UT Permian Basin Falcons football

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UT Permian Basin Falcons football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2024 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team
First season 2016; 8 years ago
Athletic directorTodd Dooley
Head coach Kris McCullough
2nd season, 10–2 (.833)
Stadium Ratliff Stadium
(capacity: 17,931)
Year built1982
Field surface FieldTurf
Location Odessa, Texas
NCAA division Division II
Conference LSC
All-time record35–38 (.479)
Bowl record0–2 (.000)
Playoff appearances1
Playoff record0–1 (.000)
Conference titles1 LSC (2023)
ColorsFalcon orange and black [1]
   
Fight songFighting Falcons
MascotFreddy Falcon
Website utpbfalcons.com

The UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represents the University of Texas Permian Basin (abbreviated as UTPB) in college football at the NCAA Division II level. The Falcons are members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC), fielding its team in the LSC since 2016. The Falcons play their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas while Astound Broadband Stadium in the neighboring city of Midland, Texas serves as an alternate home stadium. [2]

Contents

Their head coach is Kris McCullough, who took over the position for the 2023 season. [3]

History

In December 2013, the University of Texas System Regents approved the business plan that the University of Texas Permian Basin needed to secure $9.5 million be the end of 2014 in order to support the first five years of their American football program, including start-up costs and four seasons of play. In order to help fund the required amount, the $35 student union fee was transformed into an athletic fee. [4] The school hoped to expand the school's student body up to 8,000 students by 2020, hoping that football would help expand the student population. [5]

On October 15, 2014, the UTPB announced that the school had secured the necessary $9.5 million in funding to move forward with establishing the school's football program. The team was slated to begin play for the 2016 season. The school began its search for a head coach in November 2014. [5]

Justin Carrigan era (2016–2022)

On January 8, 2015, the school hired former Tarleton State offensive coordinator Justin Carrigan as the school's first head coach. [6] Carrigan played college football for Angelo State and also coached for Midwestern State and UTEP along with his stint at Tarleton State. [6]

The team's first season consisted of seven home games and four away games. The team's home games were played at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, and also hosted a game annually at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas, Starting off the season they faced Division III Sul Ross in their first-ever game. [7] The Falcons won 27–6 and the school's football program officially played, and won, its first ever game as a Division II school. [7] The team won their next game against NAIA opponent Arizona Christian before losing their remaining nine games of the season. [8]

The following three seasons, the team went 2–9 in 2017, [9] 2–9 in 2018, [10] and an improved 4–7 in 2019. [11] In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lone Star Conference announced that it would not be holding conference play. Despite the conference not officially holding in-conference play, UTPB still played fellow conference members, Western New Mexico, Texas A&M–Kingsville, and Midwestern State as the games were not counted as conference games. [12] Due to Ratliff Stadium being used as a mass COVID-19 vaccination hub, the school used Grande Communications Stadium as their home field. [13] In the shortened season, the Falcons won all five of their matchups and finished the season with a 5–0 record—their highest win total under Carrigan. [14] In 2021 and 2022, the team finished 5–6 and made it to the Heritage Bowl in 2021. [15] [16] On November 28, 2022, Carrigan announced that he was stepping down as the head coach of the school's football team after reaching the team's first-ever bowl game a year prior. [17]

Kris McCullough era (2023–present)

On December 22, 2022, the school hired former East Central head coach Kris McCullough to be the school's second head coach. [18] McCullough previously coached for Henderson State, Old Dominion, and Fairmont State before joining East Central. He was promoted to head coach for the 2022 season and lead the team to a Heritage Bowl win. [19]

In McCullough's coaching debut he helped lead the Falcons to a 96–0 win over NAIA opponent Texas College; the 96 points scored are the most in program history. [20] Two weeks later, the Falcons would score 80-plus points again, defeating Southwest Baptist 86–7. [21] On October 16, 2023, the Falcons were ranked no. 25 in the D2 Football poll, marking the first time in program history that the Falcons were ranked in a national poll. [22] A week later, October 23, the Falcons were ranked in the AFCA poll for the first time in program history, entering the poll at no. 22. [23] The Falcons would finish the regular season at 10–1, 8–0 in LSC play, securing both the program's first winning season (outside of the amended spring 2021 season) and first conference title. [24] McCullough would be named LSC coach of the year while quarterback Kenny Hrncir was named LSC Offensive Player of the Year. [25] The Falcons received a bid for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history, hosting Bemidji State in the first round. [26]

