Top 75 Cougars of All-Time
8/19/2021 9:59:00 AM | General
Chronicling the all-time greats in Houston history
HOUSTON – As the University of Houston celebrates "75 years of Houston Athletics" with festivities and tributes planned throughout the 2021-22 sports calendar, the department pays homage to its rich history and tradition by spotlighting its greatest student-athletes and coaches.
The following honorees include national champions, All-Americans, trailblazers, Hall of Famers. They are the greatest ever to don the Scarlet & White.
1960 Cross Country
· NCAA National Champion
· Individual champion was Al Lawrence (19:28.44)
· First Cross Country championship in program history
· Came one season after finishing as runner-up
1967-68 Golf Team
· NCAA National Champions
· Won all 11 tournaments in which it competed
2017-18 Men's Track and Field 4x100 Relay
· Members: Elijah Hall, Mario Burke, Cameron Burrell, John Lewis III
· 38.17 time broke previous record (38.23 which had stood since 1989)
· Collegiate record, NCAA record, facility record
· Helped team finish with 35 team points for bronze
Alois Blackwell - Football (1975-77)
· All-Southwest Conference (1977)
· Second-Team All-SWC (1976)
· 1977 Cotton Bowl champion
· 4th Round Pick in 1978 NFL Draft
· Finished Cougars career with 2,467 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns in three seasons
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
Anastasia Pozdiniakova - Diving (2004-2009)
· 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist
· 2009 World Championships Bronze Medalist
· 2009 NCAA National Champion on 3-Meter Springboard
· Five-time C-USA champion
· 13-time C-USA Diver of the Week
Andre Ware - Football (1987-89)
· 1989 Heisman Trophy winner
· College Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
· Texas Sports Hall of Famer (Class of 2012)
· No. 7 overall selection in 1990 NFL Draft
· Threw for 8,202 yards and 75 touchdowns while also rushing for six touchdowns as a Cougar
Angel Shamblin - Softball (2004-2008)
· Three-time Conference USA Pitcher of the year
· 2008 NFCA Second Team All-American
· Led Cougars to conference championship, tournament championship and Super Regional appearance in 2008
· Holds single-season and career program records in ERA, wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, shutouts and complete games
Bill Bridges - Football (1968-69)
· 1969 All-American
· Ninth Round Pick in 1970 NFL Draft
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
Bill Yeoman - Football (1962-1986)
· Head Football Coach (1962-1986)
· College Football Hall of Fame (2001)
· 160 career victories in Houston
· Four Southwest Conference Championships, Two Cotton Bowl Championships
· First head football coach in Texas to offer a scholarship to an African-American athlete
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
Billy Ray Brown - Golf (1982-85)
· 1982 NCAA Individual National Champion
· Top-three finish at 1990 US Open
· Three professional victories
· Peaked at No. 54 in PGA rankings in May 1992
· Tied for lowest round (65) by any Cougar in the NCAA Championships
Brad Lincoln - Baseball (2004-06)
· 2006 ABCA/Rawlings National Player of the Year
· 2006 Dick Howser Trophy Winner
· 2006 Roger Clemens Award Finalist
· 2006 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year
· No. 4 overall draft pick in 2006 MLB Draft
· C-USA Hall of Fame inductee (2020)
· Career batting average of .316 with 31 home runs with 293 strikeouts in 286.1 innings as a Cougar
Brad Sullivan - Baseball (2001-03)
· 2002 First-Team All-American
· 2002 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year and All-Conference First Team
· 2001 Second-Team Freshman All-American
· No. 25 pick in 2003 MLB Draft
Brian Barraza (2013-2017)
· Three-time Cross Country All-American Athletic Conference
· Three-time Track and Field All-American Athletic Conference
· Two-time Track and Field NCAA All-American
· Holds six school records
Carin Cone (1958-60)
· First University of Houston athlete on cover of Sports Illustrated
· Silver Medalist at 1956 Olympic Games
· Two-time Gold Medalist at 1959 Pan-Am Games
· International Swimming Hall of Fame (Class of 1984)
Carl Lewis - Track/Field (1979-1983, 2013 - Present)
· Ten-time Olympic Medalist, Nine gold medals
· Sports Illustrated Olympian of the Century
· IOC Sportsman of the Century
· USATF Hall of Fame (Class of 2001)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2020)
· Current assistant coach for Track/Field program
· Six-time All-American, Six-time NCAA Champion, Nine-time SWC Conference Champion
Carol Lewis - Track/Field (1981-85)
· 1983 World Championship Bronze Medalist (Long Jump)
· Four-time USA Champion (Long Jump)
· Two-time NCAA Long Jump Champion (1983, 1985)
· Ten-time Individual SWC Champion, Three-time Team Champion
· Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)
· 12-time NCAA All-American
Case Keenum - Football (2007-11)
· Two-time Sammy Baugh Trophy Winner
· Two-time Conference USA MVP
· C-USA Offensive Player of the Year
· C-USA Freshman of the Year
· C-USA Hall of Famer (Class of 2019)
· Holds nine NCAA passing records
· No.7 retired by Houston football program
Chandi Jones - Women's Basketball (2000-04)
· No. 8 Overall pick in 2004 WNBA Draft
· 2000 Conference USA Freshman of the Year
· Three-time C-USA Player of the Year
· C-USA Player of the Decade
· All-time leading scorer in school and conference history (2,692 points)
Chuck Weatherspoon - Football (1987-90)
· Ninth Round Pick in 1991 NFL Draft
· Finished Cougars career with 3,247 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns
Clyde Drexler - Men's Basketball (1980-83)
· NBA Hall of Famer (Class of 2004)
· 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist
· Ten-time NBA All-Star
· Five-time All-NBA Selection
· No. 22 retired by Portland Trailblazers, Houston Rockets and Houston Cougars
· Southwest Conference Co-Player of the Year (1983)
· Second-Team All-American (1983)
Danny Davis - Football (1976-78)
· Finished Cougars career with 2,702 passing yards and 20 touchdowns
· Led program to two Cotton Bowl appearances, including one victory
· Two-time Southwest Conference Champion
