Q&A: How Houston Shaped Life after Sport
2/22/2024 9:00:00 AM | General, Soccer
The University of Houston Athletics holds a rich history of contributing to the advancement of Black students, with significant milestones in breaking racial barriers in major sports. Dating to the 1960s, the university played a crucial role in aiding racial integration. During a time when segregation was prevalent in sports, the University of Houston embraced the talent and potential of Black athletes, leading to a more inclusive and diverse athletic community. Icons like Elvin Hayes, who played for the Cougars' Men's Basketball team in the 1960s, became trailblazers, setting the stage for future generations of Black athletes as did Houston Football's Warren McVea who broke the color barrier by becoming the first Black player to suit up for a major college football team in Texas during 1965.
As part of the celebration of Black History Month in 2024, Houston Athletics is dedicated to recognizing and highlighting the achievements of former student-athletes who have transcended their roles on the field and court to become leaders in their respective professions. These student-athletes embody the values of perseverance, excellence, and leadership instilled during their time at the University of Houston.
Now a Land Use and Zoning attorney, Lexa Green reflects on her time as a soccer student-athlete at the University of Houston, and the impact it had on her life after sport.
Q: How does being named Team MVP in college bring significance to Black History Month?
Green: I think as a black female, it's important to capitalize on opportunities and pave the way for those coming behind you. Whether it be in athletics or a professional setting, that was something my parents distilled in me at a young age. To be able to perform at such a high level at Houston was important to me, and to be recognized for my efforts; because I put so much time and effort into it, means a lot.
For you to be able to look back 10 years later, find records of that and see what went into that means so much. I think it's important as black women, and people of color, to pave the way for those coming behind them. That's something I still try to do in my professional world.
I'm currently an attorney, and there are not many that look like me. Just to get here and represent, and hopefully to be able to recommend some other people of color later down the line.
Q: As a former student-athlete at the University of Houston, what were some unique opportunities for promoting diversity and equality that you experienced?
Green: I remember playing under coach [Chris] Pfau, and he always made it a point to recognize Black History. That was a huge piece when he recruited me. I think that was important for my parents to know, I'm sending my black daughter to play under you in a city we are not from and don't have family, so they want to know that she will be looked after. He always made it a point to acknowledge our backgrounds. I remember us going to This Is It, which is a soul food restaurant in Houston, and he went with us. He was always trying to experience different cultural things with us, so that is something that really sticks with me about my experience playing for him at the University of Houston.
Q: What ways do you feel help promote Black History Month in your career field?
Green: This opportunity that I have now, came from my soccer coach at the club level. My youth soccer coach, he's a partner here at the firm, and that's how I got to the end of this. I think going through law school, and my mom was working at the District Attorney's office, so I always knew about the criminal, child welfare and dependency sides of law. I didn't know about the real estate laws, and this is a lucrative field you can get in and do very well.
I think it's important to share these opportunities with other Blacks, and people of color. They aren't jobs you normally come across. Growing up you see criminal law on television, but who knows what a land use and zoning attorney is? In our job everyday, I'm meeting with local politicians, city council members and county commissioners, because we have to present our projects to them and get them approved. I'm always in their office establishing personal relationships with them, so I think it's a great opportunity for other Blacks to get in similar positions. Making those connections and establishing those connections are important. I think it could be life changing opportunities. It's just a matter of providing this information to other Blacks, and letting them know this is a field you can get into. I only had an idea about this field before sitting down and talking to my old coach.
Q: What ways do you believe college sports can be used as a platform for raising awareness during Black History Month?
Green: I definitely think there is a great platform that can be tapped into by these universities. I think you guys are off to a great start. Reaching out to the alumni to get them involved, and keeping those ties to current student-athletes. I would love to establish relationships with the current athletes now, and I see there are quite a few African American girls on the team. If I could reach out to them, and share my experience on how to go about it; and my time at Houston. When I got to Houston in 2013, that was the most black girls that I had ever played with.There were about seven to eight of us, so that was a new experience especially for a predominantly white sport like soccer at the time.
We've all gone on to do great things, and not just me, all my teammates. I keep in touch with quite a few of them. We have Lauren Blakes, who has her own cake business in Houston. I know that would be great for current athletes to hear from her. We have Sydnie Green doing sports medicine. She's worked with a couple semi-pro teams, she's doing great. The list goes on, and a lot of these girls have gone on to do some really great things professionally, and they are all different. I think sharing our experiences and what we do, could help guide people. I know during my time at Houston, I didn't know what was next for me. I ended up going to law school because I didn't know what was next. I think sharing those types of experiences, guidance and those types of questions for athletes would provide significant help.
I'm very passionate about giving back to that, and sharing experiences and providing guidance where I can. I think that would be a great platform, and I would love to come back annually and speak to student-athletes. However we can contribute, I know my teammates and I would love to be a part of it. I'm very prideful about Houston, and my time there. I had a great experience there. I love the city, I love the University, and I love the soccer program. Whatever I can do, I would love to assist.
Q: Who was someone you looked up to in your time in Houston?
