The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Four Longhorns honored at TTFCA Hall of Fame Ceremony
01.06.2018 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Carter, Hardee, Dodds, Brimmer inducted by state coaches association
AUSTIN, Texas – Friday night was a night to honor some of the best Longhorns of all-time with former student-athletes, coaches and administrators all being inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the Crowne Plaza-Addison. Four of the six inductees this year have ties to the Longhorns.
Lifetime Longhorns and legendary athletes Michelle Carter and Trey Hardee highlighted the ninth TTFCA Hall of Fame class. Former Texas Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds was inducted for his contribution to the sport as an administrator and former assistant coach Rose Brimmer entered the hall for her work in helping many Longhorns win NCAA titles during her time at Texas and as high school coach that guided her team to four state championships.
Carter is the most decorated female shot putter in U.S. history as she became the first woman to win gold at the Olympics for Team USA at the 2016 Rio Games. She is the American record holder in her event both indoors and out. As a Longhorn, Carter won an NCAA Indoor title in 2006 and claimed five Big 12 Championships. Carter was a dominant thrower in high school as well where she won state titles all four years at Red Oak High School.
It was a special moment on Friday when Carter was inducted by her father Michael Carter, who won a silver medal at the Olympics during his career and still owns the national boys high school record in the shot put.
"To be in the same hall of fame as your dad, it just means that somebody's doing something right," she said. "My experience at The University of Texas was a great experience. I definitely learned how to push myself not just as an athlete but as a person."
Hardee will go down as one of the best decathletes in UT and U.S. history. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Hardee was recognized by the TTFCA for his impact on the sport as a Longhorn. During his time on The Forty Acres, Hardee won the 2005 NCAA Championship. He also set the collegiate record in the decathlon during the Texas Relays in 2006, a record that stood until this last season. He claimed All-America honors four times in his career at Texas. As a professional, Hardee would win a pair of IAAF World Championship titles and earned silver at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
"I'm just honored and just really humbled to be recognized by some of the same people that guided me to where I am right now, that saw something in me that led me to where I am," Hardee said. "To be in the same as Michelle Carter is never a bad thing, and so I got to do that tonight."
Brimmer was an assistant coach for the Texas Women's Track & Field team and helped the Longhorns win a pair of NCAA Championships. Working with the field events, Brimmer coached individuals to a total of six event titles at NCAA Championship meets. Her athletes played a big role in winning the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championship with Michelle Carter winning the shot put, Marshevet Hooker winning the long jump and Destinee Hooker taking third in the high jump. At the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championship, Carter and Marshevet Hooker each finished second. Brimmer also was a successful high school coach in the state leading Houston Westbury to four state titles prior to joining the coaching staff at Texas.
"This award is so amazing because I get to share it with so many Longhorns," Brimmer beamed after the ceremony.
Dodds entered the TTFCA Hall of Fame as a key administrator in the success of the Texas Longhorns. As the men's athletics director at Texas for 32 years, he oversaw some of the best years on the Forty Acres. Dodds has a long history with track and field, dating back to his days as a student-athlete at Kansas State when he won a Big Eight Conference title. He later would coach his alma mater to eight Big Eight Conference titles and be inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame. Dodds also served the sport as a member of the NCAA rules committee.
