The UHV Jaguars are the athletic teams of the University of Houston–Victoria

University of Houston–Victoria

The University of Houston–Victoria is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 20-acre in Victoria, with satellite locations at UH System centers in Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch...

. The nickname "Jaguar" originates from input by students, staff, faculty, and the local community. Playing for the first time in the 2008 season, the Jaguars field teams in baseball and softball, men's and women's golf and soccer programs. The Jaguars compete as a member of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII), which allows them a chance to compete in national championships. UHV's athletic director is Ashley Walyuchow.

Baseball

The Jaguars baseball team finished their first season nationally ranked as No. 31 by the NAIA with a 29–5 record. The Jaguars baseball team plays their home games at Riverside Stadium

Riverside Stadium (Victoria)

Riverside Stadium is a ballpark located in Victoria, Texas which is the current home of the UHV Jaguars baseball team and the Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League. It is the former home of the Victoria Rosebuds, who played in the AA classification Texas League from 1958 to 1961. The...

 in Victoria, Texas. The Jaguars baseball head coach Terry Puhl

Terry Puhl

-See also:*List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases*List of Major League Baseball players from Canada*UHV Jaguars-External links:...

 is a former outfielder for the Houston Astros

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...

 and Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

. Puhl is also a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...

 and Texas Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and manager for the Canada national baseball team

Canada national baseball team

Canada has qualified for two Olympic games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.-1984 Summer Olympics:...

. During the team's first season, former Astros manager and one of Puhl's teammates as a player for the club, Phil Garner

Phil Garner

Philip Mason Garner is a former infielder in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants from 1973 to 1988...

 became interim coach for the team as Puhl's obligation to the Canada national baseball team forced him to temporarily leave his position. Puhl eventually returned as coach.

In the final 2009 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Poll, UHV was ranked No. 35. The Jaguars captured their first Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) conference championship and earned a berth to the NAIA National Championships opening round in Lubbock.

In 2010, The Jaguars won the A.I.I.conference championship again and advance to the opening round of the National Championships coming up one win short of advancing to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, ID. In 2011, the Jaguars were runner-up at the conference tournament in Thomasville, Georgia.

Softball

The Jaguars softball team finished their first regular season nationally ranked as No. 15 by the NAIA, and received the No. 4 seed to the Region VI tournament. The Jaguars' regular season record was 30–16. The Jaguars softball team plays their home games at Burdge Field in the O'Connor Athletic Complex located in Victoria, Texas. The Jaguars are coached by Keri Lambath who was a catcher for the Houston Cougars softball

Houston Cougars softball

The Houston Cougars softball team is the college softball team of the University of Houston. The team is a member of Conference USA as a Division I team. Their home games are played at Cougar Softball Stadium on-campus. The team was established in 2001, and has been the regular season champion...

 team, and former graduate assistant coach for the George Washington Colonials

George Washington Colonials

The George Washington Colonials are the athletic teams of George Washington University. The school sponsors 21 varsity sports , the majority of which compete in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The men's and women's water polo teams compete in the Collegiate Water Polo Association and the...

.

The Jaguars won the A.I.I. conference championship and advanced to the NAIA National Championships in Decatur, Alabama but did not advance out of pool play. The Jaguars finished the 2009 season ranked No. 18 by the NAIA.

The Jaguars did not win the conference championship in 2010 or 2011.

Expansion

In November 2008, UHV announced that two more sports would be added to the athletics department. Men's and women's golf and soccer programs began in the 2010–2011 season.