Houston Cougars
Encyclopedia
Houston Cougars is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Houston
. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was created by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach of the Washington State Cougars
John R. Bender
, as he had grown fond of the name during his time there.
After the dissolution of the Southwest Conference in 1996 (Houston was the last member admitted to the SWC, in 1971), in which these teams were a member, the Cougars became charter members of Conference USA
as a part of the West Division. Also in the West Division of Conference USA is Houston's major sports rival, cross-town Rice University
. University of Houston's colors are scarlet red
and albino white, and the mascot is a cougar named Shasta
. The current athletic director for the Cougars is Mack Rhoades
, who was hired to the position after the recent retirement of Dave Maggard
.
Houston has had notable sports teams in its history including Phi Slama Jama, and the sixteen-time national champion men's golf team
.
UH fielded its first varsity intercollegiate football team in 1946. The Houston Cougars football team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA
. The team plays its games in Robertson Stadium
and began the 2008 season with a new head coach, Kevin Sumlin
.
The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cougars Men's basketball team plays in Conference USA. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2010. The Cougars are currently coached by James Dickey and play in Hofheinz Pavilion
.
Notable players for the UH Men's basketball team include Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon
and Clyde Drexler
(who would win two and one NBA Championships respectively, both for the hometown Houston Rockets
in 1994-95, with Olajuwon being the Finals MVP for both titles) and also were part of the legendary Cougars fraternity Phi Slama Jama, as well as Otis Birdsong
and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes
(who would win one NBA Championship with the Washington Bullets
in 1978). Each of these players has had their number retired. Notable coaches for the Cougars are Guy Lewis
and Clyde Drexler. Notable games for the Cougars include the first nationally syndicated NCAA basketball game, the Game of the Century
.
Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Conference USA as a Division I team. They play their home games at Cougar Field
and are currently coached by Todd Whitting
. The Houston Cougars baseball program has appeared in numerous NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals, and College World Series
.
, which is also a member of Conference USA. The Cougars and Rice Owls
compete in football annually for a trophy known as the "Bayou Bucket
," referencing one of the city of Houston's nicknames
as the "Bayou City."
Historically, the University of Texas at Austin
was one of Houston's principal rivals, especially after Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference. This rivalry gave rise to the Houston Cougar Paw tradition.
Most of the university's major sports facilities are located along Cullen Boulevard, the central traffic artery through the campus. At times in the past, some of the university's teams have played their home games at off-campus venues such as the Astrodome and Rice Stadium
. The men's golf program
competes off campus because it does not have a dedicated golf course on campus. University of Houston's current sports facilities include the following:
The Houston Dynamo
of Major League Soccer
was a tenant at Robertson Stadium until 2011. The stadium hosted the MLS Western Conference Final in 2006 and 2007.
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was created by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach of the Washington State Cougars
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
John R. Bender
John R. Bender
John R. "Chief" Bender was an American football player and coach of football, basketball and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Washington State University , Haskell Indian Nations University , Kansas State University , and the University of Tennessee , compiling a career record of...
, as he had grown fond of the name during his time there.
After the dissolution of the Southwest Conference in 1996 (Houston was the last member admitted to the SWC, in 1971), in which these teams were a member, the Cougars became charter members of Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
as a part of the West Division. Also in the West Division of Conference USA is Houston's major sports rival, cross-town Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. University of Houston's colors are scarlet red
Scarlet (color)
Scarlet is a bright red color with a hue that is somewhat toward the orange. It is redder than vermilion. It is a pure chroma on the color wheel one-fourth of the way between red and orange. Scarlet is sometimes used as the color of flame...
and albino white, and the mascot is a cougar named Shasta
Shasta (mascot)
Shasta is the mascot of the University of Houston athletics teams, the Houston Cougars. Shasta is a female cougar. While previously a live cougar, Shasta is now a costumed mascot.-History:...
. The current athletic director for the Cougars is Mack Rhoades
Mack Rhoades
Mack Rhoades IV is the current athletic director at the University of Houston. On June 11, 2009 it was announced he would be leaving the University of Akron to take over the Athletics Director position at the University of Houston...
, who was hired to the position after the recent retirement of Dave Maggard
Dave Maggard
Dave Maggard is an American former Olympian and university athletic director.Maggard, who grew up in San Francisco and Turlock California, graduated from University of California-Berkeley. He is a former member of the U.S...
.
Houston has had notable sports teams in its history including Phi Slama Jama, and the sixteen-time national champion men's golf team
Houston Cougars men's golf
The Houston Cougars golf program is an NCAA Division I golf program at the University of Houston. The program competes in Conference USA as a men's-only sport, and its head coach is Jonathan Dismuke....
.
Athletics
The University of Houston competes with teams in the following sports:Men's sports:
| Women's sports:
|
Football
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
. The team plays its games in Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
and began the 2008 season with a new head coach, Kevin Sumlin
Kevin Sumlin
-External links:*...
.
Men's basketball
Hofheinz Pavilion
Guy V. Lewis Court at Hofheinz Pavilion, often known as simply Hofheinz Pavilion, is an 8,500-seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas. Located at 3875 Holman Street, it is home to the University of Houston Cougars men's and women's basketball teams as well as...
