Houston lawyer Joe Jamail describes Mack Brown as “the closest thing we’ve had to Darrell Royal since Darrell Royal.”

“TILLMAN HOLLOWAY AGREES WITH JOE JAMAIL

Tillman Holloway shares his story with the TLSN readers, detailing his successful recruitment to Texas under Mack Brown. A recruiting process that led Tillman Holloway and many others to Texas to rebuild the Longhorns as a football power.

Tillman earned All-American honors at Texas from 2000 to 2003.

Tillman comes from a family with a strong Longhorn sports background. At six feet tall, Sarah Holloway played volleyball for the Horns.

Tillman says about his recruitment,

Darrell Royal, Bud McFadin (grandad), and Mack Brown were all waiting for me in Mack Brown’s office on my recruiting trip. Coach Brown orchestrated the entire thing and I will never forget that day. Sitting around and listening to the heritage, friendship, and the competitive spirit that was alive and well in their hearts, made me realize how special it would be to be a part of something so much bigger than myself. Coach Brown brought the history back to Texas and reminded everyone again that, We Are Texas!

DKR and Mack Brown’s lives mirrored each other in many ways. Mack Brown was an excellent high school athlete, lettering in three sports. He was good enough to be recruited by Bear Bryant, but he instead joined his older brother at Vanderbilt and transferred to Florida State. His roommate was Hodges Mitchell, whose son played for Mack Brown at Texas. Brown suffered a severe knee injury at Florida State, ending his football career.

Mack Brown’s Coaching Chronology:

• receiver coach at Southern Mississippi for 4 years;

• one year at Memphis State ;

• three years at Iowa State;

• LSU for one year.

• In 1983, he took his first head coaching job at Appalachian State and successfully turned the program around. Mack said this was a great job that forced him to learn all facets of college football logistics, not just coaching. Mack says “they ” did everything” ordering equipment, producing the sports information media guide, teaching a class, and driving a state car;

• 1984 OU coach Barry Switzer hired him as the offensive coordinator. Years later, Barry said, “Mack was the complete package and the most talented offensive coach he was ever associated with.” Then back to head coaching at Tulane, taking a losing team to 6-5 season by 1987 with a bowl game setting school records in offense and points;

• Then he was off to North Carolina, whose high academic standards would create recruiting challenges. To make matters worse, North Carolina was known for basketball, not football. Mack turned this program around from a 1- 10 to a 10-1 and 10-2 record when Texas offered Mack the Longhorn job.

By 1997, Mack was a Longhorn. He credits DKR with his decision to leave North Carolina. Mack Brown said, ” I believe that unless Coach Royal had been involved, we would not have left (North Carolina) to come to Texas.”

Mack made very few missteps after taking the job. At his first meeting with the players, he said, “We’re not into rebuilding or running seniors off.””” inning heals more things than anything else ….. and we want to win.” His Southern accent made the small-town Texan feel welcome. He looked good in cowboy boots, a coat, and a tie, and inner-city, big-city suburbs, and rural recruits loved him.

By the time he had his first summer practices, he had delivered 93 speeches to alums, sportswriters, and high school coaches.

In Mike Roach’s book The Road to Texas, B.J. Johnson, who played for Mack, says, “At that time, there was nobody in America who was better at going into a living room and closing a deal in recruitment.”Brown may have been known as the best closer in college football, but his secret weapon in recruiting was his wife.

Coach Brown is the consummate Coach and inspirational leader.

Coach Mack Brown

Mack Brown set several NCAA records, including

• The Only University in NCAA History To Post 10 Wins A Year For 9 Consecutive Years (2001-2009)

• Texas holds the NCAA record for remaining in the top 25 for 162 Weeks (2000-2010)

• It’s the first UT team to win five bowl games in a row.

• Except for one year, he took Texas to a bowl game during his tenure

• Brown had nine years straight with double-digit wins

• Mack and Coach Royal are the only two Longhorn coaches with over 100 wins.

About Academics

UT Academia loved Mack’s comment, ” We may be in the entertainment business on the weekends, but we are in the education business during the week.”Walters said the coaching philosophy was more “teachers, not intimidators.”

In the book “One Heartbeat,” author Mack Brown says of High School Coaches:

“There is no way to put a value on what high school coaches do for kids  or on how hard their job is.  They are, like other teachers, vastly underpaid, but very important to the future of our society.” Coaches teach principles and values that extend beyond the class-room and the playing field."  "He can touch a kid's heart when nothing else can reach him. 

In the book “Echoes of Texas Football,” the author states that Brown started a Texas high school coaches clinic, which was a huge success, attracting more than 1000 coaches yearly. The coach also invited high school coaches to attend the fall practices and gave them each a complimentary pass to every home game. They came, they saw, and they returned home excited about Brown, the UT facilities, and the Longhorns.” Coach Brown is a great multi-tasker, part motivator, part psychologist, part salesman, and part football brainiac.”

About self-evaluation

Self-evaluation is the hardest thing anyone has to do. It contradicts self-image in some ways, and we all—particularly in athletics—promote a strong self-image, feeling good about ourselves, and being positive.

About Hair

Hair is not a factor in winning or losing, but it is essential in personal impressions that may last for years and affect the player’s ability to secure a job. Mack says, “It is my responsibility to let the players know everyone is constantly evaluating them.”You don’t want a player to make a life-changing decision now because they didn’t understand that their actions have consequences. Mack eventually relaxed his stance on hairstyle after listening to the team members’ requests for more options.

About Music

The coach did not disapprove of the players listening to music while warming up in the locker room, but he did reject the content of many of the songs. Mack called a team meeting and said that lyrics that talk about beating up women and police officers, or are vulgar and talk about sex and drugs, are not okay at team functions. After the meeting, the players came up with songs they could play in the pregame and in the locker room that achieved their desired effect, but without being offensive.

 Mack Brown “ we are like pieces of clay, and each person who touches us makes an impression.”  

Above -Selvin Young, Mike Garcia, Daisy Garcia, and Vince Young May 2016.

A Condensed Bullet Point History Of Texas Longhorn Football During The Brown Years Follows. Please Go To The “credit” Section Of This Website To View Books You Can Purchase From Many Fine Book Stores About Texas Longhorn Football, Or Please Visit The Official University Of Texas Longhorn Site Texassports.Com.

Coach Brown is the 28th Football Coach at Texas. DKR tells Coach Brown that since 1977, the Texas football program has looked like a box of BBs dropped on the floor. Royal says, “Everyone is going in different directions, and your job (Mack Brown) is to get the BBs back in the box.”

It is hard to believe that, as successful as the Texas Longhorn teams were from 1998 to 2003, none of them won a Big 12 championship or received a BCS offer.

Ricky Williams wants to stay for one more year, but he tells Coach Brown that the organization needs discipline. “Coach Mackovic’staff, they were like NFL guys. They gave us the game plan and said, ”play.'”

Ricky Williams decides to return for his senior year by stating, “Here are certain things money cannot buy, like camaraderie, and the team being together and loyalty. Money can’t buy those things.” “In the book The Die-Hard Fan’s Guide to Longhorn Football, an observation is made that Ricky decision to stay his senior year “changed the face of Longhorn football far beyond his senior year.”William’s return opened avenues for Mack Brown to recruit many elite athletes successfully.”