Dave Williams - Men's Golf (1952-87)
· 16-time National Champions
· 14-time Conference Champions
· Coached seven individual NCAA National Champions
· Coached 41 All-Americans
· Namesake of Golf Coaches Association of America Coach of the Year award
David Klingler - Football (1989-91)
· No. 6 overall Pick in 1992 NFL Draft
· Finished career with 9,430 passing yards and 91 touchdowns
· 1990 Heisman Trophy finalist
· 1990 Sammy Baugh Trophy Winner
· No. 7 retired by Houston Football
· Holds FBS record for most passing touchdowns in a game (11)
· Southwest Conference career record holder in passing completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns
Diane Johannigman - Swimming (1978-81)
· School-record holder in 100-and 200-yard butterfly
· Four-time AIAW National Championship
· 24-time All-American (19 individual, five relay)
· First UH Student to win AIAW Championship and first to win back-to-back championships
Don Chaney - Men's Basketball (1965-68)
· Totaled 1,133 points, 475 rebounds and 204 assists as a Cougar
· No. 12 overall selection in 1968 NBA Draft
· Two-time NBA Champion
· Five-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team
· NBA Coach of the Year (1991)
· Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 1991)
Doug Drabek - Baseball (1981-83)
· 1990 NL Cy Young Award Winner
· Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
· Program record for wins in a career (27) and second-most wins in a season (12)
· Compiled six shutouts and a no-hitter in 268 innings of work
· No. 16 Jersey retired by Houston baseball in 1996
· Tallied 155 MLB victories in 2,535 innings for a 3.73 ERA with 1,594 strikeouts
Ed Oliver - Football (2016-18)
· Three-time First-Team All-American Athletic Conference
· The American All-Freshman Tea and The American Rookie of the Year (2016)
· USA Today All-American (2015)
· No. 9 overall pick in 2019 NFL Draft
· Recorded 192 total tackles (53 for loss) while forcing five fumbles in his three seasons as a Cougar
Elijah Hall - Track/Field (2016-18)
· 2018 NCAA Champion (4x100 relay)
· NCAA Record Holder (4x100 relay)
· Holds three school records (Indoor 200m, Indoor 4x100, 4x100)
· Six-time American Track Athlete of the Week
Elmo Wright - Football (1968-70)
· No. 16 overall Pick in 1971 NFL Draft
· College Football Hall of Famer (Class of 2020)
· 1969 Second-Team All-American
· 1970 Consensus All-American
· Finished career with program records in receptions and receiving yards
Elvin Hayes - Men's Basketball (1965-68)
· NBA Hall of Famer (Class of 1990)
· College Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)
· 12-time NBA All-Star
· Six-time All-NBA Selection
· Two-time All-Defensive Team Selection
· 1968-69 NBA Scoring Champion
· Top Overall Pick in 1968 NBA Draft
· No. 44 retired by Houston Cougars, No. 11 retired by Washington Wizards
Flo Hyman - Volleyball (1974-76)
· 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
· First female scholarship athlete in University history
· Led Cougars to two top-five national finishes
· 1977 Broderick Award for nation's best female volleyball player
Frank Rutherford - Track/Field (1986-87)
· 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist
· Three-time NCAA Champion
· Recipient of Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Fred Couples - Men's Golf (1977-80)
· 62 Professional Golf Wins
· Reached peak ranking of World No. 1 for 16 weeks in 1992
· 1992 Masters Champion
· 1992 PGA Player of the Year
· World Golf Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)
· 1979 SWC Individual Conference Champion
· Second-most tournament victories in program history
Gary Phillips - Men's Basketball (1958-61)
· 1961 First-Team All-American
· Two-time First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference
· No. 9 overall pick in 1961 NBA Draft
· 1962 NBA Champion
· Finished Houston career with 1,452 points and 464 rebounds in three seasons
Greg Ward Jr. - Football (2013-16)
· Two-time Second Team All-American Athletic Conference
· Super Bowl LII Champion with Philadelphia Eagles
· 2015 The American Championship Game MVP
· 2015 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
· Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Champion and Offensive Player of the Game
· Totaled 1,106 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns, 2,381 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns in Houston career
Guy V. Lewis (1946-47, 1956-86)
· Led Cougars to Five Final Fours and 592 total victories
· Two-time Southwest Conference regular-season Champion
· Four-time SWC Tournament Champion
· College Basketball Hall of Famer (Class of 2007)
· Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)
Hakeem Olajuwon - Men's Basketball (1981-84)
· Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)
· FIBA Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
· 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
· Two-time NBA Champion and two-time Finals MVP
· 1994 NBA MVP
· No. 34 retired by Houston Cougars and Houston Rockets
Harry Fouke - Administration (1945-79)
· First athletic director in University history (1945-1979)
· Brought football, baseball and both basketball programs to school
· Namesake for Fouke Athletic Building before demolition in 1999
Jason Phillips - Football (1987-88)
· 10th Round Pick in 1989 NFL Draft
· Two-time All-Southwest Conference
· 1988 First-Team All-American
· 1980s Southwest Conference All-Decade Team
· Finished Houston career with 2,319 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons
· Former member of Houston Football coaching staff (2001, 2008-2012)
Jenny Adams - Track/Field (1997-2001)
· Eight-time All-American
· Two-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· 2004 Silver Medalist at IAAF World Athletics Final
Joe Deloach - Track/Field (1987-88)
· 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist, handing Carl Lewis his only Olympic loss
· 1988 NCAA Individual National Champion
· Transitioned from football to sprinting
John E. Hoff - Tennis (1946-66)
· Head Tennis Coach
· Eight team titles, eight singles championships and eight doubles championships
· Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame (Class of 1984)
