Kristian Ferrell
The Texas-Pan American Broncs were the sports teams of the University of Texas–Pan American, which merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2015 to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The UTRGV Vaqueros men's basketball team plays in Division I and has appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Vaqueros are one of 45 Division I programs to have never appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. As the Pan American Broncs, the team appeared in the NAIA Men's Basketball Championships three times, winning the title once.
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What You'll Learn
Texas Pan American Broncs' basketball history
The Texas–Pan American Broncs were sports teams of the University of Texas–Pan American. The Broncs last competed under that identity in NCAA Division I in the 2014–15 school year as members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). In 2015, the University of Texas–Pan American merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville to create the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The UTRGV inherited the athletic legacy of UTPA, including its WAC membership, and its teams are now known as the UTRGV Vaqueros.
The Broncs first began play in 1952 as Pan American College, as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). From the 1953–54 season to the 1961–62 season, the teams were members of the Big State Conference. In 1962–63, the team had dual membership in the NAIA and NCAA Division II. The Broncs began transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1965–66, with the men's basketball team making the transition in 1968–69. In 1968, the Broncs qualified for the 1968 NCAA College Division men's basketball tournament, reaching the regional final. This was their last Tournament appearance until 1981.
During their time as Pan American, they appeared in the NAIA Men's Basketball Championships three times, winning the NAIA title in 1963 under Coach Sam Williams. Lucious Jackson, one of the players on that championship team, went on to be selected 4th overall in the 1964 NBA draft. He was selected to the 1964–65 NBA All-Rookie Team and played in the NBA All-Star Game that same year, eventually playing his entire career with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Broncs participated as an Independent until the 1979–80 season when the team was a member of the Trans-America Athletic Conference. They returned to independent status until 1986–87. In 1980–81, Pan American earned a berth to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament, losing to the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In 1987, UTPA joined the American South Conference as a charter member and remained a member until the conference merged with the Sun Belt Conference in 1991. The Broncs stayed within the Sun Belt Conference after the merger. In the 1990 American South Conference men's basketball tournament, the Broncs reached the championship game but lost to New Orleans 48-44. This was the first (and so far only) tournament championship game appearance in program history.
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The team's transition to Division I
The Texas–Pan American Broncs, or UTPA Broncs, were the sports teams of the University of Texas–Pan American. The teams competed in NCAA Division I in the 2014–15 school year as members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The university sponsored teams in seven men's and eight women's NCAA-sanctioned sports, with women's soccer being added in 2014.
The transition to Division I began in 1965–66 with the tennis team, and men's basketball began its transition in 1968–69. The Broncs had dual membership with the NAIA and NCAA Division II, but they transitioned into Division I before the 1968–69 season. That year, the team's record fell to 9–16. The following year, they won one less game, and in the 1970–71 season, they bounced back to a 13–13 record—their first .500 record in Division I play.
During the 1980–81 season, the Broncs earned a berth to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament, their first post-season tournament play at the Division I level. They lost to the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane, the 1981 NIT champions. In the 1989-90 season, the Broncs finished 21–9 with a 7–3 conference record, their most wins since 1977. In the 1990 American South Conference men's basketball tournament, they reached the championship game but lost to New Orleans 48-44. This was their first and only tournament championship game appearance in program history.
In 2015, the University of Texas–Pan American merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville to form the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The UTRGV Vaqueros inherited the athletic legacy of UTPA, including its WAC membership and Division I status.
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Post-transition performance
The Texas–Pan American Broncs, also known as UTPA, were the varsity athletic teams representing the University of Texas–Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. The university sponsored 15 teams, including men's and women's basketball. The men's basketball team began its transition to Division I in 1968–69.
The Broncs first began play in 1952 as Pan American College, as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They were members of the NAIA until the 1962–63 season, after which they had dual membership in the NAIA and NCAA Division II for the 1962–63 season. During this time, the basketball team was coached by Abe Lemons, and in 1963 they won the NAIA national men's basketball championship under Coach Sam Williams. Lucious Jackson, also known as Luscious "Luke" Jackson, was a player on that championship team and went on to be selected 4th overall in the 1964 NBA draft.
