Houston Cougars baseball
Encyclopedia
The Houston Cougars baseball team is the college baseball
team of the University of Houston
.
Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Conference USA
as a Division I team. They play their home games at Cougar Field
. In addition to numerous NCAA Tournament
appearances, the Cougars have made two College World Series
appearances. Houston is currently led by first-year head coach Todd Whitting
.
The University of Houston's baseball program started in 1947. Bill Henry
, the Cougars' first player to make it to the majors
, pitched for the inaugural team. During the first few years of the baseball team's existence, head coaches came and went, and after the third season, the team had already been through three. Houston's fourth head baseball coach, Lovette Hill
broke this trend when taking over for the 1950 season. A year after Hill became coach, the Houston Cougars appeared in their first NCAA Regional. The 1953 season was one of the team's most historic and winningest years as they made their first College World Series
appearance
. Continuing with Lovette Hill, the Cougars appeared in several more NCAA Regionals throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Appearing in the 1967 College World Series
against the Arizona State Sun Devils, the Cougars won runner-up and finished with a #2 national ranking. During much of Lovette's time with the Cougars, the team played their home games at Buff Stadium.
for the Victoria Rosebuds
, a minor league baseball
team, before leaving in 1954. During Walton's time as coach, the Cougars appeared in two more NCAA Regionals throughout the 1980s. Also during this time, the University of Houston discontinued their stint as being independent from any college athletic conference, and joined the now defunct Southwest Conference in 1976.
. After a brief stint of playing in Minor League Baseball
, Noble returned to the University of Houston as an assistant coach under Stockton. In 1994, following Bragg Stockton's retirement, Rayner Noble was named head coach of the Cougars. Stockton however, was not completely done with the team, and returned for the 2002 season as a volunteer coach. Working with Noble for only a year, Stockton died.
has launched the Cougars to more NCAA Regional appearances than any other coach in the team's history. In addition to eight of such appearances, the Cougars have appeared in three NCAA Super Regionals. In 1995, the Cougars baseball team received a newly constructed Cougar Field
that seated 5,000. The following year was the last for the Southwest Conference, and in 1997 the Cougars joined Conference USA
where they remain today. In 2004, the Cougars played San Diego State at Petco Park
in front of 40,106, the largest college baseball crowd to date.
In 2006, pitcher Brad Lincoln
won the Dick Howser Trophy
. Lincoln was the first to receive this award in the program's history, and in Conference USA. He also received the Brooks Wallace Award
that year among other honors.
Since joining Conference USA, the Cougars have appeared in every Conference USA Baseball Tournament
, and hold the second most amount of tournament titles (behind Tulane
).
Despite becoming the program's winningest coach, Noble's 2008 and 2009 records were back-to-back losing seasons, which Houston had not seen since 1974 and 1975.
was announced as his replacement. Whitting had served in various positions with TCU
, ultimately serving as associate head coach before returning to his alma mater.
:
Season(s) in which player played with Cougars is found within parentheses
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
team of the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
as a Division I team. They play their home games at Cougar Field
Cougar Field
Cougar Field is a baseball stadium in Houston, Texas. It is the home field of the Houston Cougars baseball team. Several iterations of Cougar Field have existed. The current stadium holds 5,000 people, and opened for baseball in 1995. Since its opening, Cougar Field has hosted several notable...
. In addition to numerous NCAA Tournament
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
appearances, the Cougars have made two College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
appearances. Houston is currently led by first-year head coach Todd Whitting
Todd Whitting
-External links:*...
.
Early years and Lovette Hill era
Bill Henry
William Rodman Henry is a retired American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he appeared in Major League Baseball between and for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Houston Astros...
