OUR BASKETBALL HISTORY
Tarleton State Women's Basketball has recorded almost 1,000 senior-college victories on the l courts in Texas and across the nation since 1968.
Going from an intramural sport to a full-fledged NCAA Division I program, Texan Women's Basketball is growing. In just its fifth year of NCAA Division I, the Texans won 20 games, earned a No. 2 seed in its conference tournament, and received its first-ever D1 postseason tournament bid. While Tarleton State Women's Basketball has made history, the Texans' story is just beginning.
Women’s intercollegiate basketball was first introduced at Tarleton State from 1921 to 1925 under the direction of Coach Laura Fellman and recorded an undefeated season (8-0) in 1923. The team was an intramural team competing against other college intramural teams. But the modern era of women’s varsity competition began in 1968 under Coach Sue Baker. In 1968-69 and 1969-70, the teams played a half-court game with six players to a team; four permanent players and two rovers who could cross the center line. In 1970, women’s basketball went to the current five-player, full-court game.
Jan Lowery delivered the school its first TIAA championship in women's basketball. The first-year head women's basketball coach led her team to a 29-10 record in a season dedicated to the late Sue Baker. Lowery was dominated the women's circuit with 10 consecutive TIAA league championships to begin her coaching career.
The 1994-95 season marked a new chapter in our program’s history as the program began play in NCAA Division II as a member of the Lone Star Conference. Tarleton qualified for the NCAA Regional tournament nine times during their Division II history with two LSC Tournament Championships and one regular season title.
A historic decision was announced in November 2019 that would change the course of Tarleton State University for years to come. Newly-named President Dr. James Hurley accepted an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference and take Tarleton to the highest level – NCAA Division I. Tarleton joined the league on July 1, 2020. With 3-time NCAA Division I National Champion Bill Brock now leading the way as head coach, the future of Texan Women's Basketball has never been brighter!
OUR HEAD COACH
Bill Brock is building something special in Stephenville. A proven winner, leader and mentor, Brock has already led Tarleton State Women's Basketball to new heights in just two years at the helm.
Brock, a man who holds a 40-year coaching resume and a national championship pedigree, the Texans to a Division I program record 20 wins in 2024-25 and their first Division I postseason berth. With Brock helping the team to a second-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference, the Texans received an automatic bid to the 2025 Women's National Invitation Tournament. Brock and the Texans played its first-ever Division I postseason contest on March 23, 2025, getting the opportunity to play in the WNIT in front of its home crowd.
Tarleton State hired the three-time NCAA Division I national champion and longtime Baylor as their women’s basketball head coach on March 27, 2023. Brock became the seventh head coach in program history.
“We have just brought one of the best, most well-respected women’s basketball coaches in the country to Tarleton State University,” Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Lonn Reisman said at the time of Brock's hiring. “I’ve known Bill Brock for over 35 years. He is a tremendous basketball mind and an outstanding recruiter – maybe one of the best in the country. He’s a man of character and will do an outstanding job of developing our young ladies on the court, in the classroom, and for life after basketball.
Brock was on the Baylor women’s basketball coaching staff under head coach Kim Mulkey for 18 seasons, serving as associate head coach for 16 years after two years as an assistant coach. He coached there from 2000-06 and 2009-21, bookended by a three-year stint as the associate head coach at Texas Tech from 2006-09. In 2022-23, Brock served as the head coach at McLennan CC, leading the Highlassies to the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships, their first berth since 1984.
“What an honor it is to be named the head women’s basketball coach at Tarleton State University,” Brock said. “I am thankful for this opportunity and appreciate the confidence demonstrated in me by Dr. Hurley and Lonn Reisman throughout the hiring process. My staff and I will work tirelessly to create a foundation that produces successful young women on and off the court. We want to bring championships to Tarleton State. It’s a great day to be a Texan.”
Brock was the Lady Bears associate head coach for three memorable national championship seasons in 2019, 2012 and 2005. He also helped Baylor to the 2010 Final Four, seven Elite Eight appearances, and 23 Big 12 Conference titles (12 regular season, 11 tournament).
Under Mulkey and Brock, Baylor was truly a powerhouse, going 552-83 (.869) across the 18 seasons, posting 20+ wins each year, 30+ wins 10 times, and a perfect 40-0 campaign in 2011-12. The Lady Bears made it to the NCAA Tournament in all but two of Brock’s seasons, one because there was no such tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019-20. Over the last 11 years he was at Baylor, the team went 340-28 (.924).
In charge of the post players while at Baylor, Brock helped develop several All-Americans, including Sophia Young, Steffanie Blackmon, Danielle Crockrom, Destiny Williams, Brittney Griner, Nina Davis, Kalani Brown, Lauren Cox and NaLyssa Smith. He coached 10 WNBA draft picks that include seven first rounders, the No. 1 overall pick in 2013 (Griner) and the No. 2 overall pick in 2022 (Smith). Nine centers and forwards tallied 46 all-America awards under Brock’s watch.
“Bill Brock is a proven winner everywhere he’s been,” Texas women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer said. “He’s been a part of championship teams. His teams are well coached. He’s a veteran who has been around the game a long time. Bill Brock has always been about family, both his personal family as well as his student-athletes. Tarleton State can expect a highly competitive women’s basketball program that will succeed both in the classroom, on the court and will represent their university and the community with grace and class. Tarleton State just hit a home run.”
At McLennan CC, Brock took the Highlassies to a 28-5 overall record, the first time they’ve reached the 20-win plateau since 2013-14. McLennan was ranked as high as No. 8 in the NJCAA poll and received one of eight at-large bids to the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships.