Jolanda Jones - Track/Field (1985-88)
· Three-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· 1989 US Champion
· 1987 Pan-Am Games Bronze Medalist
· 1980s Southwest Conference Female Athlete of the Decade Runner-up
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Fame
Karen Fredgaard - Women's Golf (2019 - Present)
· 2020-21 All-American (WGCA/Golfweek)
· 2020-21 The American Player of the Year
· Bronze Medalist at 2018 European Team Championship
· Third place at 2017 Italian Ladies Championship
Kelvin Sampson - Men's Basketball (2014 - Present)
· Over 660 career victories with 167 at Houston
· Led 2020-21 Cougars to NCAA Final Four
· Two-time The American Regular Season Champion
· Two-time The American Coach of the Year
· 2021 AAC Tournament Champions
· Produced future NBA talent Armoni Brooks, Damyean Dotson, Quentin Grimes, DeJon Jarreau and Nate Hinton
Kevin Kolb - Football (2003 - 06)
· 2006 Conference USA Offensive MVP
· Two-time Third-Team All-C-USA
· Threw for 12,964 passing yards and 85 touchdowns in four seasons as Cougars starting quarterback
· Led Cougars to three bowl games in four seasons
· Second-Round selection in 2007 NFL Draft
Kirk Baptiste - Track/Field (1983-85)
· Two-time NCAA Champion
· 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist, losing only to teammate Carl Lewis
· 1987 World Championships Gold Medalist
Leonie Harm - Women's Golf (2015-19)
· Two-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Year
· Three-time All-American Athletic Conference
· Two-time NCAA Championships Qualifier
· Four-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team
Leroy Burrell - Track/Field (1986-90, 1998 - Present)
· 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist
· Three-time Medalist at World Championships
· Current head coach of Houston Track and Field Program
· Has led Cougars to over 20 C-USA and American Athletic Conference Titles
· Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame (2014)
· Southwest Conference Hall of Famer (2019)
· Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2008)
Margaret Redfearn - Tennis (1981-85)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2006)
· Four-time NCAA Championships qualifier in singles
· Three-time NCAA Championships qualifier in doubles
· Holds school records for career wins (153) and single-season wins (44)
Michael Young - Men's Basketball (1980-84)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2004)
· 1983 Southwest Conference Player of the Year
· Two-time First-team All-Southwest Conference
· 24th Overall Pick in 1984 NBA Draft
· No. 42 retired by Houston basketball program
Nikki Hawkins - Soccer (2001-04)
· Most points in program history (63)
· Most goals in program history (27)
· President of Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
· 2001 C-USA All-Freshman Team
· Three-time C-USA All-Conference Team
Otis Birdsong - Men's Basketball (1973-77)
· Finished career with 2,832 points and 567 rebounds
· Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2014)
· 1977 Consensus All-American
· No. 2 overall Pick in 1977 NBA Draft
· Four-time NBA All-Star
· 1981 All-NBA Second Team
· No. 10 retired by Houston Basketball program
Pat Clohessy - Track/Field (1960-62)
· Two-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· Sport Australia Hall of Fame (Class of 1997)
· 1963 World Games Bronze Medalist
Patrick Edwards - Football (2008-11)
· 2011 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year
· 2011 Burlsworth Trophy Finalist
· Finished Houston career with 291 receptions, 4,507 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns
· Finished career as school and C-USA record holder in receiving yards and touchdowns
Phill Hansel - Swim/Dive (1957 - 1996)
· Head Coach for 39 years
· Three-time Southwest Conference Swimming Coach of the Year
· Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Inductee
· Coach/Manager for two Olympic teams
Rayner Noble - Baseball (1980-83, 1995 - 2010)
· Winningest coach in program history (551-420)
· Led program to eight NCAA Regional appearances
· Two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year
· Three-time C-USA Tournament Champion
· Three-time C-USA Regular Season Champion
· 1983 All-American
· 1983 Team MVP
· Two-time All-Southwest Conference
· Program record for career on-base percentage
· Top-five in program history in walks drawn, ERA, innings pitched, complete games and shutouts in a career
Rich Stotter - Football (1965-67)
· First consensus All-American in program history
· 14th Round Pick in 1968 AFL Draft by Houston Oilers
Richard Crawford - Men's Golf (1959-61)
· Two-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2004)
· Finished among Top-30 at Masters, PGA Championship and US Open in professional career
Riley Odoms - Football (1969-71)
· Finished Houston career with 883 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns
· Fifth-round Pick in 1972 NFL Draft
· Four-time Pro Bowl selection
· Two-time First-Team All-Pro
· 1977 Second-Team All-Pro
Rita Crockett - Volleyball (1977)
· International Volleyball Hall of Fame (Class of 2011)
· 1977 AIAW All-American
· 1980 U.S. Olympic Team Member
· 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
· Named to USA Volleyball Women's All-Era Team
Rolan Walton - Baseball (1948-51, 1975-86)
· Led program to two NCAA Regional appearances
· Two-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year
· 378 career victories as head coach
· No. 6 is retired by the Houston baseball program
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2006)
Roman Anderson - Football (1988 - 91)
· Graduated with NCAA record of 423 career points
· Holds school records for career field goals, single-season field goals, kick points in a season and tied for longest field goal
· Son, Brody, was former member of Houston Football team
Ruth Nelson - Volleyball (1974-80)
· Head coach of Houston volleyball from 1974-1980
· Career head coaching record of 557-230 with 290-84 record at Houston
· American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Famer (Class of 2014)
Sancho Lyttle - Women's Basketball (2003-05)
· Holds single-season program records for rebound average, offensive rebounds and total rebounds.
