Howard Payne Athletics

BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University board of trustees announced in August that Howard Payne will start intercollegiate men’s and women’s cross country programs to compete in fall of 2010. 

The Howard Payne administration is in the process of hiring a head coach and hopes to have one in place by the end of the month. The program will officially begin competition in the fall of 2010. 

“We are excited that the University has decided to add Cross Country to our list of intercollegiate sports beginning in the fall of 2010,” said Mike Jones Howard Payne Director of Athletics. “We know this will bring more quality student athletes to Howard Payne University.” 

Though HPU did field men’s cross country teams before, this will be the first time for a women’s team at HPU since the early 90’s. With the adding of women’s and men’s cross country, Howard Payne will now field 12 intercollegiate sports (six women’s and six men’s). 

Howard Payne fielded men’s cross country teams in the 50’s through the 80’s winning two NAIA National titles in 1957 and 1964 and was National Runner-up in 1966. The distance runners at Howard Payne for decades dominated the southwest led by legendary coach J.H. “Cap” Shelton. Coach Shelton coached Howard Payne track and distance runners for more than forty years and was named the NAIA National Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1964.