Houston Christian Huskies Logo (Houston Baptist Huskies Logo)PNG
Since 1960, members of the private Houston Baptist University’s sports teams have proudly worn their mascot, which forms the logo of the Houston Baptist Huskies. The 2004 redesign demonstrated the brand’s commitment to the university’s history and the region, as well as the team’s wisdom and unity.
Houston Christian Huskies began in 1963, when a Baptist junior college in Houston fielded a men’s basketball team under the Spartans name. In 1965, the school became a four-year institution and adopted the Huskies nickname. The program progressed through NCAA College Division and reached Division I in 1973–74, with Ed Billings serving as athletics director from 1966 to 1990.
Early Division I years produced Eddie Brown, still the program’s top scorer. E.C. and Mac Coleman, along with Jim Skaggs, later entered the Hall of Honor. Robert Page was drafted by the Golden State Warriors and played for the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1984, the team reached the NCAA Tournament, its only appearance, competing in the same city as Rice University.
In the 1980s, gymnastics shaped the program’s national profile. Paul O’Neill won the NCAA rings title in 1987, the men’s team ranked No. 1 in 1988, and the women’s team won the 1990 Division II championship. That roster was inducted into the Hall of Honor in 1997. Golf also stood out, with Colin Montgomerie winning three straight Trans America Athletic Conference titles.
Gymnastics was shut down in 1990 after NCAA violations. The university was relaunched in 1991 as an NAIA institution, focusing on four sports. Ron Cottrell rebuilt the basketball program and later became athletic director. In 2007, the program returned to NCAA Division I, joined the Great West Conference, and moved to the Southland Conference in 2013–14.
In 2022, Houston Baptist University was renamed Houston Christian University. The Huskies’ identity remained, with teams competing in the Southland Conference and men’s soccer in the Western Athletic Conference.
Meaning and History
Given the team’s nickname, it’s quite logical that its emblem features a husky. More precisely, only its head is turned to face forward. The artists dispensed with details, emphasizing only the characteristic dark lines on the forehead and the specific shape of the eyes. This immediately makes clear which breed the dog belongs to.
At the top is the abbreviation “HBU,” short for “Houston Baptist University.” The lower part of the emblem is occupied by the word “Huskies,” decorated with vertical and horizontal serifs. Both inscriptions are positioned diagonally and read from bottom to top. The palette is predominantly blue. There’s almost no orange: it outlines the letters “HBU.”
What is Houston Baptist Huskies?
The Houston Baptist Huskies (more precisely, the Houston Christian Huskies) are the sports teams of Houston Christian University in Texas. The university is a member of the Southland Conference for most sports, except football, which is represented in the Western Athletic Conference. Students compete in NCAA Division I. In total, the department comprises 17 teams.
2004 – today
Houston Baptist Huskies Basketball
The men’s team participated in the NAIA men’s basketball tournament for ten consecutive seasons (from 1997 to 2007). In 2017, the team played in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The women’s team debuted in 1999 and is coached by Donna Finnie.
Houston Baptist Huskies Baseball
The “Houston Baptist Huskies” team’s main achievements included participation in the VI Baseball Region Championship and a third-place finish at the 2007 NAIA World Series. The team also won the Southland Conference tournament and progressed to the 2015 NCAA baseball tournament.