· Holds career record for highest rebounds per game average
· No. 5 overall pick in 2005 WNBA Draft
· Two-time WNBA All-Star
· 2013 FIBA Europe Women's Player of the Year
· Two-time Turkish League/Russian League/Spanish League Champion
Savannah Heebner - Softball (2016-19)
· Two-time NCFA All-America Scholar-Athlete
· 2018 The American Co-Pitcher of the Year
· Four-time American Athletic Conference First Team, a first in program history
· Six weekly honors from The American Athletic Conference
Sophia Mundy - Soccer (2005-06)
· Second-most points in program history (60)
· Second-most goals in program history (24)
· Most points per game in program history (1.62)
· Two-time All-Conference USA
Steve Elkington - Men's Golf (1982-95)
· Member of three-time NCAA Team National Champion
· 1995 PGA Championship winner
· Top-five finishes at The Open and Masters
Sue Garrison - Administration (1945-79)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 1998)
· Director of Women's Athletics from 1945-1979
Tom Paciorek - Baseball/Football (1965-67, football. 1966-68, baseball)
· Played both baseball and football at Houston
· Ninth Round pick in 1968 NFL/AFL Draft
· 1981 MLB All-Star
· Amassed 1,162 hits, 86 home runs, and 503 RBI in 1,392 career MLB games
Tom Tellez - Track/Field (1976- 1998)
· U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Famer (Class of 1998)
· Began Houston Women's Track/Field program
· Head coach at Houston for 22 years
· Coached Olympic medalists Carl Lewis, Joe DeLoach, Kirk Baptiste, Frank Rutherford and Leroy Burrell
Wade Phillips - Football (1966-68)
· Three-year starting linebacker from 1966-1968
· Graduated with school record for career assisted tackles (228) before that record was broken in 2011
· Began coaching career in 1969 as Graduate Assistant Caoch for Bill Yeoman
· Texas Sports Hall of Famer (Class of 2017)
Warren McVea - Football (1965-67)
· First African American student-athlete in program history
· Super Bowl IV Champion
· 1969 AFL Champion
· Fourth round pick in 1968 NFL Draft
· San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2004)
· Totaled 1,461 rushing yards, 841 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns in three seasons
Wilson Whitley - Football (1973-76)
· 1976 Consensus All-American
· 1976 Lombardi Award Winner
· No. 78 retired by Houston program
· College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2017)
· Texas High School Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1985)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 1998)
· 8th overall pick in 1977 NFL Draft
Yulia Pakhalina - Swim/Dive (2001-03)
· Five-time Olympic Medalist (One gold, three silver, one bronze)
· Two-time NCAA Diver of the Year
· Five-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· Member of Houston Swim/Dive Coaching Staff in mid-2010s
· Houston Athletics Hall of Fame
"75 YEARS OF HOUSTON ATHLETICS" CELEBRATION
In honor of 75 Years of Houston Athletics, join us through the 2021-22 athletic season as we celebrate the biggest moments and athletes from our program' history. The celebrations begin Sept. 18 when Houston Football faces Grambling.
SCORE TICKETS WITH TDECU PARTERNSHIP
Houston Athletics and Houston's largest credit union, TDECU, have teamed up with Brothers in Arms to provide an exclusive offer this football season.
Anyone who opens a checking account with direct deposit, refinances an auto loan, or signs up for a new TDECU credit card will receive a pair of 2021 Houston Cougar Football season tickets for each exclusive offer. This special exclusive offer includes tickets to the Texas Kickoff game on September 4, 2021, at NRG Stadium, and five home games at TDECU Stadium.
The promotion runs through Sept. 30, 2021. To learn more about this offer, visit UHCougars.com/TDECU and enter promo code 'UH2021' or call (979) 235-1310.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE
University of Houston Football single-game tickets are now on sale, and fans are encouraged to act quickly to secure the best seats inside TDECU Stadium for the upcoming season.