 1998-1999 record 9-3 Coach Mack Brown Final ranking 15th nationally

IN 1998, Coach Mack Brown and his assistant’s coaching and recruiting skill get the Party started.

In his first year, Brown signed 6 of the top 20 off the Austin American-Statesman.

Mack Brown’s success started in his first season. Texas won its first bowl victory in 16 years against Mississippi State. This was the first Cotton Bowl Classic broadcast by Fox. This game was the first time Texas had reached the post-season since the 1996 season.

 Bo Scaife is lost for the season with a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament.

Major Applewhite is the starting redshirt freshman quarterback. With Ricky returning, offensive coordinator Greg Davis tells Major Applewhite, “You don’t have to be spectacular; just drive the car.”

The Horns won 5 of 9 games in the last 3 minutes of the game.

Ricky Williams Wins The Heisman By The 4th Largest Margin Ever; Sets The Texas Season Record For Rushing Attempts (361); Most Yards In A Single Game (361) Against Iowa State; Most Yards For A Season (2124); Most Yards For A Career (6,279); most touchdowns in a game (6). Most 100-yard rushing games in a career (28)

Most points in a game (36) twice, most points in a season (168), and most points in a career (452).

At Ricky Williams’ request, the 1999 Cotton Bowl ring featured a tiny replica of the Heisman Trophy. This was not meant to celebrate Ricky’s accomplishment but to recognize his teammates as the true Heisman winners.

In 1998, Wayne set a school record by catching 57 passes in a single season. Additionally, Texas ended the Cornhuskers’ impressive 47-game home winning streak.

Kwame Cavil breaks the Big 12 conference single season for receptions with 100 receiving yards 1 188.

Texas convincingly beats OU, Beats #6 A&M, and breaks Nebraska’s 47-game home-game winning streak. In 1998, it was not fashionable for Texas fans to wear the team colors to the games or tailgate. Coach Brown convinces the fans to wear burnt orange attire and “elaborate” game day by tailgating. Mack’s slogan, ” One early, Be loud, Stay late,” and more lenient rules on alcohol consumption change the “culture” of pre-game and post-game activities.

 As great as the rushing game was in 1998, the passing game was better. 2931 yards through the air and 2,212 yards rushing.

Ricky sets the rushing record at “2:08 ” in the video below. In the video below, Ricky breaks Tony Dorsett’s rushing record at the “2:08 mark.” However, Ricky also had two fumbles in the game, which allowed the 6th-ranked Aggies to grab a 24-23 lead. Kris Stockton had to save the game with a 24-yard field goal.

Kris  Stockton Holds The Season Record For Field Goal Attempts (30).

Texas beat Mississippi State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan 1, 1999, 38-11.

1999-2000 Record 9-5. Coach Mack Brown is a master at Semantics. Mack says, ” We never have weaknesses. We have areas of concern.”

Bill Little says about the 1999 recruiting class, “Welcome to the neighborhood.”

The national recruiting services ranked the Longhorns’ 1999 recruiting class as the best in the country. Mack was proud of the 1999 class and stated that these players laid the concrete foundation necessary for the Horns to move to the best football neighborhood.

The Texas talent pool for varsity players was fragile in 1999, so many newcomers were able to make the starting lineup. There would be victories and joy – the 1999 recruiting class won two Big 12 South Division Championships, and they played in four bowl games.

However, they would also witness heartache, both on and off the field. When they were only freshmen, they saw tragedy for the first time when the Texas A&M Bonfire collapsed in 1999, killing many young students. In spring 2001, it would come even closer to home when a teammate died in a car accident on his way back to school from home……. For some, it would be the first funeral they ever attended.

#18 Texas hands #3 Nebraska their only loss for the season 24 to 20. 

Texas ‘ defense pressured Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch into three consecutive incomplete passes on the final drive, and the Longhorns secured their first victory over a Top Five-ranked opponent in Austin since 1990.

It was the 3rd consecutive victory over Nebraska.

Applewhite states, “Football’s so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it’s (Football) a social, on the East Coast, it’s a culture. Here, iit’sa religion.””Final ranking 21st nationally

Major Applewhite Is the 1999 CO Offensive Player Of The Year in the  Big 12. He also holds The Texas Season Record For the Fastest Longhorn To Reach 2000 Yards (7 Games), Consecutive Passes Without An Interception (156), Longest Touchdown Pass (97 Yards To Wayne McGarity), Most Consecutive 200 Yard Passing Games In A Season (11) And In A Career (21).

Victor Ike is tied with Eric Metcalf for the longest reception (80 yards)

The track at Memorial Stadium is removed.

Dusty Renfro says, “Total domination. It’s the only way to go.”Roger Roesler is an All-American (no image).

 Aaron Humphrey leads the team in quarterback pressures all four years.

Applewhite blows out his left knee in a 27-6 Cotton Bowl loss to Arkansas.   By 1999, the major bowl games were offering each team 1.5 million dollars or more.

The 1999 CCG was part of the sour ending to an otherwise great season. On the heels of losing Ricky and then coming out flat on special teams against NC State, we rebounded well and made our way from unranked to top-ten. The NU game at home was one of the loudest I've been to.

Then there was the Bonfire disaster, the Ramada not feeding us, Major with the stomach bug, the "Appleturnover" game in San Antonio, finished up by Kwame and Hump getting busted for weed the morning of the Cotton Bowl. Ugh.  Horns 11

2000-2001 9-3 Coach, Mack Brown’s Honeymoon is over OU 63-14

2000 represents the 3rd year in a row the Horns won nine or more games. This is the first time since Coach Akers’steams from 1981-1983 accomplished this goal. The 2000 recruiting class included 4 Parade All-Americans and 6 USA Today All-Americans.

The best five years (2000-2005) in the history of Longhorn Sports begin. During this period, the men’s and women’s Basketball teams reached the final four, the baseball team won two national championships, and Texas football won a national championship. 

This year pits Applewhite, the Rocket scientist, against Simms, the flame thrower. The player consensus is that Major is the thinker, and Chris is the athlete.

Applewhite’s knee is at 100%, but Simms gets his first start as a Longhorn. Chris throws an interception that is returned for a touchdown. After that play, Coach Brown pulls Chris. Over the next three games, Coach Brown splits playing time for both quarterbacks. However, after the OU game, Simms is officially demoted. Four weeks later, Applewhite sprains his right knee against Texas Tech, and SSimm’s exile ends.

Chris struggles against Kansas the next week again, throwing another interception that is returned for a touchdown.

With Applewhite on crutches on the sideline, Chris finally settles down and begins to win.

The problem with trying to be perfect- please see Chris Simms in the 2000 T-Ring reflection section.

There is a quarterback controversy, and the conflict dominates the headlines and splits the Longhorn fan base.

Coach Brown says, “Having two great quarterbacks is not a problem. It’s a good situation, and I’ve been there. Everybody talks about, ”Which one is going to play?”But the truth is, both of them are really good and can win.”

LEFTY VS RIGHTY – SIMMS VS APPLEWHITE AS TOLD BY THEIR RECEIVER B.J. JOHNSON

B.J. says “Lefty threw the football hard as hell and was 6’5”, and then there was the short guy that was a righty that threw you a nice little loaf of bread and very easy to catch. B.J. continues, some of the players were like, “ I know if Major gets in and Coach Davis calls the play, and Major doesn’t like it.” Major would say, “We’re not going to run that. This is what we’re going to run.”

