Alumni group a big hit with ex-athletes

Like Mac Callier elevating for a rebound, former UTA athletes are jumping at the chance to join the new Athletics Alumni Chapter.

“It’s the fastest-growing chapter that we have,” said Kerri Ressl, assistant director of alumni programs for the Alumni Association.

After a start-up meeting in August, the group has met every month and now has an advisory board of 51 members. Another 35 members have signed on. Such a group has not been available to former athletes since the Ex-Letterman’s Club disbanded more than 20 years ago.

“Our membership campaign is our primary focus right now,” said Pete Carlon, UTA athletics director. “We’ve been averaging one or two memberships per day.”

Membership is open to UTA graduates who participated in athletics, including letter winners, non-letter winners, student trainers and student managers.

Brian Happel, placekicker for the 1981 Southland Conference championship football team, is chapter president. Alisa Miller-Davis, who played softball from 1986-88, was elected secretary, and Chris Rudiger, who played on the 1989 Final Four volleyball team, is membership committee chair.

“Our primary goal in these early stages is to create an atmosphere of communication for former student-athletes and others connected with athletics,” Happel said. “Many still live in and about the Metroplex but do not have contact information to visit with each other, which prevents any type of dialogue regarding UTA and its athletic program.”

Long-term goals for the chapter include assisting with facilities needs, creating and supporting scholarship endowments, and expanding program opportunities.

Former football coach Charlie Key and former baseball coach Butch McBroom, who’s also director of athletic development, were instrumental in helping Carlon form the chapter.

For information, contact Happel at brian.happel@chase.com or 817-856-3263 or Carlon at carlon@uta.edu or 817-272-2261.