The Challenge of Change
BJ Carden
When it comes to college athletics, change is inevitable but, for graduate defender Alex Whitcraft, it became the defining theme of her career.
In four years, Whitcraft has had three different head coaches, three strength & conditioning coaches, three academic advisors, two athletic trainers and has been a part of two different conferences.
Through it all, Alex learned that change — though often unsettling — was also the source of her greatest growth. She discovered her resilience, her ability to adapt and her role as a leader on and off the field.
Whitcraft started playing soccer when she was four years old in a YMCA league in Kansas when her parents were looking for any sport to grab her attention. She played everything, but soccer is what stuck.
“Soccer was the sport I was the best at and wanted to become good at. That’s what I found my passion for.”
For the Whitcrafts, soccer didn’t just become a passion for Alex but for the whole family. Alex’s younger sister, Lauren, also picked up soccer and plays club soccer at North Texas.
“I think because my parents got into soccer when I started playing, we became a soccer family.”
Growing up, as most siblings do, Alex and Lauren pushed each other, and everything became a competition.
“We compete at the littlest things, whether that’s school or soccer. One time we talked about Instagram followers when we were in middle school together. Even when we go outside and just pass the ball, it's a competition of who is going to mess up first.”
As Alex continued along her soccer journey, the realization that college soccer was an option started to set in, and albeit later than most girls her age, she joined her first ECNL team as a high school freshman.
“When I realized that I could compete with people at that level, it started to get more real, and college coaches starting to show up made it more real for me.”
As college recruitment began, Whitcraft was set on moving away from home. As a Dallas native, she wasn’t interested in the local schools and knew she wanted to experience a new place with new people and new cultures.
“At first I wanted to go away from home, so I wasn’t looking too closely or even reaching out to Dallas schools, but Houston felt like the perfect in-between for me.”
But the former middle school track athlete would endure her first hurdle on the recruiting journey when COVID swept through, temporarily pausing recruitment and leaving many student-athletes wondering ‘what’s next?’.
For Whitcraft, Houston was next.
Alex found her home at the University of Houston.
“I loved the business program here. I knew I wanted a degree from Bauer College, and I felt like this was an opportunity to immerse myself in a city that I didn’t know and to meet all different types of people, and learn about different cultures.
“That was something that was very important to me. I wanted to learn about so much more than just myself here, and I think it’s helped me grow so much more as a person.”
College signing day had come and gone as another hurdle was brought forward as it was announced that the conference she thought she was signing up to play soccer in would soon be changing.
Whitcraft knew she would start her career as a member of the American Athletic Conference before making the jump to the Big 12 and the Power Four, but it was a challenge she was looking forward to.
“I didn’t find out until after I signed that we would be moving conferences. It was kind of crazy because signing up for the American Conference and the Big 12 Conference is very, very different. How cool that we get that opportunity? I was excited more than anything.”
After she committed to Houston, she thought she had her plan figured out. Then, before she even arrived on campus, the coach who recruited her left.
“I was scared because you never know if the next coach is going to want you or not. You also don’t know about what your scholarship is or if they’re going to keep you.
There were a lot of discussions to be had with my parents but if anything, I just wanted to prove myself to the next coach. Diego [Bocanegra] hadn’t even coached me yet, so it was just another opportunity to prove that I belong here.”
A new coach arrived with new expectations, and Alex quickly learned the first rule of college sports: adaptability.
Freshman year was terrifying. She was young, inexperienced, and surrounded by older teammates with years of experience. But pressure pushed her to rise. Playing time came, confidence grew, and by the end of that season, Alex had established herself as a player who belonged.
“I was able to learn a lot from the players before me. I’m proud of the player I became even with the things that I learned. It was tough because I felt a lot of pressure on me as such a young player, but I think that’s only helped me become the player that I am today.”
After a successful freshman campaign that saw Alex named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team, the next wave of change arrived. The program transitioned from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12. Suddenly, the competition was fiercer, faster and more demanding.
In 2023, the Cougars got off to what was the best start in school history at 6-0-1, but that early success faded into inconsistency, and the culture the team worked so hard to build was tested by losing streaks and doubt.
“We expected so much of ourselves, and we thought we were going to do much better than we did, but we just weren’t connecting in all areas of the game. It was hard for us to put a full performance together at times.”
Off the field, change started to weigh on Alex too. By the end of her sophomore year, soccer — the thing that once brought her joy — started to feel like a job. The spark was fading, replaced by exhaustion.
“Soccer, to me, was my escape from everything else. It was something I was so passionate about and wanted to become the best. By the end of my sophomore year, I was so drained. It felt unfair to everybody to show up and not feel that joy again.”
"I didn’t want to bring down the group in any way. I gave everything I had till the very end, but I couldn't really give more if I wasn’t enjoying myself.”
With enough credits to graduate in three years, Alex decided she would conclude her soccer career following her third season. But just as she was ready to close the chapter, another shift came. Head Coach Jaime Frias announced his departure from the program after three seasons.
