Courtesy: Texas Athletics
AUSTIN, Texas — Thirteen former University of Texas student-athletes and one former coach have been selected for the next class of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor. Plans for the induction ceremony have not yet been set, but the list of inductees are in for what is another spectacular class of Longhorn Legends.
Texas Athletics Hall of Honor Inductees
The 66th Men’s Hall of Honor class includes: D.J. Augustin (Basketball, 2006-08), a consensus first-team All-American and first-team Academic All-American who earned the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard while guiding the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in 2007-08; Jamaal Charles (Football, 2005-07; Track & Field, 2006-07), a three-time All-Big 12 selection on the gridiron and member of the 2005 National Championship team who ranks fourth on the UT all-time rushing list (3,328 yards) and is a four-time All-American and Big 12 100-meter champion on the track; Brad Elder (Golf, 1995-98), a four-time All-American who won the 1997 Fred Haskins Award as the nation’s top collegiate golfer and led the Longhorns to a third-place team finish at the 1995 NCAA Championship; Jordan Shipley (Football, 2006-09), a two-time All-American who finished his career as the Longhorns’ all-time leader in receptions (248) and ranked second in receiving yards (3,191) and TD catches (33); David Thomas (Football, 2002-05), a three-time All-Big 12 selection who finished his career as UT’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (98), receiving yards (1,367) and TD catches (15) and a member of the 2005 National Championship team; and P.J. Tucker (Basketball, 2003-06), a second-team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year who led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in 2005-06.
Vintage selections Glenn Blackwood (Football, 1976-78) and Rick Bradley (Baseball, 1973-75) in addition to Special Selection Tom Penders (Basketball head coach, 1988-98), round out the men’s class.
The 21st Women’s Hall of Honor class includes: Alexandria Anderson (Track & Field, 2006-09), a three-time NCAA individual champion and 20-time All-American who led the Longhorns to the 2006 NCAA Indoor team title; Erika Hansen-Stebbins (Swimming & Diving, 1990-92), a two-time U.S. Olympic team member, an NCAA individual champion and nine-time All-American who guided UT to NCAA team titles in 1990 and 1991; Juliann Faucette Johnson (Volleyball, 2007-10), a three-time All-American, 2007 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year who led Texas to three-straight NCAA Semifinals appearances; Kasey Moore Powers (Soccer, 2005-08), the only three-time United Soccer Coaches All-American in program history and a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year who led the Longhorns to four NCAA Tournament appearances, a pair of Big 12 tournament titles and the No. 1 ranking in the national polls for the only time in school history; and Heather (Schreiber) Stark (Basketball, 2001-05), a four-time All-Big 12 selection and a 2004 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American who helped Texas win two Big 12 regular-season titles, the 2003 Big 12 Tournament championship and advance to the 2003 Final Four.
Hall of Honor Inductee Bios
ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON
Women’s Track and Field (2006-09)
A three-time NCAA individual champion and 20-time All-American, Alexandria Anderson helped lead the Longhorns to the 2006 NCAA Indoor team title. Anderson, a sprints and relays specialist, is the third-most decorated All-American in Texas Track and Field history, and was the first Longhorn, regardless of gender, to earn at least 20 All-America honors since Carlette Guidry (1988-91). Texas claimed three Top-5 and four Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Indoor meet and three Top-6 showings at the NCAA Outdoor meet during Anderson’s four seasons in Austin. As a freshman, Anderson collected three All-America honors. She helped UT’s 4×400-meter relay team place third at the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships. At the Outdoor counterpart that same year, Anderson won her first NCAA title as part of Texas’ 4×100-meter relay team and placed seventh individually in the 100-meter dash. Anderson doubled her tally as a sophomore in 2007, earning six All-America honors across the Indoor and Outdoor campaigns. The Chicago native earned All-American status five more times as a junior in 