UT DALLAS ATHLETICS HISTORY
The University of Texas at Dallas intercollegiate athletic program began its modern era just a few years ago, when UTD officially became part of the NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference in 1998. Once the University completed its four-year provisional period, the Comets have put the rest of the conference on notice that "when we come to play, we play to win.”
Since joining the ASC in 2002, the Comets have become traditional powerhouses and title contenders in several sports – including men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball and (most recently) men's basketball. Additionally, athletes from several individual sports have made their mark on conference competition.
UTD's athletic history actually dates back to the early 1980's when the school joined the NAIA and competely regionally in baseball and tennis. At the time, the University was still primarily a graduate institution, and the program was dropped after just a few years with the emphasis shifting to intramural and club sports programs. In 1991, upon the arrival of freshmen and sophomores on campus, interest in returning to intercollegiate competition resurfaced.
In the fall of 1993, a varsity men’s and women’s soccer teams started with a part-time coach and an independent schedule of 15 games. The program joined the NAIA the following year. After four years in the NAIA, original Athletics Director Mary Walters approached the UTD administration in 1998 with the thought of expanding the program and joining the newly formed American Southwest Conference; which meant a shift in affiliation over to NCAA Division III...and the addition of new sports programs.
The University made the decision to expand the athletic program by applying for NCAA Division III membership in September of 1998; and were brought in as “provisional” members – meaning the University had to serve a four year “educational, provisional” period in which certain requirements had to met each successive year, including the formulation of athletic policies and procedures, the formation of a standing athletic committee on campus, and an increase in the number of sports offered for each gender. Teams were given schedules through the conference but were not allowed to advance to any post season play throughout the provisional period.
At the time, Division III membership required sponsorship of 4 men’s and 4 women’s sports. Men’s and women’s soccer coaches became full time that fall and full-time basketball coaches were hired the spring of 1998. Basketball for men and women was added in the fall of 1998, along with men’s and women’s golf. Cross country was added in the fall of 1999 and tennis in the spring of 2000. Baseball and softball were added by the spring of 2002 to bring UTD into full compliance with the NCAA. Women's volleyball was added in the fall of 2004.
Upon completion of the mandated four-year provisional period, UTD was granted full membership privileges in the NCAA and the ASC conference for fall 2002. That first season, the men’s and women’s soccer teams competed for conference championships. The women won the 2002 ASC title and UTD ended up hosting the conference tournament as well as the first round of NCAA playoffs in UTD's first year as active members. The success contined in 2003-04 when men's and women's soccer, men's basketball, baseball and softball all advanced to the post-season.
In 2004-05, the UTD Athletic Program claimed three ASC Championships – men's soccer and men's basketball as well as a co-championship in women's soccer. The men's soccer and basketball teams advanced to the NCAA Division III national playoffs in their sports. Baseball and softball also made its third consecutive appearance in the ASC post-season tournament while volleyball qualified for the post-season in just its first season of existence.
In 2005-2006, five teams (men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's basketball and baseball) all qualified for the ASC post-season. Both women's soccer and baseball advanced in their respective tournaments all the way to the conference championship games before suffering narrow losses.
The 2006-07 season saw continued success for several programs. All the major team sports except softball qualified for the post-season, including the first-ever trip to the ASC tournament for women's basketball. The UTD women's soccer team and volleyball each reached the ASC title game before coming up short. Though falling in the semifinals of the conference tournament, the nationally-ranked Comet baseball team hosted the ASC championships and won an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III national tournament. UTD travelled to the West Regionals in Orange, California, won a couple of games in the tournament before finishing third behind eventual tournament winner Chapman University.
Already one of the larger universities in the ASC and in all of NCAA Division III, the Comets have high expectations for continued success.
