BOONE, N.C. — App State Athletics' annual Legends Gala, presented by Double Wood Farm, will take place Friday, Sept. 4, at The Camp at Eseeola.
This year's event, which will be held the night before App State's home football opener against Maine, returns to the breathtaking mountain resort located at Linville Golf Club in nearby Linville.
Established in 2017, the Legends Gala is a premier celebration of App State Athletics that recognizes the remarkable achievements of Mountaineers who have made a lasting impact on the University and the High Country.
The 2026 Legends Gala: Forever a Mountaineer will feature keynote speaker
Leonard Love (football) and fellow Legends
Vaughn Christian (men's soccer),
Anna Freeman Healy (women's basketball),
Kathy Moran (field hockey),
Pat Swisher (football) and
DJ Thompson (men's basketball).
A three-time national champion and four-time SoCon champion during his football career with the Mountaineers from 2005-08, Love played in 44 career games as a defensive back. App State went a combined 50-9 during his four seasons, including 26-3 in SoCon play. He made his first career start as a junior in the 2007 season opener at Michigan, recording a season-best eight tackles and making a key interception in the fourth quarter of the historic 34-32 upset of the Wolverines. He was a regular starter as a senior in 2008, when his 37 tackles, one interception and seven passes defended helped the Mountaineers capture their fourth straight league title.
A 2010 graduate of App State, Love currently serves as Vice President for Retail Sales with Greenworks Tools in the Charlotte area.
This year's event will showcase exciting live and silent auctions, exclusive App State experiences, a gourmet dinner and live entertainment.
Guests will once again be encouraged to pair their cocktail attire with their favorite App State-themed sneakers, adding a fun and spirited touch to the evening's festivities.
Tickets are on sale now and usually sell out before the event date.
Premium Legends Table – $10,000
Includes:
- Eight (8) event tickets
- Reserved App State Legend or current student-athlete/coach as a host
- Preferred seating location
- Recognition in event program and on event screens
- Invitation to VIP reception with coaches and legends
- Exclusive commemorative gift
- Recognition as Honorary Coaches for the App State Football game on September 5
Legends Table – $5,000
Includes:
- Eight (8) event tickets
- Recognition in event program
Individual Tickets
- $750 per person
- $1,500 per couple
2026 LEGENDS
VAUGHN CHRISTIAN (Men's Soccer)
Inducted into the App State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990 … Coached App State Men's Soccer for seven seasons, posting a 71-22-4 record from 1971-77 with SoCon Coach of the Year awards in 1974, 1975 and 1977 … Led the Mountaineers to national rankings and NCAA Tournament appearances in both 1975 and 1977 … As a SoCon member starting in 1972, posted a 26-2-3 league record that gives him the second-best conference winning percentage in league history, with first-place team finishes in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1977 … Coached the 1975 team to a 12-0 record leading into an NCAA Tournament matchup with eventual semifinalist Howard, as App State was ranked in the top 20 and outscored its opponents 48-7 before the loss to Howard capped a 12-1 season … Returned to the 1977 NCAA Tournament with more strong international recruiting that included the arrival of freshman sensation Thompson Usiyan.
ANNA FREEMAN HEALY (Women's Basketball)
Inducted into the App State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 … Ranks second in program history in career points (1,858) and career rebounds (1,008) as well as first in career steals (383, first in SoCon history) and career blocks (265, or 70 more than second place) … Was on the two winningest teams in program history: 2010-11 (25-7) and 2011-12 (27-7) … The only player in school history to rank in the top five in points, rebounds, steals, assists, field goals and blocked shots … Part of the winningest senior class in program history, as she started all 132 games while App State went 95-37 during her four years … Named the SoCon Player of the Year and was the leading scorer on the 27-win team in 2011-12 with averages of 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 steals, 3.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 85.6-percent accuracy from the line … Named first-team or second-team All-SoCon in all four of her seasons and was also the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year in 2010-11.
LEONARD LOVE (Football)
Three-time national champion and four-time SoCon champion during his football career with the Mountaineers from 2005-08 … Played in 44 career games as a defensive back for App State, helping the Mountaineers capture FCS national championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007 … App State went a combined 50-9 during his four seasons, including 26-3 in SoCon play … Made his first career start as a junior in the 2007 season opener at Michigan, recording a season-best eight tackles and making a key interception in the fourth quarter of the historic 34-32 upset of the Wolverines … Started seven games as a senior in 2008, when he had 37 tackles, one interception and seven passes defended.
KATHY MORAN (Field Hockey)
Played for legendary coach Jan Watson from 1978-82 … Ranked among the top scorers in program history at the time of her graduation … Has succeeded in the business world as a financial advisor, founding and owning the Kathy Moran Wealth Group, a comprehensive wealth management practice that specializes in managing the financial affairs of successful individuals, families, and business owners in Virginia and throughout the United States … Has also enjoyed success as an independent financial advisor offering investment advisory services through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors … Commitment to excellence reflected in accolades such as Forbes' Best-In-State Women Wealth Advisors (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2020) as well as Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (2025, 2024, 2022 and 2021) … Prior to entering the financial services profession in 1996, spent more than eight years in the technology sector in Washington, D.C. … Earned a bachelor of science degree from App State and was submitted as a Rhodes Scholar nominee while earning an MBA at JMU … As a field hockey student-athlete, a multi-time Deep South Association All-Star … As a freshman, was on a 14-4-4 team.
PAT SWISHER (Football)
Member of App State Football from 1976-77 while also participating on the track & field team … Set a school record for single-season kickoff return yards in 1977 – a mark that stood for 30 years until Coco Hillary broke it in 2007 … His 33 kickoff returns in 1977 still rank second in program history … 1978 graduate from Appalachian State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and management … Honored in 1994 with App State's Distinguished Alumni Award … Founded and served as CEO (until his retirement) of Enviro-Master International, a Charlotte-based industry leader in hygiene services … He and his companies have received frequent national recognition by entrepreneur magazines.
D.J. THOMPSON (Men's Basketball)
Inducted into the App State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 … Three-time All-Southern Conference selection (2005, 2006, 2007) with first-team recognition as a junior and a senior, when the Mountaineers went 25-8 and reached the NIT … Ranks in the top 10 in school history in seven career categories, including steals (first with 293), points (ninth with 1,599), assists (second, 508) and 3-pointers (second with 270) … Led the Mountaineers in scoring in 2006 (19.1 points) and 2007 (15.6) … Ranks in the top 10 in school history in 10 single-season statistics … Recorded a SoCon-record nine steals against UNCG in 2007 … Two-time All-SoCon Tournament, with a first-team honor in 2006 … Made the all-tournament team at the San Juan Shootout as the Mountaineers won the 2006-07 title with victories against Virginia, UCF and Vanderbilt.
Past Legends Gala Keynote Speakers
2017 – Mack Brown
2018 – Joe Gibbs
2019 – Bobby Cremins
2021 – Daniel Jeremiah
2022 – Chris Swecker
2023 – Dexter Coakley
2024 – Omar Carter
2025 – Shelly Henderson
