Texas–Pan American Broncs
| Texas–Pan American Broncs | |
|---|---|
| Logo | |
| University | University of Texas–Pan American |
| Conference | Great West Conference (until July 1, 2013) Western Athletic Conference (begins July 1, 2013) |
| Division | Division I |
| Athletic director | Chris King |
| Location | Edinburg, Texas |
| Varsity teams | 12 (13 in 2014, 14 in 2015) |
| Arena | UTPA Fieldhouse |
| Baseball stadium | Edinburg Stadium |
| Soccer stadium | Future UTPA Broncs Soccer Stadium |
| Nickname | Broncs |
| Colors | Green and Orange |
| Website | www |
The Texas–Pan American Broncs (also UTPA) are the varsity athletic teams representing University of Texas–Pan American in Edinburg, Texas in intercollegiate athletics. The university currently sponsors twelve teams including men and women's basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, and track and field; women's-only volleyball; and men's-only baseball. Women's soccer will be added for the 2014–15 season, and men's soccer will be added for the 2015–16 season to bring the total to thirteen and then fourteen sports.[1] The Broncs compete in NCAA Division I and are currently members of the Great West Conference[2] but will join the Western Athletic Conference on July 1, 2013.[3]
Teams
Individual Teams
| Men's | Women's |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross Country |
| Cross Country | Golf |
| Golf | Soccer (begins Fall 2014) |
| Soccer (begins Fall 2015) | Tennis |
| Tennis | Track & Field |
| Track & Field | Volleyball |
Program History
UTPA won the 1963 NAIA national men's basketball championship under Coach Sam Williams. Lucious Jackson a/k/a Luscious "Luke" Jackson was one of the players on that championship team. Jackson was selected 4th overall during the 1964 NBA draft. He was selected to the 1964–65 NBA All-Rookie Team and played in the NBA All-Star Game that same year. He played his entire career with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The basketball program, during the mid-1970s was coached by Abe Lemons. Under Lemons, the program had very successful seasons but, lamentably, failed to get invited to any NCAA tournaments. Coach Lemons was later hired away by the University of Texas at Austin.
Upon Lemons' departure to the University of Texas at Austin, Bill White was named the head basketball coach. While at Pan American, Coach White led the Broncs to their first post-season tournament play at the Division I level. During the 1980–81 season, Pan American earned a berth to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament. The Broncs lost to the 1981 NIT champs, the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
The basketball program was later coached by Lon Kruger, who later went on to coach at Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV, and Oklahoma. He also coached the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.
UTPA Tennis program won several doubles NAIA championships from 1959 through 1962 under Coach Don Russell, who himself captured several championships while playing and coaching the team.
UTPA baseball squad placed 4th in the 1971 College World Series under Coach Al Ogletree.
In 2008 it was announced that the Broncs would be charter members of the previously football-only Great West Conference when it begins all-sports play in 2008. During the fall of 2008, the UTPA Cross Country team was the first to win the Great West Conference team title.[4] UTPA will exit Great West Conference after all 2012–2013 seasons end.
UTPA was previously a member of the Sun Belt Conference from 1991 to 1998
On December 19, 2012 UTPA announced that on July 1, 2013 the UTPA Broncs will be a new member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Men's and Women's soccer will be added back to the athletic program and will begin play for the Fall of 2014.
References
External links
Template:Great West Conference navbox
| Full members |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Associate members | ||
| Related topics | ||
| ||