Texas–Permian Basin Falcons football
2024 Texas–Permian Basin Falcons football team
First season2016 (2016)
Athletic directorTodd Dooley
Head coachKris McCullough
2nd season, 10–2 (.833)
StadiumRatliff Stadium
(capacity: 17,931)
Year built1982
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationOdessa, Texas
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferenceLSC
All-time record35–38 (.479)
Bowl record0–1 (.000)
Playoff appearances1
Playoff record0–1 (.000)
Conference titles1 LSC (2023)
ColorsFalcon orange and black[1]
   
Fight songFighting Falcons
MascotFreddy Falcon
Websiteutpbfalcons.com

The Texas–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]

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
General Overall Conference Postseason[A 1]
No. Order of coaches[A 2] GC Games coached CW Conference wins PW Postseason wins
DC Division championships OW Overall wins CL Conference losses PL Postseason losses
CC Conference championships OL Overall losses CT Conference ties PT Postseason ties
NC National championships OT Overall 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. Name Season(s) GC OW OL O% CW CL C% PW PL DC CC NC Awards
1 Justin Carrigan[31] 2016–2022 61 25 36 0.410 11 28 0.282 0 1 – – – –
2 Kris McCullough[32] 2023–present 12 10 2 0.833 8 0 1.000 0 1 – 1 – 2023 LSC Coach of the Year

Current coaching staff

Texas–Permian Basin Falcons
NamePositionConsecutive season at Texas–Permian Basin in current positionPrevious positionUTPB profile
Ryan LusbyOffensive coordinator2ndArkansas–Monticello – Offensive coordinator (2019–2022) [33]
VacantDefensive coordinator1st
Jake MaxwellOffensive line / tight ends2ndEast Central – Co–offensive coordinator / offensive line / tight ends (2022) [34]
Blake CrandallWide receivers / passing game coordinator2ndEast Central – Running backs (2022) [35]
Alex WierzbickiDefensive line / running game coordinator2ndTexas A&M–Kingsville – Defensive line (2021–2022) [36]
Justin VictorianSafeties2ndDelta State – Graduate assistant (2022) [37]
Reference:[38]

Year-by-year results

National champions Conference champions Bowl game berth Playoff berth
Season Year Head
Coach		 Association Division Conference Record Postseason Final
AFCA
ranking
Overall Conference
Win Loss Finish Win Loss
Texas–Permian Basin Falcons
2016 2016 Justin Carrigan NCAA Division II LSC 2910th09 — —
2017 2017 29T–8th17 — —
2018 2018 298th17 — —
2019 2019 477th26 — —
2020–21 202050N/A00 — —
2021 2021 56T–5th34 L Heritage Bowl —
2022 2022 567th45 — —
2023 2023 Kris McCullough 1011st70 L NCAA Division II First Round 18
2024 2024 00—00 — —

Individual accomplishments

All-Americans

List of All-Americans showing the year won, player, position, and team
Year Player name Position Team
2019 Chris Hoad LB Second Team[39]
2020 Chris Hoad LB Second Team

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 2023 season.[40]

Opponent Won Lost Pct. Streak First meeting Latest meeting
Angelo State16.143Won 12016 2023
Central Washington11.500Won 12022 2023
Eastern New Mexico43.571Won 42016 2023
Midwestern State26.250Won 12016 2023
Oklahoma Panhandle State*01.000Lost 12016 2016
Simon Fraser*101.000Won 12022 2022
Sul Ross**11.500Lost 12016 2017
Tarleton State*04.000Lost 42016 2019
Texas A&M–Commerce*05.000Lost 52016 2021
Texas A&M–Kingsville35.375Won 12016 2023
West Texas A&M25.286Won 12016 2022
Western New Mexico62.750Won 42016 2023
Western Oregon201.000Won 22022 2023
Totals 22 38 .367

* Signifies former LSC members
** Signifies future LSC member

Bowl games

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

Season Event Opponent Result Source
2021Heritage BowlOklahoma BaptistL 21–24[41]

Playoffs

NCAA Division II

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

Year Round Opponent Result
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]

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 from the original on August 22, 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 November 24, 2009. 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 October 22, 2009. 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. ↑ "Ryan Lusby - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Jake Maxwell - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Blake Crandall - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Alex Wierzbicki - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Justin Victorian - Football Coach". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Football Coaches". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  39. ↑ "AFCA Announces 2019 Division II Coaches' All-America Team". www.afca.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Football History UTPB Athletics". UTPB Athletics. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  41. ↑ 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.
  42. ↑ "Chiefs UDFA spotlight: UTPB offensive lineman Corin Brooks". Chiefs Wire. May 16, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
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