In 2021, the Cougars will celebrate "75 Years of Houston Athletics" and single-game advanced tickets start at only $20. To purchase single-game tickets, fans can visit UHCougars.com/tickets or call 713 GO COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.
The following honorees include national champions, All-Americans, trailblazers, Hall of Famers. They are the greatest ever to don the Scarlet & White.
1960 Cross Country
· NCAA National Champion
· Individual champion was Al Lawrence (19:28.44)
· First Cross Country championship in program history
· Came one season after finishing as runner-up
1967-68 Golf Team
· NCAA National Champions
· Won all 11 tournaments in which it competed
2017-18 Men's Track and Field 4x100 Relay
· Members: Elijah Hall, Mario Burke, Cameron Burrell, John Lewis III
· 38.17 time broke previous record (38.23 which had stood since 1989)
· Collegiate record, NCAA record, facility record
· Helped team finish with 35 team points for bronze
Alois Blackwell - Football (1975-77)
· All-Southwest Conference (1977)
· Second-Team All-SWC (1976)
· 1977 Cotton Bowl champion
· 4th Round Pick in 1978 NFL Draft
· Finished Cougars career with 2,467 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns in three seasons
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
Anastasia Pozdiniakova - Diving (2004-2009)
· 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist
· 2009 World Championships Bronze Medalist
· 2009 NCAA National Champion on 3-Meter Springboard
· Five-time C-USA champion
· 13-time C-USA Diver of the Week
Andre Ware - Football (1987-89)
· 1989 Heisman Trophy winner
· College Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
· Texas Sports Hall of Famer (Class of 2012)
· No. 7 overall selection in 1990 NFL Draft
· Threw for 8,202 yards and 75 touchdowns while also rushing for six touchdowns as a Cougar
Angel Shamblin - Softball (2004-2008)
· Three-time Conference USA Pitcher of the year
· 2008 NFCA Second Team All-American
· Led Cougars to conference championship, tournament championship and Super Regional appearance in 2008
· Holds single-season and career program records in ERA, wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, shutouts and complete games
Bill Bridges - Football (1968-69)
· 1969 All-American
· Ninth Round Pick in 1970 NFL Draft
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
Bill Yeoman - Football (1962-1986)
· Head Football Coach (1962-1986)
· College Football Hall of Fame (2001)
· 160 career victories in Houston
· Four Southwest Conference Championships, Two Cotton Bowl Championships
· First head football coach in Texas to offer a scholarship to an African-American athlete
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
Billy Ray Brown - Golf (1982-85)
· 1982 NCAA Individual National Champion
· Top-three finish at 1990 US Open
· Three professional victories
· Peaked at No. 54 in PGA rankings in May 1992
· Tied for lowest round (65) by any Cougar in the NCAA Championships
Brad Lincoln - Baseball (2004-06)
· 2006 ABCA/Rawlings National Player of the Year
· 2006 Dick Howser Trophy Winner
· 2006 Roger Clemens Award Finalist
· 2006 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year
· No. 4 overall draft pick in 2006 MLB Draft
· C-USA Hall of Fame inductee (2020)
· Career batting average of .316 with 31 home runs with 293 strikeouts in 286.1 innings as a Cougar
Brad Sullivan - Baseball (2001-03)
· 2002 First-Team All-American
· 2002 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year and All-Conference First Team
· 2001 Second-Team Freshman All-American
· No. 25 pick in 2003 MLB Draft
Brian Barraza (2013-2017)
· Three-time Cross Country All-American Athletic Conference
· Three-time Track and Field All-American Athletic Conference
· Two-time Track and Field NCAA All-American
· Holds six school records
Carin Cone (1958-60)
· First University of Houston athlete on cover of Sports Illustrated
· Silver Medalist at 1956 Olympic Games
· Two-time Gold Medalist at 1959 Pan-Am Games
· International Swimming Hall of Fame (Class of 1984)
Carl Lewis - Track/Field (1979-1983, 2013 - Present)
· Ten-time Olympic Medalist, Nine gold medals
· Sports Illustrated Olympian of the Century
· IOC Sportsman of the Century
· USATF Hall of Fame (Class of 2001)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2020)
· Current assistant coach for Track/Field program
· Six-time All-American, Six-time NCAA Champion, Nine-time SWC Conference Champion
Carol Lewis - Track/Field (1981-85)
· 1983 World Championship Bronze Medalist (Long Jump)
· Four-time USA Champion (Long Jump)
· Two-time NCAA Long Jump Champion (1983, 1985)
· Ten-time Individual SWC Champion, Three-time Team Champion
· Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)
· 12-time NCAA All-American
Case Keenum - Football (2007-11)
· Two-time Sammy Baugh Trophy Winner
· Two-time Conference USA MVP
· C-USA Offensive Player of the Year
· C-USA Freshman of the Year
· C-USA Hall of Famer (Class of 2019)
· Holds nine NCAA passing records
· No.7 retired by Houston football program
Chandi Jones - Women's Basketball (2000-04)
· No. 8 Overall pick in 2004 WNBA Draft
· 2000 Conference USA Freshman of the Year
· Three-time C-USA Player of the Year
· C-USA Player of the Decade
· All-time leading scorer in school and conference history (2,692 points)
Chuck Weatherspoon - Football (1987-90)
· Ninth Round Pick in 1991 NFL Draft
· Finished Cougars career with 3,247 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns
Clyde Drexler - Men's Basketball (1980-83)
· NBA Hall of Famer (Class of 2004)
· 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist
· Ten-time NBA All-Star
· Five-time All-NBA Selection
· No. 22 retired by Portland Trailblazers, Houston Rockets and Houston Cougars
· Southwest Conference Co-Player of the Year (1983)
· Second-Team All-American (1983)
Danny Davis - Football (1976-78)
· Finished Cougars career with 2,702 passing yards and 20 touchdowns
· Led program to two Cotton Bowl appearances, including one victory
· Two-time Southwest Conference Champion
Dave Williams - Men's Golf (1952-87)
· 16-time National Champions
· 14-time Conference Champions
