Houston Christian Huskies

Intercollegiate sports teams of Houston Christian University

Athletic teams representing Houston Christian University

Houston Christian Huskies

University| Houston Christian University
Conference| Southland (primary)
OVC (men's soccer)
NCAA| Division I (FCS)
Athletic director| Steve Moniaci
Location| Houston, Texas
First season| 1963
Varsity teams| 15 (7 men's, 8 women's)
Football stadium| Husky Stadium
Basketball arena| Sharp Gymnasium
Baseball stadium| Husky Baseball Field
Softball stadium| Husky Softball Field
Soccer stadium| Sorrels Field
Nickname| Huskies
Fight song| Get Up and Go, You Mighty Huskies
Colors| Royal blue and orange[1]

Website| hcuhuskies.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

[edit]

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

[edit]

NCAA

* NCAA College Division Independent (1969-1973)
* NCAA Division I Independent (1973-1978)
* Trans America Athletic Conference (1978–1989)
* NCAA Division I Independent (2007–2008)
* Great West Conference (2008–2013)
* Southland Conference (2013–present)

NAIA

* Red River Athletic Conference (1998–2007)

## Varsity teams

[edit]

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

[edit]

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 | 2007

* Husky Stadium

* Sharp Gymnasium

* Sorrels Field

* Husky Baseball Field

* Husky Softball Field

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA Division I institutions

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Houston Christian University athletics.

* Official website

* v
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Houston Christian University

Facilities|

* Husky Field (baseball)
* Husky Field (softball)
* Husky Stadium
* Sharp Gymnasium
* Sorrels Field (soccer)

Athletics|

* Baseball
* Basketball
* Men's
* Women's
* Football
* Women's soccer
* Softball

Media|

* The City
* The Collegian

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Southland Conference

Full members|

* East Texas A&M Lions
* Houston Christian Huskies
* Incarnate Word Cardinals
* Lamar Cardinals
* McNeese State Cowboys
* Nicholls State Colonels
* New Orleans Privateers
* Northwestern State Demons
* Southeastern Louisiana Lions
* Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
* Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders
* UTRGV Vaqueros

Associate members|

* Boise State Broncos1
* San Jose State Spartans1

Related entities|

* Southland Bowling League

* 1beach volleyball

* v
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Ohio Valley Conference

Full members|

* Eastern Illinois Panthers
* Lindenwood Lions
* Little Rock Trojans
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* SIU Edwardsville Cougars
* Southeast Missouri State Redhawks
* Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
* Tennessee State Tigers
* Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
* UT Martin Skyhawks
* Western Illinois Leathernecks

Associate members|

* Bryant Bulldogs6
* Chattanooga Mocs4
* Houston Christian Huskies1
* Incarnate Word Cardinals1
* Liberty Flames1 2
* Murray State Racers5
* UTRGV Vaqueros1 3

Related topics|

* OVC–Big South Football Association
* OVC football
* OVC men's basketball

* 1soccer (men's)
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College sports teams in Texas

NCAA Division I|

* Abilene Christian
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NCAA Division II|

* Angelo State
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NCAA Division III|

* Austin
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* McMurry
* Schreiner
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* St. Thomas
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* UT Dallas (Division II in 2025)

NAIA|

* Huston–Tillotson
* Jarvis Christian
* Nelson
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* Paul Quinn
* Texas A&M–San Antonio
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Sports teams based in Texas

Baseball|

MLB
Houston Astros
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PCL
El Paso Chihuahuas
Round Rock Express
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Basketball|

NBA
Dallas Mavericks
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WNBA
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G League
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BIG3
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Football|

NFL
Dallas Cowboys
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UFL
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IFL
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Hockey|

NHL
Dallas Stars
AHL
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NAHL
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Soccer|

MLS
Austin FC
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NWSL
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SISL/USISL
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UWS
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WPSL
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Houston Aces
USL W-2
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Australian rules
football|

USAFL
Austin Crows
Dallas Dingoes
Houston Lonestars

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Alamo City Rollergirls
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Rugby union|

MLR
Houston SaberCats
TGU
Alamo City Rugby Football Club
Austin Blacks
Austin Huns
Corpus Christi Rugby Football Club
Dallas Griffins
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Softball|

WPF
Texas Smoke

Volleyball|

LOVB
LOVB Austin
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PVF
Dallas (2026)

Cricket|

MLC
Texas Super Kings
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Ultimate|

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Esports|

Multi-sport
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College athletics
(NCAA Division I)|

Abilene Christian
Baylor
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East Texas A&M
Houston
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Incarnate Word
Lamar
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Prairie View A&M
Rice
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Tarleton State
TCU
Texas
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