UT Dallas Comets explained

UT Dallas Comets
University:	University of Texas at Dallas
Association:	NCAA
Conference:	American Southwest Conference (primary, until July 1, 2025) Lone Star Conference (primary, from July 1, 2025)
Division:	Division III (until July 1, 2025) Division II (from July 1, 2025)
Location:	Richardson, Texas
Teams:	15
Mens Teams:	7
Womens Teams:	8
Coed Teams:	0
Basketballarena:	UT Dallas Activity Center
Baseballfield:	UT Dallas Baseball Field
Softballstadium:	UT Dallas Softball Field
Soccerstadium:	UT Dallas Soccer Complex
Tenniscourt:	UT Dallas Tennis Complex
Mascot:	Temoc^[1])
Nickname:	Comets
Color1:	Orange
Color2:	Green
Hex1:	e87500
Hex2:	154734
Pageurl:	https://utdcomets.com/

The UT Dallas Comets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Texas at Dallas, located in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas, in NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports. On July 20, 2023, the university announced it would move to NCAA Division II and join the Lone Star Conference.^[2]

The Comets are full members of the American Southwest Conference, which is home to all sixteen athletic programs.

Varsity sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, esports, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.^{[3] [4]} In total, there are 300 student athletes and 14 intercollegiate teams officially supported by the university.

History

The University of Texas at Dallas' Varsity athletics program started when UTD provisionally joined the NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference (ASC) in 1998 and was granted full membership in the ASC in 2002.^[5]

Varsity teams

List of teams

Men's sports (7)

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Track and field

Women's sports (8)

• Basketball
• Cross country
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track and field
• Volleyball

Individual teams

Baseball and softball

• In 2003–04, the men's baseball and women's softball teams advanced to the post-season.
• The men's baseball team won the 2012 season ASC East Division Champions after closing out the regular season with a 27–13 overall record (14–4 in the ASC) and qualifying for the ASC Tournament for the ninth time in the program's 11-year history.^[6]
• In 2016–17, the women's softball team claimed their fifth ASC title after winning their first ASC championship game.^[7]
• The men's baseball team won their first ASC championship conference title in 2018.^[8]

Basketball

• In 2003–04, men's basketball advanced to the post-season.
• In 2005, the UTD Athletic Program claimed their first ASC Championship for men's basketball and advanced to the NCAA Division III national playoffs.
• On December 20, 2006, the Comets men's basketball team upset the University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks 78–76 at UT Arlington's Texas Hall and became the first Division III team to defeat a Division I basketball team during the 2006–2007 season.^[9]
• The woman's 2009 basketball team won the ASC East Division title, whereas the UTD men's basketball team won the ASC East Division both in 2010 and 2011.
• The UT Dallas women basketball team won the 2013 American Southwest Conference title.^[10]
• The UT Dallas men's basketball team won the 2014 ASC Tournament.^[11]
• Women's basketball won the ASC conference crown in 2016–17.
• For the first time in school history, both the Men's and Women's basketball teams won the 2018 NCAA Division III conference championships in the ASC Tournament.^[12]

Cross country

Women's cross country team won their first ASC conference crown in 2016 and their second in 2017.^[13] The men's cross country team won their first ASC conference crown in 2018.^[14]

E-sports

On September 24, 2018, the university added a co-ed Varsity Esports team managed under the athletic department. The team officially competes in collegiate competitions for League of Legends, Overwatch, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.^[15]

• In their inaugural year, UTD Esports ranked No. 8 overall in collegiate League of Legends competitions according to an official ESPN poll.^[16]
• In 2019 UTD Esports won the first US collegiate Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competition at the Collegiate Starleague Smash Ultimate National Championships, taking home the program's first national title.^[17]

Golf

Women's golf won its first ASC conference championship title in 2008, and placed 3rd in 2015.^[18]

Soccer

• During the 2002 inaugural season, the men and women's soccer teams competed for conference championships. The women won the 2002 ASC title and UTD ended up hosting the conference tournament as well as the first round of NCAA playoffs in UTD's first year as active members.
• The success continued in 2003–04 when men's and women's soccer advanced to the post-season.^[19]
• In 2005, the UTD Athletic Program claimed ASC Championships for men's and women's soccer, with the men's soccer team advancing to the NCAA Division III national playoffs.
• In 2007, the men's soccer team won the ASC championship, advancing to the NCAA tournament. Having 8 new team players as starters and only 3 veterans, the Comets led by top goal scorers Kevin White from Houston and Mihai Cotet from Braila, Romania led the team to its second ASC Tournament title in history.^[20]
• Men's soccer won an ASC conference crown in 2016–17.