· Coached seven individual NCAA National Champions
· Coached 41 All-Americans
· Namesake of Golf Coaches Association of America Coach of the Year award
David Klingler - Football (1989-91)
· No. 6 overall Pick in 1992 NFL Draft
· Finished career with 9,430 passing yards and 91 touchdowns
· 1990 Heisman Trophy finalist
· 1990 Sammy Baugh Trophy Winner
· No. 7 retired by Houston Football
· Holds FBS record for most passing touchdowns in a game (11)
· Southwest Conference career record holder in passing completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns
Diane Johannigman - Swimming (1978-81)
· School-record holder in 100-and 200-yard butterfly
· Four-time AIAW National Championship
· 24-time All-American (19 individual, five relay)
· First UH Student to win AIAW Championship and first to win back-to-back championships
Don Chaney - Men's Basketball (1965-68)
· Totaled 1,133 points, 475 rebounds and 204 assists as a Cougar
· No. 12 overall selection in 1968 NBA Draft
· Two-time NBA Champion
· Five-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team
· NBA Coach of the Year (1991)
· Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 1991)
Doug Drabek - Baseball (1981-83)
· 1990 NL Cy Young Award Winner
· Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor
· Program record for wins in a career (27) and second-most wins in a season (12)
· Compiled six shutouts and a no-hitter in 268 innings of work
· No. 16 Jersey retired by Houston baseball in 1996
· Tallied 155 MLB victories in 2,535 innings for a 3.73 ERA with 1,594 strikeouts
Ed Oliver - Football (2016-18)
· Three-time First-Team All-American Athletic Conference
· The American All-Freshman Tea and The American Rookie of the Year (2016)
· USA Today All-American (2015)
· No. 9 overall pick in 2019 NFL Draft
· Recorded 192 total tackles (53 for loss) while forcing five fumbles in his three seasons as a Cougar
Elijah Hall - Track/Field (2016-18)
· 2018 NCAA Champion (4x100 relay)
· NCAA Record Holder (4x100 relay)
· Holds three school records (Indoor 200m, Indoor 4x100, 4x100)
· Six-time American Track Athlete of the Week
Elmo Wright - Football (1968-70)
· No. 16 overall Pick in 1971 NFL Draft
· College Football Hall of Famer (Class of 2020)
· 1969 Second-Team All-American
· 1970 Consensus All-American
· Finished career with program records in receptions and receiving yards
Elvin Hayes - Men's Basketball (1965-68)
· NBA Hall of Famer (Class of 1990)
· College Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)
· 12-time NBA All-Star
· Six-time All-NBA Selection
· Two-time All-Defensive Team Selection
· 1968-69 NBA Scoring Champion
· Top Overall Pick in 1968 NBA Draft
· No. 44 retired by Houston Cougars, No. 11 retired by Washington Wizards
Flo Hyman - Volleyball (1974-76)
· 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
· First female scholarship athlete in University history
· Led Cougars to two top-five national finishes
· 1977 Broderick Award for nation's best female volleyball player
Frank Rutherford - Track/Field (1986-87)
· 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist
· Three-time NCAA Champion
· Recipient of Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Fred Couples - Men's Golf (1977-80)
· 62 Professional Golf Wins
· Reached peak ranking of World No. 1 for 16 weeks in 1992
· 1992 Masters Champion
· 1992 PGA Player of the Year
· World Golf Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)
· 1979 SWC Individual Conference Champion
· Second-most tournament victories in program history
Gary Phillips - Men's Basketball (1958-61)
· 1961 First-Team All-American
· Two-time First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference
· No. 9 overall pick in 1961 NBA Draft
· 1962 NBA Champion
· Finished Houston career with 1,452 points and 464 rebounds in three seasons
Greg Ward Jr. - Football (2013-16)
· Two-time Second Team All-American Athletic Conference
· Super Bowl LII Champion with Philadelphia Eagles
· 2015 The American Championship Game MVP
· 2015 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
· Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Champion and Offensive Player of the Game
· Totaled 1,106 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns, 2,381 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns in Houston career
Guy V. Lewis (1946-47, 1956-86)
· Led Cougars to Five Final Fours and 592 total victories
· Two-time Southwest Conference regular-season Champion
· Four-time SWC Tournament Champion
· College Basketball Hall of Famer (Class of 2007)
· Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)
Hakeem Olajuwon - Men's Basketball (1981-84)
· Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)
· FIBA Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
· 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
· Two-time NBA Champion and two-time Finals MVP
· 1994 NBA MVP
· No. 34 retired by Houston Cougars and Houston Rockets
Harry Fouke - Administration (1945-79)
· First athletic director in University history (1945-1979)
· Brought football, baseball and both basketball programs to school
· Namesake for Fouke Athletic Building before demolition in 1999
Jason Phillips - Football (1987-88)
· 10th Round Pick in 1989 NFL Draft
· Two-time All-Southwest Conference
· 1988 First-Team All-American
· 1980s Southwest Conference All-Decade Team
· Finished Houston career with 2,319 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons
· Former member of Houston Football coaching staff (2001, 2008-2012)
Jenny Adams - Track/Field (1997-2001)
· Eight-time All-American
· Two-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· 2004 Silver Medalist at IAAF World Athletics Final
Joe Deloach - Track/Field (1987-88)
· 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist, handing Carl Lewis his only Olympic loss
· 1988 NCAA Individual National Champion
· Transitioned from football to sprinting
John E. Hoff - Tennis (1946-66)
· Head Tennis Coach
· Eight team titles, eight singles championships and eight doubles championships
· Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame (Class of 1984)
Jolanda Jones - Track/Field (1985-88)
