Texas A&M - Kingsville Athletics

 
All 12 Texas A&M University-Kingsville athletics programs are solidly positioned to contend for Lone Star Conference (LSC) championships and beyond as a result of increased revenue support for scholarships, recruiting, and salaries. 
 

Culminating in 2019-20, Scholarship budgets are in the process of step-wise increases that will result in all 14 (i.e. beach volleyball and women’s soccer inclusive) programs budgeted at NCAA II full equivalency limits.

As of 2015-16, all current Texas A&M University-Kingsville women’s athletics programs are budgeted at NCAA II full equivalency limits.

2014-2015 scholarship expenditures represented over a 75% increase compared to 2011-2012.

The athletics department recruiting budget equals the sum of the #2 men’s and women’s annual recruiting expenditures in the LSC.

Head coach salaries are benchmarked at or above LSC median salary levels, and, compared to 2011-2012, increased over 41%.

 
This increased base of support resulted in three consecutive Top 100 NCAA II Learfield Cup finishes (#83, 2012-13; #89, 2013-14; #91, 2014-15).  Prior to the current string of NCAA II post-season successes, the athletics department last experienced three consecutive Top 100 Learfield Cup scores in 1997-00.  NCAA Division II currently consists of 315 members.
 
Javelina athletics won one Lone Star Conference championship in 2014-15 (Baseball), concluded the post-season with five nationally-ranked programs (#4, men’s outdoor track-field; #11 men’s indoor track-Field; #26 women’s outdoor track-field; #43 women’s indoor track-field; #50 women’s tennis), seven NCAA II National Champions (men’s indoor and outdoor track-field; women’s outdoor track-field).   
 
Other notable 2014-15 achievements for Texas A&M University-Kingsville athletics include:

28 First-Team All-LSC performers

Three LSC Performers of the Year

19 LSC Performers of the Week

10 LSC All-Academic Honorees

One LSC Academic Scholar of the Year

Two National Athletes of the Week

25 All-Region Honorees

14 NCAA II All-Americans

Three Academic All-Americans

18 USTFCCCA  All-Americans, 7 USTFCCCA All-Academic  Selections

 
Many Javelina student-athletes enjoyed noteworthy personal honors in 2014-15, including USTFCCCA NCAA II Male Indoor Field Scholar of the Year (Lutalo Boyce), USTFCCCA NCAA II Field Athlete of the Year (Jeron Robinson), USTFCCCA NCAA II Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year (Javan Gray), College of Business Administration Distinguished Graduates (Mariaxi Herrera and Marija Dimitrovska), and Lone Star Coach of Year honorees (Jason Gonzales, Baseball; Autumn Williams, Women’s Tennis).
 
In 2014-15, 94 student-athletes and student assistants received their Bachelors or Masters degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (65% increase compared to 2011-12), featuring eight Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities honorees, 125 (62, Fall; 63 Spring) LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, 19 President’s List, 30 Dean’s List, and 29 Honor Roll recipients.  In addition, the department’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) completed 32 community service projects, and Javelina athletics represented the LSC as a finalist for the NCAA II Award of Excellence.  The Award of Excellence honors Division II institutions who best exemplified the membership’s six attributes through community engagement and game day atmosphere.
 
Funding, Participation, and Financial Aid
 
In 2008 the Texas A&M University-Kingsville athletics department conducted an assessment of revenues, expenses, program offerings, and participation rates, and in 2009 the university student body supported an athletic fee referendum and the launch of women’s golf (2010) and women’s tennis (2011).  Following this initial review, in 2013-14 the athletics department examined each sport program and conducted a comprehensive analysis of coaching salaries, travel, operational budgets, academic performance, scholarships, facilities, and recruiting, and in 2014 the university student body again supported an athletic fee referendum and the future launch of women’s beach volleyball (2016-17) and soccer (2019-20). 
 
In response to athletics department strategic planning, resources increased through student fees and institutional support, endowment growth, sponsorship and marketing expansion, community partnerships, and outside contributions.  Of significant note are increased budgets in support of women’s athletics.  In 2007-08 total expenses (salaries not inclusive) for women’s athletic programs totaled $740,542, and in 2014-15 women’s athletics total expenses totaled $1,520,170 and reflected an eight-year increase of over 105-percent.  Over the same period, athletics department annual expenditures progressed by nearly $3 million (83%), with elevated support for men’s programs exceeding $1 million.
 
The stepwise increase in the number of Javelina women’s varsity sport offerings and scholarships aims to incrementally reflect the percentage of female undergraduate students.  By 2020, women’s athletic scholarship funding is projected to total nearly $1.2 million, support 64.1 scholarship equivalencies across nine varsity programs, and reflect 49% of the department’s scholarship budget.  Within the same time period, all five men’s athletics programs are forecasted to reach NCAA II full equivalency and scholarship funding of nearly $1.2 million.
 
Facilities & Transportation
 
Texas A&M University-Kingsville enjoys centrally located on-campus athletic and recreational sport facilities.  The athletics department maintains three adjacent stadiums (supporting baseball, football, men’s and women’s track-field, softball) and an arena (supporting men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball).  The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation will complete preparations, bids, and approvals for the construction of new recreational sport facilities in 2016.  Primarily funded by a student recreation fee referendum passed in 2014, at completion this new recreation sport facility will feature:  eight new tennis courts, six beach volleyball courts, two football/soccer fields, two softball fields, and a modified cricket oval. 
 
The following list details Texas A&M University-Kingsville athletic facilities and their most recent improvements and additions:
 
Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field (Softball) – 2010 featured the addition of a $150,000 Daktronics scoreboard and message center, and in 2015 an infield resurfacing and construction of a new warning track.
 
Javelina Stadium (Football, Men’s and Women’s Track-Field) – In 2012, a $2.1 million renovation, funded by facility leases and economic development support, included the construction of new, polyurethane track and field surfaces, a Field Turf synthetic in-fill playing surface for football, and a renovated East Entrance featuring a retail gift shop and new ticket booths.  In 2014, the facility underwent a $2.1 million facelift to upgrade West Stands seating structures and handicap accessibility, as well as the installation of a new stadium lighting system.  In 2016, facility additions will include the $1.5 million construction of men’s and women’s restroom facilities. 
 
Nolan Ryan Field (Baseball) – 2010 featured the addition of a $250,000 Daktronics message and scoreboard, followed by the refurbishment and painting of third and first base side seating and the purchase of a new on-field batting cage in 2014.  2015 facility improvements included an infield resurfacing, the construction of a new home team bull pen, and improved lighting.  In 2016, facility additions will include the $1.5 million construction of men’s and women’s restroom facilities. 
 
Steinke Physical Education Center (Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball) – 2011 featured the creation and refurbishment of SPEC office spaces for the coaching staffs of men’s and women’s basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball.  2015 included a successful fund raising campaign to refurbish and create new locker room spaces for the men’s and women’s basketball programs.
 
Motor Coach Pool – In response to increased travel costs, in 2006, courtesy of an external contribution, the department purchased a 2007, 33-passenger GMC mini-bus, followed by the 2008 purchase of two 1999 48-passenger Prevost motor coaches.  In 2014, the department installed new flooring, upholstery, and WiFi systems in all three coaches, and in 2016 the department motor pool expanded with the purchase of two 2010 repowered Tesma 40-passenger coaches and a 2015 Tesma 56-passenger coach.