UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball

Summary

The UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, US in NCAA Division I as a member of the American Athletic Conference (The American) from the 2023–24 season.[2] Originally competing as an NCAA independent in 1981–82, the Roadrunners moved to the Trans-America Athletic Conference (now known as the ASUN Conference) in 1986–87, then moved to the Southland Conference in 1991–92,[3][4] then moved to the Western Athletic Conference in 2012–2013,[5] then moved to Conference USA in 2013–2014[6] where they remained for the next 10 seasons. UTSA plays its home games at the on-campus Convocation Center, and is coached by Austin Claunch.

UTSA Roadrunners
2023–24 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
First season1981
All-time record444–411 (.519)
Head coachAustin Claunch (1st season)
ConferenceThe American
LocationSan Antonio, Texas
ArenaConvocation Center
(Capacity: 2,650)
NicknameRoadrunners
ColorsNavy blue, orange, and white[1]
     
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament appearances
1988, 1999, 2004, 2011
Conference tournament champions
1988, 1999, 2004, 2011
Conference regular season champions
1991, 1992, 2004

UTSA has won four conference tournaments and three conference regular season championships.[7] The team has made a total of four NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship appearances in its history. In the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, the Roadrunners defeated SWAC Champion Alabama State, 70–61 in the opening round before falling in the second round to Ohio State. The victory over Alabama State marked the first time in school history that a Roadrunner team won an NCAA tournament game in any sport.

History edit

Don Eddy (1981–1986) edit

On May 14, 1980, Don Eddy was announced as the first head coach for UTSA, with the school planning to a field team starting in the 1980–81 season.[8] After compiling a record of 56–54, he resigned following an altercation with a player in a January 26, 1986 game.[9] After his resignation, former Baylor basketball player Larry Gatewood closed out the season as interim head coach.

Ken Burmeister (1986–1990) edit

The Roadrunners moved to the Trans-America Athletic Conference for the 1986–87 season. Ken Burmeister coached the roadrunners from 1986 to 1990 and led the team to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1988, where they lost to Illinois in the first round.

Stu Starner (1990–1995) edit

Stu Starner spent five seasons coaching the Roadrunners, Starner resigned in 1995 with an 84–58 record at the school. His teams won conference regular season championships in 1991 and 1992.[10]

Tim Carter (1995–2006) edit

Tim Carter was hired as the head coach for the Roadrunners, where he is the all-time winningest coach in the university's history.[11]

Brooks Thompson (2006–2016) edit

On April 19, 2006, Thompson was named head coach of the Roadrunners. On November 15, 2009, UTSA defeated the University of Iowa, UTSA's first ever win versus a Big Ten Conference school. On March 16, 2011, Thompson guided UTSA to the school's first ever NCAA Tournament win when the Roadrunners defeated Alabama State 70–61.

Steve Henson (2016–2024) edit

 
Roadrunners basketball players during a game in 2018

In his first year of coaching, Henson engaged in a major rebuilding effort after succeeding Thompson as head coach. In his first year, UTSA posted a nine-win improvement in the overall record, going to 14–19 and a five-win improvement in Conference USA conference games to 8–10. In his second season, Henson posted a winning record for the first time since 2011–12, going 20–15 for the season and 11–7 in conference play, and being named the conference coach of the year. The UTSA Roadrunners lost in the quarterfinals of the 2018 C-USA tournament, but secured an invite into the 2018 CIT tournament.

On March 14, 2024, UTSA announced that Henson's contract would not be renewed.[12] The Roadrunners' record was 110–144 over his eight-season tenure.[12]

Austin Claunch (2024–present) edit

Austin Claunch was named the seventh head coach in program history on March 17, 2024.[13]

