Feb 12, 2016 4 min read

Six individuals have been selected for induction to California University’s 21st Athletic Hall of Fame class.

The 2015-16 inductees are Gary Butler, Class of 2008 (football); Chris Clark, Class of 2008 (track & field, cross country); Simone DeSouza, Class of 2009 (women’s golf); Joanna Nist-Haupt, Class of 2010 (volleyball); Brooque Williams, Class of 2010 (women’s basketball); and the late Eugene Hester (coach and administrator).

These former Vulcan standouts will be inducted at the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame dinner April 22 in the Performance Center of the Natali Student Center.

The inductees will be recognized April 23 during the Vulcans’ spring football game at Adamson Stadium.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner are $30 ($10 for children 10 and younger).

For reservations, contact the Office of Alumni Relations (724-938-4418) or e-mail Alumni Relations and Annual Fund Administrative Assistant Staci Tedrow. Proceeds from the dinner will be used to establish a Hall of Fame athletic scholarship.

Butler was a three-year starting linebacker from 2005-07 and the 2007 PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year. He earned D2Football.com All-America honors after setting then-single-season school records with 12 sacks and 19 tackles for losses. His dominant play helped the Cal defense rank first in NCAA Division II in scoring (11.1 points/game), rushing (55.9 yards/game) and total defense (207.6 yards/game).

Clark was a five-time NCAA Division II All-American, four times in track & field and once in cross country.

Clark finished eighth in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs at the 2009 Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He also won the 2009 PSAC 10,000-meter outdoor championship and was the 2009 PSAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. In 2008, he earned indoor NCAA All-America honors in the 5,000 meters.

In cross country, Clark finished fourth at the 2008 Division II National Championships after winning PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional titles. He received the inaugural PSAC Sportsmanship Award in 2008-09 and was a 2009 College Sports Information Directors of American Academic All-American.

DeSouza was a two-time National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division II second team All-American and a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Championships during her Cal career (2006-09).

She was the first Cal women’s golfer to earn All-America honors and to medal at the PSAC Championships. In her senior season, DeSouza was fourth at the NCAA Championships. She was named the 2008-09 PSAC Women’s Player of the Year with a team-best scoring average of 76.3. She won the 2008 PSAC individual championship and led the Vuclans to the program’s first of five conference championships.

Nist-Haupt was a four-year starting outside hitter on the volleyball team from 2006-2009.

A two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and three-time Daktronics All-American, Haupt was selected as the Atlantic Region Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons. She was a three-time, first-team all-PSAC pick and the 2009 West Division Athlete of the Year as well as a two-time academic all-district selection.

Haupt holds school career records with 1,897 kills and 180 aces. She ranks among the school leaders with 4,617 attempts (second), 1,571 digs (third) and 519 sets played (second). She helped the Vulcans win three PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional titles.

Williams was a four-year starting guard for the women’s basketball team from 2006-2010.

A two-time Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-American and three-time first-team all-conference selection, Williams was the 2009 PSAC West Player of the Year and the Atlantic Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player.

She is Cal’s all-time leading scorer with 2,205 career points. Her 424 steals is not only a school record, but also the most in PSAC history. Her points total ranks third in the conference, and her 1,023 rebounds is third-best in program history. Williams’ 744 points in 2009 are school and conference single-season records.

Williams helped Cal make four-straight PSAC championship game appearances and win consecutive Atlantic Regional titles in 2008 and 2009.

Hester was a faculty member, coach and athletic administrator for almost 30 years.

After being honorably discharged as from the U.S. Navy in 1946, Hester became an assistant professor at California in the Health and Physical Education Department. He also began coaching, serving as an assistant football coach and the golf coach.

Hester was promoted to associate professor, became chair of his department and served as athletic director and head coach for men’s basketball. As AD, Hester became actively involved with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and severd as the President of NAIA District 18 for many years.

Hester retired in 1976 and died in 1979.