Tennis

• The 2007 men's tennis program had a very successful season, beating Division II teams and advancing as far as the ASC Conference final before falling to Hardin-Simmons.
• The UT Dallas varsity tennis program won both the 2013 American Southwest Conference men's and women's tennis championships.^[21]
• Women's tennis won the 2018 ASC championship title.
• Both the Men's and Women's tennis teams won the 2019 ASC championship title.^[22]

Volleyball

• The women's volleyball team claimed the 2009 American Southwest Conference championship at the UT Dallas Activity Center. The 25–0, 2009 women's volleyball team was the only undefeated NCAA Division III team in the nation at the time.
• The women's volleyball team won the 2011 ASC East title with an undefeated home record of 6–0, and a conference record of 14–2.^{[23] [24]}
• In 2016–17, the women's volleyball team won an ASC conference crown.

Notes and References

1. Web site: UT Dallas Mascot. The University of Texas at Dallas. November 15, 2016.
2. Web site: UT Dallas Accepts Invitation to Join Lone Star Conference . July 19, 2023 .
3. Web site: Comet Sports. The University of Texas at Dallas. July 2, 2010.
4. Web site: University of Texas at Dallas Athletics – Official Athletics Website. University of Texas at Dallas Athletics. en. March 22, 2019.
5. Web site: American Southwest Conference. American Southwest Conference. April 28, 2010.
6. News: Comets win regular season title. The UTD Mercury. April 30, 2012. https://archive.today/20130209030224/http://www.utdmercury.com/sports/baseball/article_b1b84560-b656-11e1-88be-0019bb30f31a.html. February 9, 2013. dead.
7. Web site: Comets Capture First Conference Crown – UT Dallas Magazine – The University of Texas at Dallas. www.utdallas.edu. March 22, 2019.
8. Web site: Baseball Team Wins First ASC Title, Clinches NCAA Berth – News Center – The University of Texas at Dallas. www.utdallas.edu. March 22, 2019.
9. Web site: Unbeaten Comets Upset D1 UT-Arlington December 30, 2006. The University of Texas at Dallas. January 10, 2007.
10. Web site: UTD Women Upset Louisiana College To Win First ASC Crown. February 25, 2013. The University of Texas at Dallas. February 25, 2013.
11. Web site: Comets Win ASC Title, Will Play in 1st Round of National Tournament at Home This Weekend. The University of Texas at Dallas. March 13, 2014.
12. Web site: Comet Basketball Teams Sweep Conference Titles, Earn NCAA Berths – News Center – The University of Texas at Dallas. en-US. March 22, 2019.
13. Web site: Runners Set For ASC Championships This Saturday. University of Texas at Dallas Athletics. October 25, 2018 . en. March 22, 2019.
14. Web site: Men's Cross Country Team Outruns ASC Rivals, Wins Conference Crown – News Center – The University of Texas at Dallas. en-US. March 22, 2019.
15. Web site: UT Dallas Gets in New Game with Launch of Comet Esports Program – News Center – The University of Texas at Dallas. www.utdallas.edu. March 22, 2019.
16. Web site: Esports 'Legends' Team Enters Spring Ranked No. 8 in ESPN Poll – News Center – The University of Texas at Dallas. en-US. March 22, 2019.
17. Web site: Ultimate Victory: Esports Team Wins Super Smash Bros. National Title. en-US. 2019-10-02.
18. Web site: Women's golf sets sights on ASC Tournament. Mercury. The. April 23, 2018. The Mercury. en-US. March 22, 2019.
19. Web site: UT Dallas Athletic History. The University of Texas at Dallas . April 28, 2010.
20. Web site: UTD Wins ASC soccer. May 8, 2010. November 8, 2008 . The University of Texas at Dallas .
21. Web site: Tennis Teams Serve Up Double Championship Victories. April 30, 2013. The University of Texas at Dallas. April 30, 2013.
22. Web site: 2019 season officially comes to an end. There are too many people to thank, but please know that we appreciate and love you all, Comet family. Have a great summer, we'll catch you back and better than ever in the fall! #LetsCookpic.twitter.com/Fx2reCxxvP. Tennis. UT Dallas. 2019-05-13. @UTDCometTennis. en. 2019-05-19.
23. News: Lady Comets wrap up ASC East title. https://archive.today/20130209030224/http://www.utdmercury.com/sports/baseball/article_b1b84560-b656-11e1-88be-0019bb30f31a.html. dead. February 9, 2013. The UTD Mercury. November 18, 2011.
24. Web site: ASC Volleyball Tournament Field Announced . November 7, 2009 . August 9, 2010 . American Southwest Conference.