On the other hand, “Simms was going to run it (Davis’s play) because that’s just what he does – stick to the script, and there was nothing wrong with that. But with Major, it’s just like, ‘No, I’m trying to win this damn game. That’s not what we’re doing.”

Quotes are from the book “The Road to Success” by Mike Roach.

Final ranking 12th nationally

 The 2000 team and the 1942 team hold the Texas season record for most forced punts (96) 

Hodges Mitchell sets the single-game record for most rushing attempts (45) against Texas Tech and most all-purpose yards (375) against Kansas.

Mack says one of his saddest coaching moments occurred when Hodges suffered a career-ending knee injury in the Holiday Bowl. Mack said, ” File team members contributed skills, brawn, and brains to the team. Hodges was always the heart. “Leonard Davis is a consensus-first-team All-American, a finalist for the Outland Trophy, and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Trophy.

Roy Williams is the 2000 offensive Freshman of the Year for Big 12

Longhorns lose 35-30 Holiday Bowl to Oregon. B.J. Johnson says “that he and Roy Williams stunk it up in the bowl game and dropped some balls against Oregon that could have won the game.”

Big Changes on defense this year

The spread offenses in the Big 12 forced UT to recruit speed. Mack says, “I’m Not a game for slow guys anymore.” Cornerbacks moved to safety, safeties to linebackers, linebackers to defensive end, and ends to tackles.

Casey Hampton

Casey Hampton- Defensive player of the year for Big 12 in 2000

Casey was the first defensive tackle to lead the team in tackles two years in a row.

Below is a quote from Bill Little’s article called “Quiet Man” “written in 2013 about Mack Brown and Casey Hampton

It is a familiar story that Mack Brown often tells. He was so frustrated with his team after a loss to Oklahoma that he told Royal, “Coach, my team quit.”

“No”,” “Darrell said, almost echoing the words of Arnold so many years before. ” Some players may have given up, and it may look like that. But some of your guys may have gone out and played the best games of their careers.”

“Mack tells that story to laud all-American and all-Pro Casey Hampton, who did precisely what Royal described in the game.

The Texas Longhorns lost the 2000 Culligan Holiday Bowl game to the Ducks from the Pac 10. The 27-22 defeat ended UT’s season at 9-3.

The Recruiting of Rod Babers.

Rod grew up a fan of Florida State, but he eventually decided that he wanted to play in the state of Texas so his family could attend the games. Where to attend college became clearer for Rod when he participated in the Texas Relays at the high school level he loved the U.T. campus and the city of Austin. In addition, Rod says one of the key influences on his decision to sign with Texas was Heisman trophy winner Ricky Williams and Mack Brown, who brought family values back to the team instead of playing football as a science as coached by analytically minded Coach Mackovic. While MaMackovic’science football classes brought some highs to the program, science brought many more lows to Longhorn football.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that the 1967 recruiting class, which more or less eliminated intimidating hazing at Texas, and Babers’ 1999-2003 class, which focused more on mentoring teammates instead of intimidating them, are responsible for the 1969, 1970, and 2005 national championships. Rod Babers says, “They wanted to show us how we should treat the young guys coming in after us.”” ack cultivated this mentorship program.

Rod signed up with Texas and roomed with Chris Simms.

Rod has extraordinary memories of many friends, including Chris Simms, Bo Scaife, Montrell Flowers, and Kyle Shanahan. Rod says one of the key influences on his decision to sign with Texas was Heisman trophy winners Ricky Williams and Mack Brown, who brought family values to the team instead of the science of football, which depended on analytics to win games. Mackovic was not a people person per se, and his science brought some highs but many lows to Texas football.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that the 1967 recruiting class, which more or less eliminated intimidating hazing at Texas, and BaBabers’lass, which focused more on mentoring teammates instead of intimidating them, are a primary reason that the 1998-2000 class built the foundation for the 2005 national championship. Rod Babers says, “They wanted to show us how we should treat the young guys coming in after us.” “Jack cultivated mentorship by promoting the team family.”

“

2001-2002  11-2 Coach Mack Brown’seam finished 5th in the country, its first top-10 season in 18 years.

Bad decisions and bad luck in the Big 12 Championship game cost the Horns a chance at winning the National Championship.

The 2001 recruiting class included Cedric Benson, Jonathan Scott, Michael Huff, and Derrick Johnson.

Aggies had won 15 of 18 games against Texas at Kyle Field. Chris Simms is instrumental in changing that trend.

Chris Simms set a school record with 10 consecutive completions, and he ended the day 21 of 26 for 224 yards.

The team had the top pass efficiency in the country.

All the Horns had to do was beat Colorado, a team they beat earlier in the year 40-7 in the Big 12 championship game. Coach Brown told the group that since #2, Florida had lost a spot open for the national championship game. Texas lost 39-37. Cedric Benson and Mike Williams suffered a season-ending injury after a freak play where they hit each other trying to tackle a Colorado player. Texas played Washington in the Holiday Bowl, and Major Applewhitewass was the starter. Major engineered the biggest comeback ever in Texas football history as of the 2001 season. Major Applewhite sets the Holiday Bowl record against Washington, and Derrick Johnson is the defensive MVP.

Browne named Applewhite the starter for the Holiday Bowl. The Horns beat the Washington Huskies, their first win in an out-of-state bowl game since 1965. This team deserved better. It was an unsatisfying end to an incredible 11-win season.

Final ranking 5th nationally

The 2001 and 2002 teams hold the Texas record for fewest fumbles in a season (5). 

Shaun Rogers was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and a second-round draft pick who played 13 years in the NFL.

 For the first time in 20 years, the Longhorns are in the top 10 @ #5.

Roy Williams set a bowl record with 11 catches in the Holiday Bowl. It was their first 11-game winning season in 18 years.

2002- 2003- 11-2 “TAKE DALLAS BACK” “coach Mack Brown – 6th Nationally

The 2002 recruiting class played a significant factor in the 2005 National Championship. In Geoff Ketchum’s book “The Die Hard Fan’s Guide to Longhorn Football,” he states that the 2002 recruiting class had six 5-star high school recruits, 13 Longhorn starters, 10 All-Big 12 selections, 5 All Americans, two major award winners, and 9 NFL players. After 2002, it took UT five years to attract six more 5-star high school athletes.

Texas takes “Dallas back” “after losing five straight Cotton Bowls by beating LSU.

Roy Williams and quarterback Chris Simms represented a wealth of talent for the Horns, who beat LSU in the Cotton Bowl. 35-20.  

However, many fans were unhappy with Mack losing to OU all the time, saying Mack Brown was more gifted at recruiting than coaching. He was a great guy but not a great coach. Fans were concerned Mack Brown might become the Minnesota Vikings of college football—a perpetual also-ran. Mack was recruiting good kids—no thugs, no outlaws. But the fans didn’t tire him to be a sweetheart. He was hired to bring some hardware home.

Against O.U Roy Williams, B.J. Johnson, Sloan Thomas made zero touchdowns against O.U. Cedric Benson made one touchdown, but he never rushed more than 100 yards in a single game. Chris Simms had eight interceptions and zero touchdowns against O.U.

