Houston Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson thanks students and fans after an NCAA college men’s basketball game on Wednesday Mar. 4, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
Houston has had a successful year when it comes to athletics. From the football team securing its first bowl win since 2022 to the Women’s Golf team advancing to the NCAA golf tournament for the first time in their history, Houston has produced several notable storylines.
This past offseason for the athletics department has also seen tremendous growth in the recruiting classes for the many sports Houston plays, as talent from across the nation has started taking note of the Cougars’ recent accomplishments. With this new wave of success, Houston may be a top-tier destination for athletes in the coming years.
When looking at next year’s rosters for the Cougars, many talented seniors and players have left Houston for bigger opportunities, with most reaching professional leagues like the NFL and the NBA. With these players leaving Houston, what does next year have to offer for Cougar fans?
Men’s Sports
Several men’s programs have either improved drastically or have had many players return from their previous seasons. For example, the Houston football team is coming off a bowl win from their 2025 campaign and has retained many of their underclassmen in the process.
The Houston men’s basketball team has seen the same success, as many players from last year’s March Madness tournament have returned to support the Coogs in their 2026 season. Many of these players have reasons to keep playing in Houston, and that is what is providing roster continuity.
Besides those two sports, Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field have had major success in their own area, qualified for NCAA postseason competition, with CC attending the South Central regional in 2025 and T&F attending the NCAA Championships.
Lastly, baseball and golf have had interesting seasons so far. Baseball was projected to be one of the better teams in the Big 12, but ultimately fell apart midway through the season, ending any chance of playoff hopes. After their last season’s performance, Houston opted to get new head coach Will Davis, replacing former head coach Todd Whitting.
As for golf, they have remained consistent despite some early challenges at the beginning of their season. They have reached their respective regionals for the sixth season in a row, but lost the Director of golf and head coach Jonathan Dismuke to retirement.
The golf department has since found a new head coach with Andrew Danna, with Danna becoming the eighth in Men’s golf history. With a new head coach in Houston golf, we have yet to see if the championship consistency will remain at Houston.
Women’s Sports
The women’s athletics department has had some ups and downs this year, with many sports having great seasons while others fell apart after many missed opportunities.
Starting with the basketball team, their season ended early after a poor postseason performance in the Big 12 tournament. Despite this season’s challenges and disappointments, head coach Matthew Mitchell has made some big moves in the transfer portal and in recruiting, bringing in talent that can change the entire trajectory of women’s basketball in Houston.
Unlike the past two sports, the Women’s golf team in Houston has had an all-around amazing season. In their first season at the NCAA Championships as a team, they finished 20 overall against many of the biggest teams in golf.
Lastly, the tennis team in Houston has also made some big achievements in their season, as they won against many in the conference. However, when the postseason came along, the tennis team failed to make any progress and ultimately lost in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.
Both of these teams have lost their head coach, with tennis hiring Valeriya Zeleva and golf hiring Rachel Pollock. These new hires could potentially change the game in Houston, and it won’t be long until the Cougars make waves in college athletics.
What’s next?
With all of these moves in the athletic department, many fans of the Cougars remain hopeful for an amazing new year in sports. Some of these rosters have begun anew and have to prove themselves in their respective areas, while most have time to improve themselves from their previous year in sports.
With 2026 coming closer each day, Houston has a lot to be hopeful for in the next year of athletics.
sports@thedailycougar.com
