Gulf Coast Conference

Last updated
Gulf Coast Conference
Conference NCAA
Founded1949
Ceased1957
CommissionerD. L. Ligon
DivisionNone (1949–1956)
College Division (1956–1957)
No. of teams3–5
Headquarters Denton, Texas
Region South Central United States
Locations
Gulf Coast Conference-USA-states.png

The Gulf Coast Conference (GCC) was a short-lived NCAA college athletic conference composed of universities in the U.S. state of Texas from 1949 until 1957. The charter members of the conference were the University of Houston, Midwestern University (now Midwestern State University), North Texas State College (now the University of North Texas), and Trinity University. [1] The Gulf Coast Conference spawned from then members of the Lone Star Conference, and its president was D.L. Ligon. [2] In 1956, when the NCAA created divisions, all members of the conference at the time were classified as part of the NCAA's College Division, which was later subdivided into Division II and Division III in 1973. Charter member Houston had already left for the Missouri Valley Conference by the end of 1950, and was classified as a University Division school, which later became known as Division I.

Contents

Member schools

Final members

InstitutionLocation [a] FoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [b] Left [c] Current
conference
Abilene Christian University [d] Abilene 1906 Churches
of Christ
5,334 Wildcats 19541957 Western (WAC) [e]
(United (UAC) [e] in 2026)
Hardin–Simmons University [f] Abilene 1891Baptist2,333 Cowboys &
Cowgirls
19561957 American Southwest (ASC) [g]
Midwestern State University Wichita Falls 1922Public5,784 Mustangs 19491957 Lone Star (LSC) [h]
University of North Texas Denton 1890Public42,372 Eagles [i] 19491957 The American (AAC) [j]
Trinity University San Antonio 1869Nonsectarian2,487 Tigers 19491957 Southern Collegiate (SCAC) [g]
Notes
  1. All cities were located within the State of Texas.
  2. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  3. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  4. Joined the GCC as a basketball-only full member in its first season before other sports later competed during its tenure.
  5. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division I non-football athletic conference.
  6. Joined the GCC as a basketball-only full member during its tenure.
  7. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  8. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  9. Its nickname is currently known as the Mean Green since 1966.
  10. Currently an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) athletic conference.

Other members

InstitutionLocation [a] FoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [b] Left [c] Current
conference
University of Houston Houston 1927Public47,090 Cougars 19491950 Big 12 [d]
Notes
  1. All cities were located within the State of Texas.
  2. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  3. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  4. Currently an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) athletic conference.

Membership timeline

Hardin–Simmons UniversityAbilene Christian UniversityTrinity University (Texas)University of North TexasMidwestern State UniversityUniversity of HoustonGulf Coast Conference

Conference championships

Baseball

Year [a] Conference
champion
Conference
record
1950 Houston 4–0

Football

Year [b] Conference
champion(s)
Conference
record
1949 Midwestern (TX) 3–0
1950 Midwestern (TX)
North Texas State
2–0–1
1951 North Texas State 2–0
1952 North Texas State 2–0
1953 Trinity (TX) 2–0
1954 Trinity (TX) 2–0
1955 Abilene Christian
North Texas State
2–0
1956 North Texas State
Trinity (TX)
2–0–1

Men's basketball

YearConference
champion(s)
Conference
record
1949–50 Houston 6–0
1950–51 North Texas State 3–1
1951–52 North Texas State 4–2
1952–53 North Texas State 7–1
1953–54 North Texas State 7–1
1954–55 Midwestern (TX) 8–0
1955–56 Midwestern (TX) 4–0
1956–57 Abilene Christian
Midwestern (TX)
4–0
Notes
  1. Year of spring season.
  2. Year of fall season.

References

  1. Burton, Charles (1949-08-30). "The Inside Story". The Dallas Morning News . p. 18.
  2. "1949-50: Indians begin the Midwestern University era". Midwestern State Mustangs athletics. 2008-05-28. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2009-09-18.