Women鈥檚 Basketball Hall of Famer Ceal Barry retired July 1 after 43 years in college athletics. At CU, she coached women鈥檚 basketball for 22 years before serving in administration the last 15 years. ... Richard Rokos, head ski coach for the past 30 seasons, announced 2021 will be his last year. Since his hiring, the Buffs have qualified for every NCAA championship and won eight of them. ... Track stars
Dani Jones (Psych, SLHSci鈥�20),
Joe Klecker (BioChem鈥�20) and
Makena Morley (Anth, Engl鈥�20) announced they are forgoing remaining seasons of eligibility to pursue pro careers. ... With the departure of
John Graves (惭驳尘迟鈥�09),
Taylor Stratton (EBio, EnvSt, Geog鈥�13) was named manager of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program. She served as assistant coach for the last four years. ... Senior women鈥檚 golfer
Kirsty Hodgkins (MechEngr鈥�21) reached the Round of 64 at the 120th U.S. Women鈥檚 Amateur in August. ... CU men鈥檚 basketball star point guard
McKinley Wright IV (Ethn鈥�21) will return to play with the Buffs for the 2021 season. ... The Pac-12 announced Aug. 11 that no fall sports would be played in 2020. In late September, however, the conference released a shortened football schedule with games beginning Nov. 7. ... On Sept. 16, the NCAA granted a Nov. 25 start date for men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball.
Betty Hoover of the "CU Twins" dies at 95
The Buffs lost legendary fan Betty Fitzgerald Hoover (A&S鈥�46), twin sister to Peggy Fitzgerald Coppom (A&S鈥�46), to pancreatic cancer Aug. 5, 2020. As CU athletic director Rick George said, 鈥淚f you know CU Athletics you know Betty and Peggy.鈥� Hoover held season tickets for football since 1958 and basketball since 1979 when the CU Events Center opened. The 鈥淐U Twins鈥� grew up on Colorado鈥檚 eastern plains before moving to Longmont in 1939 and then to 麻豆影院 a year later. Attendance at 麻豆影院 High and CU followed, as did husbands and seven children between their two families. For the last 30 years, Betty and Peggy were inseparable. They garnered national attention and local affection for their matching outfits, pompoms and enthusiasm. Women鈥檚 basketball head coach JR Payne said, 鈥淏etty and Peggy have blessed so many with their unwavering spirit and love for everyone.鈥� Hoover connected with numerous student-athletes as well: Men鈥檚 basketball鈥檚 Evan Battey (Jour鈥�22) wrote of Hoover, 鈥淭hank you for giving me a shoulder to lean on.鈥澛�
Photo courtesy CU Althetics