.
Notable players for the UH Men's basketball team include Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
and Clyde Drexler
Clyde Drexler
Clyde Austin "Clyde The Glide" Drexler is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard and small forward. A ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA named him one of basketball's fifty greatest players as of 1996. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and...
(who would win two and one NBA Championships respectively, both for the hometown Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in 1994-95, with Olajuwon being the Finals MVP for both titles) and also were part of the legendary Cougars fraternity Phi Slama Jama, as well as Otis Birdsong
Otis Birdsong
Otis Lee Birdsong is an American former professional basketball player. He spent twelve seasons in the NBA and appeared in four NBA All-Star Games....
and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes
Elvin Hayes
Elvin Ernest Hayes is a retired American basketball player and radio analyst for Houston Cougars men's basketball, where he played college basketball...
(who would win one NBA Championship with the Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in 1978). Each of these players has had their number retired. Notable coaches for the Cougars are Guy Lewis
Guy Lewis
Guy Vernon Lewis II is a former NCAA basketball coach who led the University of Houston Cougars program for 30 years from 1956-86.-Coaching career:...
and Clyde Drexler. Notable games for the Cougars include the first nationally syndicated NCAA basketball game, the Game of the Century
Game of the Century (college basketball)
The Game of the Century in college basketball was a historical NCAA game between the University of Houston Cougars and the UCLA Bruins played on January 20, 1968 at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. It was the first NCAA regular season game broadcast nationwide in prime time...
.
Baseball
Cougar Field
Cougar Field is a baseball stadium in Houston, Texas. It is the home field of the Houston Cougars baseball team. Several iterations of Cougar Field have existed. The current stadium holds 5,000 people, and opened for baseball in 1995. Since its opening, Cougar Field has hosted several notable...
and are currently coached by Todd Whitting
Todd Whitting
-External links:*...
. The Houston Cougars baseball program has appeared in numerous NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals, and College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
.
Rivalries
Houston's most meaningful current rivalry is with cross-town Rice UniversityRice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, which is also a member of Conference USA. The Cougars and Rice Owls
Rice Owls
The Rice University athletic teams are known as the Rice Owls. The name comes from the owls in Rice's crest.Rice participates in NCAA Division I athletics and is part of Conference USA. Rice was a member of the Southwest Conference until its breakup in 1996. Rice then joined the Western Athletic...
compete in football annually for a trophy known as the "Bayou Bucket
Bayou Bucket
The Bayou Bucket Classic is an annual college football game between Conference USA rivals the Houston Cougars and the Rice Owls as a part of the Houston–Rice rivalry. The name of the game is a reference to one of Houston's popular nicknames as the Bayou City...
," referencing one of the city of Houston's nicknames
Nicknames of Houston
There are many nicknames for the city of Houston, the largest city in Texas and fourth-largest city in the United States. The city's nicknames reflect its geography, economy, multicultural population, and popular culture, including sports and music...
as the "Bayou City."
Historically, the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
was one of Houston's principal rivals, especially after Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference. This rivalry gave rise to the Houston Cougar Paw tradition.
Facilities
Rice Stadium
Rice Stadium is a football stadium located on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas. It has been the home of the Rice University football team since its completion in 1950 and hosted Super Bowl VIII in 1974....
. The men's golf program
Houston Cougars men's golf
The Houston Cougars golf program is an NCAA Division I golf program at the University of Houston. The program competes in Conference USA as a men's-only sport, and its head coach is Jonathan Dismuke....
competes off campus because it does not have a dedicated golf course on campus. University of Houston's current sports facilities include the following:
- Robertson StadiumRobertson StadiumJohn O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
- football and soccer - Hofheinz PavilionHofheinz PavilionGuy V. Lewis Court at Hofheinz Pavilion, often known as simply Hofheinz Pavilion, is an 8,500-seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas. Located at 3875 Holman Street, it is home to the University of Houston Cougars men's and women's basketball teams as well as...
- basketball - Cougar FieldCougar FieldCougar Field is a baseball stadium in Houston, Texas. It is the home field of the Houston Cougars baseball team. Several iterations of Cougar Field have existed. The current stadium holds 5,000 people, and opened for baseball in 1995. Since its opening, Cougar Field has hosted several notable...
- baseball - Cougar Softball StadiumCougar Softball StadiumCougar Softball Stadium, formerly known as Cougar Softball Field and Cougar Softball Complex, is the home field for the Houston Cougars softball team located on the campus of the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. Following the majority of the Cougars' inaugural season in 2001, Cougar...
- softball - Tom Tellez Track at Carl Lewis International ComplexTom Tellez Track at Carl Lewis International ComplexThe Tom Tellez Track at Carl Lewis International Complex, also known as simply Tom Tellez Track or Carl Lewis International Complex, is home to the Houston Cougars outdoor track & field teams...
- outdoor track & field - John E. Hoff Courts - tennis
- CRWC Natatorium - swimming
- Athletics/Alumni Center - all sports
- Yeoman Field House - indoor track & field
The Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
was a tenant at Robertson Stadium until 2011. The stadium hosted the MLS Western Conference Final in 2006 and 2007.