UTPB Athletics

Admin/Volleyball Coach (1995-2017)

Dr. Steve Aicinena served as a cornerstone of The University Permian Basin Athletics for more than two decades, shaping the department from the ground up. He was named the University’s Director of Athletics in 1995 and held the position until his retirement in 2017. Simultaneously, he led the volleyball program from its club beginnings in 1994 through its rise to NCAA Division II competition, serving as the program’s first and only head coach until stepping down in 2014.

A retired Professor of Kinesiology and Doctor of Education, Dr. Aicinena compiled a career record of 337-321 as head volleyball coach. Under his leadership, the Falcons navigated the early challenges of being a fledgling NAIA program with limited resources and no scholarships. Despite the odds, the team earned its first Red River Conference championship in 1999, defeating a fully-funded Houston Baptist squad. They followed it up with back-to-back Red River Western Division titles in 2000 and 2001.

Dr. Aicinena's impact on UT Permian Basin Athletics is enduring. From launching the University’s first intercollegiate sport to overseeing one of its most significant growth eras, his vision, perseverance and leadership helped lay the foundation for generations of Falcon student-athletes to thrive.

Year-by-Year Volleyball Highlights

NAIA Era (1995–2005):

• Named Red River Conference Coach of the Year twice.
• Highlights include a 26-16 season in 2002 and consistent 20+ win campaigns through the early 2000s.
• UTPB added athletic scholarships starting in 2003, helping strengthen competitiveness.

NCAA Division II Era (2006–2014):

• Joined the NCAA as a provisional member in 2006 and became full members in 2008.
• Captured Heartland Conference regular-season titles in 2007 and 2008.
• Won the Heartland Conference Tournament in 2008, earning the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
• Milestone Victory:
• On October 28, 2011, Dr. Aicinena recorded his 300th career win with a sweep over Panhandle State.

Legacy as Director of Athletics

• Under Dr. Aicinena’s leadership, UTPB Athletics experienced a period of rapid growth:
• Early 2000s: Introduced Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Basketball.
• 2004–2005: Added Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Swimming, and Baseball.
• 2006: Joined the Heartland Conference as an NCAA DII provisional member.
• 2008: Achieved full NCAA DII membership.
• 2016–17: Added Football and Men’s and Women’s Golf, and transitioned into the Lone Star Conference.
• 2017–18: Men’s Basketball reached the NCAA South Central Regional Finals, the deepest postseason run in UTPB history.
• Dr. Aicinena remained instrumental in academic and athletic development at UTPB until his retirement as Athletic Director in 2017. He was succeeded by Scott Farmer, former AD at UL Lafayette. That same year, UTPB announced the D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center, which officially opened in 2020. The facility now houses Falcon Football, Women's Soccer, Athletics Administration, and the Kinesiology Department.

Lasting Recognition

• 2019: The Falcons hosted the Dr. Steve Aicinena Invitational, a volleyball tournament named in his honor.
• 2020: UTPB celebrated 25 years of Falcon Volleyball, reflecting on the growth and legacy of the program Dr. Aicinena built from scratch.