In 1968, the Broncs qualified for the NCAA College Division men's basketball tournament with a 21–6 record, but they lost to Trinity in the regional final in overtime. This was their last tournament appearance until 1981. In the 1968–69 season, the team's record fell to 9–16, and they continued to struggle in the following years. However, the 1970–71 season saw a bounce back to a .500 record in Division I play with a record of 13–13.
During the 1979–80 season, the Broncs were members of the Trans-America Athletic Conference, and they returned to independent status until 1986–87. In 1981, the Broncs earned a berth to the National Invitation Tournament, but they lost to the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In the 1989–90 season, the Broncs finished with a 21–9 record and a 7–3 conference record, their most wins since 1977. They reached the championship game of the 1990 American South Conference men's basketball tournament but lost to New Orleans 48–44.
In 2015, the University of Texas–Pan American merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville to create the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The UTRGV Vaqueros men's basketball team inherited the athletic legacy of UTPA, including its WAC membership. The Vaqueros have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament as the Pan American Broncs, losing their only game. They have also appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). During their time as Pan American, they appeared in the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament once and the NAIA Men's Basketball Championships three times, including an NAIA title.
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Coaching staff
The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) in Edinburg, Texas, sponsored 15 athletic teams, including men's and women's basketball. The university merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2015 to create the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The UTRGV Vaqueros men's basketball team has had several coaches over the years, and here is a look at some of them:
Sam Williams
Sam Williams was the coach of the then Pan American College team when they won the 1963 NAIA national men's basketball championship. The team had a winning record in the 1958 and 1959 seasons, and in 1962, they made their first NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament appearance.
Abe Lemons
Abe Lemons coached the basketball program during the mid-1970s. After Lemons left for the University of Texas at Austin, Bill White was named head coach.
Bill White
Bill White led the Broncs to their first post-season tournament play at the Division I level during the 1980–81 season. They earned a berth to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament but lost to the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Lon Kruger
Lon Kruger coached the basketball program after Bill White. He later went on to coach at Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV, Oklahoma, and in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks.
Delray Brooks
Delray Brooks coached the team for their final season with the Sun Belt Conference in 1997, finishing with a 3–24 record.
Matt Figger
Matt Figger was named the Vaqueros' head coach in 2021. He was fired in 2024 after a 29–65 record in three seasons.
Kahil Fennell
Kahil Fennell, previously an assistant at BYU, was named the new head coach of the Vaqueros in 2024, leading the team into the Southland Conference.
Warren Fitzpatrick
Warren Fitzpatrick is the Texas A&M men's basketball team's Director of Operations and Assistant General Manager. He orchestrates the daily operations of the team, including budget, donor relations, team travel, scholarships, and other administrative duties.
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The team's merger with Brownsville
The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) Broncs basketball team was a member of the NCAA Division I in the 2014–15 school year. In 2013, the Texas legislature passed a bill that led to the creation of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) through the merger of UTPA and the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB). UTB was home to the Ocelots (formerly known as the Scorpions until after the 2011–12 school year), who competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
UTB was widely regarded as having one of the strongest chess programs in the nation and had a highly ranked women's volleyball team. In 2010, they placed second in the Final Four of College Chess, and in 2011, the UTB volleyball team won its first national championship. UTB's partnership with Texas Southmost College (TSC) allowed TSC students to seamlessly transition to the four-year university without reapplying.
UTPA, on the other hand, had a rich basketball history. As Pan American College, they won the 1963 NAIA national men's basketball championship under Coach Sam Williams. One of the players on that team, Lucious Jackson, went on to be selected 4th overall in the 1964 NBA draft. During the 1979–80 season, the UTPA Broncs men's basketball team was a member of the Trans-America Athletic Conference. In 1981, they earned a berth to the National Invitation Tournament, losing to the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
When UTRGV began operations in the 2015–16 school year, the UTPA athletic program was transferred, and the UTRGV Vaqueros continue to compete at the Division I level.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Texas–Pan American Broncs, also known as the UTPA Broncs, were sports teams of the University of Texas–Pan American. The teams competed in NCAA Division I in the 2014–15 school year as members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
The University of Texas–Pan American merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2015 to form the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The UTRGV inherited the athletic legacy of UTPA, including its WAC membership, and the basketball team became known as the UTRGV Vaqueros.
The UTRGV Vaqueros men's basketball team has appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). They have also appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) as the Pan American Broncs, losing their only game.