Green: DeJuena Chizer. She was always supportive and came to our games. She's very classy and someone I always looked up to. I loved the way she carried herself and just her presence. She was so relatable and always willing to make herself available. Russel Royal, he was our academic adviser, he was a Black male. He was amazing. He was always there for us, and I mean he was always there for us from academics to family. I just remember it being like a family, a family away from my family. That was always important to me.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of University of Houston Athletics by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise, and by joining Cougar Pride.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougars on X, formerly Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at HoustonAthletics or on the team's Instagram page at houstoncougars.
As part of the celebration of Black History Month in 2024, Houston Athletics is dedicated to recognizing and highlighting the achievements of former student-athletes who have transcended their roles on the field and court to become leaders in their respective professions. These student-athletes embody the values of perseverance, excellence, and leadership instilled during their time at the University of Houston.
Now a Land Use and Zoning attorney, Lexa Green reflects on her time as a soccer student-athlete at the University of Houston, and the impact it had on her life after sport.
Q: How does being named Team MVP in college bring significance to Black History Month?
Green: I think as a black female, it's important to capitalize on opportunities and pave the way for those coming behind you. Whether it be in athletics or a professional setting, that was something my parents distilled in me at a young age. To be able to perform at such a high level at Houston was important to me, and to be recognized for my efforts; because I put so much time and effort into it, means a lot.
For you to be able to look back 10 years later, find records of that and see what went into that means so much. I think it's important as black women, and people of color, to pave the way for those coming behind them. That's something I still try to do in my professional world.
I'm currently an attorney, and there are not many that look like me. Just to get here and represent, and hopefully to be able to recommend some other people of color later down the line.
Q: As a former student-athlete at the University of Houston, what were some unique opportunities for promoting diversity and equality that you experienced?
Green: I remember playing under coach [Chris] Pfau, and he always made it a point to recognize Black History. That was a huge piece when he recruited me. I think that was important for my parents to know, I'm sending my black daughter to play under you in a city we are not from and don't have family, so they want to know that she will be looked after. He always made it a point to acknowledge our backgrounds. I remember us going to This Is It, which is a soul food restaurant in Houston, and he went with us. He was always trying to experience different cultural things with us, so that is something that really sticks with me about my experience playing for him at the University of Houston.
Q: What ways do you feel help promote Black History Month in your career field?
Green: This opportunity that I have now, came from my soccer coach at the club level. My youth soccer coach, he's a partner here at the firm, and that's how I got to the end of this. I think going through law school, and my mom was working at the District Attorney's office, so I always knew about the criminal, child welfare and dependency sides of law. I didn't know about the real estate laws, and this is a lucrative field you can get in and do very well.
I think it's important to share these opportunities with other Blacks, and people of color. They aren't jobs you normally come across. Growing up you see criminal law on television, but who knows what a land use and zoning attorney is? In our job everyday, I'm meeting with local politicians, city council members and county commissioners, because we have to present our projects to them and get them approved. I'm always in their office establishing personal relationships with them, so I think it's a great opportunity for other Blacks to get in similar positions. Making those connections and establishing those connections are important. I think it could be life changing opportunities. It's just a matter of providing this information to other Blacks, and letting them know this is a field you can get into. I only had an idea about this field before sitting down and talking to my old coach.
Q: What ways do you believe college sports can be used as a platform for raising awareness during Black History Month?
Green: I definitely think there is a great platform that can be tapped into by these universities. I think you guys are off to a great start. Reaching out to the alumni to get them involved, and keeping those ties to current student-athletes. I would love to establish relationships with the current athletes now, and I see there are quite a few African American girls on the team. If I could reach out to them, and share my experience on how to go about it; and my time at Houston. When I got to Houston in 2013, that was the most black girls that I had ever played with.There were about seven to eight of us, so that was a new experience especially for a predominantly white sport like soccer at the time.
We've all gone on to do great things, and not just me, all my teammates. I keep in touch with quite a few of them. We have Lauren Blakes, who has her own cake business in Houston. I know that would be great for current athletes to hear from her. We have Sydnie Green doing sports medicine. She's worked with a couple semi-pro teams, she's doing great. The list goes on, and a lot of these girls have gone on to do some really great things professionally, and they are all different. I think sharing our experiences and what we do, could help guide people. I know during my time at Houston, I didn't know what was next for me. I ended up going to law school because I didn't know what was next. I think sharing those types of experiences, guidance and those types of questions for athletes would provide significant help.
I'm very passionate about giving back to that, and sharing experiences and providing guidance where I can. I think that would be a great platform, and I would love to come back annually and speak to student-athletes. However we can contribute, I know my teammates and I would love to be a part of it. I'm very prideful about Houston, and my time there. I had a great experience there. I love the city, I love the University, and I love the soccer program. Whatever I can do, I would love to assist.
Q: Who was someone you looked up to in your time in Houston?
Green: DeJuena Chizer. She was always supportive and came to our games. She's very classy and someone I always looked up to. I loved the way she carried herself and just her presence. She was so relatable and always willing to make herself available. Russel Royal, he was our academic adviser, he was a Black male. He was amazing. He was always there for us, and I mean he was always there for us from academics to family. I just remember it being like a family, a family away from my family. That was always important to me.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of University of Houston Athletics by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise, and by joining Cougar Pride.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougars on X, formerly Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at HoustonAthletics or on the team's Instagram page at houstoncougars.
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