Houston Cougars

The Houston Cougars are the athletic teams representing the University of Houston. They are also called the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. The nickname "Cougars" was suggested by John R. Bender, an early physical education instructor and former head football coach at the university. The teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Big 12 Conference.

The official school colors are scarlet red and albino white, and the mascot is a cougar named Shasta. One of Houston's biggest rivals is Rice University, with whom they shared a conference for many years (see also Houston–Rice rivalry).

Houston has a rich history in sports, including the famous Phi Slama Jama and a sixteen-time national champion men's golf team. The university has many athletic facilities on campus, such as TDECU Stadium, Fertitta Center, and Schroeder Park.

Before 1960, Houston was part of several conferences, including the Lone Star Conference, Gulf Coast Conference, and Missouri Valley Conference. From 1960 to 1971, they competed as an independent team. Later, from 1971 to 1996, they were part of the Southwest Conference. After that conference ended in 1996, Houston became a founding member of Conference USA. In 2013, they joined the American Athletic Conference, and in 2023, they became members of the Big 12 Conference.

Sports sponsored

The most recently added sport was women's golf. Two players represented UH as individuals in the 2014 season, and a complete team was formed starting in the 2014–15 season.

Basketball

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The team plays in the Big 12 Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2025. The Cougars are coached by Kelvin Sampson. The Cougars play their home games in the Fertitta Center, which opened during the 2018–19 season after renovation of the former Hofheinz Pavilion. During the renovation, home games were played at H&PE Arena at Texas Southern University.

Notable players for the UH men's basketball team include Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, as well as Otis Birdsong and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes. Each of these players has had his number retired. Notable coaches for the Cougars are Guy Lewis, Clyde Drexler and Kelvin Sampson.

In the modern era, the Cougars have become a national powerhouse under head coach Kelvin Sampson. Houston reached the Final Four in 2021, their first trip to the national semifinals since 1984. After moving to the Big 12 Conference in 2023, the Cougars quickly proved competitive. They captured regular-season conference titles in both 2024 and 2025; in the latter season they won the Big 12 tournament title and advanced to the national championship game. The women's team has made the NCAA Tournament in 1988, 1992, 2004, 2005, and 2011.

Football

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. After completing 18 seasons in C-USA, the Cougars joined the American Athletic Conference in 2013.

The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium before it was closed and demolished after the 2012 season. The Cougars divided their home schedule in their first AAC season between Reliant Stadium and BBVA Compass Stadium; the new TDECU Stadium opened on the Robertson Stadium site in 2014.

The 2015 Houston Cougars football team, led by then first-year head coach Tom Herman, enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Cougars finished the season with a 13–1 record, winning the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship. Their performance earned them a spot in the 2015 Peach Bowl, where Houston defeated ninth-ranked Florida State 38–24. The Cougars are coached by Willie Fritz, who was named head coach in December 2023. The Cougars joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.

Golf

The Houston Cougars men's golf program, founded in 1946, is one of the most successful in NCAA history. Under legendary coach Dave Williams, the Cougars won 16 NCAA team national championships between 1956 and 1985. The program also produced eight individual national champions and numerous PGA Tour professionals, including Fred Couples and Fuzzy Zoeller. Now competing in the Big 12 Conference, Houston continues its tradition of excellence under head coach Jonathan Dismuke.

Baseball

Corey Julks (left) and Connor Wong (right) with the Cougars during a game at Minute Maid Park in 2015.

Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Big 12 Conference as a Division I team. They play their home games at Schroeder Park and are currently coached by Todd Whitting. The Houston Cougars baseball program has appeared in 22 NCAA Regionals, four Super Regionals, and two College World Series.

Softball

The Houston Cougars softball team is a member of the Big 12 Conference of Division I. Their home games are played at Cougar Softball Stadium on-campus. The team was established in 2001 and has appeared in nine NCAA Regionals and two Super Regionals.

Cross Country

The Houston Cougars men's cross country team represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I competition. The program's highlight came in 1960 when the Cougars won the NCAA Division I men's cross country championship, the only team title in program history. Houston now competes in the Big 12 Conference.

Championships

NCAA team championships

The Houston Cougars have won 17 NCAA team national championships. All of these championships are in men's sports. They won one championship in cross country in 1960 and sixteen in golf across many years from 1956 to 1985.

You can find more information about big school championships at Big 12 Conference national team titles, List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships, and List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships.

Notable Non Varsity Sports

The University of Houston has exciting teams outside of their main varsity sports. One of these is the Ice Hockey Club, which competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. This team started in 1935 but stopped for a while. It came back in fall 2023 and played its first game against East Texas Baptist University. Since then, the team has played against rivals like the University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Texas State University. Their home games are at the Sugar Land Ice & Sports Center, and they have built a strong fan base.

Another team is the Rugby Club, which plays college rugby in the Southwest Collegiate Rugby Conference of Division 1-A Rugby. They used to play in a lower division before moving up.

The Cricket Club also achieved something big, winning the 2019 National College Cricket Association championship.

Rivalries

See also: Houston–Rice rivalry

The Houston Cougars have a strong rivalry with nearby Rice University. They play each other in football most years for a special trophy called the "Bayou Bucket," named after Houston's nickname, the "Bayou City."

Houston also used to compete often with Texas Tech University when they were in the same conference. Even though they don't play as often now, people are excited again because both teams are now in the Big 12 Conference together. In the past, the University of Texas was another big rival for Houston when they were both in the Southwest Conference. This led to a special tradition called the Houston Cougar Paw.

Athletic facilities

Most of the University of Houston's big sports places are along Cullen Boulevard, the main road through the campus. Sometimes, teams play at places not on campus, like the Astrodome and Rice Stadium. The golf programs play off campus because the school doesn’t have its own golf course.

The school’s sports places include:

• TDECU Stadium – Football
• Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center
• Fertitta Center – Men's and Women's Basketball, and Volleyball
• Schroeder Park – Baseball
• Cougar Softball Stadium – Softball
• Tom Tellez Track at Carl Lewis International Complex – Outdoor Track & Field and Soccer
• John E. Hoff Courts – Tennis
• CRWC Natatorium – Swimming & Diving
• Athletics/Alumni Center – Indoor Tennis and Indoor Track & Field (Training: All Sports)
• Yeoman Fieldhouse – Indoor Track & Field
• Golf Club of Houston – Men's and Women's Golf
• Dave Williams Golf Academy – Men's and Women's Golf

The Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer played at Robertson Stadium until 2011.

Athletic Directors