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis got most of the blame for the losses. The fans said Coach Davis shrank like cheap Cotton against O.U.

DKR understood Mack’s quandary, telling Coach Brown, “You have to enjoy the wins and handle the losses.” Brown agreed, “If you are relieved after wins and devastated after losses, then you never, ever have a good day.” “Mack Brown always took the high road to win. His commitment when he took the coaching job at Texas was to win with great players who are good students. Mack Brown did not want to win like the great Miami teams in the 1990s with thugs, which a Texas fan calls them in the book Echoes of Texas Football.  

Coach Brown was a moral man in the violent, corrupt world of big-time college sports. H” has an open heart and embraces his coaches and players, says one Longhorn fan. “T”e players desire to please him.” “

Texas wins 11 games and beats Nebraska again to snap the Huskers’ six-game home winning streak. Nathan Vasher had a game-winning interception that ended Nebraska’s comeback.

Rod Wright’s cousin was Cedric Woodard. If not for Madd Dog’s relationship with Rod Wright, he probably would not have been a Longhorn. Rod was recruited by defensive end Kalen Thornton, Marcus Tubbs, and Cory Redding.

2003-2004- 10-3 RECORD – COACH MACK BROWN suffers more scrutiny from the fans after a loss to Washington State in the Holiday Bowl

With all the accolades surrounding Vince’s years at Texas, fans have forgotten that 2003 was a challenging year for him. The 25-year Longhorn scoring streak ended this year when OU beat the Vince Young Longhorns 12-0. In the Missouri game, Vince hurt his sternum and exited the game with 19 yards passing, three completions, and two interceptions in 9 attempts. Chance Mock won that game 28-20. The strong-armed Chance Mock had to relieve Vince 3 times in 9 games. After Chance relieved Vince in a losing cause in the Holiday Bowl against Washington State, the fans began to whisper. Vince’s throwing motion is sub-par and hurting the passing game. Chance Mock was a better passer.

Texas modifies the offense by adding a zone read, bootleg, quarterback draw, and plays in which Vince is a running back at the quarterback position.

Chance Mock Enters Texas Football History With A Touchdown Pass To B.J. Johnson With Only 46 Seconds Remaining To Beat Texas Tech. He Holds The Longhorn Season Record For Fewest Pass Interceptions (2).

Only Vince Young’s greatness keeps Chance Mock from setting many records as a quarterback at Texas. Young will prove to be the most dynamic quarterback since Michael Vick. Mack says with Young, “Plays are never dead; games are never over.”

Roy” Williams returns for his senior year because “I wasn’t the best receiver in the nation last year; [Michigan State’s Charles Rogers was,” said Williams. “I gotta make it right.” Roy commits to making himself better. Chance Mock says, “His method is to make things as hard for himself as possible at practice to prepare for game day. “

Mack Brown also told the fans to expect more running and play action in 2003 and more zone coverage from the talented secondary.

Final ranking 12th nationally

Larry Dibbles says, “I like to dominate, and frankly, looking at me is a scary sight.”

OU assistant coaches tell Arkansas assistant coaches to be very physical, and the Longhorns will give up. Arkansas beats Texas 38-28. 

Phillip Geiggar saves the win against Kansas State by forcing a fumble on QB Eli Roberson. Vince Young (2nd team) was given the call and led the team 88 yards for the game-winning drive. 

Aaron Ross won the Thorpe Award for best defensive back and was inducted into the Hall of Honor in 2016.

OU’s loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game cost Texas a BCS bid.

Vince Young and Cedric Benson each ran for 150 yards or more against Nebraska.  No other tandem in UT history has accomplished that feat in a game.

Two Horns have recorded three consecutive 1000-yard rushing seasons- Cedric Benson and Chris Gilbert.

Ricky Williams is the only Longhorn running back to accomplish the feat four times.

From Wikipedia

AIAW/NCAA Tournament champion1981, 1988, 2012, 2022AIAW/NCAA

Tournament runner-up1995, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2020*AIAW/NCAA

Tournament semifinal1981, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020*, 2022

AIAW/NCAA Regional Final1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020*, 2021, 2022

AIAW/NCAA regional semifinal1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020*, 2021, 2022

AIAW/NCAA Tournament appearance 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020*, 2021, 2022

Conference tournament champion SWC
1992, 1993, 1995Conference regular season championSWC
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995

Big 12
1997, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

* Tournament played in spring 2021; season officially labeled “2020–21” by the NCAA

Olympians

1981-1995 Coach Mick Haley

Mick Haley is a great volleyball technician, a team motivator, and a consummate teacher. More importantly, education for the students came first, and athletics were second in importance to Coach Haley. Students needed to pass classes before they earned the right to achieve athletic excellence.

• NCAA tournament starts in 1982

• 522-137-1 won loss record

• 4- trips to the NCAA semi-finals

• 6 trips to the NCAA regional final

• 4 trips to the Final four

• 1988 National Champions

• twice named coach of the year

• Olympic Coach for the 2000 Summer Games

• 15 All-Americans

• 95% graduation rate

• 12 SWC titles

• 14 years @ Texas

Coach Haley was known for his conditioning drills and his technical techniques .

After the Olympics Coach Haley is hired by USC. A link to their site about Mick Haley is below

http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/111703aaa.html

1980-1981 – 40-16 Coach Mick Haley ranked 15 nationally.

Mick Haley says his team still doesn’t know how to be winners. They are now just getting into the habit.

1980 – Mick Haley is hired to coach the Horns. The team won the SWC but did not qualify for the AIAW national tournament. Texas is seeded 3rd at the TAIAW state volleyball tourney. At the AIAW regional tournament, they lose to UT Arlington. However, the Horns reached their highest seeding in Texas volleyball.

The Horns finished with a 40-16 record and 7th in the Southwest Intercollegiate Athletics Association women’s tournament. It was their highest winning record ever for the Horns.

Joe Beth Palmer signed a scholarship in track as a shot putter, but gravitated to volleyball.

Micks philosophy

1) I help players meet their own needs and mold them into the team’s needs.

2) You should never give an opponent the chance to beat you by stopping one player

3) There’s somewhat of an art to winning. When you think you’ll win once and a while, you win sometimes. You often don’t win when you think you can upset a team.

Horns were demolished by the Japanese Sony team, but Texas learned a lot about using finesse and deception to win games.  Texas won the SWC championship, but did not qualify for the National meet.  Kim Thomas, Irma Sanchez, setter Sally Schlobohm, and Trudie Richards led the way in 1980.

1981-1982  60-6- Coach Mick Haley – AIAW National Champs

NCAA tournament play does not begin until 1982. The AIAW crowns the 1981 National Champion Longhorns – not the NCAA.

The University of Texas women’s volleyball program blossomed into a national powerhouse in just two years under head coach Mick Haley. In 1981, Mick Haley led the Longhorns to an Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national title.

Sally Schlobohm, Jo Beth Palmer, Jenny Hayes, Leslie Lucas, Nell Fortner, and Sharon Neugebauer lead the Longhorn team.

Four members of this team are recognized as All-Americans. Schlobohm and Hayes are named to the AIAW All-America team. Palmer earns All-America distinction in the discus, and Sharon Neugebauer, as a freshman, earned All-America honors as a member of UT’s national champion 3,200-meter relay team.

