| Houston Cougars | |
| University | University of Houston |
|---|---|
| Conference(s) | Conference USA Big East Conference (2013) |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletics director | Mack Rhoades |
| Location | Houston, TX |
| Varsity teams | 16 |
| Football stadium | John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Hofheinz Pavilion |
| Baseball stadium | Cougar Field |
| Mascot | Shasta |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Fight song | Cougar Fight Song |
| Colors | Scarlet and Albino
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| Homepage | www.uhcougars.com |
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. Starting in 2013, Houston will be a member of the Big East Conference.
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.
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The University of Houston competes with teams in the following sports:
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Men's sports:
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Women's sports:
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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.
Houston's most meaningful current rivalry is with cross-town Rice University, 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.[1]
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[2]:
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.
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