Houston Cougars Logo PNG
The Houston Cougars logo is a modern depiction of the University of Houston’s 1952 sports teams, executed in a minimalist style. The simple yet attention-grabbing monogram reflects the game’s brilliance and the efficiency of its tactics.
Houston Cougars: Brand overview
The University of Houston was founded in 1927, with athletics taking shape soon after. The first varsity football team appeared in 1946, and the Cougars’ nickname was adopted by instructor John Bender, who had coached at Washington State.
Men’s basketball rose under Guy Lewis, who led the program from 1956 to 1986 and recorded 592 wins. In 1964, he recruited Don Chaney and Elvin Hayes, breaking regional barriers. On January 20, 1968, Houston defeated UCLA 71:69 at the Astrodome in a nationally televised game, later called the “Game of the Century.”
A second peak came in the early 1980s. Hakeem Olajuwon joined in 1981, forming Phi Slama Jama with Clyde Drexler and others. In 1983, Houston reached the NCAA final but lost to NC State 52:54 on a last-second play. In 1984, the team again lost the final, this time to Georgetown. Olajuwon and Drexler later won the 1995 NBA title with the Houston Rockets.
The golf program, led by Dave Williams, won 16 NCAA titles between 1956 and 1985. Football peaked in 2015 under Tom Herman with a 13:1 record, a win over Temple for the American Athletic Conference title, and a Peach Bowl victory against Florida State.
In 2023, the university joined the Big 12 Conference. The basketball team won back-to-back regular seasons in 2024 and 2025 and reached the national championship game in 2025 against the University of Houston.
Meaning and History
Some early logos featured the sports department’s symbol, the wild cougar. The 1951 emblem featured a cougar in mid-leap. The design looks like a sketch, consisting of red strokes and lines. In the upper right corner is the word “Cougars,” and at the bottom is the phrase “U of Houston.” In 1962, the multi-component image was replaced with a red monogram of the letters “U” and “H”.
The 1995 version once again delighted fans with its colorfulness. The logo consists of three elements:
- A crouching cougar
- A large inscription of Houston
- A white rectangle with the word Cougars
However, this logo did not last long: in 2003, the classic “UH” monogram returned. Its final version was presented in 2012. Designers made the letters voluminous by combining two shades of red and outlined the image with a crimson stripe.
What is Houston Cougars?
The Houston Cougars is a sports department at the University of Houston in Texas, comprising 17 student teams. The association is part of the NCAA and competes in Division I. It is a member of the American Athletic Conference and competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Starting in 2023, athletes will also be represented in the Big 12 conference.
1951 – 1962
1962 – 1996
1996 – 2000
2000 – 2012
2012 – 2017
2017 – today
Houston Cougars Basketball
The men’s team’s debut match took place in 1946, when the women’s basketball program at the University of Houston was already in existence. The Cougars have participated in the NCAA tournament 21 times in men’s Division I and 5 times in women’s Division I.
Houston Cougars Football
The first team emerged in 1946, after students signed several petitions demanding to join intercollegiate football competitions. The program proved successful: athletes unconditionally won eleven conference and two division championships.
Houston Cougars Baseball
The University of Houston has sponsored a baseball team since 1947. Its success came in 1950 when Lovette Hill became the coach. Under his guidance, players participated in several NCAA regional competitions and made their first appearance in the College World Series. Currently, the baseball players are coached by Todd Whitting.