2008 and six times as a senior in 2009. She closed out her collegiate career by winning a pair of individual and relay titles at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships. There, she was part of UT’s victorious 4×400-meter relay team and topped the podium in the 100-meter dash. To this day, she is still one of only four women in program history to win the NCAA Outdoor 100-meter title. She also won three individual Big 12 titles during her collegiate career. Her first came on the 4×100-meter relay during the 2006 Outdoor season, the second in the 60-meter dash during the 2007 Indoor season, and the third in the 100-meter dash at the 2009 Big 12 Outdoor Championships. Anderson was a two-time team MVP, earning the honor in 2007 and 2009. She also was named the Co-Longhorn Athlete of the Year and received the Jill A. Sterkel Leadership Award in 2009. In the Texas record book, she still ranks as the fourth-fastest Longhorn in the Outdoor 100-meter dash (11.02), fifth-fastest in the Indoor 60-meter (7.17) and Outdoor 200-meter dashes (22.60), and ninth-fastest in the Indoor 200-meter dash (23.17). Anderson graduated from Texas with a degree in communication studies in 2009. She was the recipient of the 2006-07 UT Women’s Athletics Barbara Jordan Endowed Scholarship. Following her time on the Forty Acres, Anderson went on to be a key member for Team USA in the relays, helping the Americans medal three times in the 4×100-meter relay at the World Championships. She earned a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu and the 2014 World Relay Championships in Nassau. Anderson also was a silver medalist in the 4×100-meter relay at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. After eight years of medal-winning success internationally with Team USA, Anderson retired and began her career in the fitness industry. She received her ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certification in January 2018 and continues to pursue her passion of fitness, nutrition and sports. She became a personal trainer, meditation instructor and nutrition specialist. Anderson launched her own business, Essential Fitness ATX, in the fall of 2018 in Austin. In addition, Anderson completed her yoga teacher training in March 2020. She is heavily involved in several community organizations and non-profits and volunteers on a weekly basis, including with the Austin Partners in Education. Anderson is also a mentor at Ortega Elementary School in East Austin, where she was recently named their Mentor of the Year.
D.J. AUGUSTIN
Men’s Basketball (2006-08)
One of the top point guards in Texas Basketball history, D.J. Augustin is the only Longhorn basketball player to earn consensus first-team All-America honors for his play on the court and first-team Academic All-America accolades for his success in the classroom in the same season. A two-year starter at point guard, he played and started all 73 games and finished his career ranked fifth in UT history in assists (452), fourth in three-point percentage (.402), ninth in free throw percentage (.808) and 18th in scoring (1,234 points). As a freshman in 2006-07, he earned honorable mention All-America honors by The Associated Press and was a consensus Freshman All-American while ranking fourth nationally in assists (6.7 apg). Augustin helped lead the Longhorns to a 25-10 overall record and the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 that year. As a sophomore in 2007-08, he became the fifth player in program history to receive consensus first-team All-America honors, while also earning ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first-team recognition. He became the 15th player in NCAA history (since 1962-63) to earn both first-team All-America and first-team Academic All-America accolades in the same season. Augustin earned the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard and was one of five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA National Player of the Year). He led the Longhorns to a 31-7 overall mark and the NCAA Elite Eight. Following his sophomore season, he turned professional and was selected as the No. 9 overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2008 NBA Draft. He’s currently in his 12th season in the NBA, having spent time with the Charlotte Bobcats (2008-12), Indiana Pacers (2012-13), Toronto Raptors (2013-14), Chicago Bulls (2013-14), Detroit Pistons (2014-15), Oklahoma City Thunder (2014-16), Denver Nuggets (2015-16) and Orlando Magic (2016-current).
