The Rise: Tuesday Testimonials with Brittanie Budinger-Howard '03
12/19/2017 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball, Video
Watch: Tuesday Testimonial with Brittanie Budinger-Howard '03
For Brittanie Budinger-Howard '03, growing up in and around sports made her a natural. Whether she was on the ice as a figure skater, running the basketball court in her youth or switching over to what would become her niche as a Junior Olympics bronze medalist and later a San Francisco Athletics Hall of Famer, Budinger burst on the sports scene in a time where women were being accepted and respected as athletes able to prove their mettle.
Budinger capped her senior year on the Hilltop by driving the USF volleyball team to a record-setting season, including its first NCAA tournament berth. She completed her four-year career as USF's career kill leader (1,518) and left the Hilltop ranked second in career digs (1,191). Budinger also earned 2003 All-Pacific Region Honorable Mention and 2003 all-WCC first team honors under the tutelage of first-year head coach Jeff Nelson.
"Obviously the West Coast Conference was a very strong conference coming in, and we wanted to win," reflected Budinger on the early stages of her collegiate career. "We wanted to win, and my first three seasons here we did not do that. We had to make some changes, and along comes Jeff Nelson who was literally a godsend.
"He came in and knew from Day 1 how to take this group of girls and transform us into a winning team. He really respected us as players and I think we felt that and acknowledged that from him and respected him back. Having a mutual respect on the court I think only breeds positive energy, which breeds positive outcomes, which led to winning."
That team, which will be honored at the upcoming USF Athletics Hall of Fame ceremonies on Feb. 23, 2018, was dubbed "the team of firsts" after notching 20 wins, going undefeated in non-conference play, earning the program's first top-25 national ranking and making USF volleyball's first NCAA tournament field, due in no small part to the contributions of Budinger and teammates Theresa Hart, Teresa Russell, Caroline Skacel and the entire squad.
"That year at USF we had such a following amongst students that we had people showing up in our jerseys, the seats were full, everybody on campus was getting around our program for the first time," Budinger remembered. "It just was so inspiring. Going into the tournament was our ultimate wish, and it happened."
As one of the most dominant players in program history, Budinger stands as the only volleyball player and the ninth USF athlete to have her number retired. She spent time playing professional volleyball in Europe after college and was inducted into the USF Hall of Fame in 2012.
After graduating from USF with a degree business administration with an emphasis on marketing, Budinger continued to pursue volleyball before returning to the Bay Area to embark on a career at True Capital, where she's been since the company's inception. She now serves as the Vice President of Client Relations for True Capital and credits seeing powerful women like COO and President Heather Goodman at the helm of her company in encouraging her own professional growth.
While recognizing the benefits of Title IX in her own life and in the lives of all women in sport over the last 45 years, Budinger knows the good of Title IX extends well beyond the playing court.
"Title IX I think opened the doors. It protected us. It strengthened us. It put us together," she added. "I think back in the '70s especially, that was the time. Women were coming out of our shells and really standing up for our rights and Title IX put it legally in place for us.
"Our doors are open and from 45 years ago we are on this trajectory going up and up. It's not 100 percent yet, we're seeing change, I think it's becoming the norm with younger generations. I look at my daughter and I'm like, you don't even know. You're going to raise in to automatically thinking I could be the CEO of this company, not even a question. And I feel like Title IX was a big part of changing that mindset."
This Tuesday Testimonial is one in the series focusing on the pioneers of USF athletics who will be featured in "The Rise," an upcoming documentary profiling some of the greats as part of a celebration of the 45th anniversary of Title IX. "The Rise," will be seen this spring, released in conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and airing on NBC Sports California on Feb. 1, 2018.
For Brittanie Budinger-Howard '03, growing up in and around sports made her a natural. Whether she was on the ice as a figure skater, running the basketball court in her youth or switching over to what would become her niche as a Junior Olympics bronze medalist and later a San Francisco Athletics Hall of Famer, Budinger burst on the sports scene in a time where women were being accepted and respected as athletes able to prove their mettle.
Budinger capped her senior year on the Hilltop by driving the USF volleyball team to a record-setting season, including its first NCAA tournament berth. She completed her four-year career as USF's career kill leader (1,518) and left the Hilltop ranked second in career digs (1,191). Budinger also earned 2003 All-Pacific Region Honorable Mention and 2003 all-WCC first team honors under the tutelage of first-year head coach Jeff Nelson.
"Obviously the West Coast Conference was a very strong conference coming in, and we wanted to win," reflected Budinger on the early stages of her collegiate career. "We wanted to win, and my first three seasons here we did not do that. We had to make some changes, and along comes Jeff Nelson who was literally a godsend.
"He came in and knew from Day 1 how to take this group of girls and transform us into a winning team. He really respected us as players and I think we felt that and acknowledged that from him and respected him back. Having a mutual respect on the court I think only breeds positive energy, which breeds positive outcomes, which led to winning."
That team, which will be honored at the upcoming USF Athletics Hall of Fame ceremonies on Feb. 23, 2018, was dubbed "the team of firsts" after notching 20 wins, going undefeated in non-conference play, earning the program's first top-25 national ranking and making USF volleyball's first NCAA tournament field, due in no small part to the contributions of Budinger and teammates Theresa Hart, Teresa Russell, Caroline Skacel and the entire squad.
"That year at USF we had such a following amongst students that we had people showing up in our jerseys, the seats were full, everybody on campus was getting around our program for the first time," Budinger remembered. "It just was so inspiring. Going into the tournament was our ultimate wish, and it happened."
As one of the most dominant players in program history, Budinger stands as the only volleyball player and the ninth USF athlete to have her number retired. She spent time playing professional volleyball in Europe after college and was inducted into the USF Hall of Fame in 2012.
After graduating from USF with a degree business administration with an emphasis on marketing, Budinger continued to pursue volleyball before returning to the Bay Area to embark on a career at True Capital, where she's been since the company's inception. She now serves as the Vice President of Client Relations for True Capital and credits seeing powerful women like COO and President Heather Goodman at the helm of her company in encouraging her own professional growth.
While recognizing the benefits of Title IX in her own life and in the lives of all women in sport over the last 45 years, Budinger knows the good of Title IX extends well beyond the playing court.
"Title IX I think opened the doors. It protected us. It strengthened us. It put us together," she added. "I think back in the '70s especially, that was the time. Women were coming out of our shells and really standing up for our rights and Title IX put it legally in place for us.
"Our doors are open and from 45 years ago we are on this trajectory going up and up. It's not 100 percent yet, we're seeing change, I think it's becoming the norm with younger generations. I look at my daughter and I'm like, you don't even know. You're going to raise in to automatically thinking I could be the CEO of this company, not even a question. And I feel like Title IX was a big part of changing that mindset."
This Tuesday Testimonial is one in the series focusing on the pioneers of USF athletics who will be featured in "The Rise," an upcoming documentary profiling some of the greats as part of a celebration of the 45th anniversary of Title IX. "The Rise," will be seen this spring, released in conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and airing on NBC Sports California on Feb. 1, 2018.
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