· Three-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· 1989 US Champion
· 1987 Pan-Am Games Bronze Medalist
· 1980s Southwest Conference Female Athlete of the Decade Runner-up
· Member of Houston Athletics Hall of Fame
Karen Fredgaard - Women's Golf (2019 - Present)
· 2020-21 All-American (WGCA/Golfweek)
· 2020-21 The American Player of the Year
· Bronze Medalist at 2018 European Team Championship
· Third place at 2017 Italian Ladies Championship
Kelvin Sampson - Men's Basketball (2014 - Present)
· Over 660 career victories with 167 at Houston
· Led 2020-21 Cougars to NCAA Final Four
· Two-time The American Regular Season Champion
· Two-time The American Coach of the Year
· 2021 AAC Tournament Champions
· Produced future NBA talent Armoni Brooks, Damyean Dotson, Quentin Grimes, DeJon Jarreau and Nate Hinton
Kevin Kolb - Football (2003 - 06)
· 2006 Conference USA Offensive MVP
· Two-time Third-Team All-C-USA
· Threw for 12,964 passing yards and 85 touchdowns in four seasons as Cougars starting quarterback
· Led Cougars to three bowl games in four seasons
· Second-Round selection in 2007 NFL Draft
Kirk Baptiste - Track/Field (1983-85)
· Two-time NCAA Champion
· 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist, losing only to teammate Carl Lewis
· 1987 World Championships Gold Medalist
Leonie Harm - Women's Golf (2015-19)
· Two-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Year
· Three-time All-American Athletic Conference
· Two-time NCAA Championships Qualifier
· Four-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team
Leroy Burrell - Track/Field (1986-90, 1998 - Present)
· 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist
· Three-time Medalist at World Championships
· Current head coach of Houston Track and Field Program
· Has led Cougars to over 20 C-USA and American Athletic Conference Titles
· Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame (2014)
· Southwest Conference Hall of Famer (2019)
· Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2008)
Margaret Redfearn - Tennis (1981-85)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2006)
· Four-time NCAA Championships qualifier in singles
· Three-time NCAA Championships qualifier in doubles
· Holds school records for career wins (153) and single-season wins (44)
Michael Young - Men's Basketball (1980-84)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2004)
· 1983 Southwest Conference Player of the Year
· Two-time First-team All-Southwest Conference
· 24th Overall Pick in 1984 NBA Draft
· No. 42 retired by Houston basketball program
Nikki Hawkins - Soccer (2001-04)
· Most points in program history (63)
· Most goals in program history (27)
· President of Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
· 2001 C-USA All-Freshman Team
· Three-time C-USA All-Conference Team
Otis Birdsong - Men's Basketball (1973-77)
· Finished career with 2,832 points and 567 rebounds
· Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2014)
· 1977 Consensus All-American
· No. 2 overall Pick in 1977 NBA Draft
· Four-time NBA All-Star
· 1981 All-NBA Second Team
· No. 10 retired by Houston Basketball program
Pat Clohessy - Track/Field (1960-62)
· Two-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· Sport Australia Hall of Fame (Class of 1997)
· 1963 World Games Bronze Medalist
Patrick Edwards - Football (2008-11)
· 2011 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year
· 2011 Burlsworth Trophy Finalist
· Finished Houston career with 291 receptions, 4,507 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns
· Finished career as school and C-USA record holder in receiving yards and touchdowns
Phill Hansel - Swim/Dive (1957 - 1996)
· Head Coach for 39 years
· Three-time Southwest Conference Swimming Coach of the Year
· Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Inductee
· Coach/Manager for two Olympic teams
Rayner Noble - Baseball (1980-83, 1995 - 2010)
· Winningest coach in program history (551-420)
· Led program to eight NCAA Regional appearances
· Two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year
· Three-time C-USA Tournament Champion
· Three-time C-USA Regular Season Champion
· 1983 All-American
· 1983 Team MVP
· Two-time All-Southwest Conference
· Program record for career on-base percentage
· Top-five in program history in walks drawn, ERA, innings pitched, complete games and shutouts in a career
Rich Stotter - Football (1965-67)
· First consensus All-American in program history
· 14th Round Pick in 1968 AFL Draft by Houston Oilers
Richard Crawford - Men's Golf (1959-61)
· Two-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2004)
· Finished among Top-30 at Masters, PGA Championship and US Open in professional career
Riley Odoms - Football (1969-71)
· Finished Houston career with 883 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns
· Fifth-round Pick in 1972 NFL Draft
· Four-time Pro Bowl selection
· Two-time First-Team All-Pro
· 1977 Second-Team All-Pro
Rita Crockett - Volleyball (1977)
· International Volleyball Hall of Fame (Class of 2011)
· 1977 AIAW All-American
· 1980 U.S. Olympic Team Member
· 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
· Named to USA Volleyball Women's All-Era Team
Rolan Walton - Baseball (1948-51, 1975-86)
· Led program to two NCAA Regional appearances
· Two-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year
· 378 career victories as head coach
· No. 6 is retired by the Houston baseball program
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2006)
Roman Anderson - Football (1988 - 91)
· Graduated with NCAA record of 423 career points
· Holds school records for career field goals, single-season field goals, kick points in a season and tied for longest field goal
· Son, Brody, was former member of Houston Football team
Ruth Nelson - Volleyball (1974-80)
· Head coach of Houston volleyball from 1974-1980
· Career head coaching record of 557-230 with 290-84 record at Houston
· American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Famer (Class of 2014)
Sancho Lyttle - Women's Basketball (2003-05)
· Holds single-season program records for rebound average, offensive rebounds and total rebounds.