GLENN BLACKWOOD
(Vintage Selection)
Football (1976-78)
Captain of the 1978 Longhorn football team, Glenn Blackwood was part of an incredible era of outstanding Texas defensive backs which first earned the Longhorns the nickname “DBU.” The San Antonio native from Winston Churchill High School began his UT career in 1975, playing the final two years of Darrell Royal’s tenure, and then played two years for Fred Akers. Playing in secondaries that included eventual NFL first-round draft picks Raymond Clayborn, Johnnie Johnson and Derrick Hatchett, Blackwood helped lead the Longhorns to a No. 1 ranking and a perfect 11-0 regular season in 1977. He led Texas in interceptions as the Longhorn won the Southwest Conference Championship and played for the National Championship that year. Despite losing the Cotton Bowl to Notre Dame, UT finished 11-1 (8-0 SWC) and ranked No. 4 nationally in the final Associated Press Poll and No. 5 in the UPI Coaches Poll. As a senior in 1978, Blackwood and the Longhorns went 9-3 and finished the year ranked No. 9 in both polls after capping the year with a 42-0 blowout of No. 13/12 Maryland in the Sun Bowl. A three-year starter for the Longhorns, Blackwood registered 131 tackles, four interceptions, 16 pass breakups, four caused fumbles and one fumble recovery and returned an interception for a touchdown. Texas compiled a 35-11-1 (24-7 SWC) record in his four years at Texas. An eighth-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in 1979, Blackwood turned out to be a draft day steal as he blossomed into a star defensive back in the NFL. He played nickel back his rookie year and became a career starter for the Dolphins from then on, starting 106 of his 118 NFL games at strong safety. He helped the Dolphins win six division titles (1979, 1981-85) and played in two Super Bowls (SB XVII and XIX) during his 10-year career (1979-88). He retired in 1989 with 29 career interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries. In 1980, he led the NFL with four fumble recoveries, and 12 of his interceptions came during the peak of his career in 1984 and 1985. In 1981, Blackwood’s brother, Lyle, joined the Dolphins, and the two became known as the “Bruise Brothers.” Lyle and Glenn played alongside each other at free and strong safety for four seasons. A key part of the Dolphins defense that was first tabbed the “Killer B’s” in the strike-shortened season of 1982, Blackwood was named to the Dolphins’ 50 best players in their first 50 seasons in 2015. He was a Dolphins nominee for the NFL Man of the Year and for the Ed Block Award for inspiration, sportsmanship and courage. He currently resides with his wife, Beth, in Palm Beach, Fla., where he provides consulting services to banks and financial institutions. He also spent time coaching his son, Jake, from 2000-06 at The Kings Academy in West Palm Beach, Fla. Jake went on to play safety at Georgia Tech, earning three letters (2006-08) for the Ramblin’ Wreck.
RICK BRADLEY
(Vintage Selection)
Baseball (1973-75)
Rick Bradley teamed with Longhorn legend Keith Moreland to lead Texas to three-straight Southwest Conference Championships, three “final four” College World Series appearances and a CWS National Championship (1975). A power hitter who was a catcher by trade and an outfielder and first baseman when needed, Bradley was a two-time first-team All-SWC selection in 1974 and 1975 and a second-team All-American in 1974. His career batting average of .359 ranks eighth in program history, and his career slugging percentage of .602 is the ninth-best mark in Texas history. He hit 22 home runs and recorded a 24-game hitting streak during the 1974 season, the second-longest hitting streak in program history. During that season, when college teams were transitioning from the standard wooden bat and beginning to test the new aluminum bats, Moreland led the team in hitting with a .399 average and Bradley followed just behind at .397. In his junior season of 1975, his last at Texas, Bradley volunteered to share some catching duties and stayed in the lineup as a first baseman or outfielder, as the Longhorns advanced to the CWS and won the school’s first baseball National Championship in 25 years. Bradley was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 1975 MLB Draft and went on to play professionally for several years, advancing as high as Class AAA. Following his professional career, Bradley returned to Texas and entered the oil business. He later retired from that profession and began working in financial planning for a number of years. Bradley currently lives in Houston.
JAMAAL CHARLES
Football (2005-07), Men’s Track and Field (2006-07)
