Kansas City, MO – The Hall of Fame Committee and Small College Basketball is excited to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Once again, this year the class is made up of some of the greatest coaches, players, and contributors at the Small College Basketball level. These individuals have truly left their mark on the game.

Fairmont State's hall of fame men's basketball coach, Joe Retton was named part of this year's class. Retton compiled a record of 478-95 for a winning percentage of 83.6. By winning percentage, he is the college basketball's winningest coach. Retton was the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1976 plus the Associated Press Small College Coach of the Year in 1976.

"We are thrilled for Coach Retton to be honored with this incredible distinction," said Greg Bamberger, Fairmont State Director of Athletics. "Coach Retton set the standard of Fairmont State Athletics that we carry to this very day."

He led Fairmont State to 12 WVIAC regular season titles and eight WVIAC Tournament Championships, while his team made 12 NAIA tournament appearances and reached the semifinals four times. Retton posted 18 straight seasons of 20 or more victories. His 1971 and 1976 teams went undefeated. Retton is a member of the Fairmont State Hall of Fame, the West Virginia Sports Writers Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame.

This year's National Hall of Fame Class marks the eighth class inducted into the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame. The National Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, November 1 inside the Polk Theatre in Lakeland, Florida.