Katrina Dornseifer was the team’s MVP for the year.

1982-1983 31-15 – Coach Mick Haley  SWC Champs – regional semi-finals 16th in the nation

This team sets the record for total blocks in a season. ( 512)

Longhorns have injuries to overcome this year, with Nell Fortner and Katrina Dornseifer lost early in the season. Freshman Laura Neugebauer and Ava Mercer step up to replace them for the year.

The largest crowd to ever see a Longhorn volleyball game was against Texas A & M; 3,000 fans attended.

The team wins the SWC and is invited to the NCAA as a 13th seed, losing to 4th seed Stanford.  The volleyball fan base is growing as the teams improve.

Lisa Denker- All-American

Lisa Denker holds the season record at Texas for service aces (100)

1983-1984- 33-9

Coach Mick Haley- regional semi-finals

The 1983 Longhorns went 33–9 overall, 10–0 in the Southwest Conference, won multiple major invitationals, and reached the NCAA regional semifinal, marking one of the earliest deep NCAA tournament runs in program history.

Texas faced ranked opponents such as #3 Stanford, #6 Cal Poly, #12 San Jose State, #17 Arizona State, #14 Tennessee, #7 SDSU, #3 UCLA, and #13 BYU.

Their undefeated 10–0 SWC record made them conference champions — part of a long streak of SWC dominance (Texas won the SWC regular season title every year from 1982–1993).

1984 -1985 – 32-7- Coach Mick Haley- 9th in the nation- regional finals

The 1984 Texas Longhorns women’s volleyball team was one of Mick Haley’s early NCAA-era powerhouses — a 32–7 squad that dominated the Southwest Conference, went 9–1 in league play, and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final, continuing the program’s rise toward its eventual 1988 national championship.

• Texas won the 1981 AIAW national championship, and by 1984 they were consistently advancing deep into the postseason.
• The 1984 season sits between Final Four appearances in 1986, 1987, and 1988, showing how close the program was to breaking through to national title contention.

This team sets the Longhorn season record for kills (2187)

1985-1986 – 26-6– Coach Mick Haley- regional finals 9th in the Nation

The 1985 Texas Longhorns women’s volleyball team was one of Mick Haley’s early NCAA-era powerhouses — a squad that went 26–6 overall, 10–0 in the Southwest Conference, finished 1st in the SWC, and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final

1986- 1987 – 29-6– Coach Mick Haley First time to final 4

Texas finished 29–6, went 10–0 in the Southwest Conference, defeated multiple top‑5 opponents, and reached the 1986 NCAA Final Four, placing third nationally. Texas played one of the toughest schedules in the country in 1986, facing Stanford (#1) twice, UCLA (#5) twice, Nebraska (#5), Illinois (#10), Pepperdine (#20), Georgia (#20), LSU (#16), Cal Poly (#12), and SDSU (#1).

1987-1988 – 25-10 COACH Haley – Final 4 APPEARANCES

This team played the hardest schedule in UT volleyball history as of 1988 and reached the Final 4. The 1987 Texas Longhorns volleyball season was one of the strongest of the Jerritt Elliott–era predecessors, marked by a 25–10 overall record, a perfect 10–0 Southwest Conference run, and a deep NCAA Tournament push that ended in a five‑set thriller against Stanford.

Haley said it was his most fun team to coach because the players were conscientious, skilled, focused, and disciplined in training habits.

1988-1989 – 34-5 Coach Haley National Champions

Texas went 34–5, 10–0 in the SWC, swept the entire NCAA Tournament without dropping a single set. Texas swept Hawaii for the National Championship.

The team only returned two starters from last year’s final 4 team. Pacific beat them again, and then UCLA did the same. The Horns win 33 conference games and a 6th consecutive SWC. Haley says this team is one of his best because of their training, skills, and eating habits.

First non-Pacific volleyball team to win the Final Four.

Haley said beating the West Coast teams was a “time-warp, quantum leap victory “ for the rest of the country.

Coach Haley says “Every coach reaches a career point when he or she plays a match to accomplish something as much as to get a win.  You need to get something out of every match, even the losses.   Haley says about his teaching philosophy “ I believe in a healthy lifestyle, intensity, and execution. Haley excels in managerial skills and tactical knowledge.

Before playing the undefeated UCLA team the Horns had to practice around final exams.  Haley said this team had one of the highest GPAs this year.

Dawn Davenport

Dawn Davenport is named to the SWC player of the decade for the 80s, NCAA National Player of the Year, and in 1989 received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Dawn Davenport says, “ If you’re constantly thinking, I’ve got to get my stats up to be an All-American. I’ve got to play well here to get this honor, then you’re going to take away from the team, and without the team, you can’t get any award at all. It can be the death of you and your team if you concentrate on those awards.”
A rule change in the high school UIL allowed kids to spend more time outside of school to play volleyball.

Dawn Davenport is a first-team All-American. Katie Salen and Sue Schelfhout make the all-tournament team. Dagmara Szyszczak breaks a record for digs and Dawn Davenport sets a school record of .322 hitting percentage.

This team holds the season record for digs (2449), sweeps in a season (26), and Big 12 winning streak (44).

First non-Pacific volleyball team to win the Final Four. Dawn Davenport is a first-team All-American. Katie Salen and Sue Schelfhout make the all-tournament team. Dagmara Szyszczak breaks a record for digs and Dawn Davenport sets a school record of .322 hitting percentage.

This team holds the season record for digs (2449), sweeps in a season (26), assists (1859), and winning streak (44).

This team is the first team in Division I Volleyball to defeat every opponent in the NCAA tournament 3-0.

1989-1990 27-10- Coach Mick Haley win SWc – regional finals

Nikkie Busch was the team leader with 408 kills and 3 kills per game. She made the All-SWC first team. Errica Hibben had 53 solo blocks and 133 block assists.

1989 photo above is volleyball Nikki Busch, Errica Hibben, Annette Garza, Nikki Busch again.

The volleyball team won the SWC with a perfect season. Horns finished 3rd in a Hawaii tournament, with Dagmara Szyszczak making the all-tournament team. The Lady Longhorns advanced to the South Region finals but lost to the UT-Arlington Mavericks at the national tournament.

1990- 1991 – 31-4  Coach Mick Haley- Regional finals

The Horns started off with a 26-0 record, and Haley won his 600th game. Then the Horns fell to Nebraska and Stanford. The season ended with a loss to LSU in the NCAA playoffs.

The team starts strong with 26 wins in a row and a SWC championship but is surprised by LSU in the regional finals.

TOP SONG

 7th in the nation

This team holds the Longhorn  record for longest  winning streak (26)

1991-1992 – 20-10- Coach Mick Haley 11th in the nation- Regional semi-finals

By 1991, Longhorn volleyball had ten consecutive appearances in the NCAA volleyball championship. Advancing to the Final 4 three times, winning it all in the NCAA in 1988 and the AIAW national championship in 1981. Coach Haley was the driving force for 14 All-Americans, 47 All-SWC selections, 10 SWC players of the year, and ten consecutive SWC titles. He attributes the success to depth, leadership, schedule, and fan support. Nikki Busch was SWC player of the year.