The next in a long line of premier Longhorn running backs who went on to success in the NFL, Jamaal Charles was a three-time All-Big 12 selection and a key part of three 10-win teams, including the Longhorns’ 2005 National Championship team. From 2005-07, Charles played in 38 games during a three-year stretch that saw the Longhorns post a 33-6 (19-5, Big 12) record, including a 13-0 mark in 2005. Charles and UT won three bowl games, finished in the top 15 all three years and posted a pair of top-10 finishes in 2005 and 2007. The 2005 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, he carried the ball 533 times for 3,328 yards (No. 4 in school history) and 36 touchdowns (No. 5 in school history), while catching 49 passes for 539 yards and three TDs over his three-year collegiate career. He produced one of the best seasons by a running back in Texas history en route to first-team All-Big 12 honors as a junior, rushing for 1,619 yards (No. 6 on UT’s single-season list) and 18 TDs (No. 5 on UT’s single-season list) on 258 carries (6.3 ypc). Charles was just the fourth Longhorn at the time, and still currently one of only five, to rush for more than 1,500 yards in a season. He ran for more than 100 yards on 11 occasions (No. 8 in UT history), including seven times in 2007. A second-team All-Big 12 selection as a true freshman in 2005, Charles logged 1,035 yards from scrimmage (878 rush/157 rec) and 13 total TDs (11 rush/2 rec) that year. He began his career with the top freshman rushing debut in UT history, tallying 135 rushing yards in against Louisiana-Lafayette. He also earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition as a sophomore after tallying 1,014 yards from scrimmage (831 rush/183 rec) and eight TDs (7 rush/1 rec). Charles also competed with the UT Track and Field team as a sprinter for two seasons. He collected four All-America honors and won the 100-meter dash at the 2006 Big 12 Outdoor Championships. Today, Charles still holds the fourth-fastest 60-meter dash time in school history (6.65), the ninth-best in the 100 meters (10.23) and the 10th-best in the 200 meters (20.62). The 73rd overall pick in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Charles played 11 seasons in the NFL, nine with the Chiefs. A four-time Pro Bowl selection (2011, 2013-15) and three-time All-Pro (2011, 2013-14), he is the Chiefs’ all-time leading rusher (7,260 yds). In addition, Charles holds Chiefs records for career yards per carry (5.5), longest rushing play from scrimmage (91 yards), rushing yards in a game (259), points scored in a game (30), and receiving TDs in a game (4). The four receiving TDs are also an NFL record by a running back, in addition to his NFL records for rushing yards in a quarter (165) and career yards per carry average by a running back (5.4 ypc). Charles recorded five 1,000-yard seasons, including three-straight from 2012-14. The Port Arthur, Texas native discovered he had a learning disability in the third grade after having difficulty reading, and through that experience went on to develop a strong relationship with the Special Olympics after thriving in Track and Field competition. To this day, Charles serves as a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics movement. He was recognized by the Texas House of Representatives for his philanthropic and athletic achievements in March 2015. Charles officially retired as a Kansas City Chief in 2019, and he and his family currently reside in Austin.
BRAD ELDER
Men’s Golf (1995-98)
A player that Longhorn Men’s Golf coach John Fields once referred to as “one of the best amateur and collegiate golfers ever,” Brad Elder is one of only four Longhorns to win the nation’s oldest and most prestigious collegiate golfer of the year honor, the Fred Haskins Award. After a successful career as a Longhorn that saw him earn four All-America and four all-conference honors, Elder began a professional career following his 1998 senior season. Since turning pro, he has played on the PGA Tour, the Nationwide Tour, and currently plays on the Web.com Tour. Elder earned All-Southwest Conference and honorable mention All-America honors in helping the Longhorns win the final SWC title and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championship as a freshman in 1995. As a sophomore, he was a first-team All-American and helped Texas finish 13th at the NCAA Championship. His most successful season as a Longhorn came as a junior in 1997, when he earned the Haskins Award. That year, he was again selected first-team All-America and honored with the Jack Nicklaus Award, given annually by the Golf Coaches Association of America to the golfer who excels throughout the course of the entire season. He was named to the 1997 Walker Cup and Palmer Cup teams, helping Team USA win both events. A 1998 third-team All-American as a senior, Elder was a two-time medalist as a Longhorn, winning the 1995 Taylor Made Red River Classic and the 1998 Cleveland Golf/Morris Williams Classic. He finished his collegiate career as the nation’s No. 1 amateur according to the Golfweek/Titleist amateur rankings. Throughout his professional career, which has spanned 20 seasons, Elder has played in more than 400 tournaments, winning three times on the Web.com Tour (1999 NIKE Inland Empire Open, 1999 NIKE Wichita Open and 2007 Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open). He has also posted 23 top-10 finishes in his career. His first year on the PGA Tour came in 2000, when he ranked third among all rookies in earnings ($700,738), highlighted by a tie for second at the SEI Pennsylvania Classic. He has qualified for the U.S. Open three times, making the cut in 2015. A native of Tulsa, Okla., Elder currently resides in Dallas.
