15 Feb 2026 501 Hometown Hall of Famers: Van Compton
By David Grimes
Van Compton left an indelible mark on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock athletic program after spending almost four decades with the Trojans.
Compton will be inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) in 2026 as part of the 68th class, along with D. Wayne Lucas, Nathan Brown, Louis Cella, Jim Haney, Lee Hardiman, Buck James, Dallas Keuchel, Erica Smith Leak, Alex Collins and Peter Doohan.
Born Van Gore on July 9, 1944, she graduated from Arkansas State University in 1965 before returning home to teach physical education at Forrest City High School. After eight years with the Mustangs, she accepted a position at Arkansas College, now Lyon College, in 1974, where she would lead the new women’s sports programs. Her duties included coaching the volleyball and basketball teams. Her basketball teams went 257-202. Compton was inducted into the Lyon College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
In 1986, she moved on to UALR to lead the women’s basketball program. But in 1988, the school dropped women’s basketball and replaced it with volleyball. So, Compton transitioned into the role as head volleyball coach, as well as director of women’s athletics. Her team finished just 6-20 that inaugural season, but she quickly had the Trojans headed in the right direction, going 27-11 in 1989.
In 1990, the Trojans finished at 21-3 and finished second in the NAIA District 17 Tournament. Then in 1991, the UALR athletic program moved up to the NCAA level and the Sun Belt Conference.
Compton’s volleyball teams found great success in the Sun Belt, winning four regular season conference championships, five Sun Belt Tournament titles and making five NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1993, Compton was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year after directing the Trojans to a 24-12 mark and a runner-up conference finish.
In the 1997 NCAA Tournament, UALR lost 3-0 in the first round to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Her 2021 team would exact a measure of revenge, recording a historic 3-2 victory over the Hogs at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville.
UALR opened the new multipurpose Jack Stephens Center in 2005, moving out of the old Trojan Fieldhouse. Compton’s volleyball squad played the first official event in the new facility, defeating Florida International, 3-1. Also in 2005, the Sun Belt named its all-time volleyball team, and Compton was named their all-time coach, which is fitting as she is the winningest coach in Sun Belt Conference history.
Her most successful season came in 2014, when the Trojans finished 30-5. They ran the table in conference play, finishing with a remarkable 20-0 record. They had the nation’s longest winning streak heading into the postseason, where the Trojans defeated No. 16 Kansas in the opening round for the program’s first NCAA Tournament win. Little Rock finished No. 24 in the final AVCA poll, which was the first Top 25 ranking in program history. Compton earned both Sun Belt and AVCA Southwest Region Coach of the Year honors that season.
Compton’s Trojans made another postseason appearance in 2018 with a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Little Rock left the Sun Belt Conference following the 2021 season to join the Ohio Valley Conference. The school recently announced it would join the United Athletic Conference in July 2026, where they will join the University of Central Arkansas, which will create a natural conference rivalry in all sports that is long overdue.
Compton announced her retirement in December 2025. She was the eighth-winningest active NCAA Division I coach in career wins at the time. In 38 years at Little Rock, she finished with a record of 603-527. All told, she won 675 volleyball games.
For the second consecutive year, the ASHOF induction festivities will be held in Hot Springs, with Oaklawn serving as host. The Meet the Stars VIP Reception will be held on Thursday, April 9, at the racetrack’s Mainline Sports Bar. This is a great opportunity to interact with the honorees in a casual and relaxed setting.
The 68th annual induction banquet will be held the following evening, Friday, April 10, at the Oaklawn Event Center Ballroom. Ticket information for both events can be found at arksportshalloffame.com.
