The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2015
Sport: Volleyball (2006-09), Track & Field (2006-07, '09)
Inducted: 2015
One of the greatest two-sport female athletes in UT history, Destinee Hooker is one of just three four-time All-Americans in Texas Volleyball history who also won four NCAA titles in the high jump for the track & field team. On the volleyball court, she is one of just seven players in program history to earn All-Big 12 First Team honors all four years. She burst onto the collegiate volleyball scene her freshman year in 2006, earning AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors and leading the Longhorns to the NCAA Regional Finals. In her sophomore season in 2007, Hooker was named AVCA and Volleyball Magazine All-America Second Team, leading the Longhorns to a 27-4 record and another appearance in the NCAA Regional Finals. In her junior season, Hooker led Texas to the 2008 NCAA Semifinals before falling to Stanford in five sets despite her 23 kills and 21 digs. She earned AVCA and Volleyball Magazine All-America First Team honors and was a Honda Volleyball Award finalist in 2008. During her senior season in 2009, Hooker led the Longhorns to the NCAA Championship match. Despite falling in five sets to Penn State, Hooker posted 34 kills and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championships. For the second-straight year, Hooker was named to the AVCA and Volleyball Magazine All-America First Team and was a Honda Volleyball Award Finalist. In addition, she was named the Volleyball Magazine National co-Player of the Year, Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year and Big 12 Volleyball Player of the Year. Hooker joined the national team soon after and quickly became one of the best players in the world, leading the U.S. to three-straight Grand Prix titles and earning Most Valuable Player honors at the 2011 Grand Prix. In track & field, Hooker was a six-time first-team All-American and never finished worse than third at an NCAA Championship event. She claimed the NCAA outdoor title in the high jump in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and was victorious indoors in 2009 as well. Hooker took the 2008 season off from high jump to focus on the Olympics as a member of the volleyball team. During her career in the high jump, she won all six Big 12 Championships she competed in, setting conference records both indoors and out. Her clearance of 1.98 meters (6-6.00) to win the 2009 NCAA indoor crown still stands as a collegiate record. Her best leap outdoors was 1.95 meters (6-4.75) to win the Big 12 title and NCAA title in 2009. After breaking the collegiate record at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2009, Hooker was named the USTFCCCA Indoor National Field Athlete of the Year. She also posted a clearance of 1.96 meters (6-5.00) at the 2009 Tyson Invitational that ranks as the No. 7 performance in NCAA history. Her outdoor best of 1.95 meters ranks her the No. 8 performer in NCAA history and ties for the No. 10 performance of all-time. As a freshman in 2006, Hooker swept the Big 12 Outstanding Freshman awards for track & field, both indoors and out. At the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championship, she finished third to help the women secure their first indoor team title since 1999. The Longhorns never finished outside the Top 10 indoors or out while Hooker was jumping for the Longhorns. She is one of three women to win six or more Big 12 Conference titles in the high jump, and all three of those women are Longhorns.