ERIKA HANSEN-STEBBINS
Women’s Swimming and Diving (1990-92)
A two-time U.S. Olympic team member and an NCAA individual champion and nine-time All-American during her three seasons at Texas, Erika Hansen-Stebbins helped the Longhorns claim back-to-back NCAA team championships in 1990 and 1991. She spent her freshman year in 1988-89 at the University of Georgia and became the first NCAA individual event champion in Georgia program history with her victory in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:00.04). Following her move to Austin, Hansen-Stebbins and the Longhorns won the NCAA and the Southwest Conference team titles during her sophomore season in 1989-90. As a junior in 1990-91, she finished second in the 200-yard butterfly, fourth in the 400-yard individual medley and fifth in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championship meet to lead Texas to the NCAA team title. The Longhorns set a NCAA Championship meet record for most points scored (746) that still stands today. Earlier that year, Hansen-Stebbins won the 200-yard butterfly at the SWC Championship to help UT win the SWC team title, and she was named the SWC’s Most Valuable Swimmer. In her senior season in 1991-92, she won the NCAA individual title in the 500-yard freestyle and placed second in both the 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard butterfly to guide Texas to a runner-up team finish at the NCAA Championship. Her winning time in the 500-yard freestyle (4:37.73) set a school record that stood for 24 years. Hansen-Stebbins was named the team’s Most Improved Swimmer as a senior and helped UT win another SWC team title. In addition to her school record in the 500-yard freestyle, she also set team records in the 400-yard individual medley (4:10.10) and 400-meter individual medley (4:40.80) during her time in Austin. Hansen-Stebbins had a successful national and international swimming career, highlighted by competing for Team USA at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She placed 11th in the 400-meter individual medley (4:51.03) during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Hansen-Stebbins then finished fourth in the 400-meter freestyle (4:11.50), seventh in the 800-meter freestyle (8:39.25) and 10th in the 400-meter individual medley (4:48.37) at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. A gold medalist in the 400-meter individual medley at the 1985 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo, she also was a five-time U.S. national champion, winning individual titles in 1984 (200 fly and 400 IM), 1985 (400 IM), 1990 (400 IM) and 1991 (200 fly). Hansen-Stebbins set U.S. age-group records for 13-14-year-olds in 1984 in the 200-meter individual medley (2:17.09) and 400-meter individual medley (4:45.58). A Barbara Jordan Scholarship Award recipient in 1992, Hansen-Stebbins earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas in 1993 and went on to receive her master’s degree in sport management from the University of Florida in 1995. She worked as a graduate assistant at Florida (1994-96) and as an assistant coach at USC (1997-2003), Maryland (2004-05) and UCLA (2005-08). Hansen-Stebbins has coached the Bruin Masters Swim Club on UCLA’s campus since 2010 and was named the 2017 Coach of the Year by Southern Pacific Masters Swimming. She is married to Tim Stebbins, the head diving coach at UCLA, and the couple has two children, daughter Reilly and son Owen.
JULIANN FAUCETTE JOHNSON
Volleyball (2007-10)
A three-time All-American and the 2010 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, Juliann Faucette Johnson helped lead Texas to three-straight NCAA Semifinals appearances, including its first (2008) since 1995, along with its first Championship Match appearance (2009) since that same year. The Longhorns compiled a 112-16 (.875) overall record, including a 74-6 (.925) mark in Big 12 play, and won three Big 12 regular-season championships (2007-09). In her rookie season in 2007, Johnson was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and the AVCA National Freshman of the Year after leading the team with 445 kills while hitting .324. She also added 2.51 digs per set and earned All-America First Team honors. During her junior season in 2009, Johnson garnered All-America Second Team recognition and helped UT reach the NCAA Championship match. She averaged 3.17 kills, 1.46 digs and 0.71 blocks per set while hitting .284. As a senior in 2010, Johnson claimed All-America First Team honors and was named the Big 12 Player of the Year while leading Texas to the NCAA Semifinals for the third-straight season. She averaged 3.94 kills, 2.53 digs and 4.55 points per set that year en route to earning All-Big 12 First Team honors for the fourth time and AVCA All-Central Region First Team accolades for the third time (2007, 2009-10). A two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection, Johnson graduated from Texas in 2011 with a bachelor of science degree in communication studies. Following her time at UT, she had a successful six-year professional career competing throughout Europe and China. Johnson also was a member of the U.S. National Team, playing in the USA Volleyball Cup, FIVB World Grand Prix, and the Pan American Cup. She then pursued a career as a recording artist, publishing her first EP in 2016, and launched a podcast, Behind the Athlete, in 2019 that spotlights high-level athletes and their passions outside of the sport they play. In July 2020, Johnson announced her return to playing competitive volleyball. She married Roderick Johnson, and the couple has one son, Tre.