, the Cougars' first player to make it to the majors
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, pitched for the inaugural team. During the first few years of the baseball team's existence, head coaches came and went, and after the third season, the team had already been through three. Houston's fourth head baseball coach, Lovette Hill
Lovette Hill
Lovette L. Hill was the fourth head coach of the Houston Cougars baseball team from 1950 to 1974. Hill holds the record for the longest serving head baseball coach in University of Houston history. While at Houston, Hill compiled a 343–325–5 record with five first place finishes in the Missouri...
broke this trend when taking over for the 1950 season. A year after Hill became coach, the Houston Cougars appeared in their first NCAA Regional. The 1953 season was one of the team's most historic and winningest years as they made their first College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
appearance
1953 College World Series
The 1953 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 11 to June 16. The seventh tournament's champion was Michigan, coached by Ray Fisher. The Most Outstanding Player was J.L. Smith of Texas....
. Continuing with Lovette Hill, the Cougars appeared in several more NCAA Regionals throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Appearing in the 1967 College World Series
1967 College World Series
The 1967 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 12 to June 18. The twenty-first tournament's champion was Arizona State University, coached by Bobby Winkles...
against the Arizona State Sun Devils, the Cougars won runner-up and finished with a #2 national ranking. During much of Lovette's time with the Cougars, the team played their home games at Buff Stadium.
Walton era
After a 24 year tenure with the Cougars, Lovette Hill retired, and Rolan Walton took over as head coach. Walton had previously served with the Cougars in the early years under Hill as a player. He later played as a shortstopShortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the Victoria Rosebuds
Victoria Rosebuds
The Victoria Rosebuds were a minor league baseball team in the Double-A Texas League located in Victoria, Texas, between 1958 and May 27, 1961, when the club was transferred to Ardmore, Oklahoma, because of attendance woes. Club owner Tom O'Connor, Jr., a local rancher, suffered a heart attack in...
, a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team, before leaving in 1954. During Walton's time as coach, the Cougars appeared in two more NCAA Regionals throughout the 1980s. Also during this time, the University of Houston discontinued their stint as being independent from any college athletic conference, and joined the now defunct Southwest Conference in 1976.
Stockton era
In 1987, the University of Houston hired Bragg Stockton as head coach, and appeared in another NCAA Regional the same year. Before Stockton retired after the 1993 season, the Cougars made one more appearance. Playing under Stockton were several standout players including Rayner NobleRayner Noble
Rayner Noble is an American former baseball coach and player.He last served as NCAA Division I college baseball head coach at the University of Houston. In 13 years of coaching Houston Cougars baseball, he is the winningest coach in Cougars history...
. After a brief stint of playing in Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, Noble returned to the University of Houston as an assistant coach under Stockton. In 1994, following Bragg Stockton's retirement, Rayner Noble was named head coach of the Cougars. Stockton however, was not completely done with the team, and returned for the 2002 season as a volunteer coach. Working with Noble for only a year, Stockton died.
Noble era
Since becoming head coach of the Cougars in 1994, Rayner NobleRayner Noble
Rayner Noble is an American former baseball coach and player.He last served as NCAA Division I college baseball head coach at the University of Houston. In 13 years of coaching Houston Cougars baseball, he is the winningest coach in Cougars history...
has launched the Cougars to more NCAA Regional appearances than any other coach in the team's history. In addition to eight of such appearances, the Cougars have appeared in three NCAA Super Regionals. In 1995, the Cougars baseball team received a newly constructed Cougar Field
Cougar Field
Cougar Field is a baseball stadium in Houston, Texas. It is the home field of the Houston Cougars baseball team. Several iterations of Cougar Field have existed. The current stadium holds 5,000 people, and opened for baseball in 1995. Since its opening, Cougar Field has hosted several notable...
that seated 5,000. The following year was the last for the Southwest Conference, and in 1997 the Cougars joined Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
where they remain today. In 2004, the Cougars played San Diego State at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
in front of 40,106, the largest college baseball crowd to date.
In 2006, pitcher Brad Lincoln
Brad Lincoln
Brad Eric Lincoln is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Amateur career:...
won the Dick Howser Trophy
Dick Howser Trophy
The Dick Howser Trophy, considered to be the Heisman Trophy of college baseball, is an award presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year, presented by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ....
