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ODU Hosts 79th Norfolk Sports Club Jamboree, Honoring Athletics Leaders
The Norfolk Sports Club’s 79th annual Jamboree is set to light up the Big Blue Room of Chartway Arena on Old Dominion University’s campus this Thursday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. The evening will bring together a constellation of Virginia’s most influential sports figures to honor their contributions to the region’s athletic culture. The club will present lifetime achievements to ODU’s long‑time director of athletics, Dr. Wood Selig, the football program’s head coach, Ricky Rahne, and longtime Monarch booster Ray Wittersheim, among others.
Chartway Arena’s spacious Big Blue Room, with its generous parking and complimentary access for club members, became the Jamboree’s new home after the downtown Norfolk venue, Scope, proved financially unsustainable once former director of cultural facilities, arts and entertainment John Rhamstein retired. Norfolk Sports Club chair Jack Ankerson secured the space by reaching out to Mike Fryling, the district general manager, citing the room’s capacity and amenities as decisive factors.
Dr. Selig, who has steered ODU athletics for 16 years, will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony and will retire as director of athletics on December 31, 2026. His tenure saw the university elevate its football program from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision, transition to Conference USA, and ultimately join the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. Under his leadership, ODU completed a $200 million facilities overhaul that included a new football stadium, a basketball performance center, a volleyball center, and a baseball complex. The director also championed expanded student‑athlete support, launching a mental‑health counseling center, a nutrition center, and enhanced academic advising.
Coach Ricky Rahne, who inherited a 1‑11 program in 2019 and faced the pandemic‑induced cancellation of the 2020 season, will receive the J. Roy Rodman Memorial Award for Virginia’s Outstanding Collegiate Coach. His turnaround has already produced three bowl appearances, a 10‑3 season, and a Cure Bowl victory over South Florida in 2026, cementing his status as a pillar of ODU’s recent success.
Ray Wittersheim, a former shipbuilder and steadfast Monarch supporter, will be honored for his unwavering dedication to student‑athletes. He has attended every home football game, greeted players personally, and presented ceremonial footballs for the 2016 bowl game, embodying the spirit of community that fuels the program.
Additional honorees include Virginia football coach Tony Elliott, who will receive the Norfolk Sports Club President’s Award; WAVY‑TV sportscaster Craig Loper, who will be presented with the Abe Goldblatt Memorial Award; Virginia Wesleyan softball standout Morgan Tucker, who will receive the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial Award; and Norfolk State track athlete Kendrick Winfield, who will be honored with the Leigh Williams Memorial Award.
The Hall of Fame awards will be presented alongside the Jamboree, reinforcing the connection between ODU and the regional sports community.
Tickets for the Jamboree are priced at $85 per person or $650 for a table of eight, and dinner is included. The evening will also double as the annual awards ceremony for the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, which has been hosted alongside the Jamboree in the Big Blue Room since the club’s relocation to ODU.
The collaboration between ODU and the Norfolk Sports Club underscores the deep ties that bind the university to the local sports community. Dr. Selig remarked that the partnership benefits both entities, noting that Chartway Arena’s location and amenities help ensure the event’s success.
The event also highlights the growing partnership between ODU and the Norfolk Sports Club, which has become a fixture for celebrating local sports achievements.
With athletes, coaches, and supporters gathering from across Virginia and beyond, the 79th Jamboree promises to celebrate the achievements of regional sports leaders and the continued ascent of ODU athletics. The event will set the stage for the next chapter in the university’s storied athletic program and reinforce the club’s role as a catalyst for sporting excellence in the Hampton Roads area.
Chartway Arena’s spacious Big Blue Room, with its generous parking and complimentary access for club members, became the Jamboree’s new home after the downtown Norfolk venue, Scope, proved financially unsustainable once former director of cultural facilities, arts and entertainment John Rhamstein retired. Norfolk Sports Club chair Jack Ankerson secured the space by reaching out to Mike Fryling, the district general manager, citing the room’s capacity and amenities as decisive factors.
Dr. Selig, who has steered ODU athletics for 16 years, will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony and will retire as director of athletics on December 31, 2026. His tenure saw the university elevate its football program from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision, transition to Conference USA, and ultimately join the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. Under his leadership, ODU completed a $200 million facilities overhaul that included a new football stadium, a basketball performance center, a volleyball center, and a baseball complex. The director also championed expanded student‑athlete support, launching a mental‑health counseling center, a nutrition center, and enhanced academic advising.
Coach Ricky Rahne, who inherited a 1‑11 program in 2019 and faced the pandemic‑induced cancellation of the 2020 season, will receive the J. Roy Rodman Memorial Award for Virginia’s Outstanding Collegiate Coach. His turnaround has already produced three bowl appearances, a 10‑3 season, and a Cure Bowl victory over South Florida in 2026, cementing his status as a pillar of ODU’s recent success.
Ray Wittersheim, a former shipbuilder and steadfast Monarch supporter, will be honored for his unwavering dedication to student‑athletes. He has attended every home football game, greeted players personally, and presented ceremonial footballs for the 2016 bowl game, embodying the spirit of community that fuels the program.
Additional honorees include Virginia football coach Tony Elliott, who will receive the Norfolk Sports Club President’s Award; WAVY‑TV sportscaster Craig Loper, who will be presented with the Abe Goldblatt Memorial Award; Virginia Wesleyan softball standout Morgan Tucker, who will receive the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial Award; and Norfolk State track athlete Kendrick Winfield, who will be honored with the Leigh Williams Memorial Award.
The Hall of Fame awards will be presented alongside the Jamboree, reinforcing the connection between ODU and the regional sports community.
Tickets for the Jamboree are priced at $85 per person or $650 for a table of eight, and dinner is included. The evening will also double as the annual awards ceremony for the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, which has been hosted alongside the Jamboree in the Big Blue Room since the club’s relocation to ODU.
The collaboration between ODU and the Norfolk Sports Club underscores the deep ties that bind the university to the local sports community. Dr. Selig remarked that the partnership benefits both entities, noting that Chartway Arena’s location and amenities help ensure the event’s success.
The event also highlights the growing partnership between ODU and the Norfolk Sports Club, which has become a fixture for celebrating local sports achievements.
With athletes, coaches, and supporters gathering from across Virginia and beyond, the 79th Jamboree promises to celebrate the achievements of regional sports leaders and the continued ascent of ODU athletics. The event will set the stage for the next chapter in the university’s storied athletic program and reinforce the club’s role as a catalyst for sporting excellence in the Hampton Roads area.