TOM PENDERS
(Special Selection)
Men’s Basketball, Head Coach (1988-1998)
Tom Penders restored a lost luster to Texas Basketball when he brought his “Runnin’ ‘Horns” style to Austin for the 1988-89 season. Following three losing seasons in the previous six years at UT, Penders’ up-tempo style not only won games, it captured the excitement of the UT fan base. In his 10 seasons, the Horns won 208 games, made eight NCAA tournament appearances, advanced to the Elite Eight in 1990, and claimed three Southwest Conference regular season titles and two SWC tourney crowns. The success was immediate as in his first season, the Horns went 25-9 and Erwin Center crowds swelled to over 12,000 per game. That team averaged a SWC single-season record 94.3 points per game, eclipsing a mark set by Houston and Otis Birdsong in 1977. His early post-season success earned him the nickname of “Mr. March.” His first team shocked Georgia Tech in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The 1990 squad, led by the “Texas BMW” guard trio of Travis Mays, Lance Blanks and Joey Wright, finished 24-9 and advanced all the way to the Elite Eight before losing by a basket in a game that would have earned UT an appearance in the Final Four for the first time in over 40 years. Over the next eight seasons, Penders’ teams captured three SWC regular-season championships, a pair of SWC Tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament six times. His 1996 team narrowly missed advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, falling 65-62 to Tim Duncan and Wake Forest. The 1997 team made it to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to No. 25 Louisville. Penders’ teams scored at least 100 points in 60 games during his 10 years in Austin, and seven of his players went on to the NBA. He left Texas following the 1998 season with a mark of 208-110, good for a winning percentage of .654, which at the time was the most victories and the second-best winning percentage (minimum five seasons) in UT basketball history.
KASEY MOORE POWERS
Soccer (2005-08)
The Texas Soccer program’s only three-time United Soccer Coaches All-American, as well as a four-time, first-team United Soccer Coaches All-Region and All-Big 12 Conference selection, Kasey Moore Powers helped lead the Longhorns to a 58-21-13 overall record, four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of Big 12 Conference Tournament titles (2006, 2007). During her stay on the Forty Acres, the Longhorns reached the NCAA Round of 16 twice (2006, 2007), finished in the national rankings three times, including a program-best No. 8 in 2006, and achieved the No. 1 spot in the polls for the only time in school history in October 2007. A native of Mission Viejo, Calif., Powers still rates among the program’s career top 10 in points (9th, 59), goals (6th, 24) and match-winning goals (5th, 9) despite playing as a defender in the back line. In 2005, she earned Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year honors after starting all 21 matches and totaling 11 points on five goals and an assist, while helping UT to an 11-9-1 mark and the NCAA Tournament Round of 64. During her sophomore campaign in 2006, Powers earned the distinction as the only United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American in program history after netting four goals and dishing two assists, while helping UT to a program-record 18 victories, a then-program record 10 shutouts, Texas’ first Big 12 Conference Tournament title and a NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. She was named Soccer America’s National Player of the Week (Nov. 2, 2006) after scoring the match-winning goal during a 1-0 upset over No. 5 Texas A&M to give the Longhorns consecutive wins over the Aggies for the first time in program history. During her final two seasons on the Forty Acres, Powers earned consecutive All-America honors while twice being named the Big 12 Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. As a junior in 2007, she led the squad in minutes played (2,353) and match-winning goals (five), while dishing a key assist on the match-winning goal during the 2-1 title-game win over top-seeded Texas A&M that handed Texas its second consecutive Big 12 Tournament Championship. Her 2007 squad also made school history by climbing to the No. 1 spot in the polls in early October for the only time in school history and picking up the three highest-profile victories in program history over No. 2 UCLA and No. 2 Texas A&M (twice). During her All-American final season of 2008, Powers scored a team-leading six goals and was the anchor in a defense that set a school record with 11 shutouts and a 0.64 goals-against-average while posting a Texas-record four-straight shutouts from Oct. 12-24, 2008. Internationally, she spent time as part of the U.S. Under-16, Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 National Teams, traveling to Spain with the U.S. U-23 squad in 2008. Following her collegiate career, Powers was drafted with the 15th overall pick by the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), going on to make 37 appearances as a pro from 2009-11 until the league’s folding. She graduated from Texas with a bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in business. Powers and her husband, Ed, currently live in Austin where she works as a Senior Affiliate Account Manager for Modernize.