. Lincoln was the first to receive this award in the program's history, and in Conference USA. He also received the Brooks Wallace Award
Brooks Wallace Award
The Brooks Wallace Award is an award given by the College Baseball Foundation to the best college baseball shortstop of the year. The award has been given annually since 2004. Until 2008 the award was presented to the nation's most outstanding player; however in 2009 the recipient list was changed...
that year among other honors.
Since joining Conference USA, the Cougars have appeared in every Conference USA Baseball Tournament
Conference USA Baseball Tournament
The Conference USA Baseball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for Conference USA . The tournament previously consisted of eight teams, with two double-elimination brackets, and a single-game final...
, and hold the second most amount of tournament titles (behind Tulane
Tulane Green Wave baseball
The Tulane Green Wave baseball team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college baseball.The Green Wave baseball team competes in Conference USA...
).
Despite becoming the program's winningest coach, Noble's 2008 and 2009 records were back-to-back losing seasons, which Houston had not seen since 1974 and 1975.
Whitting and modern era
In 2010, it was announced that Rayner Noble would not return as Houston's head coach. Former assistant coach and player for Houston Todd WhittingTodd Whitting
-External links:*...
was announced as his replacement. Whitting had served in various positions with TCU
TCU Horned Frogs baseball
The TCU Horned Frogs baseball team represents Texas Christian University and competes in the Mountain West Conference of NCAA Division I. Since 2002, they have played their home games at Lupton Stadium, which is located on campus in Fort Worth, and holds 3,500...
, ultimately serving as associate head coach before returning to his alma mater.
Conference affiliations
- 1947, Independent
- 1948, Lone Star ConferenceLone Star ConferenceThe Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico...
- 1949, Independent
- 1950, Gulf Coast ConferenceGulf Coast ConferenceThe Gulf Coast Conference was a short-lived NCAA college athletic conference in the U.S. State of Texas from 1949 until 1957. The charter members of the conference were University of Houston, Midwestern University , North Texas State University , and Trinity University...
- 1951-1960, Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley ConferenceThe Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
- 1961-1972, Independent
- 1973-1996, Southwest Conference
- 1997–Present, Conference USAConference USAConference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
Head coaching records
| Years | font style="color:#fff;">Coach | Wins | font style="color:#fff;">Losses | Ties | font style="color:#fff;">Pct. |
| 1947 | Ned Thompson | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 |
| 1948 | Dalton Albert | 4 | 7 | 1 | .375 |
| 1949 | BIll Lutz | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 1950–1974 | Lovette Hill Lovette Hill Lovette L. Hill was the fourth head coach of the Houston Cougars baseball team from 1950 to 1974. Hill holds the record for the longest serving head baseball coach in University of Houston history. While at Houston, Hill compiled a 343–325–5 record with five first place finishes in the Missouri... |
343 | 325 | 5 | .515 |
| 1975–1986 | Rolan Walton | 378 | 235 | 5 | .616 |
| 1987–1994 | Bragg Stockton | 283 | 183 | 4 | .606 |
| 1995–2010 | Rayner Noble Rayner Noble Rayner Noble is an American former baseball coach and player.He last served as NCAA Division I college baseball head coach at the University of Houston. In 13 years of coaching Houston Cougars baseball, he is the winningest coach in Cougars history... |
457 | 333 | 0 | .578 |
| 2011–Present | Todd Whitting Todd Whitting -External links:*... |
0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Recent records
- 2008: 42-24 (14-10 in Conference USA)
- 2007: 28-28 (12-12 in Conference USA)
- 2006: 39-22 (18-6 in Conference USA)
- 2005: 29-30 (16-13 in Conference USA)
- 2004: 30-29 (19-11 in Conference USA)
- 2003: 37-30 (18-12 in Conference USA)
- 2002: 48-17 (22-7 in Conference USA)
Current roster
Past players
The following is a list of former Houston Cougars baseball players that later played Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
:
Season(s) in which player played with Cougars is found within parentheses
- Jeff BanisterJeff BanisterJeffery Todd Banister is a former professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is currently the Pirates the Bench coach...
