals (235), eighth in free throws made (264), 12th in scoring (1,296), and 10th in single season assists (132 in 1990-91)...Played in 132 games in her career...Was a second-team All-Mid-American Conference pick in 1991-92, an honorable mention All-MAC selection in 1990-91 and was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team in 1988-89...Also selected first-team All-MAC Academic in 1990-91 and 1991-92 and honorable mention All-Academic pick in 1989-90...A veteran coach of 20+ years at the Division I and II levels, served as the head coach at NCAA Division II University of New Haven (2015-18) and assistant coach at the University of Colorado, American University, Bucknell University, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, as well as a graduate assistant at EMU...After three years at the middle school and high school levels, Watson spent nine seasons as an assistant coach in her first stint at the University of Colorado (1996-2005)...With the Colorado Buffaloes, compiled a 152-92 record during that time and competed in the NCAA Tournament on five occasions, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2002...In her first season as a head coach, led the New Haven Chargers to a 15-13 record and berth in the Northeast-10 semifinal championships, marking the program's second consecutive appearance...In all, as a coach Watson was a part of nine 20-win seasons, three conference titles, and 11 postseason tournament appearances...Has coached 20 All-Conference players, and 12 players who continued playing professionally.
The Class of 2021 includes: Carl "CJ" Johnson (Men's Track and Field), Jason Jones (Football), Amanda Kulikowski (Soccer), Carl E. Thomas (Men's Basketball), Charles E. Thomas II (Men's Basketball), and LaTonya M. Watson (Women's Basketball).
This year's class will mark the 45th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame with a ceremony at 7 p.m. The Class of 2021 will then be recognized during the EMU football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, against Texas State University.
With increased vaccination numbers and recent announcements by the federal government and the State of Michigan that ease restrictions on large gatherings, the University will announce details at a future date on purchasing tickets to attend the ceremony.
For questions, please contact Janina Pollatz at 734.487.8684 or via e-mail at jpollatz@emich.edu.
The biographies for the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2021 inductees follow below...
CARL "CJ" JOHNSON
Men's Track and Field: Graduated from EMU in 1996...Holds the third-fastest time at EMU in the 400-meter hurdles (outdoor) at 50.76 in 1987...Only EMU track athlete to double in the open 400m and 400-meter hurdles at the Mid-American Outdoor Conference in 1987 and 1988...Ran 46.32 in the 400m and 50.76 400-meter hurdles in 1987 and 46.28 in the 400m and 51.11 in the 400-meter hurdles in 1988...Owns the fifth-best time in EMU history in the 200-meter hurdles (indoor) at 24.40 in 1985...Notched the fifth-best time in the 600-yard (indoors) at 1:09.75 during the 1986 campaign...Ranks seventh in EMU's record book with a time of 46.28 set in 1998 in the 400-meter (outdoor)...Holds the varsity record of 1:01.52 for 500 meters - Qualified for the NCAA in this event, which is no longer run, placing in the top 10...Won the Mid-American Conference 400m hurdles in 1987 and 1988 outdoors, and the 500m indoors in 1987...Placed second twice outdoors in the 400 and was on two indoor (1985 and 1988) and one outdoor (1986) 4x400M MAC champion relay teams...Anchored the 4x400 team indoors, which ran 3:08.64, still the varsity record, and also the outdoor team which ran 3:04.73, also still the varsity record...Placed fourth in the NCAA meet.
JASON DUANE JONES
Football: Attended Eastern Michigan University from 2004-07...Was a football student-athlete who began his career as a tight end (2004) before moving to the defensive line (2005)...Completed his four-year EMU career with an outstanding senior season (2007) when he led the Mid-American Conference in tackles-for-loss with 1.63 per game en route to being named First Team All-MAC...Ranks second in EMU history with 50.0 TFLs and seventh in sacks with 14.0...Notched five tackles-for-loss against Northwestern, Sept. 16, 2006, the second-most in a single-game in school-history...Also had four TFLs at Vanderbilt during the 2007 season...Ranked fifth in EMU history in quarterback hurries (18)...Selected in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, as the 54th overall player...Professional career included defensive line play for the Titans (2008-2011), Seattle Seahawks (2012), Detroit Lions (2013-15), and Miami Dolphins (2016)...During his NFL career, recorded 212 tackles, 31.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 26 pass deflections...Has continued to give back to EMU as a member of the Champions Advisory Board.