Coach Haley recognized three seniors as team leaders. Nikki Busch was an All-American and SWC player of the year. Janine Gremmel became the third-leading attacker in Texas history, leading the team in career digs with 1541. Missy Kurt was a team player and gave herself up for the team.

Annette Garza led the team with 381 kills. Pfluger had 31 service aces. Errica Hibben played on the South team at the 1990 Olympic festival.

Donna Lopiano says, “Mick Haley’s real gift is understanding the technical aspect of the game to make the team superior.” In 1991, Nikki Busch was an All-American and SWC player of the year. Janine Gremmel is the third-leading attacker in Longhorn history. Haley says there are four tenets to volleyball success: depth, leadership, schedule, and fans.

Horns lose to Florida in the semifinals of the NCAA South Regional finals.

1992 -1993 – 29-6- Coach Mick Haley- regional finals

Mick Haley won his 400th victory at Texas on Oct. 7th, beating Texas A&M. Horns to make their 11th consecutive appearance in the NCAA and win their 11th consecutive SWC championship. Katy Jameyson is SWC player of the year. Errica Hibben makes the All-Conference team, and Heather Pfluger makes the All-SWC academic team.

The 1991 Texas Longhorns volleyball team still dominant in the Southwest Conference, still nationally relevant, but no longer the unstoppable juggernaut of 1986–1990. It’s a transitional season between the late‑80s dynasty and the powerhouse rebuild that would peak again in 1992–1995.

Boyz to Men were popular in 1992 – top Song

Errica Hibben holds the Longhorn career record for total blocks (531) and block assists (414)

1993-1994  – 31-3- Coach Mick Haley – Regional finals

Coral Noonan-Terry was the “feature twirler from 1993-2001. ” She says the atmosphere at volleyball games was so exciting, and the athletes were awesome.

Jameson writes Coach Haley and said she wants to be a Longhorn. Katy Jameson missed some of the year with iron deficiency. Carrie Bush says that Haley will push you to the edge but only because he knows you can do it. Nikki and Carrie Bush are siblings on Haley’s team and both make major contributions to the team.

1994-1995 – 23-10 – Coach Mick Haley NCAA second roung

Texas made the NCAA tournament in 1994 but did not reach the regional semifinal, breaking a long streak of deeper postseason runs. 1994 sits in the late‑SWC period, just before the 1995 team surged to an NCAA runner‑up finish

1995 – 1996- 28-7- Coach Mick Haley Runners up to National CHAMPIONSHIP

This was the first time in Mick Haley’s 16-year career at Texas that the Longhorns did not begin their season with a win.  It was the first time in Longhorn volleyball history that Texas dropped three consecutive matches.  The Horns had lost to Hawaii, UCLA, and Minnesota, but the Horns finally found their groove and played Nebraska for the National championship.

1996-1997 – 23-7- Coach Mick Haley Regional semi-finals

11th in the nation

Texas and Nebraska break the Longhorn volleyball attendance record in Austin. ( 6,385)

• 84-38 record

• Made the NCAA tournament 3 of 4 years

• Big 12 Champion

• 4 years @ Texas

1997-1998 record 25-7- – Coach Jim Moore ; ranked 10th in the nation

Texas won the Big 12 and advanced to its 16th straight NCAA tournament.

TOP SONG

1998-1999 – 27-5 – Coach Jim Moore pending 8th ranked

Demetria Sance is a three-time All-American and 1997 Big 12 conference player of the year.  She is the all-time kills leader with 1500.   Texas received an at-large bid to the 1998 NCAA volleyball national tournament.  It was Texas 17 straight trip to the NCAA tournament.  Long Beach State kept the Horn from reaching the final 4.

The remodel of Gregory gym is completed

1999-2000- 22-8– Coach Jim Moore pending ranked 18th

Texas loses to the University of Arizona at home in the NCAA regionals. Still, It was Texa’s 26th consecutive 20 -win season and UT’S 18th straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.  .  Jill Gremmel set the UT record for 1400 plus assists in back to back years. Texas finished 3rd in the Big 12 tournament. Texas 46 game winning streak against Baylor is over. Baylor beats  Texas for the first time in Volleyball school history.

 Erin Aldrich was the super star on the team her senior year.  She was the 12th Longhorn named to the All-American team

Aldrich is not only a three-time NCAA champion in the high jump but also an All-America middle blocker for Texas’s No. 12-ranked volleyball team.

“I’m convinced Erin could be the best volleyball player who has ever played in this country,” says Texas coach Jim Moore. “She’s so good already, and she only does it four or five months a year. She has gifts for volleyball that no one has ever had.” However, Aldrich says she enjoys individual sports (high jump) more than team sports. In Sports, Illustrated Erin is quoted as saying, “I find myself in volleyball being so focused on what I need to do, and a little bit closed off from my teammates.” She says about the volleyball team “Our biggest problem is holding each other accountable. ” Aldrich says. “If somebody makes a bad play, we don’t look at her and say, ‘You need to get that ball.’ Instead, we’re like ‘O.K., guys, we’ll do better.’ We are so nice to each other; I can’t believe it. It’s just crazy how cohesive we are. We are way too cohesive.” Many who know Erin say they have never met anyone as competitive as her.” Her years as a Longhorn were focused on school and competing. There was little time for socializing with her schedule and goals. Sports were the focus of her life, and she confirmed that statement in 1999 when she said: “I do believe and hope that I can hold the world record in the high jump.”

Longhorns are having a party  Splishing and Splashing to national championships

1979- To Present Eddie Reese

Athletic Director Coach Darrell K. Royal made many wise decisions in hiring coaches for Texas. Cliff Gustafson, Abe Lemons, and Eddie Reese are three of them. DKR, the most accomplished coach in UT history, did not know it when he hired a man who would take the mantle from him.

For those who know him, his secret to success is intuition, brains, and a magnetic personality. Reese is a long term thinker always five years ahead of the game. Alcalde tells the story of how Shaun Jordan, who after placing 3rd in the state high school meet, thought his career was over, but Reese saw a beautiful stroke and asked Shaun to walk-on at Texas.

The rest is Longhorn’s swimming history and is explained in detail in this chronological history of Longhorn swimmers at Texas.

NCAA Championship (1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2016,2017)

Kubick says of Reese, “He is a brilliant human being. “He’s brilliant at reading people and understanding them. Alcalde says Reece has a “combination of smarts, intuition, hard work, and a dash of serendipity.”

Tony Scott is an All American

• His teams win an amazing 32 consecutive conference titles from 1980 through 2017.

• He coaches 42 individual NCAA champions, 204 All-Americans, and 26 Olympians who have won 29 gold medals.

• 1992 he is the coach of the men’s swimming team at the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

• Voted NCAA Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year eight times: 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2001.

• ASCA (American Swim Coaches’ Association )Coach of the Year in 1991, 2005, 2006, and 2009.

• In 1991, he won the coveted CSCA award for the coach who contributed the most to the sport of swimming.

• Reese was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2002 and the Hall of Honor in 1996.

• In 2002, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Eddie Reese developed the “wheels” method, which involved a swimmer pulling himself up the Ramps at Memorial Stadium on a 2 x 4 plank with lawn mower wheels on the back.

