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Houston Christian Huskies

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Houston Christian Huskies
Logo
UniversityHouston Christian University
ConferenceSouthland (primary)
OVC (men's soccer)
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorSteve Moniaci
LocationHouston, Texas
First season1963
Varsity teams15 (7 men's, 8 women's)
Football stadiumHusky Stadium
Basketball arenaSharp Gymnasium
Baseball stadiumHusky Baseball Field
Softball stadiumHusky Softball Field
Soccer stadiumSorrels Field
NicknameHuskies
Fight songGet Up and Go, You Mighty Huskies
ColorsRoyal blue and orange[1]
   
Websitehcuhuskies.com

The Houston Christian Huskies, HCU or Huskies (formerly known as Houston Baptist, HBU) are the athletic teams that represent Houston Christian University, located in Houston, Texas, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Southland Conference for most of its sports since the 2013–14 academic year; as of the current 2023 NCAA soccer season, its men's soccer team competes in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The Huskies previously competed the D-I Great West Conference from 2008–09 to 2012–13 after spending one season as an NCAA D-I Independent during the 2007–08 school year (since returning to NCAA D-I as a transitional member); in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1998–99 to 2006–07; and as an NAIA Independent from 1989–90 to 1997–98. Houston Christian's (HCU) official school colors are royal blue and orange.

History

From the inception of the athletics program at the university in 1963 until 1965, the then-Spartans[2] competed as a junior college independent. Houston Baptist College became a four-year university in fall 1965 and their mascot was changed to the Huskies.[3] The Huskies were members of the NCAA College Division from 1969 until 1973 when the NCAA restructured their divisions into Divisions I, II, and III.[4][5] The Huskies were an NCAA Division I team from 1973-1990.[6] After playing for seventeen years as a member of the NAIA, the Huskies began play as an NCAA Division I team again in 2007 and became a full member of the NCAA for the 2011–12 academic year.[7]

After one year of independent status in the NCAA, HCU joined the Great West Conference, and began play as a member in 2008 for all sports but basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, and women's soccer.[8] These teams remained independent until the 2009–2010 season when they joined the other HCU teams. Men's soccer joined the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation since the Great West did not sponsor the sport.

On November 9, 2011, officials from the Southland Conference visited HCU in their expansion drive.[9] On November 21, Houston Baptist accepted an invitation to join the Southland Conference joining July 1, 2013. The school started a football program in 2013 and began Southland play in 2014. There are also plans for a new basketball arena.[10] With the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation dropping men's soccer after the 2012 season, the HCU team moved to the Western Athletic Conference, which began sponsoring the sport from 2013 onwards.[11]

The men's soccer program remained in the WAC through the 2022 season, after which it joined the newly formed men's soccer league of the Ohio Valley Conference.[12]

Conference affiliations

NCAA

NAIA

Varsity teams

HCU competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer and track and field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track and field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Beach volleyball
Cross country Cross country
Football Golf
Golf Soccer
Soccer Softball
Track and field1 Track and field1
Volleyball
1 – includes both indoor and outdoor

Venues and facilities

Venue Sport(s) hosted Opened
Husky Stadium Football 2014
Sharp Gymnasium Basketball, volleyball 1964
Husky Baseball Field Baseball 1993
Husky Softball Field Softball 1993
Sorrels Field Soccer
  • Husky Stadium
    Husky Stadium
  • Sharp Gymnasium
    Sharp Gymnasium
  • Sorrels Field
    Sorrels Field
  • Husky Baseball Field
    Husky Baseball Field
  • Husky Softball Field
    Husky Softball Field

See also

References

  1. ^ Houston Christian University Athletics Style Guide (PDF). April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Spartans Win, 93-92". The Houston Post. February 3, 1965. p. 40. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via genealogybank.com.
  3. ^ Justice, Paul (May 16, 1965). "Huskies Mush Into the Big Time in '65". The Houston Post. p. 73. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via genealogybank.com.
  4. ^ "Myers to Tech; HBC Names Aide". Houston Chronicle. March 10, 1970. p. 22. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via genealogybank.com.
  5. ^ The Associated Press (December 31, 1970). "Paynesmen Take No. 5 Position". San Angelo Standard-Times. p. 15. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via genealogybank.com
    Note: Houston Baptist is seen as receiving vote(s) in the College Division men’s basketball poll.
  6. ^ Houston Christian Athletics Department (2021). "HBU Men's Basketball 2021-22 (Media Guide)" (PDF). pp. 60-63
    Note: Huskies Men's Basketball did not compete from 1989-1991 but retained Division I membership until 1990.
  7. ^ Staff (March 23, 2011). "Houston Baptist continues D-I march". Associated Press/ESPN. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  8. ^ "HBU Joins Great West Conference". HBU Athletics. July 10, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2008. [dead link‍]
  9. ^ "FOX 26 Houston | KRIV". Myfoxhouston.com. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  10. ^ "Houston Baptist University to Join Southland Conference on July 1, 2013". Southland Conference. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  11. ^ "WAC Adds Men's Soccer". WACsports.com. January 9, 2013. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  12. ^ "OVC Adds Men's Soccer as Championship Sport" (Press release). Ohio Valley Conference. March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
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