The Houston Cougars are the athletic teams representing the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, 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. The teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Big 12 Conference.
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH". The UH football program is a member of the Big 12 Conference. Since the 2014 season, the Cougars have played their home games on campus at TDECU Stadium, which was built on the site formerly occupied by Robertson Stadium, where they played home games from 1941 to 1950 and from 1997 to 2012. Over the history of the program, the Cougars have won eleven conference championships and have had several players elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, including a Heisman Trophy winner.
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 Big 12 Conference as a Division I team. They play their home games at Schroeder Park. In addition to 22 NCAA tournament appearances, the Cougars have made four Super Regional and two College World Series appearances. Houston has been led by head coach Todd Whitting since 2011.
The 2008 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 63rd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by first-year head football coach, Kevin Sumlin whose previous position was as co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners. He replaced Art Briles. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston. Competing against the Air Force Falcons in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl, the Cougars won their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. In addition, Houston defeated two nationally ranked opponents, which the Cougars hadn't achieved since their 1984 season.
The 1976 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. It was the 31st year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by fifteenth-year head football coach, Bill Yeoman. The team played its home games at the Astrodome, a 53,000-person capacity stadium off-campus in Houston. It was Houston's first year of season play as a full member of the Southwest Conference eligible as champions. Upon winning the conference as co-champions, the Cougars competed against the Maryland Terrapins in the Cotton Bowl Classic, and finished the post-season at an all-time highest national ranking in the history of the program. Senior defensive tackle Wilson Whitley received the Lombardi Award following the season. Future UH and Baylor head coach Art Briles played on this team.
The 2006 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 61st year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by fourth-year head football coach, Art Briles. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston. After regular season play where Houston won the C-USA West division, the Cougars defeated the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the Conference USA Football Championship to become conference champions for the first time since 1996.
The 1967 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 1967 NCAA University Division football season. It was the 22nd of season play for Houston. The team was coached by sixth-year head coach Bill Yeoman who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. The team played its home games in the Astrodome, a 53,000-person capacity stadium off-campus in Houston. Houston competed as a member of the NCAA in the University Division, independent of any athletic conference. It was their eighth year of doing so. At this time, Houston was on probation from the NCAA, and therefore was not eligible to compete in any post-season bowl games. Following the overall season, several players were selected for the 1968 NFL Draft.
The 1973 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. It was the 28th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by 12th-year head coach Bill Yeoman who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. The team played its home games in the Astrodome, a 50,000-person capacity stadium off-campus in Houston at the Astrodomain. Houston competed as a member of the NCAA in the University Division, independent of any athletic conference. It was their fourteenth year of doing so. The Cougars had been admitted to the Southwest Conference two years prior, but were ineligible for conference play until the 1976 season. After completion of the regular season, the Cougars were invited to the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl where they defeated the Tulane Green Wave.
The 2007 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 62nd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by fifth-year head football coach, Art Briles. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston. Competing against the TCU Horned Frogs in the 2007 Texas Bowl, the Cougars fell short, 20–13.
The 2005 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 60th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by third year head football coach, Art Briles. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston.
The 2003 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 58th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by first year head football coach, Art Briles. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston.
The 2002 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 57th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by Dana Dimel, who was fired after the season. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston.
The 2001 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 56th year of season play for Houston, and the only winless season in the school's history. The team was coached by Dana Dimel. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston.
The 2013 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 68th year of season play for Houston. The season marked the first for the Cougars as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Due to construction of the new TDECU Stadium during the 2013 season, the team played its home games at other locations in Houston.
The 2014 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 67th year of season play for Houston. The season was the second for the Cougars as a member of the American Athletic Conference and their first playing in their new stadium, TDECU Stadium in Houston. They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in AAC play to finish in a tie for fourth place. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl where they defeated Pittsburgh.
The 2016 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 69th year of season play for Houston. They were led by head coach Tom Herman during the regular season and played their home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston. The Houston Cougars football team is a member of the American Athletic Conference in its West Division. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in American Athletic play to finish in a tie for third place in the West Division. They were invited to the Las Vegas Bowl where they lost to San Diego State.
The 1998 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 53rd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by Kim Helton. The team played all its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston, for the first time since 1950.
The 1997 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 52nd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by Kim Helton. The team split its home games between the Houston Astrodome and Robertson Stadium for the last season before moving its games exclusively to Robertson Stadium, the 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston.
The 1994 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH represented the University of Houston in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 49th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by Kim Helton. The team split its home games between the Houston Astrodome and Robertson Stadium.
The 1975 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. It was the 28th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by 12th-year head coach Bill Yeoman who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. The team played its home games in the Astrodome, a 50,000-person capacity stadium off-campus in Houston at the Astrodomain. Houston competed as a member of the NCAA in the University Division, independent of any athletic conference. It was their fourteenth year of doing so. The Cougars had been admitted to the Southwest Conference two years prior, but were ineligible for conference play until the 1976 season.