“Bill Brock is one of the most respected coaches in basketball,” former Dallas Wings head coach Latricia Trammell said. “He is one of the nation’s elite recruiters and has been an integral part of some of the most successful teams in women’s basketball. He will make an immediate positive impact on Tarleton State University and the community of Stephenville.
“Bill is an inspiring and empowering coach that will demand the best out of his players,” Trammell added. “The Tarleton State fans are going to enjoy watching the competitive spirit displayed on the court.”
During his three-year stint as associate head coach at Texas Tech, Brock helped orchestrate a top-10 recruiting class in his first year with the Lady Raiders. Texas Tech had winning seasons in each of his campaigns before he returned to Waco.
“Bill Brock is an outstanding person and coach who will make a huge impact on Tarleton Women’s Basketball and the entire university community,” Iowa State women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Bill is a great friend who has been a part of some of the most successful women’s basketball teams ever during his time at Baylor. He’s a coach who will recruit student-athletes who compete hard and at both ends of the floor. The fans will love the connection they will have with everyone in the program. This is a significant hire by Tarleton in every way.”
Brock spent 13 years as the head coach at Grayson College from 1987-2000, establishing the program as one of the best in the junior college ranks. He was voted the conference Coach of the Year nine times and regional Coach of the Year twice, and was also recognized in 1996 as the National Junior College Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
During his first year at Grayson, Brock led the Lady Vikings to their first Northern Texas Conference title and a top-25 national ranking. Grayson continued that success by winning 10 conference championships, two regional titles and two national tournament berths (2000 and 1996). In total at Grayson, he went 371-50, highlighted by a 36-1 season and a third-place finish at the 2000 NJCAA National Tournament. He also coached 10 Northern Texas Conference Most Valuable Players and nine All-Americans.
In 2019, Brock was inducted to the inaugural class of the Grayson College Athletics Hall of Fame. The school has named the gym as "Bill Brock Court” in his honor.
“Bill is a hard worker, very professional and a proven winner,” UTEP women’s basketball head coach Keitha Adams said. “The fans can expect him to bring a great caliber of basketball that will be fun to watch. He’s a true Texas guy who’s always enjoyable to talk to.”
Brock began his collegiate coaching career at East Central, spending two seasons as an assistant coach there from 1985-87. The Durant, Oklahoma, native, also spent three seasons as the head coach for the boys’ basketball team at Durant High School from 1982-85.
WELCOME TO THE 'VILLE
The Tarleton State campus sits in the center of Stephenville and enriches the lives of students with a traditional college experience, offering more than 18 on campus living options, a gym, study areas and variety of student organizations that meet on campus. Students at the Stephenville campus have the opportunity for field learning and internship experience with many of the local businesses. Stephenville allows students to earn a high quality education, while staying in an area that feels just like home and with a lot of history.
Where is Stephenville, Texas?
- Located in Central Texas
- 1 hour from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
- 1.5 hours from Waco
- 2.5 hours from Austin
- 4 hours from Houston
The Stephenville community is a huge supporter of Tarleton State Women's Basketball. The Texans' average attendance one of the best among Western Athletic Conference teams, ranking second in the conference in average attendance in 2024-25. For the final regular season game at Wisdom Gym, the Texans had a Division I record 2,750 fans show up in a 75-44 win over California Baptist on March 6, 2025. It was the highest-attended Texan Women's Basketball game in the last decade.
NEW ARENA COMING SOON
In a special groundbreaking ceremony in front of hundreds of onlookers on a Tuesday morning in August 2023, Tarleton State once again took a major step in establishing itself as a premier NCAA Division I school.
Tarleton State University broke ground on a $110 million, two-story multipurpose arena that will sport NCAA Division I basketball facilities and room for academic convocations, symposiums, conferences and conventions. The Texas A&M System approved the budget and construction in May 2023, with move-in set for the 2025-26 season. Construction dollars come from Revenue System Financing bonds and are part of Tarleton State's capital plan approved by the Board of Regents.
"As a comprehensive national university, we have a moral and social obligation to deliver an outstanding student experience while simultaneously spurring community prosperity and enhancing economic opportunity," said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley. "With this new facility, we're doing just that."
Seating nearly 10,000 for concerts and up to 8,000 for basketball games, the center will provide a permanent indoor home for convocations and commencements, and the city of Stephenville will enjoy increased income from community and regional events.
At 148,000 square feet, the event center will include custom locker rooms, an integrated nutrition center, a sports medicine suite, and a dedicated entrance for coaches and student-athletes. A portable, maple-wood flooring system will make installing and removing the specialized gym surface a snap without sacrificing player safety or performance.
"It's one thing to talk about it, but today it's happening," Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp said. "The shovels are in the ground. You're going to see dirt turning here in no time, and before you know it, we'll have the finest arena west of the DFW Metroplex. This is truly a great day for Tarleton State University, North Central Texas and the entire Texas A&M University System."
Calling it a crown jewel in the heart of the university's main campus, state Rep. Shelby Slawson (District 59) said the center is a game changer for Tarleton State, Stephenville and Erath and surrounding counties.
"Finally, we have a venue in the heart of Stephenville for the community and students to gather, enjoy concerts, celebrate milestones, cheer on Texan Basketball and move commencements indoors when the weather doesn't cooperate," she said. "I can't wait for the grand opening."
State Rep. DeWayne Burns (District 58) applauded Tarleton State's ongoing efforts to partner with the community while remaining focused on student education and development. "Today's groundbreaking is a testament to the university's commitment to economic vitality, community service and the public good. As a Tarleton Texan, I am extremely proud."
PBK is the architect, and Vaughn Construction is the contractor.
"Dr. Hurley knew we needed something like this, not only for the university but for the surrounding communities and North Central Texas," Reisman said. "It gives everyone an opportunity to experience events they might not otherwise be able to attend. It will change the dynamics of the whole area."