1978-1979-Coach Eddie Reese 4-4

Eddies first year was the year football scholarship numbers were cut so swimmers got the full Swimming scholar allotment.

Media, programs, and magazines from Eddie Reese era are depicted in a slide show below.

SMU maintains its edge over the Longhorn men’s swim team by beating them for the 23rd consecutive time.  John Henry, Gary Grimsby, Ned Stack, and Duncan Hawthorn set a school record in the 400 relays, and John Kenny sets a school record in the 200 butterfly.

Tony Scott and Kelly Rives are All Americans

The 1980’s

During the 1980s, the Longhorns claimed three NCAA team titles (1981, 1988, 1989) and all 10 Southwest Conference crowns. In 1981, just three years after taking over the Texas program, Reese captured his first national team championship. From 1981 to 1986, Texas turned in two NCAA runner-up performances (1982, 1984) and placed third in the national meet three times (1983, 1985, 1986).

After Reese’s fifth-place showing at the NCAAs with Texas in 1987, the Longhorns closed the decade strong, reeling off back-to-back titles in 1988 and 1989. TexasSports.com

1980-Coach Eddie Reese 6-3

The 80’s belonged to the Longhorns

Team finishes only 12 points behind the Cal Berkeley national champions.

After 23 consecutive years of losing to SMU the Longhorns finally win the SWC. Swimmers win 12 of 18 events at the SWC meet setting one American record, 7 conference records, and 10 school records.

Clay Britt is the first Longhorn ever in the history of Longhorn swimmers to win an individual NCAA National Championship. He sets an American record in the 100 backstroke.

Clay Brit’s accomplishments include:

• 3-time NCAA 100 yard Backstroke Champion, 1980,81,82

• American Record 100 yard Backstroke, 1981

• 3 time NCAA 400 Medley Relay Champion, 1980,1981,1982

• Member 1982 US World Championships Swim Team in Equador

• Member US World University Games Swim Team 1981 in Romania

Clay Brit is now a Master Swim Instructor

Clay Brit, Scott Spann, Nick Nevid (no picture), and (Kris Kircher) are the first Longhorns to ever win the national championship in a relay event.

1981 Coach Eddie Reese National Champions 6-2

1981: UT CAPTURES FIRST NATIONAL TITLE
Event Champions:
– 100 butterfly
– 100 backstroke
– 50 freestyle
– 400 medley relay
– 400 free relay

Co- Captains were Scott Spann and Kris Kirchner.

After finishing a school-best second at the 1980 NCAA Championships, the Longhorns enter the ’81 season as the favorite to claim their first-ever national crown. Not only did they do just that, but they did it at their own pool. Scott Spann (100 butterfly) Clay Britt (100 backstroke) and Kris Kirchner (200 freestyle) each win titles as Texas outdistanced runner-up UCLA 259-189.

The Horns break school records in 6 events and SWC records in all relays.  At the national meet the Longhorns set three American records, two U.S. records, and two NCAA records.

Reese is named Coach of the year.

William Paulus Olympics 1980

At the University of Texas under Coach Eddie Reese, Paulus is a four-year all-American, five-time SWC champion, two-time NCAA champion and helps the Longhorns win their first-ever NCAA Championship in 1981. In 1980 he sets the world record and qualifies for the United State’s Olympic swim team; however, he did not attend the Olympics due to the U.S.’s boycott.

Kris Kirchner is the first Longhorn to ever win the NCAA Championship in the 50 free

Scott Spann is the first Longhorn to ever win the NCAA Championship in the 100 butterfly

1982-Coach Eddie Reese 7-1 Team finished 2nd to UCLA

1983-Coach Eddie Reese 5-2 THIRD AT THE ncaa MEET

1981- 1985 Matt Scoggin is an Olympian diver for Texas under Mike Brown. . Matt will become the Head Diving Coach at Texas in 1996.

1984-Coach Eddie Reese 7-2 Team was second at NCAA’s

At the SWC meet the Horns won the first 10 of 11 events in routing SMU.  The 400 yard medley relay consisting of Carey, May, Rives, and Ellison said a best time nationally for the year.

Rick Carey is the first Longhorn swimmer since 1936 to win an Olympic gold medal

Rick Carey is the first Longhorn to ever win the NCAA Championship in the 100 and 200 backstroke. He won in American record times.

Rick Carey – Olympics 1980 -1984

Rick Carey wins  the NCAA championship in the 200 backstroke three years in a row and the 100 back two years in a row.

Rick was the fastest back stroker in the world while he was a Longhorn. Setting records at the Pan Am games, NCAA, and Olympics. Rick was rewriting the back stroke book and pushing the envelope.

Physically you would never guess he was the greatest back stoker in the world. A perfect back stroker was 6 foot 6” tall and 195 pounds with long arms. Carey was just under 6 foot and 186 pounds but confined in his body is a upper torso that houses a powerful muscular body that lifts him high in the water.

When Rick lost at swimming, anger set in and revenge became a motive to win. As his father noted, “Something happens to Rick Carey when he loses.”

Rick like many great athletes sets high standards for himself and sometimes judges other people by those standards. That is a kiss of death in social situation where Carey expects perfection from a date or a friend. A teammate explained “he allows no error in himself, and he expects none in anyone else.”

“When it came to picking schools, Ricky told his father he didn’t want to be the big fish in a small pond,” “At the time, Texas was the biggest pond around. But what Ricky didn’t realize then”—and here Rick’s father flashes a broad smile—”was that he was going to be the biggest fish in any pond.”

1985-1986

Coach Eddie Reese- 4-1  Team wins SWc – more info to follow

At Nationals Carey and  Scoggins were National champs

1986-1987

Coach Eddie Reese 5-4 more info to follow

1986-1987-Coach Eddie Reese 10-1 more info to follow

1988-1989 – coach: Eddie Reese National Champions 8-3 more info to follow

Horns won their 9th straight SWC, winning 13 of 16 events. Andre duPlessis won the 1,650, Stackle the 200 breaststrokes, and Jacob, Anderson, Gjertsen, and Jordan won the 400 free relay.

Chris Jacobs, Shaun Jordan, Keith Anderson and Doug Gjertsen is the first Longhorn relay team  to win the 800 free in NCAA history.

Shaun Jordan and Chris Jacobs win Olympic gold. Shaun is the first Longhorn to ever win the NCAA Championship in the 100 free

Shaun Jordan Olympics 1988, 1992

Shaun Jordan is a member of four National Championship teams.

Link to Shaun Jordan ‘s acceptance speech at induction to TSDHOF

http://www.tsdhof.org/shaun-jordan/

Gjertsen and Stackle each capture titles (200 backstroke and 200 breaststroke) and three UT relays finish with top honors to help Texas edge runner-up USC by 54.5 points. Of UT’s 424 points, individuals score 304, and a whopping 179 are from the sophomore class.

1989- 1990 – Coach Eddie Reese National Champions

The two-time defending National Champion Longhorns did a three-peat.

The horns were 6-1 in the dual meet competition. Texas wins its 11th consecutive SWC title. Olsen, Werth, Saulnier, and Gjertsen set an American record in the 800 freestyle relay. The victory for the national championship was so large that every Longorn swimmer in the last three events could have skipped their races, and Texas still would have won.

