Prospective Student Athlete Form - - Please complete the form at this link to contact the coach.
Information prospective volleyball players and their parents would want to know about UTPB volleyball and the coach appears below:
Our University
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) is a part of the University of Texas system. We are a sister institution to UT Austin, UT El Paso, UT San Antonio, UT Arlington, UT Pan American, UT Brownsville, UT Dallas and UT Tyler. We are the youngest of the UT institutions having opened in 1973. UTPB is the only NCAA Division II institution within the University of Texas System.
Academic Excellence
• Everyone will tell you that their institution has excellent academic programs. We can prove it!
• Our Pre-Med majors have the highest rate of acceptance to professional programs and graduate schools (over 75%) in the state.
• Our Business School is AACSCB accredited, placing us in the top 1/3 of all colleges of schools and business in the country.
• Our Education program is accredited by NCATE. UTPB is one of only 12 Texas colleges to hold NCATE accreditation.
• Our passing rate on the teacher's certification exam last year topped 99%.
• Our Art Program has earned NASAD Accreditation.
• Our Social Work Program (BSW) is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Our Kinesiology major for teachers is NASPE approved (one of 3 in Texas).
• UTPB is #1 in the State of Texas, based upon Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board data, for placing our graduates into jobs in their chosen field or graduate programs.
• UTPB has earned national recognition for academic performance in US News and World Reports, Newsweek and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Below is a link to a University Catalog. You can identify majors and learn additional information about UTPB.
http://www.utpb.edu/academic-programs/ugcatalog/
The reason for going to college is to earn a degree. Playing volleyball simply makes your college experience more enjoyable.
Our Athletic Program
• UTPB is a NCAA Division II program.
• UTPB supports 14 sports so you can watch other teams compete in addition to competing yourself!
• Men’s Sports: Football, Cross Country, Soccer, Swimming, Basketball, Baseball, and Tennis • Women’s Sports: Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Swimming, Basketball, Softball, and Tennis
Heartland Conference
UTPB is a member of the Heartland Conference http://www.heartlandsports.org/ Conference Volleyball-playing schools include:
• Newman University (Wichita, KS)
• Dallas Baptist (Dallas, TX)
• Oklahoma Panhandle State (Goodwell, OK) • St. Mary's, St. Edwards (Austin, TX) • Texas A&M International (Laredo, TX) • McMurry University (Abilene, TX) • Lubbock Christian University (Lubbock, TX) • University of Arkansas Fort Smith (Ft. Smith, AR) • St. Edwards University (Austin, TX) UTPB will join the Lone Star Conference in 2016
UTPB General Information
• We have about 5200 students with 2200 full-time undergraduates.
• We have excellent housing in the form of on-campus apartments.
• Our University is affordable (about $16,000 for everything @ 15 credits a semester).
• There is an airport 10 minutes from campus (Midland International). Southwest, American and United serve it.
• We have about 120,000 people in our city so there is a lot here. The air is clean and the sunsets are beautiful.
• Midland, TX is about 15 minutes away from campus and it also supports a population of nearly 120,000 people.
• Everything you need is located very close to campus.
• We are located in West Texas south of Lubbock about 2 hours.
• We do not get much ice or snow in the winter with our average high at about 50 degrees in the coldest month (January).
• Our climate is arid and we receive about 14 inches of rain a year. The humidity is low all year.
• Odessa supports a professional Hockey team and an Arena football team. There is an AA baseball team in Midland.
If you wish to go to a smaller school in a mid-sized city, UTPB is a good place for you. People here are generally quite friendly.
Virtual Campus Tour
Below is a link that will take you to a virtual tour of our campus:
http://ss.utpb.edu/admissions/virtual-tour/
The City of Odessa, TX
We are located in Odessa, TX, a city of about 100,000. Below is a link to a map showing where we are located:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=megan%20macias%20volleyball&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
Below is a link to the Midland Chamber of Commerce Site:
http://www.odessachamber.com/
Virtual Campus Tour
Click on this link to access a virtual tour of facilities on campus including housing:
http://ss.utpb.edu/admissions/virtual-tour/
Our campus housing consists of essentially, on-campus apartments. Students have their own rooms. Here is a link to views of our housing.
Application for Admission
Here is a link to an on-line admissions form (Texas Common Application). You would need to complete and submit it and send in an official copy of your high school transcript to complete the application process. UTPB's institution number is: 009930 https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/commonapp.WBX
The common application is used for all Texas Public colleges and you may use it to apply to any of them. If you have any interest in UTPB, please complete the application and submit it early. It takes 10-15 minutes and does not cost anything.
Admissions Requirements
Here is a link showing our FRESHMAN admissions requirements:
http://ss.utpb.edu/admissions/apply-now/freshman/
NCAA Eligibility Center
As an incoming freshman that desires to participate in Division I or II athletics you must be cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center in order to play as a freshman.
Here is a link to the Eligibility Center website.
http://eligibilitycenter.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.html
It is recommended that you sign up as soon as possible in order to reduce any potential delays in the processing of your application. You must send in an official high school transcript. SAT/ACT scores must be sent to the Eligibility Center directly from the testing agency. As soon as you graduate from high school you must send in your final transcript as well. If you have any college work already, your college transcripts must also be sent in before final certification is completed.
Generally to be able to practice and play at an NCAA II school you must have a GPA in an academic core of 16 high school courses and have an SAT of 820+ (verbal and math scores only) or an ACT of 68+ (all four sections). If you are a Texas student, the recommended course of studies generally results in meeting the core course requirement.
Additional Information about Coach Loesch
Comments about playing at UTPB:
• You must strive to become a better Student, a better Athlete, and a better Teammate. See my coaching philosophy for details.
• We practice, fitness, and compete 15-18 hours a week during the season. You will normally get Sundays off.
• You will have a break from volleyball at the end of the season until you return from Christmas break.
• At the start of Spring semester, we will do individual skill sessions and fitness for 6-8 hours per week.
• Following Spring break, we will have practices, and fitness sessions about 4 times per week.
• We play 3-4 scrimmages (one day tournaments) in the Spring season.
• We have required study-halls. If you are not going to be a student, do not come to UTPB. I often ask how my players’ studies are going and I assist with academic support when I am made aware of the need.
• UTPB has free academic support for all students. We have a writing center, a math center, a science center and a host of other free tutoring opportunities.
• You should have a life outside of volleyball. You are expected to be a good citizen on and off campus, to abide by all campus policies and State laws.
• You are NOT to engage in behavior detrimental to yourself, your teammates or the performance of your team.
• I have a ZERO Tolerance for alcohol or drug use.
• I will be here to offer support and guidance at all times.
• I have a sense of humor.
• I do not scream at players very often. I will occasionally raise my voice to get your attention, not because I am angry at you. I am here to assist in your development, not make you develop.
• We offer a great home environment in which to play. We average about 200 at each home match. At most schools, few fans attend matches. It is fun to play at UTPB because the crowds are relatively large and are very loud.
Why Choose Division II?
You may be considering a Division I institution. There are many good reasons for choosing to play at a Division II school like UTPB. Here are 2 links below that provide information about Division II.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19idOqYziw0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNDfYr6FzY
At UTPB we have small classes (18-1 student/teacher ratio). You will be known and recognized on campus. It is easy to make friends. Your life can be well-balanced.
I hope this information was helpful. Please share it with your parents!