Conference affiliations

List of head coaches

Key

Key to symbols in coaches list
GeneralOverallConferencePostseason [A 1]
No.Order of coaches [A 2] GCGames coachedCWConference winsPWPostseason wins
DCDivision championshipsOWOverall winsCLConference lossesPLPostseason losses
CCConference championshipsOLOverall lossesCTConference tiesPTPostseason ties
NCNational championshipsOTOverall ties [A 3] C%Conference winning percentage
†Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame O%Overall winning percentage [A 4]

Coaches

List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records, conference records, postseason records, championships and selected awards
No.NameSeason(s)GCOWOLO%CWCLC%PWPLDCCCNCAwards
1 Justin Carrigan [31] 2016–20226125360.41011280.28201
2 Kris McCullough [32] 2023–present241770.7081430.8240112023 LSC Coach of the Year

Current coaching staff

UT Permian Basin Falcons
NamePositionConsecutive season at UT Permian Basin in current positionPrevious positionUTPB profile
Tommy CraytonAssistant head coach / Tackles and tight ends 1st Western Illinois – Tight ends / fullbacks / co-special teams coordinator (2023) [33]
Blake CrandallCo-offensive coordinator / wide receivers 2nd East Central – Running backs (2022) [34]
Kenny Hrncir Co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks 1stNone [35]
Jake Shaw Defensive coordinator 1st East Central – Defensive coordinator / inside linebackers (2022–2023) [36]
Devin GauldenCo-defensive coordinator / secondary1st Delta State – Defensive backs (2022–2023) [37]
Zack Santolla Defensive line / run game coordinator1st Charleston – Defensive line / defensive run game coordinator (2016–2023) [38]
Spencer RegionInterior offensive line 1stUT Permian Basin – Assistant offensive line and tight ends (2023) [39]
Marquez Gollman Safeties 1st Louisiana Tech – Graduate assistant (2023) [40]
Hayden Kelly Linebackers 1stNone [41]
Reference: [42]

Year-by-year results

National championsConference championsBowl game berthPlayoff berth
SeasonYearHead
Coach		AssociationDivisionConferenceRecordPostseasonFinal
AFCA
ranking
OverallConference
WinLossFinishWinLoss
UT Permian Basin Falcons
2016 2016 Justin Carrigan NCAA Division II LSC 2910th09——
2017 2017 29T–8th17——
2018 2018 298th17——
2019 2019 477th26——
2020–21 2020 50N/A00——
2021 2021 56T–5th34L Heritage Bowl —
2022 2022 567th45——
2023 2023 Kris McCullough 1021st80L NCAA Division II First Round 18
2024 2024 75T–3rd63L Heritage Bowl—

Individual accomplishments

All-Americans

List of All-Americans showing the year won, player, position, and team
YearPlayer namePositionTeam
2019Chris Hoad LB Second Team [43]
2020Chris Hoad LB Second Team

LSC Player of the Year

Offensive player of the year
YearPlayer namePosition
2023 Kenny Hrncir [44] QB

All-time record vs. LSC teams

Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current LSC opponents as of the completion of the 2024 season. [45]

Opponent Won Lost Pct. Streak First meeting Latest meeting
Angelo State 17.125Lost 120162024
Central Washington 21.667Won 220222024
Eastern New Mexico 53.625Won 520162024
Midwestern State 36.333Won 220162024
Oklahoma Panhandle State*01.000Lost 120162016
Simon Fraser*101.000Won 120222022
Sul Ross 21.667Won 120162024
Tarleton State*04.000Lost 420162019
Texas A&M–Commerce*05.000Lost 520162021
Texas A&M–Kingsville 36.333Lost 120162024
West Texas A&M 35.375Won 220162024
Western New Mexico 72.778Won 420162024
Western Oregon 21.667Lost 120222024
Totals2942.408

* Signifies former LSC members

Bowl games

The Falcons have an all-time bowl game record of 0–1.

