With Austin College approaching 20 years as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), it’s remarkable to look back at just how much growth the Athletics Department has seen over those two decades. In 2005-2006, Austin College’s final year as a member of the American Southwest Conference (ASC), the ’Roos saw 238 student-athletes take to the pool, courts, and fields, representing 11 varsity sports.

Fast forward to the 2024-2025 academic year, and the number of student-athletes competing for the ’Roos has grown by nearly 200, and the number of varsity programs has grown to 14, plus a competitive cheer team. Over the course of these past two decades, Austin College has seen the creation of a softball program and men’s and women’s water polo teams—with those three programs combined accounting for more than 60 participants this year.

To support the growth in the number of student-athletes and programs, the Athletics Department staff has also expanded, going from 20 full- and part-time employees in 2005 to 35 in 2024, including 27 full-time personnel and eight part-time coaches.

But it’s not just the number of teams or competitors that’s signaled the growth of ’RooNation athletics. While the ’Roos rarely left Texas in 2005, Austin College’s entry into the SCAC opened up more opportunities for teams to travel across the country—with trips to Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, and Colorado to compete with SCAC schools in those states. For ’Roo water polo programs, travel reaches from coast to coast, with games each season in California, New England, and the Midwest.

The regional conferences continue to shift, including the expansion of the SCAC with the additions of LeTourneau University and Hendrix College next year. While it seems like only yesterday Austin College was the new kid on the block in the conference, the ’Roos now find themselves as the elder statesmen of the group.

Opportunities for athletes will continue to grow as Austin College continues to enhance its facilities,  expand its staff, and attract more outstanding student-athletes. The value in this is that athletics are not simply about the sport—they foster time management, leadership, and collaboration skills. At the end of the day, the best measure of growth of our athletics is in opportunities for growth for our student-athletes.