“I was really surprised because I had seen him a couple days prior. I didn’t have too many words. I was just surprised more than anything I guess.”
Following Frias’ departure, Houston hired a rising star in Head Coach Ben Williams. In his first season as a head coach, Williams orchestrated the largest program turnaround in NCAA history as he led a two-win SFA team to 14 wins, the Southland Conference Regular Season and Tournament Titles and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
“I had heard about Ben because a lot of my previous teammates played for him, and they had nothing but good things to say. It was very apparent that when we posted that he was coming here, the hundreds of positive messages about him spoke a lot.”
When Williams was hired in early February, his first call was to Whitcraft. He told her he saw her as a cornerstone for building a program that had little success.
Williams and Whitcraft had multiple conversations, but he never wanted to push her. He gave her time to think, never pressuring her, even as she interviewed for jobs outside of soccer. Slowly, his vision reignited something in her.
“I told him that this is my life and if I had a good opportunity, I wasn’t going to turn it down. I was between a few jobs, but I wasn’t super excited about either of them and the more that I spoke to him, the more excited I got about coming back.”
Later that spring, Alex decided she would return to Houston for her final season of eligibility.
Coming back wasn’t easy. She had a sesamoidectomy (surgery on her big toe) in January and struggled through one of the hardest summers of her life getting back into shape. Soccer shape.
“Soccer fitness is different from any other type of fitness. A lot of people don’t know that, but soccer running is so much different than going on a three-mile run on the treadmill. It was really hard. The summer pushed me so much honestly.”
“My mom went to the gym with me every morning and pushed me to get back to where I needed to be.”
But with each practice, she felt herself change again — not back into the player she once was – but into a stronger version of herself. Under Williams’ guidance, her game reached a new level, her leadership and voice grew, and her perspective deepened.
In just his first season, Williams has already led the Cougars to new heights. They got off to the best start in program history, going undefeated for the first time in non-conference play, scored the most goals in a single Big 12 match in program history, earned their first Big 12 Player of the Week honor and beat Texas for the first time in nearly 20 years.
While each of these accomplishments were just a check off the list, the Cougars have their eyes set on a bigger goal — making the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments for the first time.
“We want to make the Big 12 Tournament. That’s something that our program hasn’t done. How cool would it be not just to make it but win it. We want to win the Big 12 Tournament so we can get that NCAA appearance.”
Although Alex is fully invested in their team's achievements, she reached one that she wasn’t even aware of — top five in career games started in program history.
day one dawg
— Houston Soccer (@UHCougarSoccer) October 19, 2025
Alex moves to No. 5 in career starts in program history. pic.twitter.com/OtGd1mN8WU
Alex has been a staple in the starting lineup since she arrived on campus, starting every game of her career. Against Kansas State, she moved into fifth in career starts as she earned her 67th consecutive cap.
“It’s very cool. The entire journey that I’ve had playing soccer, I never thought that it would’ve been something that I could’ve accomplished. I’m proud of it.”
While making 67 straight starts is quite the achievement, all good things come to an end. After battling through a quad injury suffered in the first Big 12 Conference game of the season, Alex suffered a MCL sprain in the final 10 minutes of the second half against Kansas State.
That injury sidelined her for the first time in her career.
The entire journey that I’ve had playing soccer, I never thought that it would’ve been something that I could’ve accomplished. I’m proud of it.Alex Whitcraft
Alex isn’t the only player who has suffered an injury this season. Six players have yet to see the field after suffering injuries before the season started. In total, 15 players have either missed a game or left a game due to injury.
“Our team has had its fair share of injuries this year, but I think everyone has shown great resilience with a next-man-up mentality. I know that whoever is out on the field for us can get the job done.”
Despite the injuries, the Cougars currently sit in a four-way tie for the eighth and final spot in the Big 12 Soccer Tournament and have surpassed their conference point total from its first two seasons in the league.
The Cougars look to clinch that final spot in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday when they face #5 TCU on Thursday.
No matter the outcome of Thursday’s match against TCU, Alex knows the Houston Soccer program is headed in the right direction.
“I think the sky’s the limit for this program with Ben and his staff.” He’s already shown the kind of impact he can make and the direction he’s taking this team.
I’m just grateful I got to be a part of what he’s building here, and I can’t wait to watch and cheer them on in the seasons to come.”
Although Alex’s career is winding down, through all the trials and triumphs, it's the little things she will remember most.
I’m just grateful I got to be a part of what he’s building here, and I can’t wait to watch and cheer them on in the seasons to come.Alex Whitcraft
“What I’ll remember most are the little moments with everyone. The laughs on travel trips, the talks before practice and film each morning. Those are the moments that brought us closer together.”
Alex graduated in May 2025 with her bachelor's degree in business management and will finish her master’s degree in marketing and data analytics next summer.
Alex plans to either work on the business side of professional sports or at a financial firm.