SeasonEventOpponentResultSource
2021 Heritage Bowl Oklahoma Baptist L 21–24 [46]

Playoffs

NCAA Division II

The Falcons have made one appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a record of 0-1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2023 First Round Bemidji State L, 3–10

Notable former players

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Although the first Rose Bowl Game was played in 1902, it has been continuously played since the 1916 game, and is recognized as the oldest bowl game by the NCAA. "—" indicates any season prior to 1916 when postseason games were not played. [28]
  2. ↑ A running total of the number of head coaches, with coaches who served separate tenures being counted only once. Interim head coaches are represented with "Int" and are not counted in the running total. "—" indicates the team played but either without a coach or no coach is on record. "X" indicates an interim year without play.
  3. ↑ Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible in the period since. [29]
  4. ↑ When computing the win–loss percentage, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss. [30]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lone Star Conference</span> American collegiate athletic conference

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas Permian Basin</span> Public university in Odessa, Texas, US

The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) is a public university in Odessa, Texas. It is part of the University of Texas System. UTPB was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973. UTPB is now home to over 7,000 students and 250 teaching faculty.

The Astound Broadband Stadium is a 15,000-seat stadium located in Midland, Texas. The stadium plays host to the American football and soccer teams for both Legacy High School and Midland High School, plus the West Texas FC franchise in USL League Two, which is the fourth tier of American soccer. Additionally, the West Texas Drillers adult tackle football team of the Minor Professional Football League (MPFL) as well as the West Texas Pride Minor League Football team of the Rio Grande Football League (RGFL) call the stadium home. The stadium also serves as an alternate home stadium for the Texas–Permian Basin football team, serving as the team's home venue for the 2020 season as Ratliff Stadium, the team's primary home stadium, was being used as a mass COVID-19 vaccination site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UT Permian Basin Falcons</span> Athletic teams representing University of Texas Permian Basin

The UT Permian Basin Falcons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Texas Permian Basin, located in Odessa, Texas, United States, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in Lone Star Conference for most of their varsity sports since the 2016–17 academic year. A UTPB Falcons football team was added for the 2016 NCAA Division II football season to bring the total number of varsity teams to 16. UTPB previously competed in the D-II Heartland Conference from 2006–07 to 2015–16; in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1998–99 to 2005–06; and as an NAIA Independent from 1995–96 to 1997–98.

The 2017 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented University of Texas of the Permian Basin in the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by second-year head coach Justin Carrigan. The Falcons played their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, with one home game played at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, and were members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC).

Kris McCullough is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for the University of Texas Permian Basin, a position he has held since 2023. He was the head football coach for East Central University in 2022. He previously coached for Henderson State, Old Dominion, and Fairmont State.

Justin Carrigan is an American athletic director and former college football coach. He is the athletic director for Liberty Hill High School, a position he has held since 2023. He was the deputy athletic director for the University of Texas Permian Basin in 2023 and the school's head football coach from its inception in 2015 until 2022. He also coached for Midwestern State, UTEP, and Tarleton State. He played college football for Angelo State as a safety.

The 2016 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference. The program's inaugural season, the Falcons were led by head coach Justin Carrigan; Carrigan previously served as the offensive coordinator at Tarleton State.

The 2020 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2020–21 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Falcons were led by fifth-year head coach Justin Carrigan.

The 2023 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2023 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were led by first-year head coach Kris McCullough. The Falcons finished the regular season 10–1, going 8–0 in LSC play to win the conference title for the first time in program history. The Falcons received a bid for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history, being selected as the third seed in Super Region 4.

The 2021 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2021 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Falcons were led by sixth-year head coach Justin Carrigan. The Falcons played their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, with one home game played at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland.

The 2018 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented University of Texas of the Permian Basin in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by third-year head coach Justin Carrigan. The Falcons played their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, with one home game played at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, and were members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The team matched its record from the previous two seasons, finishing with a record of 2–9 and went 1–7 in conference play.

The 2022 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2022 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The team played its home games at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas while Ratliff Stadium in Odessa hosted two home games. The Falcons were led by seventh-year head coach Justin Carrigan. On November 28, Carrigan announced that he would be stepping down as the program's head coach. The following day it was announced he would be stepping into an administrative role, being named the university's deputy athletic director.

The 2019 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in the 2019 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Justin Carrigan. The Falcons played their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, with one home game played at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, and were members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC).

Kenneth C. Hrncir is an American college football coach and former quarterback. He is the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the University of Texas Permian Basin, positions he has held since 2024. He originally played for the East Central Tigers before transferring to the UT Permian Basin Falcons.