AMANDA KULIKOWSKI
Women's Soccer: Graduated from EMU in 2002...One of the top women's soccer players in school history...Starter for four seasons (1998, 99, 00, 01)...Helped lead the team to its first-ever MAC regular-season and MAC Tournament titles and the first NCAA post-season tournament appearance...Three-time first-team All-MAC pick (1998, 99, 00) and a second-team selection in 2001...Named the MAC Newcomer of the Year in 1998...Named Academic All-MAC in 2000 and 2001...Her 12 assists in 1999 is still No. 1 in the EMU record book...EMU career leader in assists (31) and is second in goals scored (35) and points (121)...Has three top 10 single-season efforts in points...Named a College Scholar Central Region third-team pick and was a Verizon Academic All-American University Division second-team selection in 2001 and a Verizon Academic All-American District IV selection in 2001.
CARL E. THOMAS
Men's Basketball: Graduated from EMU in 2000...Four-year letterman in men's basketball (1987-88 through 1990-91) and a key member of two NCAA Tournament and Mid-American Conference championship team...Helped the team record an 84-40 record in his four years...Played in 113 games with 66 starts...Finished his career with 1,179 points and 452 rebounds and set the career record for three-point field goals with 185 when he finished his career in 1991...Also in top 20 in career assists with 249...Scored a career-best 27 points against North Carolina in the NCAA Sweet 16 game in 1991...Named to the All-East Region Team of the NCAA Tournament in 1991...His NCAA career tournament total of 62 points ties teammate Markus Kennedy for the most in EMU history...Played in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Orlando Magic...Currently an assistant men's basketball coach under Head Coach Keith Dambrot, a former EMU assistant coach, at Duquesne.
CHARLES E. THOMAS II
Men's Basketball: Graduated from EMU in 2000...Four-year letterman in men's basketball (1987-88 through 1990-91) and a key member of two NCAA Tournament and Mid-American Conference championship teams...Finished his career with 710 points, 347 rebounds and third in career three-point field goals with 116 and finished in top 20 in assists (241)...Played in 109 career games with 42 starts...Helped EMU record an 84-40 record in his four-year career...Started in the NCAA Tournament in 1990-91 and scored nine vs. Mississippi State, 11 versus Penn State and eight against North Carolina...Was awarded EMU's Most Improved and Defensive Player after the 1990-91 season...Played one season in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons...Currently an assistant men's basketball coach under Head Coach Keith Dambrot, a former EMU assistant coach, at Duquesne
LaTONYA M. WATSON
Women's Basketball: Graduated from EMU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics...Earned four varsity basketball letters from 1988-92...Led the team in assists in her final three seasons...Currently ranks fourth in career assists (446), fifth in steals (235), eighth in free throws made (264), 12th in scoring (1,296), and 10th in single season assists (132 in 1990-91)...Played in 132 games in her career...Was a second-team All-Mid-American Conference pick in 1991-92, an honorable mention All-MAC selection in 1990-91 and was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team in 1988-89...Also selected first-team All-MAC Academic in 1990-91 and 1991-92 and honorable mention All-Academic pick in 1989-90...A veteran coach of 20+ years at the Division I and II levels, served as the head coach at NCAA Division II University of New Haven (2015-18) and assistant coach at the University of Colorado, American University, Bucknell University, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, as well as a graduate assistant at EMU...After three years at the middle school and high school levels, Watson spent nine seasons as an assistant coach in her first stint at the University of Colorado (1996-2005)...With the Colorado Buffaloes, compiled a 152-92 record during that time and competed in the NCAA Tournament on five occasions, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2002...In her first season as a head coach, led the New Haven Chargers to a 15-13 record and berth in the Northeast-10 semifinal championships, marking the program's second consecutive appearance...In all, as a coach Watson was a part of nine 20-win seasons, three conference titles, and 11 postseason tournament appearances...Has coached 20 All-Conference players, and 12 players who continued playing professionally.
2024 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Saturday, September 21
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Gina Tempro
Thursday, September 19
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Matt Shoemaker
Thursday, September 19
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Tavelyn James
Thursday, September 19