GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman women's basketball playing great Jackie Smith Carson '00, who went on to a successful head coaching career at her alma mater, has been elected to the Southern Conference Hall of Fame, the league announced today.

Carson is among five individuals selected to the SoCon Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which will be enshrined on Thursday, Mar. 5, at 7:00 p.m. at Battery Park Hall in Asheville, N.C.

She will be joined by Georgia Southern football coach Paul Johnson (1997-2001), Citadel football standout Paul Maguire (1957-1959), Davidson men's basketball coach Bob McKillop (1992-2014), and Appalachian State men's soccer great Thompson Usiyan (1977-1980).

Carson, who is in her third year as Senior Vice President of Women's Basketball for the Atlantic Coast Conference, is the 10th Furman representative to be elected to the SoCon Hall of Fame, which was created in 2009.  She is the only person in league history to be named both player of the year and coach of the year in either women's or men's basketball.

"Furman Athletics proudly celebrates Jackie Carson's historic induction into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame, said Jason Donnelly, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics.  "One of Furman's most distinguished and respected alumni, Jackie has embodied excellence throughout her career — as a record-breaking Paladin student-athlete, successful head coach of the women's basketball program, and influential leader in college athletics. Jackie's enduring commitment to Furman has left an indelible mark, and we are thrilled to honor her and her family with this well-deserved recognition."

A four-year starter, three-time All-SoCon honoree, and player of the year selection in both 1998 and '99, Carson led the SoCon in scoring as a sophomore and junior and topped the league in rebounding in each of her final three seasons.  She recorded 52 double-doubles (points-rebounds) and finished with 1,920 points, 1,057 rebounds, ranking second and third, respectively, all-time in Furman history.  She holds SoCon records for most free throws made in a season (212) and career (724) and averaged 16.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as a Paladin.

Carson helped lead Furman to a SoCon regular season title in 1997, her freshman year, and a league tournament championship and NCAA Tournament berth as a senior in 2000. The Paladins posted a 68-46 overall record and 45-22 SoCon mark over her four-year tenure.

The Woodbridge, Va., native was the recipient of Furman's Edna Hartness Female Athlete of the Year Award in 1999 and is among three Paladins to have her jersey (No. 22) retired.  Carson was inducted into Furman's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Following successful assistant coaching stints at Bucknell (2004-05) and James Madison (2006-10), she returned to Furman as head coach in 2010 and directed the Paladin program for 13 seasons, leading Furman to 205 victories, two SoCon Tournament runner-up finishes, and a pair of trips to the WNIT.  She was named SoCon Coach of the Year in 2014 and in 2022 coached the Paladins to their first 20-win campaign since 2000, her senior year.