DePaul University Athletics
A Lasting Tradition Formed at DePaul for HOF Inductee Kris (Booker) Rastrelli
1/30/2019 1:07:00 PM | ATHLETICS, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO, Ill. - Coming into the DePaul women's basketball program as a freshman, breaking records was never a thought in Kris (Booker) Rastrelli's mind. She simply wanted to play the sport she loved. While she was excited for the opportunity to play Division I basketball, the transition was not initially an easy one.
After facing the drastic change of leaving home for the first time, it can be easy to feel like you're alone. For Rastrelli, that feeling faded quickly thanks to a very special man.
"I came to DePaul as a freshman who did not know anyone," Rastrelli said. "After my parents dropped me off for the first time on move-in day, I remember walking into Alumni Hall and watching a volleyball game with Doug Bruno. I was sitting there fighting back tears and thinking I was all alone.
"After a few minutes, the tears had stopped and Doug was still there. At that moment I realized I was going to be all right because I really wasn't alone after all."
Now sitting as one of the most well-known record-holders in program history, Rastrelli will be inducted Feb. 2 into the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
Throughout her time in Lincoln Park, she helped lead Bruno's team to the NCAA tournament three consecutive years and was a valuable asset on the 1995-96 Conference USA title team. Along the way, she also achieved many individual awards, becoming a GTE All-American Nominee, being named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, working her way up the record book after becoming the No. 24 all-time scorer with 1,213 points, No. 8 in career three-pointers and No. 7 in career three-point attempts. To cap off a spectacular career, she was named Conference USA Sixth Player of the Year as a senior.
Rastrelli made many memories on and off the court at DePaul. Regardless of all her achievements, one of her best moments was something much more intimate.
"One of my favorite memories of playing basketball at DePaul is signing autographs in the Blue Demon Room after every home game," Rastrelli said. "That was an incredible experience because win or lose, there was always a long line of kids waiting for our autographs."
The memories didn't end there. Rastrelli has continued to add new chapters to her story at DePaul since graduating. But this time, she has four daughters --- Joey, Sammi, Dani, Franki and her husband Tony to add to the narrative.
"A couple years ago I stopped into Sullivan Athletic Center with my husband and four daughters," Rastrelli said. "Doug was having a practice and his team was on the court. I slowly walked toward the court with my daughters but my husband Tony stayed back because he was afraid to interrupt practice.
"I knew Doug wouldn't be mad. He stopped practice, introduced me to the entire team and then started rattling off stats about me and the team I played on almost 20 years ago. There were so many details he remembered that I had completely forgotten. It was incredible."
Rastrelli has made sure to expose her family to the university that created such an impact on her life. In fact, she's managed to turn DePaul into a family tradition and a common bond.
"Anyone who knows me and my family knows we love DePaul University," she said. "My family and I try to watch the Blue Demons whenever they are on TV and try to attend at least one game every year."
Rastrelli has shared her DePaul experience with more than just her family. Ask any of the children she coaches at Sacred Heart Elementary School about coach Bruno's program and you will be sure to get an earful of information.
"Every other year I bring the team to a game," Rastrelli said. "I love that my children keep me informed about how DePaul is doing and where they are ranked."
Walking through the Sullivan Athletic Center years later, Rastrelli feels at home seeing the banners hanging up in McGrath-Phillips Arena commemorating the team she was a part of and seeing photos of herself on the walls. Now preparing for her induction, she is overwhelmed with sentiment and credits DePaul for developing her into the woman she is today.
"There's a whirlwind of emotions that run through my mind as I try to wrap my head around the fact that I am being inducted into the hall of fame," she said. "I remember being at many men's and women's basketball games and watching the halftime shows where the inductees would walk around the court with huge pictures of themselves while their achievements were being announced. I always thought it was so cool.
"To have my name amongst DePaul's greats is such a humbling honor. I am one of them now."
After facing the drastic change of leaving home for the first time, it can be easy to feel like you're alone. For Rastrelli, that feeling faded quickly thanks to a very special man.
"I came to DePaul as a freshman who did not know anyone," Rastrelli said. "After my parents dropped me off for the first time on move-in day, I remember walking into Alumni Hall and watching a volleyball game with Doug Bruno. I was sitting there fighting back tears and thinking I was all alone.
"After a few minutes, the tears had stopped and Doug was still there. At that moment I realized I was going to be all right because I really wasn't alone after all."
Now sitting as one of the most well-known record-holders in program history, Rastrelli will be inducted Feb. 2 into the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
Throughout her time in Lincoln Park, she helped lead Bruno's team to the NCAA tournament three consecutive years and was a valuable asset on the 1995-96 Conference USA title team. Along the way, she also achieved many individual awards, becoming a GTE All-American Nominee, being named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, working her way up the record book after becoming the No. 24 all-time scorer with 1,213 points, No. 8 in career three-pointers and No. 7 in career three-point attempts. To cap off a spectacular career, she was named Conference USA Sixth Player of the Year as a senior.
Rastrelli made many memories on and off the court at DePaul. Regardless of all her achievements, one of her best moments was something much more intimate.
"One of my favorite memories of playing basketball at DePaul is signing autographs in the Blue Demon Room after every home game," Rastrelli said. "That was an incredible experience because win or lose, there was always a long line of kids waiting for our autographs."
The memories didn't end there. Rastrelli has continued to add new chapters to her story at DePaul since graduating. But this time, she has four daughters --- Joey, Sammi, Dani, Franki and her husband Tony to add to the narrative.
"A couple years ago I stopped into Sullivan Athletic Center with my husband and four daughters," Rastrelli said. "Doug was having a practice and his team was on the court. I slowly walked toward the court with my daughters but my husband Tony stayed back because he was afraid to interrupt practice.
"I knew Doug wouldn't be mad. He stopped practice, introduced me to the entire team and then started rattling off stats about me and the team I played on almost 20 years ago. There were so many details he remembered that I had completely forgotten. It was incredible."
Rastrelli has made sure to expose her family to the university that created such an impact on her life. In fact, she's managed to turn DePaul into a family tradition and a common bond.
"Anyone who knows me and my family knows we love DePaul University," she said. "My family and I try to watch the Blue Demons whenever they are on TV and try to attend at least one game every year."
Rastrelli has shared her DePaul experience with more than just her family. Ask any of the children she coaches at Sacred Heart Elementary School about coach Bruno's program and you will be sure to get an earful of information.
"Every other year I bring the team to a game," Rastrelli said. "I love that my children keep me informed about how DePaul is doing and where they are ranked."
Walking through the Sullivan Athletic Center years later, Rastrelli feels at home seeing the banners hanging up in McGrath-Phillips Arena commemorating the team she was a part of and seeing photos of herself on the walls. Now preparing for her induction, she is overwhelmed with sentiment and credits DePaul for developing her into the woman she is today.
"There's a whirlwind of emotions that run through my mind as I try to wrap my head around the fact that I am being inducted into the hall of fame," she said. "I remember being at many men's and women's basketball games and watching the halftime shows where the inductees would walk around the court with huge pictures of themselves while their achievements were being announced. I always thought it was so cool.
"To have my name amongst DePaul's greats is such a humbling honor. I am one of them now."
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