Swimmer Kirk Stakle understands the importance of finishing second if you set a personal best time. Even though he finished 2nd in the 200, he enjoyed his moment breaking the American breaststroke record.

1989: BACK-TO-BACK
Event Champions:
– 100 freestyle
– 200 breaststroke
– 400 free relay
– 800 free relay
– 400 medley relay

Sophomore Shaun Jordan (100 freestyle) and Kirk Stackle (200 breaststroke) each captures individual titles as Texas cruises to its second straight title and finishes the 1980s with three national crowns. Doug Djertsen competes in 13 races in three days, scoring in three individual events, and anchors all four relays as the Longhorns tally 475 points to runner-up Stanford’s 396.

The Longhorn squads in the 1990s continued on that torrid pace, winning NCAA team titles in 1990, 1991, and 1996. The Longhorns finished second at Nationals in 1992 and 1994, placed third in 1993 and 1999, and took fourth in 1995. Texas also won each of the last seven SWC crowns (1990-96). TexasSports.com

1990 – 1991 coach: Eddie Reese National Champions 6-1

Jeff Thibault, Kirk Stackle, Shaun Jordan and Doug Gjertsen set the American record in the 400 Medley.

HORNS RING IN THE  90’s
Event Champions:
– 200 freestyle
– 100 breaststroke
– 200 free relay
– 800 free relay
– 400 medley relay

The Horns set an NCAA scoring record while winning their third-straight title, outdistancing USC 506-423. UT has 15 athletes score in 20 events, as Doug Gjertsen (200 freestyle) and Kirk Stackle (100 breaststroke) win titles and Shaun Jordan tallies three second-place finishes (50, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly). UT wins four of five relays, setting American records in the 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. Josh Davis is a freshman.

Texas was the underdog after losing to Stanford earlier in the year. They were ranked #2. Texas had 11 All-Americans on this team

Shaun Jordan, Jeff Thibault, Adam Wergh, and Doug Dickins set the American record in the 200 Medley.

1991: FOUR IN A ROW
Event Champions:
– 50 freestyle
– 100 freestyle
– 3-meter diving
– 200 free relay
– 400 free relay
– 200 medley relay
– 800 free relay

Shaun Jordan wins the  (50 freestyle/ 100 freestyle)  while UT post wins in four of five relays in route to its fourth consecutive NCAA title. The Horns win the opening event, the 200 freestyle relay, by setting an American record (1:17.89), and lead from the start to finish in taking the title with 476 points to Stanford’s runner-up total of 420. UT is  the first school since USC (1974-77) to win four straight NCAA swimming and diving crowns.

1991-1992 – Coach Eddie Reese 4-3 Finished 2nd at the National meet.

Stanford demolished Texas at the championship meet 632 to 356. Jason Rhodes won the 3-meter dive. Jeff Thibault set a conference record in the 100 and 200 backstroke and Matt Stahlman was the SWC highpoint swimmer.

Shaun Jordan, Doug Gjertsen and Hans Dersch win Olympic Gold

1992- 1993 – Coach Eddie Reese 8-0 more info to follow

1994 – Coach Eddie Reese 11-1 more info to follow

Team finishes runner-up in the NCAA and wins their 15th consecutive SWC championship. Jason Fink, Josh Davis, Chris Eckerman and Gary Hall Jr. set the American, NCAA and U.S open record in the 400 meter relay. Swimmers set 5 SWC swim records .

Josh Davis is a 23 time All American and 4 time NCAA Champion.

Neil Walker came to UT as a freshman in 1994 and is  a huge influence on Longhorn teams for the next 14 years. Under Eddie Reese and Kris Kubik, Walker earn 25 all-American awards, back-to-back NCAA individual titles and six Big 12 conference titles. He is also a member of the 1996 NCAA championship team. He set an NCAA record in the 50-yard freestyle and swims the 100-yard back in 44.92 seconds, setting an American, U.S. Open, and NCAA record. Competing for Team USA for 10 years (1997-2007), including the 2000 & 2004 Olympic Games, Walker earns 17 gold medals, eight silver medals and one bronze medal. He is elected USA National Team captain in 2005, 2006 and 2007 during the last few years of his competitive career.     

As of 2015 Neil Walker has the fastest Longhorn time in the 100 Back.

Link to Neil Walker induction acceptance speech into TSDHOF is below

http://www.tsdhof.org/neil-walker

Jason Fink, Josh Davis, Chris Eckerman, Gary Hall, Jr set the American record in the 400 free.

1995 – Coach Eddie Reese 8-3 more info to follow

Horns win their 16th SWC championship . Matt Hooper wins the 1,650 freestyle . It is his 8th career SWC title , the most ever by a Texas swimmer. Derek Howorth ,Marty Hubbell , and Matt Beck also win their events. 15 swimmers qualify for the NCAA meet and the Horns place 4th at the Championship meet.

1996 – coach: Eddie Reese and Matt Scoggin (Diving) National Champions

1996- 5-1 Coach Eddie Reese National Champions more info to follow

1996: A TEAM EFFORT
Event Champions:
– 200 Free Relay
** Third Team In History To Win Team Championship With No Individual Titles **

Texas took an early lead with a victory in the 200 freestyle relay, and never looks back as UT is the only team to score in every swimming event. The Horns did not win an individual event, but earn five silver medals to demonstrate a strong team effort. Only the 1948 Michigan and 1983 Florida squads  pulled off the winless feat before. The Longhorns defeat Auburn 479-443.5, and in defending the “home pool,” made the phrase “Our Home, Our Pool, Our Title,” a reality once again.

Matt Scoggins Diving coach 1996 to present more info to follow

Brad Bridgewater, Josh Davis, and Gary Hall win Olympic Gold

Josh Davis is a 23 time All American and 4 time NCAA Champion.

Josh Davis- Olympics 1996

1997 – Coach Eddie Reese 5-4 more info to follow

As of 2015 Neil Walker has the fastest Longhorn time in the 100 Back.

1998 – Coach Eddie Reese 7-2 more info to follow

Gary Hall Olympics 1996, 2000, 2004

1999 – Coach Eddie Reese 6-2 more info to follow

2000 – coach: Eddie Reese and Matt Scoggin National Champions

10-0 more info to follow

2000: RETURN TO GLORY
Event Champions:
– 100 backstroke
– 1-meter diving
– 3-meter diving
– 800 free relay
– 200 medley relay
– 400 medley relay

Jaimie Rauch Olympian 2000

Aaron Peirson Olympics 2000, 2004, 2008

2005-Aaron Peirsol is USA Swimming Athlete of the the Year.

He turns pro after just two years at Texas but still wins 6 NCAA championships and 11 All American honors.

As of 2015 Aaron Peirsol has the fastest Longhorn time in the 200 Back.

Tommy Hannan Olympics 2000

Troy Dumais leads  the Longhorn charge with victories on both the one- and three-meter springboards to help Texas capture its seventh NCAA title. Matt Ulrickson claims individual gold in the 100-meter backstroke. Texas relay teams also produce bringing home titles the 800-meter freestyle relay and the 200- and 400-meter medley relays. In all, the Longhorns place 29 swimmers and divers in individual-event finals to score 538 points and finish 153 points ahead of second place Auburn (385).

Ian Crocker, Gary Hall, Tommy Hannan, and Neil Walker win Olympic Gold