The 2022 East Central Tigers football team represented East Central University (ECU) in the 2022 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Great American Conference (GAC). The Tigers were led by Kris McCullough in his first and only season as head coach. The Tigers finished the season 9–3, going 8–3 in conference play to finish tied for third place in the GAC. This was the best finish in program history since the 1993 season when the Tigers finished 10–3 and won the NAIA Championship. The team played its home games at Koi Ishto Stadium in Ada, Oklahoma.

The 2024 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2024 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were led by second-year head coach Kris McCullough. The Falcons played most of their home games at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas while Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas hosted one game. UTPB entered the 2024 season as the defending LSC champion.

Ryan Lusby is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for Dodge City Community College, a position he has held since 2024. He coached for Texas A&M–Commerce, Henderson State, Coffeyville, Arkansas–Monticello, and UT Permian Basin. He played college football for Texas A&M–Commerce as a quarterback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by fifth-year head coach Mike Nesbitt and played their home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.

References

  1. ↑ UTPB Athletics Logo Style Guide (PDF). Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Facilities". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Beyond the field: Meet UTPB's new Head Football Coach, Kris McCullough - The University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB". www.utpb.edu. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ Michael, Tom (November 27, 2014). "Energy Boom Helps Launch UTPB's Football Program". Marfa Public Radio, radio for a wide range. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Duvall, Tessa (October 15, 2014). "UTPB moving forward with football". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Texans' Carrigan accepts UTPB head coaching job". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Hadorn, Christopher (September 3, 2016). "HADORN: UTPB wins inaugural football game vs. SRSU, 27-6". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  8. ↑ "2016 Football Schedule". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2017 Football Schedule". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  10. ↑ "2018 Football Schedule". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2019 Football Schedule". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Lone Star Conference delays fall sports". KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi. July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ Reporter-Telegram, Midland (February 26, 2021). "UTPB football finally ready to play". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  14. ↑ "2020 Football Schedule". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ "2021 Football Schedule". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  16. ↑ "2022 Football Schedule". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Justin Carrigan to step down as UTPB head football coach". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Rising Star McCullough Named Head Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. May 29, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Kris McCullough leaves ECU, takes head coaching job at UTPB". www.kten.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  20. ↑ Hadron, Christopher (September 2, 2023). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UTPB flirts with 100 points in McCullough's debut" . Midland Reporter-Telegram . Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  21. ↑ OA Sports (September 16, 2023). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UTPB puts up 86 points in road win at Southwest Baptist". Odessa American . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  22. ↑ Smith, Kayler (October 16, 2023). "UTPB football cracks into Top-25 for first time on school history". Your Basin. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Augustana Takes Down Minnesota State". American Football Coaches Association. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ Hadron, Christopher (November 11, 2023). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Cooley's catches lead UTPB to conference title" . Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  25. ↑ LeRoy, Oscar (November 16, 2023). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UTPB's Hrncir, Cooley lead LSC award winners" . Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  26. ↑ Bauer, Michael (November 17, 2023). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: UTPB ready for first playoff game". Odessa American . Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Buffs and Falcons Clash in the Lone Star Conference Opener". West Texas A&M University Athletics. September 10, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  28. ↑ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2011). Bowl/All-Star Game Records (PDF). Indianapolis, Indiana: NCAA. pp. 5–10. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  29. ↑ Whiteside, Kelly (August 25, 2006). "Overtime system still excites coaches". USA Today. McLean, Virginia. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  30. ↑ Finder, Chuck (September 6, 1987). "Big plays help Paterno to 200th". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
  31. ↑ "UTPB Head Football Coach Justin Carrigan to become Deputy Athletic Director". newswest9.com. November 28, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Rising Star McCullough Named Head Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. May 29, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Tommy Crayton - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Blake Crandall - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Kenny Hrncir - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Jake Shaw - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Devin Gaulden - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Zack Santolla - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Spencer Region - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Marquez Gollman - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Hayden Kelly - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Football Coaches". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  43. ↑ "AFCA Announces 2019 Division II Coaches' All-America Team". www.afca.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  44. ↑ "2023 LSC football all-conference awards revealed". lonestarconference.org. November 16, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Football History UTPB Athletics". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  46. ↑ Farmer, From Staff Reports Daily Sun photos/Ron (December 4, 2021). "Heritage Bowl: Oklahoma Baptist edges UT Permian Basin 24-21". Corsicana Daily Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Chiefs UDFA spotlight: UTPB offensive lineman Corin Brooks". Chiefs Wire. May 16, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
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