Houston Football to Honor Late Coach Hester with Black Out Game

HOUSTON – The #22 Houston Football team will honor the late Director of Strength and Performance, Coach Kurt Hester, during its game against West Virginia on Saturday. The Cougars will hold a Black Out game, a tribute to Hester, who passed away following a battle with Stage IV melanoma.

Hester died on Saturday, just before Houston’s victory over then-#24/25 Arizona State. He had fought cancer since February. In his memory, the Cougars will wear black uniforms featuring the hashtag #Unbreakable on their helmets, a slogan that Hester adopted during his final months.

Fans can expect special tributes at John M. O’Quinn Field, where the #Unbreakable slogan will also be painted on the field for the nationally televised game. The Spirit of Houston will perform a halftime show honoring Hester, spelling “unbreakable” on the field.

Additionally, black merchandise will be available for purchase at the Team Shop and local retailers. The game will take place at 11 a.m. and can be viewed on FS1.

Originally scheduled for November 22 against TCU, this Black Out game has been moved to November 1 against West Virginia. Houston has won its last two Black Out games, including victories over West Virginia in 2023 and Kansas State in 2024.

In conjunction with the Black Out theme, the Cougars will also celebrate the 2015 Peach Bowl Championship team, marking the 10-year anniversary of their achievement. Fans can purchase tickets for $20.15 to honor this historic team.

Head Coach Willie Fritz expressed how deeply Hester impacted the program. “Kurt Hester was an unbelievably important person in our football program,” Fritz said. “He’s the best strength and conditioning coach I’ve ever been around, but more importantly, just a fantastic role model for our student-athletes.”

The Cougars currently hold a 7-1 record this season, demonstrating resilience that reflects Hester’s influence on their motto of being “unbreakable.”

In light of his passing, additional plans to honor Coach Hester are being actively developed by the team and fans alike.