The University of Texas at Dallas intercollegiate athletic program began its modern era in 1998 when UTD officially became part of the NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference.
UTD's athletic history actually dates back to the early 1980's when the school joined the NAIA and competed 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. Mary Walters approached the administration in the late 90's and the NCAA program was launched in 1998.
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 four men’s and four 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. Men's and women's track & field in the spring of 2021.
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.
Timeline of UT Dallas Athletics (NCAA Era 1998-present)
- September 1998 - Under Director of Athletics Mary Walters, UTD applies for membership to NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference.
- 1998-99 - Men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's golf begin competition.
- 1999-00 - Men's and women's cross country and men's and women's tennis begin competition.
- Spring 2002 - Baseball and softball begin competition.
- July 2002 - UTD granted full membership into NCAA Division III and American Southwest Conference after four-year provisional period.
- September 2003 - Chris Gage is named Director of Athletics.
- Fall 2002 - Women's soccer wins the first ASC title for the department and is the first team to compete in the NCAA Championship Tournament.
- Fall 2002 - Men's soccer player J.D. Pomposelli becomes the first Academic All-American for UTD.
- Spring 2003 - Men's golf wins the ASC championship and Scott Maurer becomes the Comets' first All-American.
- Fall 2004 - Volleyball begins competition.
- October 2007 - The first class of the UTD Athletics Hall of Honors is inducted.
- February 2014 - Bill Petitt is named Director of Athletics.
- Spring 2021 - Men's and women's track & field begins competition.
- October 2021 - Angela Marin is named Director of Athletics.
- July 2023 - UTD accepts invitation to join the Lone Star Conference and applies for NCAA Division II membership.
- July 2024 - UTD starts provisional membership to NCAA Division II.
- July 2025 - UTD officially joins Lone Star Conference
UTD Athletics Accomplishment (NCAA Era 1998-present)
Number of American Southwest Conference championships: 49
Number of All-Americans: 49
Number of Academic All-Americans: 18
Number of UTD Athletic Hall of Honors Inductees: 48 and one team
Number of ASC Hall of Honor Inductees: 1
25th Anniversary - 25 for 25
