The 2013 USA South Athletics Hall of Fame class includes two former members of the Greensboro College athletics staff. Long time coach and Athletics Director William Ariail and former men’s golf coach Robert Linville will both be inducted into the USA South Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 5, 2013 on the campus of Greensboro College.
William Ariail served Greensboro College as Director of Physical Education and Athletics for 18 years (1959-1977). He also served as Physical Education Department Chair, Athletic Director and Coach at Louisburg Junior College prior to joining the Greensboro faculty. Ariail served as Greensboro’s first Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach. He was instrumental in Greensboro’s arrival into the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as the institution began play in the league in 1966 as the Conference’s seventh member. In 1968, Ariail was named Conference Coach of the Year as he led Greensboro to the program’s first-ever League men’s basketball title. In 2000, Ariail was inducted into the Greensboro College Athletics Hall of Fame. Ariail passed away in 2007, leaving an enduring memory of service to The Pride athletic program.
Robert Linville served as head coach of the Greensboro College men’s golf program for 12 seasons (1995-2006). He was named Conference Coach of the Year four times and NCAA Division III Coach of the Year twice. In 2000, Linville led The Pride to the program’s first NCAA Division III National Championship. Additionally in 2000, he was chosen to coach the United States College All Star team in its annual competition against Japan, an honor that would be repeated in 2006. In 2002, Linville’s squad captured the Conference Championship. During his coaching career, Linville coached 12 All-Americans, 19 All-South Region honorees, two National Players of the Year, one National Freshman of the Year and one National Champion. A standout golfer himself, Linville was an All-American at Guilford College and played professionally for seven years before devoting himself to teaching full-time. In 2008, Linville was inducted into the Greensboro College Athletics Hall of Fame.