JORDAN SHIPLEY
Football (2006-09)
One of the premier receivers and kick returners in Texas Football history who went on to play four seasons in the NFL, Jordan Shipley was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top receiver) and a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award (nation’s top player) as a senior. A two-time All-American (2008-09) who earned consensus first-team honors in 2009, he finished his career as UT’s all-time leader in receptions (248) and ranked second in receiving yards (3,191) and receiving touchdowns (33). Shipley was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection who earned second-team honors as a receiver and returner in 2008, while collecting first-team honors as a receiver and honorable mention as a returner in 2009. From 2006-09, Shipley played in 53 games (35 starts) during a four-year stretch that saw the Longhorns win at least 12 games twice, at least 10 games all four years and post an overall record of 45-8 (26-6 Big 12). UT won three bowl games, appeared in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game, finished in the top 15 all four years and twice posted a top-five finish. The Longhorns’ final Associated Press Top 25 ranking improved each year with Shipley on the roster, peaking with a No. 2 finish in 2009. In addition to being the program’s career leader in receptions and one of the top two in receiving yards and TDs, Shipley also left his mark as a returner. He returned 30 punts for 375 yards (12.5 ypr) and three TDs, and returned 19 kickoffs for 468 yards (24.6 ypr) and one TD. He was the first player in UT history to score a TD by reception, kickoff and punt return in the same season, and one of only four to achieve that feat during a career. His three punt return TDs are tied for the school record, as are his four total kick return TDs. Shipley totaled 4,196 all-purpose yards over the course of his collegiate career, the eighth-most by a Longhorn all-time. He finished his career by catching at least one pass in 31-straight contests, which was the third-longest streak in school history at the time. He still holds the UT record for most receptions in a single game, which he set with 15 catches against Oklahoma State in 2008. Nine times during Shipley’s career he caught at least 10 passes in a game, the most in school history. In 2009, Shipley set UT single-season records for receptions (116) and receiving yards (1,485) and tied for first with 13 TD receptions. Shipley was a first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection in 2009 and a four-time member of UT’s Athletics Director’s Honor Roll. He graduated from Texas in December 2008 with a degree in kinesiology. Shipley was the 84th overall pick in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in 24 games over four NFL seasons, catching 79 passes for 858 yards and four TDs. The Burnet, Texas native was inducted into the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Shipley kickstarted his career outside of football by hosting “The Bucks of Tecomate” on the Outdoor Channel. In 2018 and 2019, Shipley was a part of Longhorn Network’s “Texas GameDay” crew, providing insight and analysis before and after Texas Football games.
HEATHER (SCHREIBER) STARK
Women’s Basketball (2001-05)
A four-time All-Big 12 Conference selection and a 2004 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, Heather (Schreiber) Stark helped lead the Longhorns to a 103-30 (.774) record during her time on the Forty Acres. Stark’s time at Texas featured two Big 12 Conference regular-season championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three NCAA Sweet 16 trips and the 2003 NCAA Final Four. The Longhorns won the Big 12 regular-season championship in both 2003 and 2004, and also took home the Big 12 Tournament title in 2003. Stark played in 133 career games in the Texas uniform, starting in all of them to rank third in program history in career starts. Stark played 3,846 minutes during her Longhorns career, which ranks fourth-most in school history. To this day, she still ranks in the top 10 of seven other statistical categories, including three-point field goal percentage (5th, .393), three-point field goals made (6th, 189), free-throw percentage (6th, .818), free-throws made (9th, 319), offensive rebounds (9th, 286), defensive rebounds (10th, 568) and total points scored (10th, 1,708). A 2003 Big 12 All-Tournament Team selection, Stark also was a finalist for multiple national player of the year awards, including the Naismith Award, the Wade Trophy and the Wooden Award. She was also the 2002 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. As part of USA Basketball, Stark helped lead the United States to the gold medal at the 2002 FIBA Americas Under-20 Championship. She was selected with the 39th overall pick of the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. In addition to her standout basketball career, she also played one season (2005) with the Texas Volleyball team. An Academic All-Big 12 selection during her time at Texas, Stark graduated in 2005 with a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. She is currently the head girls’ basketball coach at Windthorst High School, her alma mater. Stark and her husband, Dylan, reside in Windthorst, Texas, with their three sons.