(1986) - Matt BeechMatt BeechLucas Matthew Beech is a professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1996 to 1998....
(1993–1994) - Michael BournMichael BournMichael Ray Bourn is a professional baseball outfielder with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. He serves as the Atlanta Braves leadoff hitter. He has also been a member of the United States national baseball team....
(2001–2003) - Jesse CrainJesse CrainJesse Alan Crain is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball.-High school and college:...
(2002) - Steve CummingsSteve Cummings (baseball)Steven Brent Cummings is an American former professional baseball player. A pitcher, Cummings played Major League Baseball from 1989 to 1990 with the Toronto Blue Jays.-External links:**...
(1985–1986) - Steve DeckerSteve DeckerStephen Michael Decker , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played from -, -, and . He is the current manager of the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants....
- Larry DierkerLarry DierkerLawrence Edward Dierker is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and manager. During a 14-year baseball career as a pitcher, he pitched from 1964–1977 for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals...
- Doug DrabekDoug DrabekDouglas Dean Drabek is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Known for his fluid pitching motion and sound mechanics, he won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.-Early life:...
(1981–1983) - Vaughn EshelmanVaughn EshelmanVaughn Michael Eshelman is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1995 through 1997 for the Boston Red Sox...
(1990–1991) - Bill HenryBill HenryWilliam Rodman Henry is a retired American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he appeared in Major League Baseball between and for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Houston Astros...
(1947) - Rob JohnsonRob Johnson (baseball)Robert James "Rob" Johnson is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. Born in Anaconda, Montana, he played Little League in Whitehall....
- Jason McDonaldJason McDonaldJason Adam McDonald , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder for the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers from 1997-2000. He attended Sacramento City College.-External links:...
(1993) - David Miller (1983–1984)
- Garrett MockGarrett MockGarrett Lee Mock is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. A graduate of Houston's North Shore Senior High School, Mock attended the University of Houston where he played as part of the Houston Cougars baseball team...
(2003–2004) - Shane NanceShane NanceJoseph Shane Nance is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in the majors, from to with the Milwaukee Brewers and in with the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Career:...
(1997–2000) - Tom PaciorekTom PaciorekThomas Marian Paciorek is a former Major League outfielder and first baseman for 18 seasons between 1970 and 1987...
(1966–1968) - Scott SheldonScott SheldonScott Patrick Sheldon is a former Major League Baseball third baseman/shortstop and right-handed batter who played for the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers...
(1988–1991) - Chris SnyderChris SnyderChristopher Cornelius Snyder is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is a Free Agent. He has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He bats and throws right-handed.-High school and college:...
(2000–2002) - Chris TremieChris TremieChristopher James Tremie is a former Major League Baseball player who served primarily as a catcher. He began his MLB career in with the Chicago White Sox...
(1989–1992) - Glenn VaughanGlenn VaughanGlenn Edward Vaughan , nicknamed "Sparky," was an American professional baseball player for three seasons, 1962–1964. A shortstop, he was the nephew of Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Arky Vaughan...
- Ryan WagnerRyan WagnerRyan Scott Wagner is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals.-Early life:...
(2002–2003) - Mike Walker (1984–1986)
- Ben Weber (1989–1991)
- Gary WeissGary Weiss (baseball)Gary Lee Weiss is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played in 22 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1980 and 1981 seasons.-External links:...
(1977–1978) - Woody WilliamsWoody WilliamsGregory Scott "Woody" Williams is a former right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He made his major league debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on May 14, 1993.-Baseball career:...
(1987–1988) - Anthony YoungAnthony Young (baseball player)Anthony Wayne Young is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball . He is best known for losing 27 consecutive games in which he had a decision....
(1986–1987)