MIAMI (February 21, 2018) – Assistant Athletic Director and Head Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Coach,
Rita Buck-Crockett will be formally inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 24, at 11:30 a.m. at the Dallas Marriott City Center. Buck-Crockett is one of 14 new members to be inducted into the Class of 2018.
FIUSports.com had a chance to catch up with Buck-Crockett and talk about what this induction means to her. Click here for the complete interview.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Buck-Crockett is considered one of the best volleyball players in history, spending her collegiate years at the University of Houston, being named a 1977 AIAW All-American, before representing the U.S. Olympic team in 1980 and 1984. Buck-Crockett led the '84 team to a silver medal, a team which is still tied for the best indoor finish in U.S. Olympic history.
Internationally, Buck-Crockett also played professional volleyball in Japan, Italy and Switzerland. In 1986, she returned to the United States to play in the new Major League Volleyball league, earning MVP in 1987. Buck-Crockett later teamed with Volleyball Hall of Famer Jackie Silva (who helped Buck-Crockett coach the 2015 FIU beach volleyball team voluntarily; that team ranked third nationally) to win the World Beach Volleyball Championship, becoming the first African-American woman to earn the title.
Buck-Crockett's indoor career continued in Italy with Mater and Rome from 1988-1993, earning the MVP of the Italian League in '91. After her playing career ended in 1998, Buck-Crockett served as the head coach for Iowa (1998-2004) before taking on the associate head volleyball coach role at Florida State (2004-05). Now, Buck-Crockett is entering her fifth season as the FIU beach volleyball head coach. Buck-Crockett was awarded the AVCA Coach of the Year Award in 2015. She has a current streak of 72 consecutive matches, ranked in the top-10 nationally and has taken FIU to two AVCA Championships (No. 5 seed in 2014; No. 3 seed in 2015).
The Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, housed at the African American Museum in Dallas, Texas, was established to chronicle the sports history contributions made by African Americans. It was established in 1996 to honor coaches and athletes of high character and athletic achievement, who are either Texans by birth or by athletic participation (collegiate or professional), and who have made recognizable contributions to African American culture and/or history.
Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2018
Dorthy Miles Benefield – Track & Field
Leonard Bishop – Coach
Lee Carter – Golf
Rita Buck Crockett – Volleyball
Artis Gilmore – Basketball
Aaron Glenn – Football
Cassius Green – Boxing
Merton Hank – Football
Billy Johnson – Football
John Lucas – Basketball
Russell Maryland – Football
Debra Denise Rodman – Basketball
Lucious Williams – Baseball
Allen Wilson – Coach
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