The NCAA announced Wednesday afternoon that former Radford University women’s basketball player and head coach Charlene Curtis will be honored with the Gerald R. Ford Award and current head baseball coach Alex Guerra will be receiving the Award of Valor. The awards are to be presented at the upcoming NCAA Honors on Jan. 14 in the Washington, D.C. area.
Trailblazing coach and advocate Charlene Curtis is being honored posthumously for her transformative impact on diversity and inclusion in college athletics. Curtis became the first African American women’s basketball head coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference, coaching at Wake Forest from 1997-2004 after stops at Temple and Radford. At her alma mater, Radford, she led the team to four Big South regular-season titles and three tournament championships.
As an assistant coach at UConn, she helped guide the Huskies to a perfect 35-0 season under Geno Auriemma. Beyond coaching, she transformed officiating in the ACC by expanding staff, introducing instant replay and creating standardized training clinics, leaving a legacy of excellence and inclusion.
The Gerald R. Ford Award honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics throughout the individual’s career.
Alex Guerra, a former student-athlete and current baseball coach at Radford, is celebrated for his extraordinary courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. In September 2024, Guerra responded to cries for help from a university student whose friend had become unconscious after falling into a river. Guerra sprinted to the river, leaped down a steep bank and swam out to assist. Together, the two men pulled the student to safety, where he regained consciousness. The student was later hospitalized but made a full recovery, thanks to Guerra’s heroic actions.
The NCAA Award of Valor may be presented to an individual who, when confronted with a situation involving personal danger, averted or minimized potential disaster by courageous action or noteworthy bravery. The award may go to a coach or administrator currently associated with intercollegiate athletics or to a current or former varsity letter winner at an NCAA school.
Both recognitions are the first-ever for alumni from Radford Athletics. This year’s honorees span a wide range of sports, backgrounds and accomplishments, united by their commitment to leadership, resilience and service. Fellow award honorees include Samantha Schott, Drew Brees, Tamika Catchings, Dr. Lauren Witmer, Nick Ackerman, Nikki Franke, Francesca “Frankie” Loiseau, Mia Levy, Micaylon Moore, Aino Martikainen, Brayden Long, Ella Brissett, and Matthew Wrather. The honorees will be celebrated at the NCAA Convention in January in the Washington, D.C., area.
Radford University Athletics
