Hall of Fame
An Atlanta native, Heather Francoeur Karvis started playing sports at a young age. In an attempt to keep up with her athletic older brother and talented younger brother, Heather constantly found herself in the midst of serious backyard competitions! From ice hockey on those rare snow days to whiffle ball in the backyard to basketball games in the driveway, Heather developed a love for sport. Softball was Heather’s first love, but as time progressed, she realized that basketball captivated her interests more. The court gave her a place to play a competitive contact sport. She played at Parkview High School in Gwinnett County.
Upon completing her high school career, Heather had practically made up her mind to attend another college to play basketball. But on a whim, she met Coach Jim Owens, who encouraged her to visit Oglethorpe University. On an unofficial and unannounced visit, Heather and her father rode out to the campus where they walked around and watched the student life in its natural element. Immediately, Heather knew she wanted to come to school at OU, without having even met a single administrator, coach, student, or player. She simply fell in love with the campus and all that is OU.
During Heather’s OU basketball career, she broke into the starting lineup midway through her freshman year. By the end of her four years, she earned a place in the record books. As a senior, Heather was named the ’02-’03 SCAC Player of the Year, Regional All-American, 1st Team All-South Region, AllSCAC 1st Team, and she finished the year as the 2nd leading scorer in the nation. She finished her career with 1,795 points (3rd in OU history), 768 rebounds (1st in OU history), 535 free throws made (1st in OU history), and a career average 19.7 points per game (1st in OU history).
Off the court, Heather was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. She earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree with a double major in English and Communications. Immediately following graduation, Heather worked for a commercial advertising firm for two years before transitioning into her real love, teaching and coaching. She served as an English teacher and Assistant Varsity Coach at St. Pius X Catholic High School for four years before accepting her first Head Coaching job at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Ga. Currently in her fourth year at Westminster, Heather loves working with student-athletes. Upon graduation in 2003, Heather married Barrett Karvis ’03. Barrett also played basketball at OU, and the two got engaged the summer before their senior year. The college sweethearts welcomed their first daughter, Ava Rose, in 2007, followed up two years later with their second daughter, Aubry Rae, in 2009. Barrett works for Courtroom Connect, and he and Heather enjoy their busy lives with the kids. The 2003 ten-year college reunion also marks their soon-to-be ten-year anniversary! Ava is a sports fanatic, much like her mommy and daddy, while Aubry appears to be an aspiring actress and drama queen!
Heather would like to thank God for blessing her with an incredible family and foundation in Christ. She attributes much of her success to the support of her family and the healthy sibling rivalry with her brothers, DJ and Jeff. She also acknowledges the imperative role OU played in giving her all the resources and support necessary to excel during and after college. From her coaches and teachers to her admissions counselor and friends, Heather cherishes the relationships that OU cultivated. Every single part of the campus brings back a fond memory for her.
