DeJuena Chizer Celebrates, Relishes 30 Years at Houston
2/27/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
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During Black History Month, Houston Athletics highlights Black support staffers, coaches and administrators and the work they do in the department
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For 30 years, DeJuena (Carter) Chizer has called the University of Houston home.
She was a star basketball player that took down one of the greatest women's basketball dynasties in college basketball history. Chizer coached at her alma mater and spent nearly 20 years as an administrator while serving student-athletes. Chizer worked tirelessly helping student-athletes in their quest to obtain employment and transitioning to life after their athletic careers.
At the end of March, Chizer will retire, capping off a tremendous career as a Cougar.
DeJuena Chizer '87, waves to crowd
Her career path is rarely seen in today's collegiate athletics, a star student-athlete, winning coach and dedicated administrator, all in a three-decade span at the one institution.
"I want my legacy to be tied to trust and progress, which helped us make decisions that put student-athletes first, and left the department better positioned for the future than when I arrived," Chizer said. "If people look back and say that I helped create an environment where student‑athletes were supported, coaches felt heard, and staff felt empowered to do their best work, I did my job!"
During her decorated career at Houston, she has met hundreds of employees and numerous student-athletes, helping bolster each of their experiences as Cougars.
"What I've enjoyed most is the people," Chizer said. "Every chapter of my time as a Cougar whether I was lacing up my shoes as a student‑athlete and breaking down film as a coach while working behind the scenes as an administrator has been defined by relationships. The student‑athletes who pour their hearts into representing this university, the colleagues who show up every day with passion and purpose and the community that rallies around us with unwavering pride… that's what makes this place special. There's a unique spirit here and a sense of belonging that you don't just experience, you carry it with you. Being part of that for 30 years has been the greatest privilege of my career."
When Chizer arrived on campus in 1983, she joined a program enthralled in the Southwest Conference. She may not remember all the games, but beating Louisiana Tech just three years after they won the 1982 NCAA Championship ranks atop the list of greatest games.
"My time as a Houston women's basketball player shaped me in ways I'm still grateful for," Chizer said.
Her time as a student-athlete was a period of growth, challenge, and discovery, and providing her some of the most meaningful relationships in her life.
She doesn't remember every game, although the win over third-ranked Louisiana Tech in 1985 might take the cake. She remembers the everyday moments that helped mold her; the early‑morning workouts, bus rides filled with laughter, and the feeling of walking into Hofheinz Pavilion knowing they were representing something bigger than themselves – the City of Houston.
The people Chizer grew to become lifelong friends with are part of what creates her fondest memories. The memories with teammates and friends will forever be remembered.
"Some of my fondest memories come from just being a teammate, Chizer said. "Friendships from that time are still some of the strongest in my life. These friendships forged through shared sacrifice and shared dreams formed a foundation that propelled me through many "trying "moments in my life."
Being a student‑athlete at Houston taught her resilience, accountability, and how to lead. It gave her the foundation that has had an influence on every step in her career. DeJeuna Chizer '87 shoots basketball
"When I look back, I don't just remember the wins, I remember the people, the pride of wearing 'Houston' across my chest and the sense of belonging that came with being part of that program," Chizer said.
Very few have the athletic ability to play Division I sports. Even fewer have the ability to play and coach Division I sports. Chizer helped lead Houston through some of its brightest days as a basketball program including two of its five NCAA Appearances.
The 2004 team, led by future WNBA star Chandi Jones, was arguably Houston's greatest. Coached by Chizer as one of three assistants, and head coach Joe Curl, Houston won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game as a 3-seed. The pride in that success comes from the hard work Chizer and the rest of the coaching staff put in. Before NCAA rule changes allowed for more staffers and more coaches, Chizer and two other coaches handled everything from planning travel, recruitment, player development, parent relations, and more.
"Coaching at Houston was one of those times in my career where the work was bigger than the job title," Chizer said. "We had three coaches to do the job that nowadays 10 people do. Those eight seasons were full of long days, big dreams and a team culture that was equal parts grit and joy. What made it special was the sense that we were building something, player by player as well as practice by practice."