· Holds career record for highest rebounds per game average
· No. 5 overall pick in 2005 WNBA Draft
· Two-time WNBA All-Star
· 2013 FIBA Europe Women's Player of the Year
· Two-time Turkish League/Russian League/Spanish League Champion
Savannah Heebner - Softball (2016-19)
· Two-time NCFA All-America Scholar-Athlete
· 2018 The American Co-Pitcher of the Year
· Four-time American Athletic Conference First Team, a first in program history
· Six weekly honors from The American Athletic Conference
Sophia Mundy - Soccer (2005-06)
· Second-most points in program history (60)
· Second-most goals in program history (24)
· Most points per game in program history (1.62)
· Two-time All-Conference USA
Steve Elkington - Men's Golf (1982-95)
· Member of three-time NCAA Team National Champion
· 1995 PGA Championship winner
· Top-five finishes at The Open and Masters
Sue Garrison - Administration (1945-79)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 1998)
· Director of Women's Athletics from 1945-1979
Tom Paciorek - Baseball/Football (1965-67, football. 1966-68, baseball)
· Played both baseball and football at Houston
· Ninth Round pick in 1968 NFL/AFL Draft
· 1981 MLB All-Star
· Amassed 1,162 hits, 86 home runs, and 503 RBI in 1,392 career MLB games
Tom Tellez - Track/Field (1976- 1998)
· U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Famer (Class of 1998)
· Began Houston Women's Track/Field program
· Head coach at Houston for 22 years
· Coached Olympic medalists Carl Lewis, Joe DeLoach, Kirk Baptiste, Frank Rutherford and Leroy Burrell
Wade Phillips - Football (1966-68)
· Three-year starting linebacker from 1966-1968
· Graduated with school record for career assisted tackles (228) before that record was broken in 2011
· Began coaching career in 1969 as Graduate Assistant Caoch for Bill Yeoman
· Texas Sports Hall of Famer (Class of 2017)
Warren McVea - Football (1965-67)
· First African American student-athlete in program history
· Super Bowl IV Champion
· 1969 AFL Champion
· Fourth round pick in 1968 NFL Draft
· San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2004)
· Totaled 1,461 rushing yards, 841 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns in three seasons
Wilson Whitley - Football (1973-76)
· 1976 Consensus All-American
· 1976 Lombardi Award Winner
· No. 78 retired by Houston program
· College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2017)
· Texas High School Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1985)
· Houston Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 1998)
· 8th overall pick in 1977 NFL Draft
Yulia Pakhalina - Swim/Dive (2001-03)
· Five-time Olympic Medalist (One gold, three silver, one bronze)
· Two-time NCAA Diver of the Year
· Five-time NCAA Individual National Champion
· Member of Houston Swim/Dive Coaching Staff in mid-2010s
· Houston Athletics Hall of Fame
SCORE TICKETS WITH TDECU PARTERNSHIP
Houston Athletics and Houston's largest credit union, TDECU, have teamed up with Brothers in Arms to provide an exclusive offer this football season.
Anyone who opens a checking account with direct deposit, refinances an auto loan, or signs up for a new TDECU credit card will receive a pair of 2021 Houston Cougar Football season tickets for each exclusive offer. This special exclusive offer includes tickets to the Texas Kickoff game on September 4, 2021, at NRG Stadium, and five home games at TDECU Stadium.
The promotion runs through Sept. 30, 2021. To learn more about this offer, visit UHCougars.com/TDECU and enter promo code 'UH2021' or call (979) 235-1310.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE
University of Houston Football single-game tickets are now on sale, and fans are encouraged to act quickly to secure the best seats inside TDECU Stadium for the upcoming season.
In 2021, the Cougars will celebrate "75 Years of Houston Athletics" and single-game advanced tickets start at only $20. To purchase single-game tickets, fans can visit UHCougars.com/tickets or call 713 GO COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.
Introducing Houston Blue
Friday, November 01
AD Eddie Nuñez Interview
Thursday, August 22
VP for Intercollegiate Athletics Eddie Nuñez Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, August 21
Hall of Honor
Thursday, September 14