History 

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin was an upper-level institution when it opened its doors in 1973. Students could take courses at the junior, senior and graduate level only. There were no courses for freshmen or sophomores.

An intercollegiate tennis team was sponsored by the University from 1979-1988. The team was coached by Virginia Brown and it was highly successful within the NAIA. The team typically finished among the top regionally and nationally. The team was dropped in 1988 due to its high cost to the university. Team participants received full athletic scholarships and had an extensive travel schedule.

For a brief period a club rugby team represented UTPB. They called themselves the Chargers, though the official nickname for the UTPB athletic teams was the Falcons.

In the spring of 1992, the State Legislature authorized UTPB to begin to offer courses at the freshman and sophomore level. In the fall of 1992, President Charles Sorber asked a group of faculty, staff, and community members to look at the impact of a limited program of intercollegiate athletics upon the UTPB campus. The committee recommended the creation of a limited program of athletics and believed that its addition would add a dimension to the university that would make it more appealing to prospective freshmen.

In the fall of 1993, the legislature and the Board of Regents authorized the creation of the current UTPB Athletic Program. Dr. Steve Aicinena was the athletic director, and he served as the club volleyball coach in the fall of 1994. Tom Eskahti served as the men's club soccer coach that fall. UTPB joined the NAIA in the fall of 1995 and the volleyball team was UTPB's first intercollegiate team. Men's soccer achieved intercollegiate status in the fall of 1996. Alvin Alexander was the coach of the team at that time. Club softball began in the spring of 1996. It was coached by Kelly McMahan. The softball team, coached by Mrs. McMahan, achieved intercollegiate status in 1997.

In the spring of 2000, the UTPB students voted to increase the amount of fees that they paid in support of athletics. The Legislature and Board of Regents approved the fee increase in the spring and summer of 2001. The additional funds allowed the addition of three new sports. Women's soccer was added in the fall of 2001. The team was coached by Dr. Jaime Aguila. Men's and women's basketball were added to the athletic program in the fall of 2002. Athletic scholarships became available in the fall of 2003.In the fall of 2004 men's and women's cross country will begin competition and in the spring of 2005, UTPB's first baseball team will take the field.

If you are interested in getting more information Please contact
Athletic Director
Dr. Steve Aicinena
aicinena_s@utpb.edu