"Being on staff during the Chandi Jones years was electric," Chizer said. "Jones was the kind of player who changed the temperature in the gym the moment she walked in. Her, along with her teammates, competitiveness and work ethic made everyone better."
Unbeknownst to her at the time, but the eight seasons as a coach set Chizer up for her next chapter in life as an administrator.
"Those years shaped me as a coach and as a leader," Chizer said. "They taught me how to challenge players in the right ways and how to stay steady through the highs and lows of a long season. Most of all, they reminded me of why I coached in the first place and that is to help young women discover just how powerful they can be."
Her move into administration at Houston happened organically. After years of playing and coaching she realized her deep understanding of the athletic department and how the student-athlete experience could be used to help student-athletes and employees be successful.
"Over time, I found myself drawn not just to what happened on the court but to the broader systems that supported our student-athletes," Chizer said. "Taking on small administrative responsibilities while I was still coaching and working with the conference office, coordinating community outreach, assisting with academic support, and working closely with other units across campus opened my eyes to how much impact you can have when you're shaping the environment around student-athletes."
Before her move to administration, Chizer's universe was women's basketball. 365 days a year for nearly two decades (she coached high school basketball following graduation before joining UH's basketball staff in 2000). But in the athletics department, she had 17 sports to support, not just women's basketball.
"What really pulled me in was the chance to influence the student-athlete experience on a larger scale," Chizer said. "Instead of working with one team, I could help build structures that supported every student-athlete in the department."
That challenge excited her.
Chizer '87 (right) w/ former student-athlete Chandi Jones (left)
Eventually, an opportunity opened and it felt like a natural next step, a way to continue serving the University she cared about.
Once she stepped into that role, she realized how much she enjoyed the strategic side of athletics: planning, problem-solving while supporting coaches and helping student-athletes and programs grow.
"My time as an administrator at Houston was meaningful in a different way than playing or coaching," Chizer said. "When you step into administration, your perspective widens — you're no longer focused on one team or one season. You're thinking about the entire student‑athlete experience, the long-term health of the programs, and the people who make the department run.
"That broader impact is what I cherished most."
Chizer has been impacting generations of young adults but one she takes pride in is being one of handful of Black Senior Woman Administrators at the Power 4 level and the responsibility that brings.
"Being one of a few Black SWAs allows me to bring a perspective that hasn't always been represented and use that platform to advocate for equity, elevate diverse voices and open doors for others. It also helps me connect authentically with Houston's diverse student‑athletes, making sure they feel seen, supported and able to envision themselves in leadership roles as well."
Although there have been several instances that have race-based moments that have shaped her career, one memory was being in a conference room where the purpose of the meeting was to discuss options that would directly impact a diverse group student-athletes, yet she was the only Black person in the room.
"No one in the room shared their lived experience," Chizer said. "That moment stayed with me, it wasn't discouraging, it was clarifying. It made me understand two things: representation isn't just symbolic; it changes the quality of decisions being made.
That moment didn't define her career, but it sharpened her mission.
"It reminded me that my presence matters and my responsibility is to make sure the next generation doesn't feel like the only one in the room," Chizer said. She hopes that Black administrators and other minority leaders are an example that leadership isn't limited to just one type of person.
"When they see administrators who look like them, it affirms their identity, expands their sense of what's possible and helps them feel supported and understood," Chizer said. "Representation permits them to dream bigger and believe they belong in every space they step into." Chizer '87 (2nd from left) with former teammates
For her, navigating college athletics as a Black administrator means leading with authenticity, understanding the weight of representation, and using her voice to advocate for others.
"I stay grounded by building strong relationships and keeping the student-athlete experience at the center of every decision," Chizer said. "My goal is to make sure that those who come after me don't feel like 'the only one' in the room."
Through the struggles and pain, Chizer is proudest of the relationships she has built in her 30 years at the University of Houston.
"I'm proud of the relationships built, the tough decisions made with integrity, and the moments where doing the right thing mattered more than doing the easy thing," Chizer said.
Whether as a player, coach, or administrator, she never lost sight of her goal: to serve people and help them succeed.
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