The University of Houston is not new to producing influential international Olympic athletes. Over the years, many young athletes broke records, set the tone, and beat the odds. As an African American woman in the early 70’s at a PWI, you were expected to fail and not rise to higher standards. Being a woman in sports wasn’t as prominent then as it is now, despite these facts 5 lady cougars persisted above and beyond.
Influential Carol LewisÂ
Recently announced last month, Carol Lewis will follow in her brother’s footsteps as she was nominated as USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Lewis is more than deserving of this title; she currently holds the record for both the indoor (6.78m) and outdoor (7.04m) long jumps. Lewis’s stats consist ofÂ
- Â World Championship Bronze Medalist (Long Jump) 1983Â
- Four-time USA Champion (Long Jump)
- Won the NCAA Long Jump Champion twice (1983, 1985)
- Awarded Individual SWC Champion & Three-time Team Champion ten timesÂ
- Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)
- NCAA All-American 12x
- Currently ranked top-10 in the 55-meter hurdles and high jump indoors. As well outdoors in the 4×100-meter relay, high jump and heptathlon.
After a career as a sports commentator for NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, and FOX Sports. She returned to UH as an assistant coach.
Influential Rita Crockett:
Rita Crockett is a San Antonio Native who was inducted into the UH Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008. Crockett was a consistent title recipient from 1977 AIAW All-American, 1980 U.S Olympic Team Member, to 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist. Her Olympic era started after she was selected for the 1980 & 1984 U.S. Olympic teams. In the year 1984, the U.S volleyball team became silver medalists; the team is still tied for the best indoor finish in U.S. Olympic history. Crockett went on to play pro volleyball in Japan, Italy, and Switzerland before returning to the U.S to play in the MLV, earning the MVP award. In 1989, she became the first African-American woman to be awarded the title World Beach Volleyball Champion. Rita Crockett was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Coach of the Year in 2015 after running a successful program at Florida International University with back-to-back AVCA National Championships.
Influential Jolanda Jones
Jolanda Jones is a Houston Native where she attended Alief Elsik High School, graduating magna cum laude. During her high school years, Jones was a multi-talented athlete; she made All-American in track & field and basketball. Her talent exceeds her again as she was the only person in Texas to win the Texas State 5A team championship as an individual.
At the University of Houston she achived
- Â 1989 US track and field heptathlon champion & NCAA top six award winner
- All American for the 4×400 meter relay & high jump
- Academic All-American twice
- Acquired the GTE/All-American honors
- First to hold the record as the 3x NCAA heptathlon champion (1986,1987 & 1989)
- Inducted in the cougar hall of fame
- Member of teh deans list every semester she attened UH
- Nominated for the Rhodes scholarshipÂ
- Named UHÂ Alumni Organization’s Most Outstanding Senior.
- Graduated from UH magna cum laude earning a degree in political science
Before settling down in her career, she was a member of the USA track and field national teams in 1895,1987,1989 Woeld national games. After her professional career, she started her own successful consulting firm as an attorney. She now serves as a Texas State Representative for House District 147 after serving as a Houston City Council member and Houston ISD board member.
To end on a high note, our alumni have created the dream life and career for themselves. From staying in sports to fighting for their communities, they have always been fighters for what they want. As African American women in America, where politics has always been heavy, including in sports. No matter the odds, they excelled academically as well as in athletics. Lastly, we cannot forget the legendary Flo Hyman, a teammate of Rita Crockett.