Seasonal record edit

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
NCAA independent (1981–1986)
1981-82 Don Eddy 8-19
1982-83 Don Eddy 10-17
1983-84 Don Eddy 20-8
1984-85 Don Eddy 18–10
1985-86 Don Eddy
Larry Gatewood
7–24[Note A]
(Trans-America Athletic Conference) (1986–1990)
1986–87 Ken Burmeister 13–15 7–11 6th
1987–88 Ken Burmeister 22–9 13–5 3rd NCAA Division I First Round
1988–89 Ken Burmeister 15–13 8–10 7th
1989–90 Ken Burmeister 22–7 13–3 2nd
1990-91 Stu Starner 21-8 12-2 1st
(Southland Conference) (1991–2012)
1991-92 Stu Starner 21-8 15-3 1st
1992-93 Stu Starner 15-14 10-8 3rd
1993-94 Stu Starner 12-15 8-10 6th
1994-95 Stu Starner 15-13 11-7 2nd
1995-96 Tim Carter 14-14 12-6 2nd
1996-97 Tim Carter 9-17 4-12 9th
1997-98 Tim Carter 16-11 10-6 2nd
1998-99 Tim Carter 18–11 12-6 2nd NCAA Division I First Round
1999-00 Tim Carter 15-13 12-6 3rd
2000-01 Tim Carter 14-15 12-8 2nd
2001-02 Tim Carter 19-10 13-7 3rd
2002-03 Tim Carter 10-17 7-13 9th
2003-04 Tim Carter 19-14 11-5 1st NCAA Division I First Round
2004-05 Tim Carter 15-13 10-6 4th
2005-06 Tim Carter 11-17 6-10 8th
2006-07 Brooks Thompson 7–22 3–13 6th (West)
2007–08 Brooks Thompson 13–17 7–9 T–3rd (West)
2008–09 Brooks Thompson 17–12 8–8 4th (West)
2009–10 Brooks Thompson 19–11 9–7 T–3rd (West)
2010–11 Brooks Thompson 20–14 9–7 T–3rd (West) NCAA Division I Round of 64
2011–12 Brooks Thompson 18–14 10–6 3rd (West)
(Western Athletic Conference) (2012–2013)
2012–13 Brooks Thompson 9–21 3–14 T–8th
(Conference USA) (2013–2023)
2013–14 Brooks Thompson 8–22 4–12 T–14th
2014–15 Brooks Thompson 14–16 8–10 T–7th
2015–16 Brooks Thompson 5–27 3–15 14th
2016–17 Steve Henson 14–19 8–10 9th
2017–18 Steve Henson 20–15 11–7 5th CIT Quarterfinals
2018–19 Steve Henson 17–15 11–7 T–2nd Declined
2019–20 Steve Henson 13–19 7–11 10th
2020–21 Steve Henson 15–11 9–7 4th (West) Declined
2021–22 Steve Henson 10-22 3-15 6th (West)
2022–23 Steve Henson 10–22 4–16 11th
(American Athletic Conference) (2023–present)
2023–24 Steve Henson
Total: 444–411

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

^A. Don Eddy went 4–14 and Larry Gatewood went 3-10 as head coaches, respectively.

Postseason history edit

NCAA tournament results edit

The Roadrunners have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–4.

Year Round Opponent Result
1988 First Round Illinois L 72–81
1999 First Round Connecticut L 66–91
2004 First Round Stanford L 45–71
2011 First Four
First Round
Alabama State
Ohio State
W 70–61
L 46–75

CIT results edit

The Roadrunners have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Their record is 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2018 First Round
Quarterfinals
Lamar
Sam Houston State
W 76–69
L 69–76

Notable players edit

Retired jerseys edit

UTSA has retired two jerseys in program history. Also even though the jerseys are retired, the numbers are still available so current and future players can use them.[14]

UTSA Roadrunners retired jerseys
No. Player Years Jer. ret. Ref.
23 Devin Brown 1998–2002 [14]
30 Derrick Gervin 1981–1985 2006 [14]

References edit

  1. ^ UTSA Athletiscs Brand Guide (PDF). February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023-24 Season" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  3. ^ Heiberger, Scott (1985-12-02). "Texas-San Antonio is looking to future". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  4. ^ "UTSA to join Southland Conf". The Victoria Advocate. 1990-06-05. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  5. ^ "WAC to Add Denver, UTSA and Texas State". Western Athletic Conference. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  6. ^ McMurphy, Brett (28 April 2012). "C-USA Adding UTSA in 2013; North Texas, FIU, Louisiana Tech Also Likely". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  7. ^ "2009 UTSA Men's Basketball Media Guide". UTSA Roadrunners. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  8. ^ "Eddy years revisited at EIU". Green Bay Press-Gazette. May 14, 1980. p. 25. Retrieved November 11, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ "UTSA coach resigns". Galveston Daily News. February 8, 1986. p. 21. Retrieved November 11, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ "UTSA basketball coach resigns". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 16, 1995. p. 65. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ Tim Carter at scuathletics.com
  12. ^ a b "Contract of UTSA Men's Basketball Head Coach Not Renewed". University of Texas at San Antonio. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "UTSA Names Austin Claunch Head Men's Basketball Coach". University of Texas at San Antonio. March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "2019–20 UTSA Roadrunners media guide, page 98" (PDF). Goutsa.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.

External links edit

  • Official website