Back Houston Cougars German Houston Cougars Spanish Cougars de Houston French Houston Cougars Italian ヒューストン・クーガーズ Japanese Houston Cougars Polish
| Houston Cougars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Houston |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| NCAA | Division I (FBS) |
| Athletic director | Eddie Nuñez |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Varsity teams | 17 |
| Football stadium | TDECU Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Fertitta Center |
| Baseball stadium | Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park |
| Softball stadium | Cougar Softball Stadium |
| Mascot | Shasta |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Fight song | Cougar Fight Song |
| Colors | Scarlet and white[1] |
| Website | uhcougars |
 | |
The Houston Cougars are the athletic teams representing the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs,[2] UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was suggested by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach, John R. Bender after one of his former teams, Washington State later adopted the mascot and nickname.[3] 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 of the University of Houston are scarlet red and albino white, and the mascot is a cougar named Shasta. Houston's traditional rival has been Rice with whom the Cougars shared a conference for thirty-three non-consecutive years (see also Houston–Rice rivalry).
Houston has had notable sports teams in its history, including Phi Slama Jama and the sixteen-time national champion men's golf team. The university's campus is home to many on-campus athletic facilities including TDECU Stadium (on the site of the former Robertson Stadium), Fertitta Center, and Schroeder Park.
Prior to 1960, Houston was a member of several athletic conferences including the Lone Star Conference, Gulf Coast Conference, and Missouri Valley Conference. From 1960 until 1971, Houston competed as an independent. From 1971 until 1996, Houston's sports teams were a part of the Southwest Conference. After the dissolution of that conference in 1996, the Cougars became charter members of Conference USA. Houston remained a member of Conference USA until 2013 when they joined the American Athletic Conference. In September 2021, Houston received and accepted a membership offer to the Big 12 Conference. They became members of the Big 12 on July 1, 2023.
- ^ "Logos - University of Houston Athletics". June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- ^ "University of Houston Official Athletic Site". Uhcougars.Com. October 17, 1947. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- ^ Hudson, Gary (2019). The History of College Nicknames, Mascots and School Colors. Author Solutions Inc. ISBN 9781796072556.