DAVID THOMAS
Football (2002-05)
Both a National Champion and a Super Bowl Champion, David Thomas is the most prolific pass-catching tight end in Texas history. Thomas was instrumental in Texas’ victory over No. 1 USC to win the 2005 National Championship, pulling in 10 receptions that stand as a UT single-game record for a tight end. He also owns the Longhorn tight end record for single-season receptions (50/2005), along with career tight end records for receptions (98), receiving yards (1,367) and touchdown receptions (15). Thomas was a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy (college football player with the best combination of community/academic/athletic achievement) and a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy (top scholar-athlete in college football) in 2005. Twice a candidate for the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end (2004-05), he was a three-time All-Big 12 selection, including a two-time first-team honoree (2004-05). He also earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 accolades in 2004 and 2005. He played in 51 career games, starting his last 38, and averaged 13.9 yards per reception, including 21.6 yards per TD reception. Texas registered a 45-6 record (28-4 in Big 12) in his four seasons, posting at least 10 wins each year and three Top 6 final rankings (1st/2005, 4th/2004, 6th/2002). The Longhorns were 3-1 in bowl games during his time, including back-to-back Rose Bowl victories over Michigan and USC in 2004 and 2005, and a Cotton Bowl win over LSU in 2002. During his senior season, Thomas was a first-team All-Big 12 selection when, along with his 50 receptions, he tallied 613 receiving yards and five TD receptions, which are No. 2 and No. 3 on the UT single-season tight end list, respectively. He became just the fifth tight end in UT history to notch a 100-yard receiving game when he pulled in six catches for 104 yards and a TD against Oklahoma State that year. Thomas also earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and posted five TD catches as a junior, to accompany his 25 receptions and 430 receiving yards (17.2 ypr). As a sophomore in 2003, he picked up honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after catching 14 passes for 219 yards (15.6 ypr) and three TDs. His 60-yard TD catch at Texas A&M is the fifth-longest reception by a tight end in UT history. Thomas opened his UT career with nine receptions for 105 yards and two TDs as a freshman to share the team’s Outstanding Offensive Newcomer Award in 2002. Following his career at Texas, Thomas was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round (86th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played three seasons with the Patriots (2006-08) and four with the New Orleans Saints (2009-12), winning Super Bowl XLIV with the Saints. For his career, he appeared in 80 games and caught 102 passes for 938 yards and eight TDs. A native of Wolfforth, Texas, Thomas earned all-state honors at Frenship High School where he started as both a tight end and a linebacker in his last two seasons after playing safety as a sophomore. Thomas, who earned a degree in kinesiology from UT, spent time after his NFL career living in Austin and working as an analyst on Longhorn Network. He and his family currently reside in his hometown of Lubbock.
P.J. TUCKER
Men’s Basketball (2003-06)
A second-team All-America selection and the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year in 2005-06, P.J. Tucker proved to be the definition of toughness and efficient production during his three seasons with the Longhorns (2003-06). A two-year starter who saw time at the wing and the power forward positions despite being undersized at 6-foot-5, he played in 87 career games and made 69 starts. Following his three-year career, Tucker ranked 18th in UT history in career scoring (1,169 points), eighth in career rebounds (714) and tied for fifth in career double-doubles (28). As a freshman in 2003-04, he played in all 33 games (16 starts) and led the Longhorns to a 25-8 mark (12-4 Big 12 Conference) and a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. Tucker led the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and double-doubles (7) and was second on the squad in scoring (10.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (.547). A four-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week selection, he also earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition and was one of five players named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. In his junior season (2005-06), Tucker helped the Longhorns record a 30-7 mark, a Big 12 regular-season championship (13-3 record) and a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 appearance. He claimed second-team All-America honors by The Associated Press and USBWA and third-team All-America recognition by the NABC, and he became UT’s first Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. Tucker also was one of 10 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, given by the USBWA to the national college player of the year. The USBWA District VII Player of the Year, Tucker earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, the five-person Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team and the NCAA Atlanta Regional All-Tournament team. A four-time Big 12 Player of the Week recipient in his junior season, he started all 37 games and led the team in scoring (16.1 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg), steals (66), minutes played (34.5 mpg) and double-figure scoring games (31). He tied for the conference lead in double-doubles (16) with teammate LaMarcus Aldridge. During UT’s four-game NCAA tourney run to the Elite 8, Tucker posted four double-doubles and averaged 14.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. Following his junior season, he turned professional and was selected as the 35th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 2006 NBA Draft. Tucker played 17 games during his rookie season with the Raptors in 2006-07, before spending the following five years playing professionally in Israel (2007-08, ’10), Ukraine (2008-10), Greece (2010-11), Italy (2011) and Germany (2011-12). He returned to the NBA in the summer of 2012 and has played the last eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2012-17), Toronto Raptors (2017) and Houston Rockets (2017-current).
